Buying at your front door

Welshlassie

Dormouse wrote: »

Once the baby is here in August, and some idiot has woken them up by ringing the doorbell, they'll get a fright of their lives having an angry hormonal new mum shouting at them.

I'm thinking the same things. I'll be tempted to put a sign on the door then saying something along those lines, never mind beware of the dog, more
"Beware the new hormonal mother and screaming baby!"

barrymoney

I got a very good looking sticker for my door, free from my local Trading Standards. I see lots of people round here with the same thing. It has the council logo + thames valley police logo on it too so far so good, no salesman. I cant seem to stop all cold-calling on the phone, that annoys me even more (I am registered with TPS etc). In short, I agree its bl**dy annoying.

hollydays

I dont live in a dodgy area,but I never open my door to any stranger and never have done,I either put the chain on, or shout through an upstairs window.Its difficult for them to have a conversation with me through 3 inches of open door-they get the message.Its also a good habit to get into for the rest of your life,cos how many old people have done this when they are advanced in years and been attacked or conned.Distracting the occupier at the front door while entering through another door is a common ploy of conmen.

smileypigface

As long as you don't need to make a telephone call I would recommend my method of dealing with unwanted telephone sellers:

They ask their opening gambit and I answer in a suitably encouraging way - I then very carefully place the telephone receiver down on the table/chair/whatever .. and go away and get on with whatever I was doing before the phone rang.

I'm happy as I'm getting on with my own stuff ... they are happy as they get to do what they love best - listening to the sound of their own voices, barely pausing to draw breath lest anyone should interrupt their flow ....

I usually find they've given up waiting for me to get back to phone when I pick it up again about half an hour later.

Alternatively, and if feeling really evil, I'll make the interested noises but then start a diatribe of absolute rubbish - whatever comes into my head .... my thoughts on the latest soap plotlines for example ... they soon go away.

belfastgirl23

I smile and say no thank you and close the door straight away. But I confess if I'm not expecting someone I check out the window first and don't answer if I don't feel like it. There's no law to say you always have to answer a door!

thriftlady_2

I downloaded a notice from my local Trading Standards too. It's not very visible though due to the nature of our windows and in winter when it's dark people can't always see it.

They still knock, and always start with ' I'm not selling anything love', to which I say 'good, because I'm not buying anything' and shut the door.

nickj_2

tell them your house is rented

Dormouse

nickj wrote: »

tell them your house is rented

That works in some cases, like the conservatory/double glazing people (our house is rented, so I'm not even lying), but won't work on charity people and students with painting and people selling weird stuff like car air fresheners (yes we've had those - what's that all about? )

purplepurple

nickj wrote: »

tell them your house is rented

That's exactly what I do. We had a terrible few months before our road joined neighbourhood watch where cold callers would literally arrive in vans and start at one end of the road, working their way down knocking at every door. It was awful until we started telling them that we rent the house... they just disappear! Works every time:D

Norma_Desmond

I never buy from anyone who knocks the door although years ago I ended up with a CACTUS of all things!
I opened the door to quite an elderly chap who had a great big tray of beautiful home-grown cacti and it was such a surprise that I bought one.
I still have it now and its name is Gregory!