Door-to-Door Meat/Seafood Sales in Denver (Charlotte: house, neighborhoods, buy)

[UNCMetsGal]

Hey folks,

I got a knock on the door today (4/17) from a couple selling cases of meat out of their car? I was kind enough to tell him I'd be happy to look at his brochure, and he proceeded to cart all his cases to my front door and ask to show me the "deals" -- $600! for 4 cases of meat/seafood. In any event, I politely declined and he seemed belligerent that he had "wasted his time towing cases up my driveway". Anyway, here are my questions/thoughts:

A) I am concerned that maybe people are using 'soliciting of goods' to stake out neighborhoods

B) I was told that such soliciting in Lincoln County is illegal.

Anyone else have any experience(s) like this?
Would you report this to the Sheriff?

I have never had anyone come to my door in this fashion ANYwhere else I've lived (aside from the guy who sharpened knives from his truck), so this is very... odd to me. But it may well be normal, and I am just behind the times!

Any feedback is appreciated because I feel REALLY creeped out about it.

TIA!

[anifani821]

Next time, don't be so nice and engage in conversation.

It's no telling where the meat came from. Legit food sales (such as Schwan's) have their own trucks. For all you know, this was meat stolen off a truck and being peddled house to house.

You will notice they were not in a dense residential area such as South Charlotte. These guys choose areas where the Sheriff would have to come to run them off - and they know it is unlikely a Sheriff's deputy will be down the street and make it to your house in time to find out what they are doing.

I doubt they were staking out your house. They just got a wholesale (or stolen) deal and were trying to make some cash. Legitimate sales people don't work out of a car - they work out of a refrigerated truck. These were what we refer to around here as "gypsies."

[superk]

I think your gut instincts are right.

First of all, I'd ask them to show me a copy of their permit that allows them to solicit. If they couldn't produce one, then yes, I'd call the PD.

Second, it seems to me that if they are somehow legit that there'd be a better way to market their goods (i.e. like a booth at a farmer's market). Who in their right mind would buy food from somebody they don't know?

[UNCMetsGal]

Thanks for the info, guys! Just a quick update, my hubby (ever the Protector! LOL) scouted the neighborhood and found the couple/car in another neighbor's drive. They were carting food into the house. It all APPEARS legit (hubby snagged a brochure with company addy and phone), but it still smells fishy (no pun intended).

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by UNCMetsGal

Thanks for the info, guys! Just a quick update, my hubby (ever the Protector! LOL) scouted the neighborhood and found the couple/car in another neighbor's drive. They were carting food into the house. It all APPEARS legit (hubby snagged a brochure with company addy and phone), but it still smells fishy (no pun intended).

Peddling meat house to house just seems nasty to me, unless done on a refrigerated truck. So who cares if they have every permit needed; I wouldn't buy it.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by UNCMetsGal

Hey folks,

I got a knock on the door today (4/17) from a couple selling cases of meat out of their car? I was kind enough to tell him I'd be happy to look at his brochure, and he proceeded to cart all his cases to my front door and ask to show me the "deals" -- $600! for 4 cases of meat/seafood. In any event, I politely declined and he seemed belligerent that he had "wasted his time towing cases up my driveway". Anyway, here are my questions/thoughts:

A) I am concerned that maybe people are using 'soliciting of goods' to stake out neighborhoods

B) I was told that such soliciting in Lincoln County is illegal.

Anyone else have any experience(s) like this?
Would you report this to the Sheriff?

I have never had anyone come to my door in this fashion ANYwhere else I've lived (aside from the guy who sharpened knives from his truck), so this is very... odd to me. But it may well be normal, and I am just behind the times!

Any feedback is appreciated because I feel REALLY creeped out about it.

TIA!

I would call the non-emergency number for the sheriff's office and report this - it is suspicious, and yes, they may have been casing the neighborhood for future breakins.

[zwally]

We had all sorts of "sellers" when our subdivision was first starting: Furniture, art, and meat.... Said no all of these times very firmly.... haven't seem them since more homes have been built.

[amour217]

It could be worse, he could've knocked on your door and said, "Hey...wanna see my meat?"

[SuperchargedSS]

we get these all the time in South FL. Alot of door to door sales, and yes, meat and seafood are one of them. I'd just tell them to beat feet and carry on.

Check with the local police agency. Most of the time its an ordinance to solicit within city limits unless its for a non-profit organization, and even if they aren't, they'd still need a permit to do such.

[mullman]

I suppose I've never understood the door to door meat salespeople, not sure if it is a Southern thing or not.

My inlaws (wife's side) in OH and MA buy 1 cow prepped by a butcher each year and freeze it.
It lasts them nearly a year.

It might be cheaper, but as a cook (well, THE cook in the family) I just do not like working with frozen meat.
It just does not taste as good as fresh meat IMHO, not to mention having to thaw, and additional working time.