Should doorstep sellers be banned?

Evilm

veronica_Tonge wrote: »

Please think carefully about this cold calling ban business. I feel very strongly that as we grow older people, with all good intentions, raise our anxiety levels. This to me is a great disservice and leads to social isollation and being housebound. I would prefer to retain control over my own front door and cherish the opportunity of meeting new people and retaining links with the community. I heard someone recently on Noth West news saying that carol singers were imposing on people! We are solitary enough. Please do not 'keep me safe' any more, thanks all the same

And yet it is a risk that older people (not necessarily you however) can get confused by salesman and lose lots of money because of it.

Whilst I can see you don't want Carol Singers banned surely it would be better to make them one of a few sensible exceptions to a general cold calling law?

Primrose

I'm not surprised 70% voted for an absolute ban. These people are an invasion of our personal space and many of them can be dishonest, aggressive, persuasive or even downright crooks trying to "suss" out your property for a potential burglary. And many elderly and vulnerable people are intimidated by them and are tricked into buying shabby goods at exhorbitant prices.
Some Councils are setting up No Doorstep Selling Zones. If you live in a street which is continually plagued by doorstep sellers, it's worth getting together with your neighbours to check whether everybody feels the same and then approaching your local council for your street to be set up as a No Doorstep Selling Zone, provided with a Street lamp post poster to indicate this.

Cinders2001

We have the TPS, the MPS, the FPS, Baby MPS..... so why not a DPS -Doostep Preference Service.

A list for companies who sell not to come to the door? Why not!

Devon-chic

Yes without a doubt.....they always call at the most inconvenient time and all the ones I have come across do not listen when I say politely "No thank-you" so now I a sign on my door saying no cold callers and I ignore all knocks.

LameWolf

I had a video entry phone installed in place of the doorbell, because I was so sick and tired of hobbling to the door on my two walking sticks, only to find the caller wanted to either sell me something, mug me, or convert me to a different religion.

I wouldn't like to see a total ban (too much of the nanny state there) but like others, a combination of options B and C.

alistair_macdonald

the need to not be rude and listen is difficult to maintain....

the last doorstep call I had was from an energy firm and they tried to pull a fast one!

luckily I had, that morning received a letter from my gas supplier telling me of upcoming reduced rates. When the salesmen asked to see my old bill so they could compare their prices I knew straight away that they were trying to compare my old rate with their new reduced rates - as rates were being reduced across all energy companies - I said let's just compare the new rates as I knew they had just fallen - they lost the comparison and said goodbye - waste of 15 minutes... I wish I had insisted to decline the pitch, I did say I wasn't interested but they kept butting in "you want to save money right?" "why not let us compare prices?" - pushy - ban them!

GameOldBird

I think there should be a household opt-out scheme, similar to the TPS. Any cold callers should be legally required to carry a list of properties who have opted out in whatever area they are canvassing in and they should be prevented from calling at that property by law. Personally, I find doorsteppers an unwanted nuisance and unfortunately we get lots of them in my area. Hardly a week goes by without unsolicited callers doing the rounds. I got absolutely sick of being pestered and of the downright insolence of some of them, thinking they could speak to me disrespectfully on my own front doorstep - no chance. This is MY house and you're invading MY privacy, pal. :mad:

It came to a head one evening with some squeaky-voiced lowlife from a power company who told my husband to f*** off when my husband said he wasn't interested in switching suppliers and would he please leave as he was interrupting his evening meal. This wasn't a particularly good tactic as my husband is 6'3", 17 stone and not noted for his bonhomie when his nosebag is disturbed. Let's just say you've never seen a polyester suit move so fast off a front drive and down a road. The static electricity it must have generated would have probably kept a small power station going for the rest of the evening.

The next day, I designed a sign to put at the front door stating in no uncertain terms that we will not conduct any kind of business with any organisation cold calling at our door. This stops most of them, I'm pleased to say, but there are certain ones who think they can ignore it, usually the rougher elements of the home improvement sector and particularly 'chuggers' or charity collectors, and I find the latter pretty obnoxious, trying to use emotional or moral blackmail ... "Don't you care about animals/children/whatever", my answer generally being, "nope" and the door being shut on them. (I love animals and children btw - honestly!:))

Luckily, our house is at the top of a cul-de-sac which sits on a slope, so I have a grandstand view of the whole road when I'm in my sitting room. I can see doorsteppers coming way before they get to my house and if they do ignore the sign and knock, I simply don't bother answering. Some of them will have seen me through the window on their way up the drive and will knock a few times until they realise I'm not going to answer. I think it's important that people remember that if they do get doorstepped, then they're fully within their rights to say, "No thanks" and shut the door. You aren't in any way obliged to enter into any kind of conversation or discussion - remember, it's YOUR property, YOUR privacy and YOUR time!

lisawood78

I have a sign, on the letter box flap in bold letters, gets ignored. I also have a large sign on the front door with a picture of my dogs saying 'We Live Here' I think this keeps the sellers away more than the no cold callers sign.
If someone does knock, as they still do I either let the dogs bark at them (usually sends them packing) or I ask them if they have an appointment.
Man walked up the drive the other day and I was upstairs, I shouted from the window (politely) 'No Thankyou' He said 'You don't even know what I want yet' and continued to knock on the door!! I ignored him, and after one of the Danes stuck her head out of the window next to the door (all windows open, hot day) and barked at him, he went away sharpish.
I've made my dogs sound all mean and agressive, but they are really not, just big and don't like strangers at the door!

CutTheJargon

nomegustamucho wrote: »

Well I am inclined to ban all of them. But what about the nice (local) people who come round every year to sell me raffle tickets for the church fete or collect money for lifeboats or poppy sales?? I am happy to give them some cash.

But some people are not and they also put you on the spot and under pressure. Our local church has a newsletter and use this to ask for money for different causes, poppy sellers are all over the place and don't need to go door to door and the others can use their imagination and find other ways to sell.

However, I think charity collectors would come under a different category to companies. I would still hate them asking me directly for money on the doorstep, though.

jgriggle

My wife normally lets me answer the door as she's no good at getting rid of doorstep callers.

There's no need to be rude - they are after all fellow human beings and only doing their jobs. The alternative would be for them to be unemployed and living off your hard earned taxes!

Overcoming objections to buying is a big part of sales training, so the trick is not to get into a conversation. I usually say "sorry, I'm not interested but thanks anyway" whilst at the same time closing the door, finishing the sentence as the door clicks. That way they don't get the opportunity to speak.

I'm sure most sales people are quite professional and will take no for an answer, but I don't really want to find out which type they are. I'm sorry to all nice salespeople who may find me abrupt, but you should blame your pushy counterparts for that, not me!