Ringtons cold calling - new tactic

Tommo781

I have a notice on my door, in a very large font, which says "No Cold Callers or Salesmen. Thankyou."

Yesterday a woman ignored the sign and rang the bell. When I answered the door she announced she was from Ringtons, the tea people. I immediately pointed to the sign and said she was cold calling. She responded that she wasn't a sales person or cold caller, she was offering a service. I repeated it was a cold call. She repeated Ringtons were offering a service.

She then got shirty and said "does that sign apply to everyone? What if it is something you want?" I told her that the sign certainly applied to Ringtons and asked her to leave. She then said "I bet no-one else pays any attention to your notice." As I shut the door she said, very sarcastically, "Thankyou for your time."

I then rang Ringtons to complain. A very nice employee was totally sympathetic, agreed that the woman should never have rung the bell, and confirmed that she was definitely trying to get me signed up to buy their products. She said that the matter would be reported to the lady's manager, especially as she had argued with me, and been rude about my notice.

So beware! To say a company is offering a service when they are trying to sell something is underhand and devious.

bod1467

Is there a voluntary code of conduct that some companies have signed up to, to say they will honour any such notices? (I seem to recall reading about this at some point).

But even if there is ...

1. Not every company has signed up to it

2. Even if they have, they may not have ensured their agents are aware of this

3. All you can do is shrug it off - you're unlikely to get anything from this except self-satisfaction for complaining to the company.

Next time this happens (and it will) just point at the sign, smile, say goodbye and shut the door.

PS - this is more suited to Praise, Vents and Warnings.

meer53

Why didn't you just say you weren't interested ?

Tommo781

meer53 wrote: »

Why didn't you just say you weren't interested ?

I did. But as I tried to close the door she put her hand in the way and carried on being shirty.

maninthestreet

Your "No Cold Callers or Salesmen. Thankyou." sign is obviously defective. Did you buy it from a shop? If so, take it back and ask for a repair, replacement or your money back.

fluffnutter

Answer the door armed with a large pump-action water pistol.

I have a sense of deja-vu... this thread has been posted twice.

Curr946

The no cold callers signs were affective for energy companies, as they were signed up to the agreement. Though most no longer go door to door due to mis-selling scandal now anyway...

tomwakefield

Tommo781 wrote: »

I have a notice on my door, in a very large font, which says "No Cold Callers or Salesmen. Thankyou."

Yesterday a woman ignored the sign and rang the bell. When I answered the door she announced she was from Ringtons, the tea people. I immediately pointed to the sign and said she was cold calling. She responded that she wasn't a sales person or cold caller, she was offering a service. I repeated it was a cold call. She repeated Ringtons were offering a service.

She obviously doesn't understand what cold calling is.

Tommo781 wrote: »

She then got shirty and said "does that sign apply to everyone? What if it is something you want?"

Well, if I know I want something, I don't sit around at home waiting for someone to happen to wander up to my front door selling said item.

fluffnutter

People flogging teabags door to door? What a bizarre thing to try to sell on the doorstep. Here's what happens in my house.... Ooh, I'm running low on tea. Must put it on the shopping list for when I next go the supermarket.

This is somewhat different to... Ooh, I'm running low on tea. I do hope that someone comes knocking the door soon selling teabags.

tomwakefield

fluffnutter wrote: »

This is somewhat different to... Ooh, I'm running low on tea. I do hope that someone comes knocking the door soon selling teabags.

I'm just imagining spending a day being visited by the Hovis salesman, the Cravendale salesman, the Twinings salesman, the Westaways salesman, the Birdseye salesman, the Lurpak salesman, the Tropicana salesman, the Colgate salesman, the Listerine salesman, the Andrex salesman,...

pug_in_a_bed

My mum and dad get ringtons tea and ginger biscuits delivered, I have to say they do the best tea I've ever had!