General Discussion

Ziggysmom

(4,194 posts)

90. As a recent widow, I don't even answer the phone for numbers I don't recognize.

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 10:04 AM

5 hrs ago

Even though my husband was disabled, I felt safer. Now I jump at things that go bump in the night. It’s a mad, mad world; I hate the fear. When I was a kid my parents didn’t even lock their doors. Dad even invited the Jehovas Witness folks in for a coffee or lemonade.

Life in the 1960s wasn’t perfect, but we knew all the neighbors and people would help each other.

Sigh…….

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My wife, home alone, opened the door to a door-to-door salesman. [View all] Trust_Reality Yesterday OP

NOPE. IT'S "DON'T EVEN OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!".... ColoringFool Yesterday #1

Absolutely! SheltieLover Yesterday #11

I NEVER open the door unless I know Who it is--i have the advantage of looking riversedge 23 hrs ago #55

We have a peephole in our front door. calimary 15 hrs ago #71

100% correct. AZ8theist 12 hrs ago #74

I signed in just to Rec this comment. SidneyR 4 hrs ago #91

Another Useful Rule: Never Hire a Contractor From a Company That Runs Frequent TV Ads. MineralMan Yesterday #2

+1. Plumbing and HVAC companies that run TV ads are the worst. They want to replace, not repair dalton99a Yesterday #5

There's a commission on a sale. Conjuay Yesterday #14

yes there is esp car repairs Oppaloopa 6 hrs ago #87

And never, EVER front them the money. They get paid when the job is done to your satisfaction! n/t PatrickforB Yesterday #31

Do not touch the door. Ignore them, and call the cops if they try to loiter dalton99a Yesterday #3

I don't open my door to anyone Diamond_Dog Yesterday #4

Same here, DD! SheltieLover Yesterday #12

When the Jehovah's Witness people come by, I invite them in to see my Amway products. Permanut Yesterday #42

Ahh yes, the old Jehovah's Witness blitzkrieg that used to happen in my apartment complex. OldBaldy1701E 7 hrs ago #82

Having been on both sides of that door I endorse this post SSJVegeta Yesterday #6

Once I was mowing my front lawn and was approached by a guy spooky3 Yesterday #7

That was quick thinking! Good for you! Diamond_Dog Yesterday #13

TY! A more unsettling incident was when I was sick and spooky3 Yesterday #20

I would also be leery of letting someone I don't know come inside if I were home alone. Diamond_Dog Yesterday #26

Not just these days. It has always been that way for women. Since my niyad Yesterday #50

Thank you! raccoon 10 hrs ago #79

Martial Arts ninjanurse 7 hrs ago #84

So very true. And the younger we get girls started, the better. Age 4, as niyad 6 hrs ago #85

Smart Joinfortmill Yesterday #39

Maybe 1980, a steak salesman came to the door nilram Yesterday #48

Good one! Nt spooky3 23 hrs ago #52

I used to use the same line when we'd get land line calls... 3catwoman3 15 hrs ago #72

They practice their pitch and don't have a comeback helpisontheway 12 hrs ago #75

Years ago -- like in the 50s my parents were approached by a beef-selling salesman RVN VET71 15 hrs ago #73

Around here, it is more likely to be young evangelists from LDS or 7th Day Adventists or other... hlthe2b Yesterday #8

Tell them "You work for Jesus? Give me his number. I want to call him." dalton99a 19 hrs ago #65

Only one really irritated me in recent years and to them, I told them I was Muslim and began speaking in Arabic. hlthe2b 19 hrs ago #66

The days of the proverbial Fuller Brush Man are long gone. Intractable Yesterday #9

It must be such a treat to be married to you, belittling and infantilizing your wife on DU. Maru Kitteh Yesterday #10

I first thought it was going to be satire leftstreet Yesterday #32

I know. Yikes! Joinfortmill Yesterday #41

Whow! OK. Trust_Reality 21 hrs ago #59

Actually I like almost all of the other posts better. Sorry it hit a tender spot with you. Trust_Reality 21 hrs ago #61

I live near a major city - TBF Yesterday #15

I have an outer metal gate in front door with an atrium in the middle kimbutgar Yesterday #16

Can't win anywhere by opening the door. And some non-advice. usonian Yesterday #17

We've had a couple of vacuum cleaner guys around. The rest are madinmaryland Yesterday #18

A lot of those outfits are scammy as fuck Stacey Grove Yesterday #19

The Pella guy was aggressive because their product is crap LT Barclay Yesterday #21

They may ask you to sign their tablet just showing that they visited your house. If you do they will use the twodogsbarking Yesterday #22

+1. dalton99a 19 hrs ago #64

I feel bad for your wife, she was probably the only person who actually answered the door FakeNoose Yesterday #23

The best two dollars I've spent in while. Ohiya Yesterday #24

We have a No Soliciting sign at the entrance to our sub. llmart Yesterday #30

I have a No Soliciting sign just underneath my doorbell. SeattleVet Yesterday #51

Sadly, I live in a city where solicitors can't read Rorey 7 hrs ago #83

I don't open the door to any strangers. Way to dangerous TommieMommy Yesterday #25

Another threat was covered by an AARP Bulletin story about a year ago. There allegorical oracle Yesterday #27

Diabolical Joinfortmill Yesterday #44

This message was self-deleted by its author LogDog75 Yesterday #28

Nope. Don't let any sales people in the door. You cannot get rid of them. Initech Yesterday #29

Huge red flag xuplate Yesterday #33

One way to stop them in their tracks is to ask for the city license/permit for sales LogDog75 Yesterday #34

Even better, don't open it in the first place. ananda Yesterday #35

I just saw a video on SocialDemocrat61 Yesterday #36

OMG!!! FoxNewsSucks 17 hrs ago #68

Maybe she just shouldn't be home when they return. Or just shoo them away. LeftInTX Yesterday #37

We're lucky in one regard. cab67 Yesterday #38

I never answer the door for unannounced visitors or the phone for unknown callers. GoodRaisin Yesterday #40

I never answer a knock on my door JoseBalow Yesterday #43

I love the first one! n/t ReRe Yesterday #47

I have doorbell cameras. murielm99 Yesterday #45

i have a sign that says i charge $50 to listen to their pitch moonshinegnomie Yesterday #46

I never ever open the door, they can ring the bell and knock on Raine Yesterday #49

Growing up Faux pas 23 hrs ago #53

I never answer the door nor the phone unless I know who it is. hamsterjill 23 hrs ago #54

"Potential" doorbells (satire!) usonian 23 hrs ago #56

Better yet Rebl2 22 hrs ago #57

Captain Beefheart sold door-to-door orthoclad 22 hrs ago #58

I had a phone salesman call me (right at dinnertime!).... lastlib 21 hrs ago #60

this is obviously the aggressive "believe in your product" salesmanship rampartd 21 hrs ago #62

I put something like this above my door bell Monsieur_Grumpe 21 hrs ago #63

In our town, door-to-door sales people have to register with the police first. Otherwise, they can be arrested. Wonder Why 19 hrs ago #67

we get rogers salespeople here constantly...i won't do business with them because i caught them doing something dawn5651 16 hrs ago #69

Pella windows are excellent radical noodle 16 hrs ago #70

Are you young newlyweds? Bread and Circuses 11 hrs ago #76

I feel sorry for the door knockers. Aussie105 11 hrs ago #77

Yes! Ask for a business card. Tell them directly::: No card equals SCAM. Norrrm 11 hrs ago #78

We usually open the door DFW 9 hrs ago #80

As the expression goes: How can you tell when a salesperson is lying? Orrex 8 hrs ago #81

This is a sad thread, but not unexpected. Ron Green 6 hrs ago #86

I've learned to be polite while ending the conversation quickly. Music Man 5 hrs ago #88

I hung a 'No Solicitors' sign at my front door, and the doorknocks dropped off amazingly. Aristus 5 hrs ago #89

As a recent widow, I don't even answer the phone for numbers I don't recognize. Ziggysmom 5 hrs ago #90

It's a wonder she isn't dead, or worse. Never open the door, door to door people are hawking crap. mucholderthandirt 4 hrs ago #92

Just porch pirate their asses away! GreenWave 4 hrs ago #93

If you are a woman and home alone, DO NOT open the door to anyone you do not know or are not expecting. camartinwv 3 hrs ago #94