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AIBU?

to think the window salesman was in the wrong here, and not me?

61 replies

parakeet · 16/12/2013 18:44

Yet another thread about door-to-door salespeople I'm afraid.

I got a ring on the doorbell while I was in the middle of making the children's tea and went to answer it. The guy said (very politely, to be fair) "Hello, sorry to bother you on this dark and rainy night but I'm from Anglia Home Improvements and..." At this point I interrupted so we didn't waste each others' time further and said (also politely) "I'm sorry but I don't buy at the door."

It was like a switch had been flicked. He spun on his heel and left, shouting (grumpily) over his shoulder "Well put a sign on your door then!"

He made it sound like I was at fault for wasting his time by failing to put a sign up saying No cold callers, etc. I am seriously thinking of trying to buy a sign now, though, so he certainly made his point...

OP posts:

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NorksAreMessy · 16/12/2013 22:11

I live in a field on a farm.
Nobody ever cold calls us

Bliss

Mellowandfruitful · 16/12/2013 22:15

My parents have a sign, and it is regularly ignored.

With JWs, salespeople or whatever, I go for breaking in at the first polite opportunity with 'I'm not interested, thanks'. It's very hard to argue with that. Usually they at least pause, by which time you are halfway to shutting the door.

DropYourSword · 16/12/2013 22:21

I've got a dog...she doesn't let anyone make it into the garden. Although I once did have a couple of determined JWs who tried to convert me standing at the gate and bellowing to me in the house!

fuckwittery · 16/12/2013 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whathaveiforgottentoday · 16/12/2013 22:31

With the charity ones I just tell them I've already got a direct debit with their charity as I consider it an important charity. They soon leave and skip away happy seeing no point in persuading somebody who is already persuaded. First time I did it, i was genuine (charity close to my heart) but found it so effective, I now use it on all charities. Sometimes we have a lovely chat I come away feeling all virtuous about my altruistic behaviour until I remember I'm actually lying.

Wouldn't work with JW though.

YouAreMyRain · 16/12/2013 22:32

Ifcatshadthumbs that's what I do, I always say I'm not the homeowner/it's rented. Stops double glazing/kitchen sellers in their tracks (disclaimer - untested on JWs)

Felix90 · 16/12/2013 22:34

Luckily for me I always get asked if my Mum or Dad are home (I'm 23 and live with my partner!) so I always say they are at work and they leave

IThoughtThat · 16/12/2013 22:35

I put a no cold callers sign up and it's worked a treat. It looks a wee bit ugly but I am happy not to deal with intrusive salesmen etc.

Mishmashofstyles · 16/12/2013 22:44

Yes, why do they always come at child bedtime? Grr.

RevoltingPeasant · 16/12/2013 23:52

Slight derailing, but tonight some religious cold callers came with a leaflet that said "Can the dead really live again?"

I was on autopilot, glanced down at it as it was offered,and said politely "I'm not interested in the dead, thanks" and went to shut the door. The woman just looked surprised and it was only when I'd shut the door that I realised it was quite a weird thing to say

foreverondiet · 17/12/2013 00:18

They were rude. I also have a sign. Looks ugly but I was getting too many people coming round.

BlackeyedShepherdswatchsheep · 17/12/2013 01:15

I live in a flat. the downstairs neighbour shouts fuck off out of the window at charity collectors. nearly as good as a big dog.

SecondStarToTheRight · 17/12/2013 04:01

Best way to get rid of JWs is to tell them that your (insert relative here) is a vicar so you are fine thanks. Always said with a smile.

Works everytime

daisychain01 · 17/12/2013 05:25

My DH said " thanks for calling by, but I withdraw your implied right of access to our property". They probably thought he was a barrister or something but they seem to avoid our house nowadays!

3bunnies · 17/12/2013 06:02

Dh was in a large old house with all original windows etc. Double glazing salesman gave him the hard sell about how much warmer it would be to take them all out and rrplace them, cut in bills etc. After a bit more discussion and debate as the windows were the original Dh agreed and said it all sounded great so the sales man went for the kill at which point dh said that he should send the quote to the Uni as it was his halls of residence and as a lowly undergrad he had no authority to change the windows. Not a happy salesman, but dh thought was v funny! One of his milder student pranks.

lifeissweet · 17/12/2013 06:04

What is it with window salespeople?! I had one come round to give me a quote. He kept asking if my husband would be home. I kept saying it's my house, not his - and we're not even married. He carried on saying he'd prefer to talk to both of us. I carried on saying it's none of DP's business and he's not bothered about the windows anyway. DP finally came home, at which point the smarmy man started pitching directly to DP, who kept saying 'it's not my house. This is nothing to do with me.'

In the end, we said no to making a decision there and then and salesman got really, really shirty with us.

When the customer services people called for feedback, I'm afraid to say I gave it both barrels. I had felt like I was living in 1973.

EnianShelZman · 17/12/2013 09:13

I usually say "me no English". Works every time.

hackmum · 17/12/2013 09:25

I work from home so I get a lot of door-to-door calls (and cold phone calls too). I hate them, but I also feel sorry for people who have to do them - what a crap job, eh? So I do try to be polite but it's irritating as hell.

LisaMed · 17/12/2013 09:30

We had JWs call when we were staying at a holiday cottage. DH thought holiday entertainment had been laid on. He got the holiday cottage blacklisted by JWs and they walked off shaking their feet (which is apparently a result).

Never argue with someone who has had excellent telesales and theology training.

MardyBra · 17/12/2013 09:49

The thing is, I don't want a fucking sign. I have a nice period front door and a sign would make it look ugly.

I just want people to stop bothering me while I'm busy on MN.

IThoughtThat · 17/12/2013 10:31

Mardy. I thought the same. The signs are all ugly but I found the best one I could and it really works. What about putting a sign in your window for a while and trailing it?

IThoughtThat · 17/12/2013 10:32

Trial Not trail.

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nancerama · 17/12/2013 10:35

I've told this one before, but my cousin was briefly married to a Jehovah's Witness. When they knocked on my uncle's door, he answered with a cheery "no thank you, we've already got one".

snowed · 17/12/2013 10:42

YANBU. He was rude and should have taken no for an answer. Having no sign is neutral, it doesn't mean you'll buy at the door.

SettingPlaster · 17/12/2013 10:43

The only time I was really rude to a someone trying to sell me double-glazing was when he ignored a prominent sign on the door that said DONT RING - SLEEPING BABY. My insomniac baby was finally taking a rare nap, I was frantically trying to catch up on work in my study, which looks directly onto the front door. I watched this spotty fucker walk up the path, stop,read the sign and ring anyway. I nearly ripped him a new one. He claimed he hadn't understood the sign...

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