What makes people think this is acceptable?

[seamusTX]

Speaking of cable guys, there's a current rumor in the Briar Forest area of Houston about bogus cable repairmen trying to talk their way into houses. I'm sure everyone here realizes that you can get a Comcast shirt at a Goodwill or Salvation Army store.

- Jim

[Keith B]

Actually the new Kirby's have a motor drive that helps with the weight. We have one and it is a good unit. However, I know how much mark-up they have (a friend of mine used to be a district manager for them) so I negotiated mine down to a reasonable price.

To get back on topic, I have a No Solicitations or Handbill's sign beside my door that meets the city requirements for notification. I recently had someone put a door-hanger flier on the door (second time from this company.) I contacted them again (had done it before) and they referred the issue to the sub-contracted company. I received a call about 5 minutes later from the manager over the distribution. I advised him if they didn't cease I would turn them over to the city for them violating the city ordinance, as well as well as seek restitution for my time and trouble. That would not only get them a fine from the city, but probably not allow them a license to distribute any more. He fell all over himself apologizing on the phone and promised several times that it would not happen again. We'll see.

Overall, I have been pretty lucky about them heeding the notice since it has been posted However, I wouldn't mind a fence staining company putting one on my door; maybe I could convince them they needed to stain my fence for free to keep me from turning them over to the city.

[Tass]

I have had a number of solicitors at my door despite the subdivision having a "No Solicitor" sign at the entrance. When I inform those at the door that soliciting is not allowed the usual response is that they are not soliciting, just passing out information. I usually tell them if I did not invite you, you are soliciting my time. One actually informed me that soliciting was strictly for prostitutes!

Tass

[Liko81]

Actually the new Kirby's have a motor drive that helps with the weight. We have one and it is a good unit. However, I know how much mark-up they have (a friend of mine used to be a district manager for them) so I negotiated mine down to a reasonable price.

I know; the TechDrive system, or so that called it on the G3. I was talking about lugging it from door to door; you're not likely to drive from door to door and only pull out the vacuum when someone invites you in.

[Keith B]

Here is the Muni Code for Plano. Many cities will have a similar ordenance. Note teh times they can solicit (paragraph (b)and also the requirement to comply to a sign that is posted (paragraph (d).

Sec. 11-145. Solicitation and handbill distribution on private property.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct commercial solicitation upon residential property within the city, without first obtaining a written permit as prescribed by this article.

(b) All solicitation on residential property, whether for a commercial or non-commercial purpose shall occur only during the time that is one-half ( 1/2) hour after sunrise and one-half ( 1/2) hour before sunset. This provision does not apply where the solicitor is on the property by express, prior invitation of the owner of the property or a person residing on the premises.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person, handbill distributors, sponsor, to distribute or cause to be distributed, deposited, placed, thrown, scattered, or cast any handbill upon any residential property except by handing or transmitting such handbill directly to the owner, occupant, or any other person then present in or upon such private premises or by placing or depositing the same in a manner to secure to prevent such handbill from being blown or drifting about such premises, except that mailboxes may not be used when prohibited by federal postal laws or regulations.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to distribute or cause to be distributed, deposited, placed, thrown, scattered or cast any handbill upon any residential property if requested by anyone thereon not to do so, or if there is placed on such premises in a conspicuous place upon or near the main entrance to the residence, a weatherproof card, not less than three (3) inches by four (4) inches in size bearing the words "no trespassing," "no peddlers," "no advertisements," "no solicitation," "no handbills," or any similar notice indicating in any manner that the occupants of such premises do not desire to have any such handbills left upon their premises. The letters on such cards shall be not less than two-thirds ( 2/3) of an inch in height.

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to go upon any residential premises for the purpose of solicitation and ring the doorbell, knock upon the door or create any sound for the purpose of attracting the attention of the occupants of the residence if there is placed on such premises in a conspicuous place upon or near the main entrance to the residence, a weatherproof card, not less than three (3) inches by four (4) inches in size bearing the words "no solicitation", "no peddlers", or "no trespassing". The letters on such cards shall be not less than two-thirds ( 2/3) of an inch in height.
(Ord. No. 2002-7-13, § I, 7-22-02; Ord. No. 2003-6-7, § I, 6-9-03)

[atxgun]

My reply to things like this

"Oh, I'm sorry but I would be able to help you today. I wish the best of luck to you"


works great to end the conversation and send them on their way.

[Morgan]

I smile and tell them I'm not interested. The second time I tell them I'm not interested, I don't smile.

[NcongruNt]

I get these kind of folks a lot at my apartment. Due to the neighborhood I live in (Brentwood in Austin), we get a lot of folks with petitions (and asking for donations) for environmental and local neighborhood causes. A few of them are actually more valid organizations, but mostly generic "save the environment" types. I have also had little kids selling junk food (not even fund raiser stuff, but like packs broken out from a box of microwave popcorn, or boxes of mac & cheese ) on more than one occasion, with parents in tow. I have yet to understand these people.

Anyhow, I generally cover up my sidearm and answer the door, but last night I had a guy knock (quite loudly) at like 9pm. I checked the peephole and windows and asked him to state his business, and he gave his full name and the name of the organization he was petitioning for, and I could see that there was no one within at least 40 feet in any direction. I already knew I wasn't going to sign his paper, and didn't cover up this time. He gave me his speech about his cause (some water quality organization) and said they were trying to hold politicians "accountable" on water quality. I asked him what his organization was going to specifically do, and he repeated the "goals". I pointed out that those were no plans of action, and asked if the organization had a website. He said there was, but didn't give me an address, and continued emphasizing his (well-intentioned, I guess) goals. I told him plainly that I'm not going to sign a petition in support for an organization I knew nothing about, let alone give them my money. He didn't seem pleased by my reasoning, and left immediately without even giving me their website address to look up their info. I don't think he noticed the Hi-Power on my hip the entire conversation - probably for one of the details I choose my carry guns: black gun, black shirt, black belt, dark pants... isn't noticed easily. Maybe next time I'll answer the door with the shotgun slung over my shoulder.

I've considered the "no soliciting" sign, but sometimes I like to make them feel stupid for not having any specific knowledge about the organization they're championing. I'll have to check with management to make sure I can post signs at the front of my apartment.

[KD5NRH]

We have an intercom system, but it's old, and I'm not sure that a solicitor would know how to communicate using it. (You have to actually push a button and talk. Does yours work like this?)

The one I grew up with had a knob on each interior unit with a "door" position; you switched it to that, and used the PTT button to talk, then released it and it left the mic at the outdoor unit open. Nothing for them to push, and you could also use it to discreetly listen to any conversation going on outside.

I don't know the brand, but it was made in the late sixties or early seventies, and was entirely a wired, built-in system.

[Abraham]

For many years we had a solid front door with a peephole.

After looking out, if I didn't know who was knocking on my door, I didn't answer it.

Prior to having the peephole installed, the constant newspaper solicitors simply wouldn't take no for an answer. They would be become insistent to the point of me having to ask them to leave. Plus, the at least one to two times a week survey questioners or charity solicitors.

Thus, the peephole and no answer policy. It saved on aggravation especially at dinnertime, they're favorite time to pester.

Now, our answer is a fence with a big, heavy gate and a long driveway. Haven't had one single solicitor since moving in two years ago.

Heavenly!

[Purplehood]

Within the last few weeks, we have had two separate people (separate occasions) ring our doorbell AT NIGHT wanting to sell us something. Mars opened the door and talked to the first one; I talked to the second one through the door without opening it.

I really don't like solicitors anyway. I've considered a "no soliciting" sign, as well as a door mat that says "We gave at the office, we know God, and we love our vaccuum cleaner," but I hear that just eggs them on, and I don't want to discourage my neighbor kids from selling school/church fundraiser items, nor do I want to discourage the Girl Scouts.

Do many of you here have this problem where you live? If so, what do you do about it?

My solution is a wireless intercom set.

I answer the door from either of two master stations, neither of which is in view of the door. Unless the visitor is someone I want to talk to, I make clear that we don't have any business together and they leave.

Advantages:

1. No opportunity for a push-in home invasion.
2. The visitor does not get to visually size up any occupant to determine if he/she looks like a good target risk or not
3. If it's early morning or late evening, I don't have to get dressed to answer the door
4. It's very unsettling to bad guys. They figure (correctly) that if the occupants thought things through enough to put in an intercom and use it, an intrusion attempt is likely to be met with more unwelcome surprises.
5. The intercom conversation is confirmation that someone is home, so a burglar looking for an empty house will keep on looking.
6. My most used intercom station is just outside my safe room which I could very quickly secure and then set up a welcoming party for a determined intruder if necessary.

Drawbacks:

1. You need to test it periodically to make sure it's working properly and the batteries are still good (they last about a year).

Cost: Around a hundred bucks for one outside and one inside station. More stations can be purchased at additional cost. The master station can be either a tabletop model (about the size of a clock radio w/cd player) or as a flush mount unit that requires a wall cutout.

History: My current setup has been in use for about a year and a half. It works like a charm!

Doesn't it also suggest to a potential burglar know that you are NOT home if you fail to answer?

[Keith B]

Doesn't it also suggest to a potential burglar know that you are NOT home if you fail to answer?

Not any more than an unanswered knock on the door or doorbell does.

[Excaliber]

Within the last few weeks, we have had two separate people (separate occasions) ring our doorbell AT NIGHT wanting to sell us something. Mars opened the door and talked to the first one; I talked to the second one through the door without opening it.

I really don't like solicitors anyway. I've considered a "no soliciting" sign, as well as a door mat that says "We gave at the office, we know God, and we love our vaccuum cleaner," but I hear that just eggs them on, and I don't want to discourage my neighbor kids from selling school/church fundraiser items, nor do I want to discourage the Girl Scouts.

Do many of you here have this problem where you live? If so, what do you do about it?

My solution is a wireless intercom set.

I answer the door from either of two master stations, neither of which is in view of the door. Unless the visitor is someone I want to talk to, I make clear that we don't have any business together and they leave.

Advantages:

1. No opportunity for a push-in home invasion.
2. The visitor does not get to visually size up any occupant to determine if he/she looks like a good target risk or not
3. If it's early morning or late evening, I don't have to get dressed to answer the door
4. It's very unsettling to bad guys. They figure (correctly) that if the occupants thought things through enough to put in an intercom and use it, an intrusion attempt is likely to be met with more unwelcome surprises.
5. The intercom conversation is confirmation that someone is home, so a burglar looking for an empty house will keep on looking.
6. My most used intercom station is just outside my safe room which I could very quickly secure and then set up a welcoming party for a determined intruder if necessary.

Drawbacks:

1. You need to test it periodically to make sure it's working properly and the batteries are still good (they last about a year).

Cost: Around a hundred bucks for one outside and one inside station. More stations can be purchased at additional cost. The master station can be either a tabletop model (about the size of a clock radio w/cd player) or as a flush mount unit that requires a wall cutout.

History: My current setup has been in use for about a year and a half. It works like a charm!

Doesn't it also suggest to a potential burglar know that you are NOT home if you fail to answer?

Yes - in the same way that not going to the door in response to the doorbell when you're not home does. I see no additional drawback here.

That's where good locks, reinforced door strikes, an alarm system, and alert armed neighbors come in to the deterrent equation.

[Purplehood]

So why have the intercom? I would rather invest in an unobtrusive camera and simply do a visual screening anyway. I don't like to talk to people in the first place. Of course if they knew me, they would probably feel the same way.

[seamusTX]

The intercom lets you talk to people who might be legitimate callers, like meter readers. It also allows you to tell a persistent knocker that he is unwelcome and he is trespassing.

I've had people literally bang on my door, and I don't want to stand there until they break it down.

- Jim