The Solicitor

Thursday, September 8, 2011

I had a solicitor come by at 7:30 A.M (!!!) yesterday. A college student going door-to-door selling educational materials for preschoolers. (Yup, she caught me in sweats, messy bun on the top of my head, dark circles under my eyes, and a breakfast-wearing toddler reeking havoc behind me). Who knocks on someones door at 7:30 in the morning?! Unless you're an immediate family member I probably don't want to see you before 8 (and you really don't want to see me either).

Maybe the early morning approach was because she was trying to reach working mothers? I'm not a working mom, but I can image that if I was one 7:30 would probably be the most opportune time to sit down for a warm chat about preschool language education. Perfect timing to take 15 minutes to pursue colorful workbooks and discuss the merits of early second language intervention; because most working mothers naturally build in an extra twenty minutes into their calm, organized morning routine for unexpected interruptions and exciting buying opportunities. [insert sarcasm throughout paragraph.]


I might be acting a bit hard on the girl. She was a college student after all; she was probably trying to pay off her bar tab tuition. And normally I would feel more compassionate for her unfortunate sales position, however, all compassion was lost when she got a bit hostile with me after I very politely decline her materials. Maybe it was my morning breath.

Our little neighborhood gets quite a few product peddlers throughout the week. I've been wanting to put up a small "No Soliciting" sign in our front window, but RJ things it makes us look unwelcoming. I'm curious, what do you think? Do you open your door to sales people? And do you ever buy anything?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

She came to our house too...last night while we were eating dinner! Paul may not have been much better than you...
Gotta hand it to her--she was bold wasn't she?
-Jen

MEGAN said...

I do not answer my door to ANYONE, EVER. I watch WAY too much Dateline, and know what happens to folks that answer the door for crazies. If I didn't invite you, I don't want you over : )

Jessica G. said...

If she showed up at my house at 7:30, I probably would have yelled at her. No joke. It would NOT have gone well.

We get a bunch of solicitors at our house too...which is funny because when we lived at my parents, they never got them. I always answer the door because I heard they are canvasing to see who is home or not so they can rob you later. Usually Connor is a good excuse to not talk long because he is screaming in the background.

I always wonder how much they actually sell because I have never bought anything from a solicitor.

Ryan and Camille said...

Haven't had any up here...shocker... but I would have no problem being abrupt after a one polite denial-attempt. I mean, hey, I'm the customer so listen to me and leave when I say I'm done!

SomisSurferGirl said...

Haha I hate to admit I have bought cleaning solution from one and the local high school discount card from another (that thing gets me buy two donuts get one free at my fave donut shop), but i have to admit that 7:30 is not an ideal door to door time. no way would i have even answered :) (turn up tv and shut curtains!)

Erin said...

How annoying! And thankfully we live out in the middle of nowhere so we've never had a solicitor come to our door.

Anonymous said...

It probably isn't the same girl that did the Carp circuit, but I actually bought a set. I love it and my kids love it. We use it as our homeschool curriculum.

Linda Z said...

7:30... wow. I had one of those salespeople actually stalk me on a college campus until I bought something and another one who stuck his foot in the door so I couldn't close it. Oh, there was also one who actually sat in my car.

Now, I just tell them that I've had bad experiences with their associates and that our policy is to not buy anymore. They ask if I am going judge them based on those experiences, and I say "Sorry, but yes I am. I don't like your company's sales techniques." And then they call me a B---- and stomp off in a huff. I wonder if they learn that in their sales classes. :)

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