How do you react to door-to-door solicitors?

[Anonymous]

New homeowner here. Since we moved into our house, we have had a number of door-to-door solicitors ring our bell: selling candy, mag subscriptions, political stuff, etc. We used to live in an apartment, so this is kinda new for us.

I have stopped answering the door--I just don't answer the door for to strangers when I'm home with DS--period--but DH still does. He is polite, listens to their spiel, and general says, No thanks, I don't want any magazine subscriptions today.

Well, he must have reached his limit because our doorbell rang twice today (we're both home today). He spoke with the first guy--magazine-subscription solicitor--but the second time he went to the door to look through the door window to see if it was UPS or something. When he saw it wasn't, and that it was a different guy, he just walked away and didn't answer the door. I'm pretty sure the guy at the door saw him, but I guess even DH has his limits.

How do you handle solicitors? I have a neighbor with a No Solicitors sign, but I'm reluctant to do that. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I either answer and tell them I'm not interested, or I don't answer at all. Depends on my mood.

A 'No Solicitors' sign is tacky, IMO.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We've had a lot of problems with this as well. Drives me crazy - especially in this day and age where it's just not good to open the door to strangers. I either don't go to the door at all, or we fortunately have a side window along our door so if I can tell it's a solicitor when I get there, I just look out the window and put my hand up to indicate we are not interested. Then I walk away.

[Anonymous]

One time, someone rang my doorbell incessantly, because I guess she knew that someone was home. Later, I found a note on the front door basically telling me off - that I was a worthless human being for not answering the door. And she was a solicitor for a non-profit organization that I have supported in the past. I was super annoyed because I had been busy trying to put my toddler down for a nap - which the ringing doorbell wasn't helping. Next time the organization called my house for a donation, I told them to never call me again.

I'm not sure what the answer is. I like to be able to answer my door, when someone calls. But, I feel like I should also be able to not answer it, if I'm unable to.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the replies. Yeah, it was definitely clear we were home: sprinklers on, cars in front. The thing about the second solicitor is that he rang the bell and knocked--hard--and then rang and knocked again--hard--when we didn't get there fast enough. Kinda bugged me, but I think DH was just worn out from being polite the first time. The guy kept him out front for 10 minutes with his spiel.

[Anonymous]

I guess it's safer not to answer at all, but I usually answer and apologize that I'm busy before they get started on their spiel. Once they start, you just can't get away ... !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One time, someone rang my doorbell incessantly, because I guess she knew that someone was home. Later, I found a note on the front door basically telling me off - that I was a worthless human being for not answering the door. And she was a solicitor for a non-profit organization that I have supported in the past. I was super annoyed because I had been busy trying to put my toddler down for a nap - which the ringing doorbell wasn't helping. Next time the organization called my house for a donation, I told them to never call me again.

I'm not sure what the answer is. I like to be able to answer my door, when someone calls. But, I feel like I should also be able to not answer it, if I'm unable to.

You're kidding me? Wow, the nerve of some people.

[Anonymous]

I never answer. I cannot imagine opening the door to a strange man I was not expecting with a toddler and an infant. I think it should be illegal but I'm not sure I have time to lobby!

[Anonymous]

I usually say, through the closed storm door, "just leave me your literature" and they just say, uh, I don't have anything. And I'll say, drop it by next time you're in the area. Etc.

I am a single mom, and this is where my frazzled, frayed-to-breaking look REALLY comes in handy. The barking dog and the toddler wearing nothing but a diaper is effective, too.

[Anonymous]

I normally don't answer the door. My husband will normally go out the back door and then speak to the person in the front yard. He is generally patient, but once I heard him tell a persistent solicitor that he had 30 seconds to cross our yard and leave, because our dogs could cross the yard in 35 seconds.

[Anonymous]

I have a note on the door that says that babies are sleeping and please do not knock between 12 and 5. At the time, I had a newborn and a 19 month old and our naps were all over the place an they were interrupted too many times.

It also cuts back on the solicitors a ton.

[Anonymous]

We live in an ancient rowhouse with no doorbell. We have a double front door (a front door, then a little vestibule, then another door into the house) and when both doors are closed, it's next to impossible to hear the knocking. All of that having been said, even if I had a doorbell and only one front door, I would just never answer for a solicitor. I have actually had them see me inside the house (our front doors both have big glass windows), and have just kept on about my business without acknowledging them. It's sort of awkward, but they eventually head on to the next house. I just don't have time for the pitch -- DH works a lot, and I'm home with the toddler and the dog. I don't need to be saved, or buy a magazine, or change home alarm systems. I need to be left alone to get on with my life!

[Anonymous]

Don't be stupid. Don't answer the door. Don't be naive. Most of these people are trying to see who is home during the day. Better safe than sorry, truly.

Besides, if fewer of us answer the door, there will (before long) be fewer and fewer solicitors. Some of these people are absolute masters of talking you out of your money; or getting information from you before you realize you shouldn't have. Just avoid the situation altogether and DO NOT ANSWER THE DOOR.

[Anonymous]

I do not open my door for anyone I do not know no matter what the circumstances-if the police knock on my door or firefighters that I can see through my peephole, then of course I open the door. All else, no entry. They can shout all they want(which would probably make me call 911) or say that they're just doing something nice, doesn't matter. If I don't know why you're here, I don't open the door and I don't reply and I don't give a good goddamn if my sprinklers are on, my TV is blaring and they can hear me talking on the phone. In this day and age, even door-to-door sales people should think twice about taking a job requiring them to knock upon the doors of strangers who read the paper everyday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Don't be stupid. Don't answer the door. Don't be naive. Most of these people are trying to see who is home during the day. Better safe than sorry, truly.

Besides, if fewer of us answer the door, there will (before long) be fewer and fewer solicitors. Some of these people are absolute masters of talking you out of your money; or getting information from you before you realize you shouldn't have. Just avoid the situation altogether and DO NOT ANSWER THE DOOR.

Maybe they are trying to see who's not home and then break into your house thinking you aren't there but you really are.