I am actually against the idea of kids, especially fairly young ones, doing soliciting of any kind. It could be dangerous for them, and I hope that most of their parents insist that if they are going to do this, they go in groups of at least three. Although I usually am a sucker for kids and buy from them, I don’t really like to encourage the idea of them soliciting for safety reasons.
Oh, yeah, I can see how you’d be surprised to encounter a minefield of smart alecks on THIS board. You’ve only been posting for how many months?
“I’m currently unemployed.” Should do the trick. Even little kids understand that no job = no money. The “don’t give door-to-door” is legitimate too. I use that on phone solicitors (send me some info, I don’t pledge over the phone.) That’s a good rule of thumb anyway, since there are a lot of phony charities using names very similar to existing ones so you get confused.
On a humorous note, I’m pretty sure most kids don’t know what “soliciting” is. I remember being pointed to a “No Soliciting” sign once while selling GS Cookies and staring at it for ages trying to figure out why the guy didn’t want any cookies.
The newest one lately is supposed Russian exchange students trying to sell artworks door to door. Huh? How successful could they possibly be with that? I told one of them “Sorry, I don’t have any walls.” That was mean, I suppose, but I was watching the Simpsons or something. Heh.
For people selling something: “Thank you, I’m not interested. Have a nice day.”
For religous solicitors: “I’m not interested – I’m an atheist. Have a nice day.”
For charity solicitors: “It’s my policy not to donate to any charity I have not fully investigated. Have a nice day.”
One step backwards and close the door.
Oh, for telemarketers: “It’s my policy never to do business over the phone. Have a nice day.” Hang up.
Just in case anyone is tempted to try this, I’ll say that I pretty much tried this with a couple of Mormons and it didn’t work.
The subject is easy standup fare. FWIW, you probably stopped me with that phrase.
So, how do you humanely treat people who don’t respect your desire to be left alone? If you don’t mind lying, I’ve heard that the phrase “I’ve been laid off.” works wonders (as voguevixen said.) If you want to give an honest response to the people who won’t take no for an answer, why not just say “I said I’m not interested. Goodbye.” and close the door in their face. I don’t think that this is rude. Rather, they are being rude by refusing to recognize that you want to end the discussion.
A lot of women at my church go door to door.
If it’s not passing out information, it’s drumming up interest in a church yard sale or a local speaker’s group.
I couldn’t do it myself. Too much rejection. But then I hate to be the one giving rejection, as well, so when people come to the door I at least let them tell me the topic. Not the whole sales pitch, but enough to lighten their load that day.
Actually being a kid who has gone door-to-door within the past few years, I have to agree with Anti Pro…we do hate it! It’s really scary going to strangers’ doors and asking them to buy stuff (what if they try to molest you? (there’s a reason not to answer the door naked)) . Mostly we have to sell stuff to raise money for the school and the teachers make you feel really bad if you don’t sell a lot of stuff and they even have all these prizes if you sell a lot … like last year we were supposed to sell magazines to pay for our trip to D.C. (or else our parents had to pay $153) and you got a bond if you sold more than anyone else. Also it’s really disappointing to hear, “Sorry, I already bought from (name of rival neighborhood kid that you hate).” (Even worse is the “I already bought stuff from my own kids”) On a lighter note, I usually just get my mom to sell stuff at her office 
Tell the solicitors that you don’t keep cash in the house. I always do. This turns away the ones that aren’t legit (and a lot of them AREN’T legit, you’d be surprised) and it also is a safety precaution in the event that they’re really looking for houses to burgle. Again, you’d be surprised. If it’s a charity or fund drive or product that you might genuinely be interested in, you can always ask for a name and phone and/or address in case you DO decide to cut a check for it. If the solicitor doesn’t know the phone or address of the charity, ask for the name and number or address of his/her supervisor or organizer. This will allow you to investigate.
A legitimate charity, as has been stated, won’t mind if you take a few precautions. Generally, they hate the frauds even more than you do.
As a general rule, it’s a good idea to budget how much you give to charity. For instance, I give to diabetes and cancer research. I also donate old towels, blankets, and newspapers to the Humane Society (the HS asks for them) as well as cash. I give my time to the local library. Everyone (or everyone I know) has limited resources, you have to choose which resources you will allot to charity. Otherwise you’ll bankrupt yourself.
Don’t answer the door. Say No Thanks.
[QUOTE** Also it’s really disappointing to hear, “Sorry, I already bought from (name of rival neighborhood kid that you hate).” (Even worse is the “I already bought stuff from my own kids”) On a lighter note, I usually just get my mom to sell stuff at her office **[/QUOTE]
It sounds like you have this already down, ** Shimmery ** but you might want to do as the Girl Scouts have done and set up [with the company’s permission] outside the door of your local Blockbuster or Target Store. You don’t have to go door to door, and you have a wider range of people, those who AREN’T subject to every kid in their neighborhood!! 
sorry - in England a solicitor is a type of lawyer (so i opened this expecting to see how to get rid of lawyers!) & also soliciting is something to do with asking people for sex for money (not sure how that fits in with the solicitors <g>)
Anyway, I usually say Not interested, or I don’t give at doors or I don’t support that type of charity (eg can claim animal testing if a medical-type one). Kids are a lot harder - mainly cos the little *********s will egg the house or trash car wing mirrors if pissed off too much. Also, the local gypsies tend to send their skinny, deprived looking children around & it is so hard not to donate something…how much grubby laxe do I really need?! Ah well…
I’ve hit upon the phrase “I’m not in a position to donate right now.” That seems to work for just about anybody asking for money–either on the phone or in the flesh. It’s non-specific enough to be honest, but clearly implies a lack of ready cash.
For religious types, I just tell them my current Faith more than satisfies my needs. (Sounds like I’m responding to one of those “are you happy with your current long-distance plan” telesolicitors.
KC
We recently had the Mormons drop by our house. It was just after we came back from Church ourselves. They were very polite, but we were definately not interested, and I told them so. They decided to push it by saying that they thought their faith was true and they wanted to share it with me. In the most polite voice I could muster, I told them that I was very secure in my faith, I was not interested in joining, then I wished them a good day and closed the door.
I don’t mind door to door people of any type, but when they push the issue after I’ve said NO, I tend to get p*ssed off.
>> in England a solicitor is a type of lawyer … & also soliciting is something to do with asking people for sex for money
So we have people who take your money and have no morals… that pretty much covers them
On a serious note, I once thought of putting up a notice by my doorbell that said sometihnig like:
[quote]
Do NOT call unless :
a) you have called us first and we are expecting you or
b) you are making a legitimate delivery (UPS, FEDEX, etc)
Otherwise by calling you agree to indemnify us in the amount of $500 for each instance on account of the nuisance you have caused us.
[quote]
My guess is it would discourage people calling and asking for donations or trying to convert me to the true faith of the day or asking if they can mow the lawn.
OOps, Sorry I messed up the “/quote” part. Should have used preview.
So, what exactly transpired? Did they ask you if you wanted to throw something on before they delivered their spiel, or did they just start the preaching regardless of what you were wearing?
I do not answer naked but close. I am pretty much naked around the house alot of the time so I can just wrap myself in a towel or dressing gown or shorts and say “you catch me at a really bad moment and I am not interested anyway.”
Well, I wasn’t entirely naked. I sleep nude and I work nights. So, when they knocked on the door at 11am, I put on a t-shirt (not a long one–just enough to cover my boobs) and answered the door standing behind it so they could not see my lower half.
When they asked how I was, I explained that I had been asleep. They did not apologize for waking me up and just said, “We’ll only take a few minutes.” So, as they started their spiel, I stepped out from behind the door (no undies, no pants, no bra–only a thin t-shirt) and said, “I’m not exactly dressed for a discussion–I was asleep!!”
Looking at me standing there half undressed (yes, they gave me the once-over head-to-toe look), obviously irritated and tired, they said, “But we’ll only be a minute–we want to share some good news with you!” I just turned around and shut the door and went back to bed.
They came back a couple weeks later but I just let the dog out to greet them.
Easy
Answer them in the nude.
you would be surprised how Jehovah Witness’s avoid yer door