to not buy off door to door salesman?

[Tortycat]

A guy approached me while i was in the drive yesterday. Sales pitch that he was an ex prisoner, selling household stuff to get money to do a college course (funded by the company somehow). I was in a rush as ds was napping indoors and i didn't want to miss him if he woke crying. Add to that there's been a couple of others in recent months I've bought from and i didnt need anything, and cheapest item was £10. I almost did as i felt sorry for him (hard life, wet day et ), but then he kept going on and on so i felt pressured, at which point i decided i didnt like his tone so said (repeatedly) sorry but i didn't want anything. I've since felt really guilty as we could afford it and i suspect he's having a shit time (as well as worrying he was casing the house as revenge) We have a large detached house so look like we have plenty of money, but dh has had time off work after redundancy and I'm on mat leave so not as much spare money as he might think. AIBU to have not bought anything?

I never buy anything from people going door to door on principle. Why on earth would it be unreasonable to skip buying something? Do you feel obligated to buy something from every store you pass?

Of course you're NBU. You're not obliged to buy from anyone but it sounds like you usually do anyway. You can't buy from everyone, every time. Don't worry about it.

Selling stolen goods probably . Don't feel bad.

Why would you?

And, it's a scam.

The whole 'ex-prisoner, probation-service-approved scheme - here don't you want t-towel for £10, or maybe a little torch?' schtick is a well-known, widely practised scam.

They may be ex-prisoners but it's nothing to do with the probation service and, it's quite a lot to do with identifying vulnerable householders whose details can be sold on to other scammers. That is the business model.

Need any double glazing done, maybe a new kitchen? Oooh, your roof looks dodgy, that needs seeing to... that'll be £30,000. I know! Worth it though for your peace of mind. Thanks dear, you're one of the good ones.

They generally buy loads of stock from Poundland then sell at massively ibfmated prices (particularly if they perceive the occupier as vulnerable). Do not feel guilty for not buying.

YWBVU to do so.

Well known scam.

You were absolutely not unreasonable - the people who ‘run’ the sellers are hoping to prey on your guilt.

The scam is apparently known as the Nottingham Knockers and they’re to be avoided.

Thanks all - i feel guilty far too easily and this has been playing on my mind. I mainly said no as i didn't like the pressure. We've had 3 or 4 in the last few months and as I'm off work at the moment I'm always in for them. Sadly our front door is glass so they can usually see I'm in!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/uk/714206/Nottingham-Knockers-scam-police-warning-burglaries-doorstep-duster-sellers/amp

I read this is going on in Manchester and it's a scam

We get loads of them round here and it’s a total scam and I’ve had two become aggressive when I’ve very apologetically and politely refused.

After thinking about it I got really angry; I was in my own home, some random bloke knocks on my door, launches into a speil without me getting a word in, when I say no he snarls at me to go fuck myself. Well, thanks very much.

Now I pretend to be the cleaner, or say no, or if I’m feeling intimidated say that my husband doesn’t let me buy at the door (I know this is pathetic, but the patriarchy has screwed us so much I feel that I can use it a bit to get some random off my front step).

It’s a scam. He’s casing the joint whether you buy off him or not. In fact buying off him increases the chances that he will be back to burgle your house. They will always sell things to a round figure, ie. £10 so you pay with a note. They check the note/notes so they can see if you keep cash in the house, how it was stored etc. While you’re getting the money, this gives them a chance to look at the entrances to your home and seeing how accessible it would be. Don’t buy off of them and warn all of your neighbours to do the same and hopefully your street won’t be targeted as they won’t be getting results. Never ever feel bad for not buying something you never wanted or needed in the first place, especially for an over inflated cost.

If someone's trying to sell you something, they're running a business, and you should treat it like any other business decision - if you don't want the goods or have any doubts about their quality or provenance, you have no need to feel guilty if you don't buy. Charity and business are separate things.

I would never buy anything from a door-to-door seller (or sign up to anything in the street) because whatever their intentions they are pressurising you into an immediate decision without chance to do any independent checks.

We put a note saying we don't buy at the door up as my children are sometimes home alone for an hour and the sellers made them feel unsafe. Both my kids felt that there was something sinister about some of the salespersons. Luckily the note at the door (incl. "Beware of the dog") has worked.

I do not buy or give money to door to door salesmen, cold callers, or people that accost me in the street. Out of principle. I do not want to be harrassed.
I do usually wish them well though and I explain if ive got time.
Otherwise where does it end.

My local Neighbourhood Watch issued us all with stickers saying "No Cold Callers" and if it's someone I'm not expecting, I just point to that and close the door before the spiel begins. I still feel bad doing it, but tell myself that's what they're playing on.