What does "No Soliciting" mean to you (get out of, average, neighborhood)

[William_Harris]

Originally Posted by little sister

The words DO Not means just that. I made a two sided sign that reads: On one side- Do Not Knock, Do Not Ring Bell, Do Not Disturb. This sign has a male standing with a sign around his neck that reads: Day Sleeper.
The other side of this side reads: Use Back Door with an arrow pointing which direction that would be. I place this proped in the door window supported by the blinds. I have had no problems with any one.

Solicitors, although everyone believes we are scumbags... (I am using my solicitation money to survive through med school) are people. We are courteous to neighbors and never ring day sleeper doorbells or any doors with signs mentioning a sleeping baby.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by little sister

The words DO Not means just that. I made a two sided sign that reads: On one side- Do Not Knock, Do Not Ring Bell, Do Not Disturb. This sign has a male standing with a sign around his neck that reads: Day Sleeper.
The other side of this side reads: Use Back Door with an arrow pointing which direction that would be. I place this proped in the door window supported by the blinds. I have had no problems with any one.

I have something similar, it seems to work most of the time, but not always.

My neighborhood is a "No Solicitation" neighborhood. Our HOA had the city install a city sign stating so (and actually, I just noticed we have a second sign - a small wooden one the HOA had made up - both are right there together).

In addition, I have a sign on the transom window next to my door - right by the doorbell - stating "No Solicitation - Do Not Ring Doorbell".

My reasons are valid - 1) I will not buy a thing from anyone disturbing my peace, so it's a waste of time for the solicitor anyway, and 2) Anyone at my door - and especially if they ring the bell - will drive my dogs crazy. The dogs will bark and growl and howl long after the solicitor has run down the driveway (one of them has an especially deep bark...very scary sounding !).

Anyone coming to my door is wasting my time and theirs, and I'm not going to open the door or listen to their pitch - I just tell them through the window "No Thanks! Not Interested!".

[riveree]

Originally Posted by William_Harris

We are courteous to neighbors and never ring day sleeper doorbells or any doors with signs mentioning a sleeping baby.

I would never advertise on my front door that there is an infant inside the house (not smart!).......isn't "No Solicitation" enough? Do I really need to explain why?

[Roaddog]

It means you better not disturb me or you get what you have coming to you.
if I want to buy something or get preached at I know where to go and I don't want it at my door.

[Lisa_from_Debary]

Originally Posted by William_Harris

I am a college student who comes to Florida for the summer every summer, since I grew up in Cocoa. The last two summers I have been working in a very lucrative (1500 a week) job as a door to door vacuum salesman. In all fairness instead of being the grumpy, nosy neighbor why not just be polite? Or open and shut the door.

Cities and people who are creating so many no soliciting ordinances in communities and neighborhoods are causing the workable areas for the salesmen to shrink rapidly. This forces them to start working in no soliciting areas.

Door to door sales are America's oldest profession, the people knocking on your door are people just like you, trying to support a family just like you, and trying to put food on that family's table just like you are.

Cut the next guy some slack...


P.S. Its a joke between salesmen when the police are called. The homeowners think something is getting done but I have been confronted NUMEROUS times, and the police usually either talk to you and let you continue, or just ask you to try the next no soliciting neighborhood down the road, and come back to the one you're in tomorrow.

Frankly, if you end up in my neighborhood, your gonna get wet. I have lost my patience with people soliciting in an area that is clearly posted, no soliciting. I will be turning the sprinkler system on people from now on.

[The Dissenter]

what no solciting means to me.

If you ring this doorbell and it ain't important, when i get to the door there will be repercussions.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by William_Harris

In all fairness instead of being the grumpy, nosy neighbor why not just be polite? Or open and shut the door.

Cities and people who are creating so many no soliciting ordinances in communities and neighborhoods are causing the workable areas for the salesmen to shrink rapidly. This forces them to start working in no soliciting areas.

Door to door sales are America's oldest profession, the people knocking on your door are people just like you, trying to support a family just like you, and trying to put food on that family's table just like you are.

Well, since I have no way to know whether your are a saleman or a criminal, I cannot open the door - I have to keep the door between the two of us.

You have every right to make a living.....legally.....and there's the rub.

Sure, there's a few that will open the door and a few that will actually buy from you, but it's a small few (no wonder the commissions are huge, right?...enormous rate of rejection).

Over time, some professions die out, and this is one that will - people just don't want it.

[Lisa_from_Debary]

You are SO right...you never know if the person is truly selling something or they are casing your house to break in.

The police will tell you that house breakers usually ring the doorbell first to see if someone is home before they break in. Some even pretend their car is broken down, or they are selling something in order to get the door open before a home invasion.

One of these days I might just have to get a shotgun and start meeting people at the door that way. I am hoping to have a reputation as slightly nuts for the time my daughter starts dating so all the boys around her will live with a little bit of fear of getting out of line with her anyway.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by riveree

Well, since I have no way to know whether your are a saleman or a criminal, I cannot open the door - I have to keep the door between the two of us.

You have every right to make a living.....legally.....and there's the rub.

Sure, there's a few that will open the door and a few that will actually buy from you, but it's a small few (no wonder the commissions are huge, right?...enormous rate of rejection).

Over time, some professions die out, and this is one that will - people just don't want it.

I agree with this 100%. Door to door soliciting is out of pace with the times. I am annoyed telemarketers call- hello- if they get a machine for one month straight delete the phone number and move on. Everyone has caller ID. Automatic dialer? tell your manager its a waste of time.

The last time someone came to my door was last month- suspicious? ABSOLUTELY...4 weeks later my neighbors house was robbed. Coincidence? I think not. I am not picking up the phone or answering unless it's someon I know. Keep out.

[William_Harris]

Originally Posted by riveree

I would never advertise on my front door that there is an infant inside the house (not smart!).......isn't "No Solicitation" enough? Do I really need to explain why?

Why is it not smart to advertise a sleeping child? Are you paranoid that every person who comes to your door is a psychopathic baby snatcher?

You would be surprised at the number of "No Soliciting" doorbells I have rung where the inhabitants have actually purchased my vacuum. What kind of message do you think that sends to the salesman community as a whole? In a majority of cases "No Soliciting" really means "Don't ring my doorbell because I buy everything".