My neighborhood, for some reason, is flooded with salespeople. Maybe I just notice it more since I telework so much? but from April to October we get at least 4 salespeople a week. It's why I stopped answering the doorbell. All our friends know to tap gently at the door to minimize the canine craziness.
I do glance out the window to make sure its a salesperson. If the person isn't in a uniform or carrying a clipboard, I will answer the door.
I think I said this last time we did this, but I'll say it again - I'M GLAD NONE OF YOU DOORBELL IGNORERS ARE MY NEIGHBORS.
I've knocked on my neighbor's doors to use their phone when I locked my dumb ass out of the house without my cell, when my car battery was dead and I needed a jump, to ask them if their water was out too or if it was just us, to ask if their teenage son wanted to dog-sit when we had a last minute emergency, and to invite them to a cookout for which I had not bothered to make paper invitations.
They've knocked on our door for similar reasons. Also to give us cookies when we first moved in. And drop off a set of hand-knit booties and a baby blanket when Shorti was born.
I think I said this last time we did this, but I'll say it again - I'M GLAD NONE OF YOU DOORBELL IGNORERS ARE MY NEIGHBORS.
I've knocked on my neighbor's doors to use their phone when I locked my dumb ass out of the house without my cell, when my car battery was dead and I needed a jump, to ask them if their water was out too or if it was just us, to ask if their teenage son wanted to dog-sit when we had a last minute emergency, and to invite them to a cookout for which I had not bothered to make paper invitations.
They've knocked on our door for similar reasons. Also to give us cookies when we first moved in. And drop off a set of hand-knit booties and a baby blanket when Shorti was born.
I've locked myself out, without a phone or even real shoes before. And the one time my babysitter locked herself out with the kids (which I still like to bring up with her lol). I need neighbors who will answer their door because I don't always learn.
Yeah, I keep saying this in these posts - I was locked out of my house with no shoes on, no phone, and a dog in severe distress. I knew several of my neighbors were home, but none answered the door. Only the jr. high aged neighbor kid answered his door and let me use the phone. This was after wandering around for ~15-20 min knocking on doors. ANSWER YOUR GODDAMN DOOR!
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!
Not even school fundraisers, Girl Scouts etc? That's mostly what we get but also a guy who sells meat out of a van (sounds weird, but many of my neighbors buy from him).
ETA we also get cable/phone and energy companies selling door to door. And those annoying "we'll buy your house for cash" people.
No, our schools don't do many fundraisers that involve the kids selling stuff (we do a 5K run as our big fundraiser). I think Girl Scouts don't bother since we have two girls at home. One stopped scouting because her troop disbanded, the other is a scout, so we buy from them. But we aren't allowed to go door to door for sales anymore, we have to sign something saying we will only visit the homes of people we know for sales due to safety concerns (this is set by the council, not troop or town specific).
I've not had "we'll buy your house" or cable/phone either. Interesting...
Solicitation without a license is banned in my city. They have to wear a badge, do it during certain hours, and you can sign up to be on a "do not ring" list. I like answering the door to people who are soliciting my house just to tell them that they're in trouble, and the police will be arriving in 3-2-1... (which almost always happens cause people on my street don't play with violations).
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.
Well that's different from what I'm talking about. That scenario is normal. Texting to tell someone to come out is one thing. Texting to be let inside a house is another.
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!
Not even school fundraisers, Girl Scouts etc? That's mostly what we get but also a guy who sells meat out of a van (sounds weird, but many of my neighbors buy from him).
ETA we also get cable/phone and energy companies selling door to door. And those annoying "we'll buy your house for cash" people.
most school fundraisers in our area (Scouts included) are told not to go door-to-door if you don't know your neighbors well. it's pretty sad. we do/did have the FFA selling citrus but lately they've been calling me.
Post by laurenpetro on Aug 31, 2017 11:51:49 GMT -5
I will say when I was walking petitions every door I knocked on where I could tell people were home answered their door. AND they were polite and awesome to boot.
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 always feel rude ringing a desk bell! So I just sort of stand there and clear my throat or hum to myself to make some noise. Don't hit me!
Sometimes my work mate and I just let people like you stand there until you're forced to ring the bell. It's like our own, private social experiment.
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.
Same. Although I do peek out the many windows where I can see our porch but still be hidden by curtains, and I'll answer it if it's someone I recognize.
Those of you who don't like answering the doorbell without knowing who it is need to get the Ring doorbell. It's awesome. I can speak to whoever is at our door from anywhere.
I'm solidly Gen X and rarely answer my door. Our doorbell died a few years ago. We never replaced it because the dog went nuts and woke the kids. Now I'm just accustomed to not having one and I WFH (sans bra) so it's always just annoying salespeople or JHW trying to convert me (once a year I tell them I'm an atheist and they stop coming by for awhile).
We thought about getting Ring but need to get on that and an entire new front door so I've been dragging my feet.
I don't think I'm ignoring my neighbors but we also live in a neighborhood with businesses so if locked out they could easily go to the restaurant across the street to use their phone.
Those of you who don't like answering the doorbell without knowing who it is need to get the Ring doorbell. It's awesome. I can speak to whoever is at our door from anywhere.
Yes! Except we have a doorbell camera through our security system, Vivint. It's amazing. I love being able to see who's at the door, and talking to them if need be.
@@@
I expect it'll come in handy for sure when I finally give birth, hopefully next week. I'll be able to see who the visitor is without getting up. And now that we have electronic locks, I can even lock and unlock the door from my phone. So if I'm stuck under a sleeping/eating newborn, I won't have to get up.
Those of you who don't like answering the doorbell without knowing who it is need to get the Ring doorbell. It's awesome. I can speak to whoever is at our door from anywhere.
But I don't *want* to talk to them. I just want them to go away.
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.
I would but my H wants it for some reason! We didn't even have an actual phone, he bought it.
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.
I would but my H wants it for some reason! We didn't even have an actual phone, he bought it.
lol Fair enough, I guess.
I do think we will eventually get a landline because I am more comfortable with the idea of having a phone in a specific location in case the kids need to call 911. But I would keep it unplugged for now if it were me.
Post by irishbride2 on Aug 31, 2017 13:29:33 GMT -5
I also am glad I live in a neighborhood where people answer their damn doors.
I mean, our emergency plan with the kids is that they go to the neighbors and knock on the door for help.
We also have each others keys. I have two of our neighbors and two of them have ours. We have all used that from time to time and had to knock on doors to get in.
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.
I am glad to see my paranoia of why I always answer the door isn't unfounded. I don't want people to be testing if I am home or not to rob me.
Post by rondonalddo on Aug 31, 2017 13:48:44 GMT -5
We don't have a doorbell. The house didn't have one when we bought it. I answer the door if someone knocks. It's only ever been our neighbor, an expected service call, or the rare delivery that's not our normal UPS guy. UPS guy kicks ass and leaves packages on our back porch without knocking.
Friends and family knock at the back of the house.
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.
This. I don't want to be jackass demanding. But i also won't complain.
I think I said this last time we did this, but I'll say it again - I'M GLAD NONE OF YOU DOORBELL IGNORERS ARE MY NEIGHBORS.
I've knocked on my neighbor's doors to use their phone when I locked my dumb ass out of the house without my cell, when my car battery was dead and I needed a jump, to ask them if their water was out too or if it was just us, to ask if their teenage son wanted to dog-sit when we had a last minute emergency, and to invite them to a cookout for which I had not bothered to make paper invitations.
They've knocked on our door for similar reasons. Also to give us cookies when we first moved in. And drop off a set of hand-knit booties and a baby blanket when Shorti was born.
This is our neighborhood too. A neighbor knocked on our door recently to let me know that the interior light was on in my car. She didn't need to do that. I guess I could have ignored it and woken up to a dead battery ... #karma
I think I said this last time we did this, but I'll say it again - I'M GLAD NONE OF YOU DOORBELL IGNORERS ARE MY NEIGHBORS.
I've knocked on my neighbor's doors to use their phone when I locked my dumb ass out of the house without my cell, when my car battery was dead and I needed a jump, to ask them if their water was out too or if it was just us, to ask if their teenage son wanted to dog-sit when we had a last minute emergency, and to invite them to a cookout for which I had not bothered to make paper invitations.
They've knocked on our door for similar reasons. Also to give us cookies when we first moved in. And drop off a set of hand-knit booties and a baby blanket when Shorti was born.
This is our neighborhood too. A neighbor knocked on our door recently to let me know that the interior light was on in my car. She didn't need to do that. I guess I could have ignored it and woken up to a dead battery ... #karma
Oh yeah, that too. I sometimes let one kid sit in the driver seat while I shuttle other kid and/or stuff into the house. Invariably the little turds turn on my dome light and I don't notice. My neighbors are great about knocking on the door to let me know that it's on.