The common approach I get from these knuckleheads selling security systems is to start their pitch by asking if I have a security system. Sounds reasonable?
Sure, a total stranger is going to come to my door and ask if I have a security system - “Duh, no, I don’t! And let me tell you where we store the jewels too! And when we’re not going to be home!”
Stupid jack-holes.
Aggressive “captive audience” sales models and their shills can suck the grease off my door’s hinges.
A few months or so ago my kid answered the door thinking it was one of his friends. It was some schmuck selling cleaning fluid in unmarked spray bottles. My wife tried to handle it, but the asshole kept pushing. I went to the door with my iPad in hand and asked him what the active ingredient was, he was dumbfounded and rambled off some essential oils and other bullshit. I asked again, “no, what’s the active chemical?” obviously ready to Google it.
More rambling. I said, “Yeh, anyone can buy a cheap-ass industrial pail of cleaning fluid, pour it into spray bottles and hock it on the street at a ridiculous markup. Good luck with all that.”
Slam.
Actually, it goes so far beyond “complete and utter” all the way into “fantasy” bullshit. He’s not even selling real bullshit!
I’m glad I have curtained glass panel beside my front door. I pull the curtain aside enough to see who it is, say “No, thank you” and let the curtain fall back into place.
Same thing with phone calls: “no, thank you” and hang up.
Junk faxes-don’t reply (just lets them know it is a valid fax number to sell)
But how can you separate the legitimate from the shady? Even if the salesperson is legitimate, how can I be assured that I am getting the best deal if he’s standing there, pressuring me into giving him an answer right then and there? For that matter, how can I trust that the person standing in front of me is being honest about the deal he’s giving me?
Stuff like this is why I don’t do business with door-to-door salespeople. If it’s something I’m interested in, give me the information and let me do my own research. If it’s not, I’m not going to waste my time or theirs listening to their spiel. I’m not aggressively rude, but I’m not going to welcome them with open arms, either.
I don’t get a lot of door-to-door salespeople, thankfully. Most of the time I won’t even open the screen door and the sight of my dogs is enough to make most sales people step back. The alarm companies, I just point to the dogs and tell them I have nothing worth stealing anyway.
I did have a nice young woman come to my door wanting to inspect my hot water heater. When I asked, she said she was from my provider. (lie) She was game enough to wade through the dogs and find her way into my dingy little basement and over to the heater. I’m not sure I would feel safe doing that… going into stranger’s homes uninvited and into their basements, where no one can hear you scream, but she did her inspection. Then came the sales pitch and the contract to sign. Uh, no. Told her to leave me some information and I would get back to them.
About a week later another salesperson was at my door wanting to inspect my hot water heater. Smarter this time, he didn’t make it past the screen door.