Ask Not for Whom the Doorbell Tolls. They Won’t Answer It.

[pixy0stix]

Related - People won't ring a bell at work that tells me that they're at my counter. It drives me INSANE, particularly if they complain that it took a while for someone to notice that they're there.

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 31, 2017 9:43:06 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Related - People won't ring a bell at work that tells me that they're at my counter. It drives me INSANE, particularly if they complain that it took a while for someone to notice that they're there.

I don't have a problem with doorbells, but I will wait for a while at a counter without dining the service bell if there is one. But I wouldn't complain about the wait if I didn't use it.

[penguingrrl]

That's ridiculous! I still have people frequently knocking on my door unexpectedly. Often it's for the kids, but when we first moved in a few different neighbors stopped by to introduce themselves and welcome us.

[captainobvious]

Our doorbell really only rings when we're expecting a service provider and it still makes me jump every time.

[lilafowler]

There are so many people on here who refuse to answer their damn door if they don't know someone is coming 😐

[kershnic]

My doorbell almost never rings if I'm not expecting delivery food. But when it does I'm unlikely to answer. The chances that it's someone I want to talk to are almost zero. I don't think my kids (3.5) even know what the doorbell is.

It's the same as screening unknown calls to voicemail.

[pixy0stix]

Aug 31, 2017 9:44:02 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

Aug 31, 2017 9:43:06 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Related - People won't ring a bell at work that tells me that they're at my counter. It drives me INSANE, particularly if they complain that it took a while for someone to notice that they're there.

I started to tag you because I know this is one of your buttons (hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa pun intended)

I'm going to have to leave the thread cause I'll start yelling at people again. LOL!

[raangoli]

Our bell only rings when its the UPS, FedEx, or Amazon Prime deliveries. Or a service call. Other than that, the chances of a random stop by of a friend are nil. We talk to our neighbors if / when we see them outside. So I am wary when the doorbell rings, but I will answer it because I am paranoid that they're trying to test whether I am home or not to rob my house/figure out my schedule.

[ESF]

I hate the doorbell because it makes the dogs go INSANE. But I answer it. So bizarre that people do not. Who texts from outside to say, "I'm here"? That's fucking weird.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Since I work from home, I can't hear the doorbell from my office.

Not that we get a lot of people stopping by.

[Captain Catnip]

I wish I had a working door bell! My apartment is on the third floor, but you enter from outside on the second and walk upstairs into my apartment. I hate standing at the door watching out the window when I'm expecting food delivery, etc.

[wambam]

I don't have any strong opinions about doorbells except that Nano goes APE SHIT for the work doorbell and I roll my eyes every time.

Also, I wish my friends would just come in when I know they're coming.

[mrsd2006]

Aug 31, 2017 10:34:50 GMT -5 ESF said:

I hate the doorbell because it makes the dogs go INSANE. But I answer it. So bizarre that people do not. Who texts from outside to say, "I'm here"? That's fucking weird.

I don't think it's weird. I text from outside so I don't have to get my lazy ass out the car and ring the door bell.  

[bowies]

I'm one of those who doesn't answer the doorbell. It is someone selling something 100% of the time. Our UPS and Amazon delivery drivers don't even ring doorbells anymore. Is this new policy or just our weirdness in this area of the country?

I also hate ringing service bells. It feels very servant/master to me. I do it though if no one is in sight.

ETA: Also thank goodness for texting because teenagers used to just lean on their car horns.

[noodleoo]

Interesting! I answer our door when it rings, but it is usually sales people. I try be polite when I tell them to go away.

This reminds me that my DD is terrified of our phone ringing. We got a land line for the first time in a few years because it made our overall cable/internet bill cheaper. We barely use it, but it rings about once a month and scares the crap out of DD. I feel so bad for her!

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 31, 2017 10:34:50 GMT -5 ESF said:

I hate the doorbell because it makes the dogs go INSANE. But I answer it. So bizarre that people do not. Who texts from outside to say, "I'm here"? That's fucking weird.

Well, that makes sense. My friend disconnected hers because she couldn't deal with her dog flipping out any more.

[isabel]

Whut? This is so bizarre.

Of course, we answer the door whether we're expecting someone or not, so maybe I'm the crazy one.

[isabel]

Aug 31, 2017 10:50:07 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Interesting! I answer our door when it rings, but it is usually sales people. I try be polite when I tell them to go away.

This reminds me that my DD is terrified of our phone ringing. We got a land line for the first time in a few years because it made our overall cable/internet bill cheaper. We barely use it, but it rings about once a month and scares the crap out of DD. I feel so bad for her!

Do you actually use the home phone? I would just disconnect the phone if you don't. No reason to have one connected for sales calls. You still have the service whether there's a phone connected or not.

[fumbalina]

I don't understand not answering the door or not wanting to knock. I rarely ring the bell because it is usually broken. Sales people are just trying to make a living so I politely tell yhem im not interested. I've had a few Jehovah's witnesses as well but they usually don't return once I've spoken to them. Just last month a neighbor came and borrowed a cup of flour.

As for friends if we are leaving immediately they text, but if not we knock. There are a few exceptions but it is because the door is downstairs and the living area is upstairs.

[pixy0stix]

We ring the doorbell to make our dogs flip out. LOL! (We're bad people.)

[orangeblossom]

Terrified of a doorbell? Really? I mean, we all have fears, so who am I to judge, but this is a first. Not being comfortable ringing one? I just don't get it. Hit it, wait for someone to answer and go in or not, if they don't answer.

[jlt19]

Aug 31, 2017 10:47:30 GMT -5 bowies said:

I'm one of those who doesn't answer the doorbell. It is someone selling something 100% of the time. Our UPS and Amazon delivery drivers don't even ring doorbells anymore. Is this new policy or just our weirdness in this area of the country?

I also hate ringing service bells. It feels very servant/master to me. I do it though if no one is in sight.

ETA: Also thank goodness for texting because teenagers used to just lean on their car horns.

I've noticed this too. Just the other I walked into our garage and noticed a package had been delivered but the doorbell had never rung. 

We have a sign near our door that says No Solicitors. It's worked really well. 

I almost didn't answer the doorbell the other day, but glad I did b/c it was my neighbor with my dog. I didn't even know she had gotten out (my dad had recently left and she snuck out the garage door with him and must have ran the opposite direction of him). 

All of our friends/family are close enough that they just walk in through the garage if we're expecting them, maybe with a "knock knock" as they open the door. No one just stops by w/o a text/call. 

[eddy]

We have two different doorbells. One for the front of the house and the other for the side of the house. I have never been able to figure out what bell goes to what door. So every time the doorbell unexpectedly  rings, I choose the wrong door and have to run back and forth through the house to figure it out lol.

[zoomzoom]

Aug 31, 2017 10:34:50 GMT -5 ESF said:

I hate the doorbell because it makes the dogs go INSANE. But I answer it. So bizarre that people do not. Who texts from outside to say, "I'm here"? That's fucking weird.

Yep, this.  With 4 alert dogs, when the doorbell rings they go nuts.  If I don't beat them to the gate to shut them in our hearth room then I really can't open the door.  I've had to go through my garage just to answer the door.  Even then, it's only because I can see who it is from our Ring doorbell app.  If it's not FedEx, a service provider, etc., we don't answer.  We still get door to door sales people.  This summer there's been a rash of people trying to sell pest control door to door.  I also like to know who it is when I'm home alone, especially when my H is away on business.  

We've tried to tell our friends to just come in rather than ring b/c of the dogs.  Some do, some don't.  Annoying when they don't.

Oh, and if we're visiting friends with a baby, we do text that we're there in case they're sleeping.

ETA: And there's an obnoxious sales guy that drops by unannounced at work.  He was by the other day and our receptionist was away from her desk for a sec and he didn't just tap the bell.  He did it three times in a row.  I wanted to throttle him.

[Susie]

When we replaced our front door, we ditched the doorbell.  I was tired of it sending one of my dogs into the puppy crazies every time.  I still answer when people knock though, and think it's kind of weird that people categorically refuse to.

Sometimes the knock is UPS/FedEx, other times it's someone carrying a petition to collect signatures to get a local candidate on the ballot, a few times a year it's a Jehovah's Witness.  Most often it's one of my neighbors bringing one of my escape artist dogs back, after s/he got out of the fenced yard.

[katieinthecity]

I am on the cusp between Gen X and Millennial and generally feel like an even mix, but stuff like this makes me really identify with Gen X. I didn't even realize this was a thing. And I don't get it. Like, I always ring doorbells/knock when I get somewhere. And I (almost) always answer my door. It never occurred to me not to.

[taratru]

This seems really...odd. I only don't answer the door if it's the Jehovah's, and only if I'm lucky enough to notice it's them first. Our door is glass, so I can't really hide or check first.

[orval]

The police in our area have told people to at least make it known that someone is home even if you don't answer the door due to break-ins. Most break-ins are during the day and I work from home, so I do try to go to the door. I don't usually open it but talk through the side windows.
Just two days ago three people broke into a house the street over from me right at 12 noon. The police chopper caught 2 of the three. Their MO is ringing the bell then going to a side door and kicking it in when no one answers.

[oliviapope]

I don't answer the door if I'm not expecting someone. I don't really think it's that weird, since it typically means it's someone trying to sell me shit.

I also don't usually have a bra on at home so that's my main reason.

[penguingrrl]

I had no idea door to door salespeople still existed! In my entire life I've never seen one, and I always open the door. I thought they were something that was from like the 50s and a long gone practice!