to think that cold callers should go away when told it's inconvienient?

[popperdoodles]

Just had some man knock at the door trying to get me to change gas and electric supplier. I politely told him is was inconvienient to talk right now as I had a poorly child I must get back to (slight white lie) Anyway did he clear off? NO he continued to go on at me about how I was probably paying more than I needed to etc etc and despite several polite attempts to get rid of him I ended up having to say "no thanks" rather loudly and shut the door on him. Really annoys me. No wonder these poor old ladies sign up to things just to get them to leave!

I invite them in.

And then poison them with herbal tea.

Fuckers get what's coming to 'em. How DARE they knock on my door???? deserve everything they get.

When they knock on my door the conversation goes something like this:

Me: Who is it?
Them: Jessica/Brandy/Scott
Me: I don't know anyone called that and I'm sorry but I don't open the door to strangers.

Because why should you open the door to a complete stranger?

This means I do not have to be rude and they don't waste their time trying to sell me stuff I don't want. They do think I am a paranoid loon but that is a consequence I feel I can live with.

I put my head on one side, smile manically and while they're talking say "I've got new socks on. Look.".

Works every time.

I like it kitbit. Another good one is to say how you'd love to talk about it but first will they listen to what you have to say about Jeeesus and how he loves you. And everyone .

Another good one is to say please leave me the information on this and I'll get back to you. They can never do this as the whole point is to sign you up on the spot. They go away.

i do exactly as Alicat does- i let them know I will not sign up to anything at the door and that they are welcome to leave any information they have - which they never do anyway so they usually leave

I once signed up after being pressured for cable tv anyhow you always get a 7 day cooling off period...me & dh decided it wasnt for us put it in writing and cancelled the agreement

a couple of days later the sales person was at the door barged his way into the house begging us to reconsider our agreement

dh asked him to leave as this was harrassment, we contacted them and put in a complaint

after that we heard no more

I tell all of them politely to go away nowadays

ARGH I seem to have a lot of this lately, either selling you something or bible bashers. The bible bashers are the worst, they seem to be immune from polite 'no thank yous'. They literally lean into your doorway to try and make it impossible to shut the door on them!

Kitbit - thank you, you just made me giggle!

I do my best to look like a kept woman (which is quite hard TBH when you look and sound like a fishwife and have two children screeching in the background) and tell them I don't pay the bill and have no idea who our supplier is and the person who does pay and does know won't be back till 9pm and they are welcome to come and harangue him then. Strangely enough they always go away. Don't know if it's the strength of my argument or the decibels that does it. (Also keep the latch on. It's difficult for people to try to sell you things if they can only see one of your eyes.)

I think I'll try a blend of the kitbit and slng approach in future. I'll open the door a crack and look at them with one eye while breathing heavily and occasionally moaning.

The ones I used to hate, hate, hate in California were the young 'students' coming around to sell magazine subscriptions to get points for a trip to Europe. They start by introducing themselves and shaking my hand and telling me how they have just moved to the neighborhood and are going around meeting people. I asked one if he was selling anything and he looked pained and told me no. 10 minutes later he is into full spiel mode. They also told me rubbish such as my neighbors had told them I was a nice person and had sent them around to me. My neighbors all worked and wouldn't have known me from Adam. Hence the reason for me not opening the door any more. I can stand a small amount of haranguing but flat out lies make my blood boil.

Sorry Kitteh. I am sure you don't work like this. It is probably an American thing.

I absolutely hate these particular cold callers. They seem to have a knack of knocking on the door the second I've got DS down for a nap, and of course it always wakes him up.

I tell them that I'm not interested and to never knock on my door again - seems to be working, haven't had one for a long time now. (It was getting ridiculous, at least 1 a week, and always at a bad time!!)

I have also been known to use:
"oh hang on, I think the cat's doing a poo in the shower"
"just a minute I have to check the body in the deep freeze"
or my favourite nicked from Eddie Izzard
"can't stop, my grandmother's on fire"

oh, forgot, another one is just to say nothing. Just stand there. And look. And shift feet from time to time, smiling in a faraway manner.

Not as good as the socks one though.