# What part of "No soliciting" don't you understand? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 27, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402 "2011-05-27T04:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/22 "2011-05-27T15:20:31Z")
I actually have several signs. Here’s one of them: [No Soliciting Engraved Sign EGRE-13362-BLKonWHT No Solicitation](http://www.compliancesigns.com/EGRE-13362_Black_on_White.shtml) . Some people apparently don’t know or don’t care what soliciting means, but the pictograph SHOULD give them a clue. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/23 "2011-05-27T15:40:21Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I think that this sales manager was full of it. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > And the purpose of MY post is to show that putting up a “Day Sleeper” sign also clearly doesn’t work. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’m pissy because it didn’t work for me. It hasn’t worked for 30 years, and I’m really getting tired of it. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I get pissed because people say things like “Just put a sign on the door” and it does not work. Clearly because it has not worked for one fucking person, you, then clearly it has not worked in the entire history of the fucking universe and that clearly Starving Artists grandma is a lying piece of shit. Clearly. You’re a real piece of work. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/24 "2011-05-27T15:42:49Z")
I have a difficult job - I go door-to-door selling “No Soliciting” signs. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/25 "2011-05-27T16:03:33Z")
I wonder… if one were to answer the door wearing a holstered gun, and politely inquire “yes?” while absently mindedly scratching oneself where the holster was making one itch, would this be considered brandishing? And would you need a carry permit to wear such a holstered weapon in your own home? (I assume that the laws are different for concealed carry vs. open carry?). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/26 "2011-05-27T16:05:32Z")
Oh - and at one point in our last house, we got pestered almost exclusively by people selling _firewood_, of all things. For some reason, firewood only tended to be available before 8 on Saturday mornings. It was probably just as well that we have never owned a weapon, we might have been tempted to try out my previous suggestion. It was so bad that some advertising place actually sent out _magnets_ (the doors were metal) saying “think you, we do not need any firewood”. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/27 "2011-05-27T16:07:33Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Clearly because it has not worked for one fucking person, you, then clearly it has not worked in the entire history of the fucking universe and that clearly Starving Artists grandma is a lying piece of shit. Clearly. You’re a real piece of work. Thank you SO much. Since you know that I’ve talked to the people in my neighborhood about this problem, you know that it doesn’t work for THEM, either. SA’s granny might have had good results with her sign. Maybe she has less aggressive solicitors, or maybe she doesn’t sleep as lightly as I do. Dunno. But I know that my experience is not unique. It was pretty common in my old neighborhood to compare the latest solicitors, and gripe about them. And most of my neighbors did have a no soliciting sign on the door. One of the things that I like about this new neighborhood is that we’ve only had one or two solicitors since we’ve moved in. It’s a different town, and it requires [door-to-door solicitors](http://www.ci.north-richland-hills.tx.us/dept_citysecretary_solicitors.aspx) to get a permit before they go out soliciting. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/28 "2011-05-27T16:12:46Z")
I can’t say I ever had a sales manager telling his crew to ignore _no soliciting_ signs, but I had one once who demonstrated how to sell stuff door to door. First, you ignore the “no” responses and forge ahead. It seems the first thing out of their mouths is always “I don’t need anything today.” But when he left their house, he had an order over half the time, often by suggesting something they really did need but hadn’t thought of. Somehow, the [del]marks[/del] customers never saw a discrepancy between saying “no” and “yes,” as long as they were skilfully handled. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/29 "2011-05-27T16:15:02Z")
I don’t have this problem living in a condo, but I wonder if anyone has ever had luck with a “trespassers will be shot on sight” or “attack dog on premises” sign or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/30 "2011-05-27T16:22:34Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > At least half of them will open my screen door when they are waiting. I don’t know how many times my little feline escape artist has slipped out to chew on the grass and explore the great outdoors. > > . I lock my screen door. If I dont it is loose in the frame and flies get in around the edge. > [@DarrenS](#): > > I have a difficult job - I go door-to-door selling “No Soliciting” signs. \ ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/31 "2011-05-27T16:30:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I lock my screen door. For some reason, my husband always objected to being locked out of his own house. Can’t imagine why. 😉 We were discussing putting in a lock with a key to open it on the screen door before we finally decided to move, so that he would be able to get in. I’m still puzzled as to why those solicitors thought it would be appropriate to open the screen door, though. ---
**Author:** ![realmojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@realmojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/realmojo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/32 "2011-05-27T16:31:38Z")
I printed this one out and it’s worked pretty well for me: [http://no-solicitors-sign.com/](http://no-solicitors-sign.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/33 "2011-05-27T16:42:47Z")
In a large city where I lived once, I had a sign that said, “No solicitors and Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t welcome.” It didn’t stop either from knocking, but neither ever sold anything at my house. It would have saved both of us a lot of time if they had heeded my request. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/34 "2011-05-27T16:48:21Z")
You could try this one for the religious nuts: > **[Amazon.com: No Preaching' Door Plaque : Home & Kitchen](https://www.amazon.com/Preaching-Door-Plaque-Ring-Fire/dp/B0149L94KC)** > > Put this near your front door and watch your local bible thumpers scurry away. 4-1/2in square. A Ring of Fire Exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/35 "2011-05-27T16:50:10Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I can’t say I ever had a sales manager telling his crew to ignore _no soliciting_ signs, but I had one once who demonstrated how to sell stuff door to door. First, you ignore the “no” responses and forge ahead. It seems the first thing out of their mouths is always “I don’t need anything today.” But when he left their house, he had an order over half the time, often by suggesting something they really did need but hadn’t thought of. Somehow, the [del]marks[/del] customers never saw a discrepancy between saying “no” and “yes,” as long as they were skilfully handled. Yes, but did he buy them pancakes in the morning? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/36 "2011-05-27T17:06:34Z")
I used to own a restaurant, and despite the sign, they thought they could come in and start selling crap to my customers. I was not unreasonable the first time anyone of them came in, I would point to the sign, and indicate that I paid taxes for the privilege of selling things to my customers, and ask them not to return. I would even point out the bar down the street where they didn’t mind, and even encouraged these con men (they were all selling crap not even worth the seemingly low prices). If they returned, I would be as offensive as the situation permitted, following them outside to tell lay it on so customers wouldn’t hear. The guy I recognized as the local ‘ringleader’ and I would have come to blows if he didn’t keep running away (everybody’s afraid of cooks, we carry knives, and know how to use them). ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/37 "2011-05-27T20:13:40Z")
Thankfully, the town I live in requires anyone selling door to door to get a permit with the city first. If you are being bothered this often, why not try to get similar legislation put in place. That way you can ask to see a permit and then call the cops on them when they don’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/38 "2011-05-27T20:16:20Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > They don’t understand the “No” part. And the charities and Bible thumpers don’t consider themselves solicitors. Yeah. So really, they don’t understand the “no” part nor do they understand the “soliciting” part. OP answered. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/39 "2011-05-27T20:20:19Z")
We put one up to discourage all the damned petitioners and charity types, and it seems to have worked. Most everybody respects our desire not to be bothered. One guy did come to the door anyway. I pointed to the sign and asked if had seen it. He responded with some horseshit about “if you were convinced about the importance of your cause, would you let a sign like that deter you?” I said “yes, and we’re done here.” ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/40 "2011-05-27T20:22:59Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’m pissy because it didn’t work for me. It hasn’t worked for 30 years, and I’m really getting tired of it. Sign-based approaches in general are really weaksauce. You know what does work though? Booby traps. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402/41 "2011-05-27T20:32:57Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I don’t have this problem living in a condo, but I wonder if anyone has ever had luck with a “trespassers will be shot on sight” or “attack dog on premises” sign or something like that. In a discussion about early birds to yard sales one poster said she put up a sign that said “Early Birds get the Hose” I recommend something similar. “Sales people, religious or otherwise not welcome. Offenders get the hose” or “will be soaked” and be prepared to back it up. I chuckle just thinking of pointing to the sign and walking to the hose without a word. Might as well have some fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-part-of-no-soliciting-dont-you-understand/583402.md?page=3)