AIBU to turn down those people who try to sell at your door?

[BarryWhiteIsMyBrother]

Just had a man knock on our door, giving a sob story about having recently come out of prison, having a little girl, and trying to sell stuff to make some money. And having sold nothing so far today.

In the past I have bought a few bits from these men (it's always been men in my experience but there are probably women doing this too of course) - they were always very poor quality and rather overpriced.

AIBU to choose not to help these men any longer? What's the background to these sales set ups? Are these men 'tested' before they can sell these household bits? Am I better off offering to make them a takeaway lunch rather than buying that stuff? I feel bad for turning them away (he looked very annoyed when I repeatedly said I wasn't interested) but I really don't need any more overpriced junk.

Are these men 'tested' before they can sell these household bits?

In what way????

Am I better off offering to make them a takeaway lunch rather than buying that stuff?

With naice ham?

Some of these post are so funny, you sound just like Margot Leadbetter.

OP please offer to make a takeaway lunch if you get another one knocking.
And let us know what he says.

I never answer the door. They can be quite aggressive around here and I don't want a load of shit tea towels / sisters for £££. They seem to come in waves, there be a couple a week for a few weeks and then nine for a few months.

They’ve been in this area recently. The police asked people to call 999 and let them know where they’d seen them. TBF they actually came and found them and put them in the police car and drove off!

It’s one of those scams that relies on the person opening the door being vulnerable or a woman who has been socialised to automatically be polite to a man, to reduce the threat of them turning nasty.

It’s really shit.

@AriettyHomily

I never answer the door. They can be quite aggressive around here and I don't want a load of shit tea towels / sisters for £££. They seem to come in waves, there be a couple a week for a few weeks and then nine for a few months.

How much are the sisters?

Asking for a friend.

I feel very naïve now - next time I'll say I'm out of work and ask how I can get a job like theirs selling tat.

We seem to get the same group from Teesside visiting us in Cheshire

That tells you just how far you have to travel to find someone who'd buy this overpriced rubbish. While we're chatting I've got a set on encyclopedias circa 1980 you might be interested in.

The ones round here are actually always polite so I just tell them that I don’t have cash and but I wish them well for the future and they thank me and go on their way.

Personally I think that all door to door selling/enquiry/touting for anything should be made illegal. That way you would not only get rid of the chuggers, the jahova’s witnesses etc, but you would also then get rid of the scammers, and would know that if someone knocked on your door you would know that it wasn’t legit.

I once had one come knocking claiming to do some kind of survey. As I was talking to him it dawned on me that he might be one of those who keeps you talking at the front door while his mate slides round the back and robs the house. I was looking after my friend’s GSD cross that week, and I could hear both him and my dog barking. I don’t know whether my suspicions were correct, but if there was someone round the back I think it’s fair to say he probably didn’t stick around and wouldn’t be back.

My dog barks at the front door and I have never discouraged him from doing so.

I just smile and say "No thankyou, sorry but thank you anyway. Have a good day" and close the door while smiling. Although it helps that you can see the wooden door to my right shaking with the force of a barking rottweiller behind it.
Always keep all your doors locked though.