to think that if someone puts an unsolicited catalogue through my door

[Sassybeast]

that they don't really have the right to then bang on my door and give me an earful because the catalogue got slightly damp as there was a shower of rain after I left it back outside at the designated time ?

I can understand her being a bit annoyed but if it's such a big deal, shouldn't she have left it with a plastic cover? Getting kids, dogs, husbands and myself out the door in the morning is hectic enough so admittedly I did just chuck it on the doorstep with out checking the weather forecast.

I suppose she wouldn't have been as irate if I'd ordered some useless household item which I will put in a cupbaord and never use.

So - was she right to bang on my door and tell me off ?

[Ivykaty44]

Anything that comes through the door that is not addrssed to Mrs Ivykate - goes straight in paper bin and then gets recycled, they can bang on the door but will not get stuff back unless it is a football over the fence

[SolidGhoulBrass]

AM: usually if they want something but forget to put the book out, they phone you (you do put your number on the slip, don't you?) The only times I do knock is when it's a regular customer who hasn't put the book out and they never mind.

[Tortington]

no she wasn't right - poor customer service.

[FranklyIDontGiveAMam]

People often come to ask for their catalogues. I never have a clue what they are on about. I don't think I even look at them, just chuck everything that doesn't have my name and address on it.

I usually answer the door to people I am not expecting by balancing my baby on my knee attached the breast and they leave quick enough.

[WebDude]

There was a gap of 8 years (yes, years) when no-one was living in this property, and I always found piles of newspapers etc in the porch (glass down to the carpet), so most of the distributors have learned they never get anything back (and may have seen their catalogue through the glass, perhaps).

It is unfortunate, but I can only suggest anyone who distributes goes onto the Vistaprint site and prints themselves a load of small business cards, asking potential customers to get in touch and a catalogue will be provided ASAP.

That way only interested parties would get the actual catalogues, the distributor would not have (m)any go missing, and the outlay might be lower than losses on paid-for catalogues. It could prevent the "nuisance" that has been evident in this thread.

It cost me about 5 quid for 500 cards. Admittedly it would possibly cost any distributor a lot if they are serving a large area (anyone care to estimate the number of homes they deliver to?)

[knpeppa]

And what about the security aspects? If you leave a catalogue visible on your doorstep, it looks as if you're not in and might be an invitation to burglars. They shouldn't be encouraging people to do this.

On the other hand if you don't leave the catalogue on your doorstep you run the risk of an irate stranger knocking on your door demanding it back. So it's a no-win situation for customers and a bit rubbish for sellers too if they have to pay for the catalogues.

[Cicatrice]

It would never occur to me to do anything other than bin it. YANBU

[Maz297]

I have a different problem with these. As soon as they come through the door, I put them back outside on the doorstep because you can guarantee that when they come to collect them, it will be a really inconvenient time (nappy change, nap time and them hammering on the door, etc). But they never come and pick them up! They just sit on my flaming doorstep for weeks until I get sick of the sight of them (and I do have a certain knack of not being able to see things that I don't wish to see so that can take some time) and then have to stick them in the recycling.

I fully agree that if it is such a big deal to get them back, they shouldn't be stuck unsolicited through people's letterboxes.

[sparkle12mar08]

I loathe this - if you stick it through my door, unsolicited, then it's mine to do with as I wish. And that's straight into the recycling. Thankfully we've never had anyone knock to get one back yet, and if we did it would be a polite 'sorry it's been chucked'. Any back chat would result in the door being closed quietly but firmly

[Sbeanmum]

So glad it's not just me! Kleneze bloke put catalogue through my door and I recycled the first one (I didn't request it, and wasn't prepared to leave it on doormat, and didn't even consider that person who posted it had paid money to give them out to people who hadn't asked for it). So when the second one popped onto mat, my husband recycled it.

Kleneze bloke subsequently knocked on our door to collect it, and I apologised profusely for recycling it. He got the hump and I felt even worse. I suggested that he didn't put them through my door in future and he said "don't worry, I pay for them and that's two you've not given back"!!!!!!!!

Flipping cheek!

[AuntieMaggie]

I too am doing Avon and wouldn't get stroppy with you! How cheeky!

What about those that may have forgotten to put it outside but want to order SGB?? (am new to this!)

[lucky1979]

I had that, can't remember if it was Betterware but had a note through the door reminding me to put it outside, then a series of about 5 increasingly irate and bitchy letters asking me to put the catalogue outside as the had to pay for them and it wasn't fair.

Very silly business model for the sellers, probably works out quite well for the parent company.

[SolidGhoulBrass]

Oh FFS, while a sensible rep (like me for instance) never rings the doorbell to demand the book back, just writes it off and leaves that house off the round next time, there's no need for people to be quite so pissy about catalogue sellers. Some people like the stuff and buy it, and for those of us who have dependents and low incomes or various erratic commitments, a door-to-door round is useful extra income.

[Hassled]

I've had the same stroppy attitude from Betterware people - makes you wonder what the company is making them pay for each catalogue.

Betterware are on to a winner really - make the poor mug representative pay £££ for a shite catalogue selling shite products, and when the rep fails to actually sell anything, Betterware are still in profit from the catalogues alone.

[cory]

I never understood this. Why is it my responsibility to put an unsolicited catalogue out for the Avon lady on the right day? I never asked for that job. If she couldn't afford to pay for it, why put it through my door- I haven't undertaken to look after it for her, have I?

[pigletmania]

It was unsolicted mail that you did not asky for the cheek of the woman i would have given her an earful myself.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

DP said I was mean minded when I told the local Betterware woman I threw her catalogues straight in the bin. He said 'she has to pay for those, you are being spiteful, would it harm you to keep them and give them back'.

I didn't feel too guilty (am clearly in excellent company here!). The Betterware woman was really huffy.

If I wanted to buy overpriced stainless steel cleaner I would go to Waitrose.

[Kelix]

Cheeky cow! I do Avon and would never even think about having a go at someone on thier doorstep! Im happy to get the books back in any condition and if someone cant find it straight away I always say dont worry about it. People have better things to do than look after the books that I paid for and posted through thier letterbox!

[FABIsInTraining]

No, she shouldn't have told you off.

When we get them they go straight back outside and stay there until they are collected.

[BiteOfFun]

I bin em too, and have narry a care about it. I didn't realize they paid for them, but if this is the case they should target their marketing a bit more rather than just shoving them through random letterboxes.

[whoisasking]

I think it must be a pre-requisite to be a right bitch to work for Betterware et al.

One woman stood on the doorstep HUFFING at me as I scurried around looking for the stupid bloody thing. In the end I just said "Sorry, can't find it" and she started a monologue about "I have to pay for those...blah blah blah"

I said "If something was valuable to me, I wouldn't go posting it through strangers' doors" and shut the door.

not had one since.

[bamboobutton]

i had this from betterware.

any crap like that that comes in the letter box goes straight in the recycling, the mardy cow had a right strop when she came back to collect it a few weeks later.

[TabithaTwitchet]

This sort of happened to me too, I just put the catalogue straight into the recycling, then had series of narky notes posted in our absence through the door demanding the thing back.

We were finally in when they called round for it, and DH told them that if you go around posting your property through other people's letterboxes you have no right to ask for it back.

We have obviously now been blacklisted as have not received a catalogue from them since

[chattermouse]

Christ, i would have told her to get fucked. She is taking the piss big time.

[browntrout]

how funny - I nearly posted this myself this week. I never remember to put these out for collection and never place an order. When they come calling for it back I can never ever find it (have usually thrown it in recycling)and I get all flustered and they stand there looking annoyed. It does really irritate me. Have a rule that I will not buy or sign up to anything on my doorstep.