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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think door-to-door sales and canvassing should be illegal?

35 replies

MardyBra · 03/05/2014 10:18

Or opt in only?

Some fucker has just disturbed my lie-in.

And remonstrated with me for not wanting to hear his sales pitch to boot.

OP posts:
BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 03/05/2014 10:24

Yep, I'm tempted to agree.
I hurt. I only want to hobble to the door if it is for a real reason. I have no issue taking in deliveries for neighbours for eg. But to get there to be asked if i want solar panels again (When if they looked into it, they'd find there is a tree out the back), well they can fuck off.

LaurieFairyCake · 03/05/2014 10:26

I think it should be illegal too because of all the elderly folk getting conned.

Andrewofgg · 03/05/2014 10:29

YANBU. It's the I'm-selling-encyclopaedias-to-pay-for-college artists who bring my inner grievous bodily harmer bubbling dangerously near the surface. No you aren't, sonny, you are trying to rip me off and there is more chance of you sticking red-hot pokers in your eyes and enjoying the experience than there is that you will separate me from one penny piece so will you please fuck off and die painfully but quietly and off my doorstep?

Original poster
MardyBra · 03/05/2014 10:42

This was my conversation earlier:

Me: Oh, no thanks. I'm not interested in buying anything. (Cheery but firm).

Him: Aren't you even going to listen to what I have to say?

Me: I didn't ask you to knock on my door and disturb me. Why should I listen to you?

Him: Then why don't you put a sign up on your door?

Me: I don't want a bloody sign. They're ugly.

Grrr.

OP posts:
Original poster
MardyBra · 03/05/2014 10:44

Btw, I forgot to add "not in the least lighthearted" to the thread title.

OP posts:
Original poster
MardyBra · 03/05/2014 10:45

And I would extend my new law to telephone sales too.

My time is valuable MNing time. All these intrusions add up.

OP posts:
BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 03/05/2014 10:51

God yes, and calls from robots telling me i am entitled to reclaim my ppi. Umm no actually, im not, i had no ppi!

BorisJohnsonsHairdresser · 03/05/2014 10:54

Yes, and as Beyond has said, the one's on the phone too.

I would happily sign a petition.

curiousgeorgie · 03/05/2014 11:25

They always ring the bell when I've just managed to get the baby to sleep.

Then the dog goes crazy barking, wakes her up and its soul destroying.... and to just say 'no thank you!' Repeatedly.

redexpat · 03/05/2014 12:32

Bloody love canvassing. Engaging with whoever is on the other side of the door is really exciting. Hate dalesman though. And jw. Love the mormons though. Always so sweet.

Louise1956 · 03/05/2014 19:48

If you don't want to buy what they are selling, just say no.

EatDessertFirst · 03/05/2014 20:08

I don't even open the door. Just stand in the window, wave and smile then carry on with what I was doing (normally cooking dinner as they always come then).

I had one even flip me the bird through my living room window because I wouldn't open the door!

It must be a soul-destroying job, having doors constantly slammed in your face. The ones that target the elderly and vunerable are leeches and should be made illegal.

wintertimeisfun · 03/05/2014 20:24

i knew i shouldn't have opened the door yesterday evening, they always tend to knock on the door around 8pm. i did open it, it was one of those blokes holding a basket with REALLY expensive tea towels etc. i find them 'surface friendly' but intimidating. this time i didn't give in and buy anything as i can't afford it. i basically said i was skint and then shut the door whilst he nagged me to buy something. their stuff is REALLY expensive. i have read on here many times how it is some kind of a scam. i still feel sorry for them and think they are at least trying to earn a living but i really am skint at the moment and didn't want to fork out £10 for some j cloths....

SunnyL · 03/05/2014 20:39

My dad had a deaf salesman come round the door trying to sell cleaning products. My dad said no thank you but the man wouldn't take no for an answer and insisted on showing him the stuff. When he bent down my dad leaned forward and whispered in his ear 'I said no thank you'. The bloke stood up and asked why to which my dad answered because you're a conman and aren't deaf.

Turns out the local constabulary were very interested to know about this guy due to a number of old folk getting broken into.

wowfudge · 03/05/2014 20:52

Where do I sign? Yes, ban it. I always say that I never sign up for anything on the doorstep.

And I hate it when they knock on the door instead of using the bell. Knock on the door = dog barking like crazy. Doorbell = out of his hearing range so calm is preserved.

AiryFairyHairyAndScary · 03/05/2014 21:08

Get a sign for your door. I have one and no longer get any salesmen or canvassers. I got it for a few quid on Amazon.

wintertimeisfun · 03/05/2014 21:29

i have a (sticker) sign but the bastards still knock.......

TiaDalma · 03/05/2014 21:49

This drives me insane! I'm in a so-called 'no cold calling area', still get salesmen knocking on the door. I always point out they are in fact in a no cold calling area, their response, 'oh, I'm not actually selling anything, just wanted to inform you of the brilliant deals we have on on double glazing ATM' riiiiight ... ODFOD!

Andrewofgg · 03/05/2014 21:53

Don't we all have spyholes in our doors?

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 03/05/2014 22:06

Ditto Winter. And no haven't got a spy hole, as we have semi obscured glass so the fuckers can see me. The vaguely threatening blokes with baskets got into my DM's secure flats a couple of years back. Police and all involved. Two days later they (or their associates) were caught round the back of the block trying to break in.

cheepsskram · 03/05/2014 22:16

God yes. Last weekend, a guy from Zenith Windows knocked on the door and asked if I'd thought of getting my windows replaced. I said no. And the cheeky fucker replied "are you sure, there's a bit of damage there" (there bloody isn't).

I just said "no thank you" and shut the door but now I wish I'd really given him a mouthful!

fridayfreedom · 03/05/2014 22:35

Sure there was a sign outside my Mil house saying soft touch as we found tonnes of stuff bought at the door when we cleared her house after she died.

Original poster
MardyBra · 04/05/2014 00:52

"Get a sign for your door. I have one and no longer get any salesmen or canvassers. I got it for a few quid on Amazon."

I don't want a bloody sign. I have quite an elegant period front door which would be spoiled by putting a sign on it. I just want to be left in peace.

OP posts:
Original poster
MardyBra · 04/05/2014 01:08

"I don't even open the door. Just stand in the window, wave and smile then carry on with what I was doing (normally cooking dinner as they always come then). ".

Unfortunately the layout of my house means that I don't know who it is until I answer the door.

OP posts:
angelos02 · 04/05/2014 04:38

YANBU. Any sales phone calls, post and emails too. Should all be illegal too.