# Wife hates it when I LIE to door-to-door salesmen. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330 "2011-09-23T14:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Teufelblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@Teufelblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teufelblitz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/21 "2011-09-23T15:29:11Z")
I have a very tall, very imposing friend who liked to use a very guttural voice to tell them, “I am compelled by (state) law to inform you that I am a registered sex offender. I was convicted of sexually molesting door to door salesmen.” ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/22 "2011-09-23T15:34:20Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I’ve never seen a door to door salesman. They still exist? I never saw one until I bought a house in an actual neighborhood. School kids with fund raising catalogs, teen sports selling coupon books, home remodelers, trash companies, Working America, home security systems… That’s been it for September so far. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/23 "2011-09-23T15:43:01Z")
In all honesty I think of them as a very 1950s/60s thing. In a world where the milkman still delivers milk and mom puts out apple pie on the window sill to cool. Though I do remember the door to door encyclopedia salesman (played by Penn Jilette!) ep of “Friends.” I wouldn’t mind if Penn tried to sell me something. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/24 "2011-09-23T15:43:14Z")
We have a “No Soliciting” sign on our front door. This seems to chase off most of the door-to-door salespeople. But every now and then one will ignore the sign and ring the doorbell anyway. Our stock answer is, “Did you notice this sign? 'Kay bye.” _Door slam_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/25 "2011-09-23T15:43:45Z")
I disapprove of any lying.\* I just tell them no and don’t come back and close the door. I have never had anyone get too pushy. \*There are some lies that one has to tell. When someone asks you how you like their new house/haircut/outfit or if they look fat, for example. (Though with the people who come to our door, the truth is usually relevant. We don’t replace our windows or roof or seal our driveway, it is part of our condo fees. I am also allergic to newsprint and we don’t eat junk food. That takes care of about 90% right there.) ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/26 "2011-09-23T15:45:59Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I doubt that’s quicker than the straight forward method. > > Interrupt their speech immediately and politely say “No, thank you” and close the door regardless of any form of communication that may be traveling your way as the door closes. > > Typically the door is closed in under 3 seconds. Yeah, I don’t see why this is so hard. “Oh I’m not interested, thanks, bye.” and shut door. Polite and effective. The same basic approach works for the phone too. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/27 "2011-09-23T15:52:10Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > A friend of mine used to love answering the door when these guys showed up, because he loved messing with them. My favorite was when they asked if he was the man of the house and he said, “Oh no, I’m a bum. I’m just squatting here.” I have a friend who went through a goth phase for a few years at the end of high school and maybe a bit after. One time he was at my house when some Jehovah’s Witnesses were running the neighborhood and we had him answer the door, hilarity ensued. Bonus points that he was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and his whole goth thing was sort of his response to rejecting that upbringing. To the OP, I don’t see the point in lying when a firm no is just as effective. As soon as I realize I’m not interested, which is usually pretty quickly, I just interupt them and say something to the effect of “Look, I’ll just save you the time and effort. I’m not interested. Good luck.” And if they respond with more sales talk rather than a quick thanks for my time or whatever, I just shut the door. I just don’t see how lying makes that any easier. And, really, it strikes me as the same kind of fear of hurting someone’s feeling as like refusing to actually reject someone I’ve dated that I’m not interested in. Especially in a case like a salesman, they’re going to get rejected dozens of times in a day and I’m sure they hear the same lies over and over and know when they’re being lied to. If I were in their situation, I’d appreciate someone being straightforward and not wasting my time or insulting my intelligence with a silly lie unless maybe it’s original and intended to be silly. Oh, and specifically to the lie in the OP, I certainly would never say that I’m watching the house for someone out of the country. Even though it’s a lie, if they think it’s true and they’re dishonest, it does make your house a target for burglary because those are precisely the sorts of homes that a thief would want to hit. So, if you still feel you have to lie, at least pick another one, like maybe just saying you’re in the middle of something (like dinner), or pretending to barely understand English or that you were having guests over and thought he was one of your friends or go with a silly one. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/28 "2011-09-23T15:55:10Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > “Oh I’m not interested, thanks, bye.” and shut door. Polite and effective. The same basic approach works for the phone too. I don’t even see the point of “I’m not interested” for telemarketers. I just hang up without saying anything. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/29 "2011-09-23T15:55:20Z")
I tell the kids selling candy bars that I’m diabetic. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/30 "2011-09-23T15:58:19Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > You’re wussing out, but I wouldn’t feel too bad about it personally. You do what you gotta do. > > I say: “I’m not interested.” If they try to speak further after that, I say, “I’m closing the door. Please leave my property.” And then I close the door. Why lie? Close the door. Or just tell them you are not interested in what they are selling and with the nexk question answer ‘’''asked and answered" and keep repeating that. On the phone or at the door I treat the person on the other side with respect, they lhave a job to do. But if they do not respect my answers then all bets are off, and some time I have fun with them. They are taking my time so I can waste their time if I have nothing to do. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/31 "2011-09-23T16:02:16Z")
When I was a kid, my father paid me 25 cents a minute to waste telemarketers time. It helped that by the time I was twelve, our voices were identical. I could blather on for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/32 "2011-09-23T16:03:11Z")
Lies can also be effective at preventing _future_ calls. When I was a telemarketer targeting homeowners, a “not interested” got chucked back in the pile to be called in a few months; after all, they might change their mind in the interim. An “I rent” got you taken off permanently, as we’d just be wasting time calling you again. We all preferred the quick rejections to the people who hated our spiel but listened anyway, as we could move on faster. (To try and head off your vitriol: I was young, I needed the money, and I moved on as soon as I could.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/33 "2011-09-23T16:04:59Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > … > To the OP, I don’t see the point in lying when a firm no is just as effective. As soon as I realize I’m not interested, which is usually pretty quickly, I just interupt them and say something to the effect of “Look, I’ll just save you the time and effort. I’m not interested. Good luck.” And if they respond with more sales talk rather than a quick thanks for my time or whatever, I just shut the door. > … This. Exactly this. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/34 "2011-09-23T16:18:08Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I used to be more polite, but they will _not shut up_ if you are polite. The last straw was when I told a vacuum salesman guy “I’m sorry but I’m in the middle of something right now” and he literally stuck his foot in the door and said “This will only take 10 minutes!” This is why I like my area with the laws that are pretty liberal about people arming themselves. Some salesman sticks his foot in my door I just have to yell “Honey, get the shotgun!” and they generally leave pretty quick. The fact it’s well known around the neighborhood that a few years back we really did shoot a truck thief (crossbow, actually, not gun) helps quite a bit, too. My landlord, on the other hand, usually just pulls out his .45, which also makes people tend to leave in a hurry. I realize, of course, that this sort of area doesn’t appeal to all people as a place to live. ETA: Usually, though, I find “go away” to be quite effective without need to resort to weapon displays. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/35 "2011-09-23T16:24:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > ETA: Usually, though, I find “go away” to be quite effective without need to resort to weapon displays. You don’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/36 "2011-09-23T16:26:08Z")
From your wife’s point of view, if you’ll lie to salesmen just to avoid getting into a “verbal back and forth” with them, how does she know you won’t lie to _her_ if it makes things easier for you? Are you basically a truthful person, or not? ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/37 "2011-09-23T16:29:19Z")
I have realized I am under no obligation to give a good reason for not buying. I just explain I am not interested in talking to them. Most of them recognize a hopeless case and leave. ---
**Author:** ![RoniaBorkason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RoniaBorkason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoniaBorkason)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/38 "2011-09-23T16:36:23Z")
I’ve started just letting them see me see them and then pointedly not answering the door. I award myself bonus points if they try and greet me through the window as I go and re-lock the front door. Its like a ringing phone - we’re all trained to answer the door, but we don’t have to. I have no obligation to greet them or let them talk to me at all, just because they want to. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/39 "2011-09-23T16:37:36Z")
Answer the door naked. No words necessary ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330/40 "2011-09-23T16:48:39Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > I have a friend who went through a goth phase for a few years at the end of high school and maybe a bit after. That reminds me of [GothBot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJtrBaxmXtg): “Whatever you are about to say is just going to embarrass yourself and annoy me, so let’s just fast track you straight to rejection. You’re welcome”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-hates-it-when-i-lie-to-door-to-door-salesmen/597330.md?page=3)