Should doorstep sellers be banned? 29 June 2010 at 11:53AM edited 6 July 2010 at 7:36PM in MoneySaving polls 74 replies 15.9K views

Former_MSE_Lee

Poll rn between 29 June and 6 July 2010:

Should doorstep sellers be banned?

Recently the six big energy companies agreed their doorstep salespeople would obey a no cold callers sign on the door (click link to get a free one).

Doorstep Sellers Pros: Can alert you to local offers, helps fledgling businesses announce their services.
Doorstep Sellers Cons: Can be annoying & and leaves the vulnerable at mercy of pushy sale.

Which of these is closest to your view?


A. Absolute ban on doorstep sellers
B. Doorstep sellers must be licenced
C. 'No cold callers' sign legally enforceable
D. No ban

The vote is now closed but feel free to discuss below

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*Louise*

Hehe, everyone will be putting the signs up now :T

I hate cold callers, especially ones from energy or phone companies. Aside from the fact they usually knock when I'm cooking dinner, I much prefer if they just put a leaflet through which I can peruse and decide in my own time.

I hate being put on the spot and having to decide something, so 9 times out of 10 my answer would be No anyway.

jamespir

i dont think there should be a ban ive been a doorstop seller and were not all pushy and try to diddle granny out of her pension
i think licencing could be a good idea perhaps or have a code of conduct drawn up so that all agree by it before they can sell cause trust me i worked with some very dodgy charecters

tinktinktinkerbell

i pick option A

rizla01

I have been fortunate enough to benefit from Doorstop callers inasmuch as I was a rep dependant on leads obtained in this way. When it started to happen to me (Having moved up the social ladder) I found it really annoying.

You do feel somewhat obliged to be pleasant & patient through gritted gums, while waiting to get back to whatever was disturbed, dont you.

So now I'm a miserable old fart, I say BAN 'EM!!

To be fair to those wishing to earn a living in this way, since my phone number is listed on the TPS system - Why can't my home be on a HPS System?

Option (E)

shellsuit

Yes, ban them along with the gits who post leaflets, menus and charity bags!

rizla01

shellsuit wrote: »

Yes, ban them along with the gits who post leaflets, menus and charity bags!

Er. that'll be the postman then.:)

shellsuit

rizla01 wrote: »

Er. that'll be the postman then.:)

The postman doesn't deliver any of them!

Sheepster

Totally

We get at least on average two charity bags a week. Just how much stuff do these businesses think we all have to give away to them!

As for doorstep sellers - if I want something I will go to them, not the other way around.

The only people who are going to not want to ban sellers - are sellers.

jiffk

i live in a fairly nice part of town but in a closed off community of flats.

We're prime target for any sort of mass marketing or sales becuase they can get round 40-50 houses in quick succession.

I never buy anything from someone who approached me as a rule of thumb be it in the street, over the phone or at the door!

So they might as well be banned from my door as its wasting there time and mine!

giltbrook

All doorstep marketeers should be banned. I have signs on my door stating, No Sales - No Canvassers, but some of them still knock. When I point to the signs on the door and ask why they have not taken any notice of my wishes, they often lie and say they are dyslexic and can't read the notices, but presumably they are able to read the brochures they carry to promote their sales. I then point out to them that they are trespassing on my property, and tell them to leave. I have had threats on several occassions, and they will often fetch the rest of the pack to try and intimidate me, the most ever being 5 of them on my doorstep, but I stand my ground. It is my property, they have no right to be on it, and I should not have to be intimidated in my own home by someone trying to sell me something I do not want, and have no intention of buying. The only way to totally stop this nuisance is to make all doorstep marketing and canvassing illegal, that way, there can be no excuses, if someone does it, they will be committing a criminal offence, along with the civil offence of trespass.