What are some tips for dealing with solicitors (door-to-door salespeople)? Our neighborhood gets a lot of them.

We have a “No solicitors” sign hanging on the front door. Nevertheless, they knock, ring the doorbell, or worse, yell through the front window when it is open, trying to get our attention.

We have a Ring video doorbell and have enabled the automatic “Sorry, we’re not interested” announcement after 15 seconds. These pushy SOBs ignore the sign and the announcement.

When I ultimately find out they are soliciting and I ask why they ignored both the sign and the doorbell announcement, they usually say something like, “I’m not selling anything. I am just working with some people in the neighborhood…” or some such BS.

My wife and I work from home and have had to explain the window shouting to coworkers in meetings. We also have two small children who could be trying to nap at any given time. We have good reasons to not want to be disturbed at home and these assholes disregard that wish.

I will write a negative review online if I find out their name and company they are representing. Any other ways to get these people to leave us alone?

  • Mugmoor@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    Open the door with your phone recording a video. Nobody is going to be comfortable with that as a conversation starter. When they ask why you’re recording, just tell them you’re “making a true crime documentary and need footage of the victim.”

  • _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Post “No Trespassing” signs, in many places, those are legally enforceable. If they choose to trespass, call the cops on them.

  • justhach@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Turn it on them. Start preaching about religion, politics, or any other divisive topic until they are uncomfortable enough to leave on their own volition.

  • BrooklynMan@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I answer the door naked, then relentlessly mock their belief in the make-believe until they fuck off.

    average time to fuckoffery: 12 seconds

    edit: I’ve wrecked a Mormon boy’s ass or two in my day. they always thanked me.

  • TempleSquare@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Counterlogic: Act WAY too interested. Like a crazy person. Unbreakable eye contact. And start asking them very personal questions about themselves with a huge smile on their face.

    • Hazzia@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 year ago

      This wouldn’t work if it’s different people each time. That kind of deterrent requires the solicitor to already try once, but OP makes it sound like a rotating door of people