Do you answer your door?

[rosetta]

No way. I have no gate, no screen door. I'll only open the door to people I know.

My in-laws live in a very nice house. They often get people who either offer to buy their house, or people scouting for film/TV locations. This happens several times a month, so they've stopped answering the door now. They still leave written requests though.

 

[iheartscience]

We don't.
All our friends and neighbors know to call first.

Anyone ringing our doorbell is selling goods, services or religion.
No thanks.

Ditto.

My husband is too nice and opened the door a few weeks ago to an environmental group, and proceeded to stand in the door with the door wide open until I told him to shut the door because the cats were going to get out.

We live in the city and don't have a front yard or porch at all, just stairs that go right up to the door, so it's extra awkward.

 

[diamondringlover]

99.9% of the time I do not answer my door...if the hubby is home he will answer it...but for the most part nope if I am not expecting you I wont answer the door....and I do have a peep hole so I can see who it out there...

 

[Laila619]

Nope, not usually unless we are expecting someone. We have this decal on our door so people know that they will get eaten by a dinosaur if they continue to bother us :

http://www.etsy.com/listing/102763474/no-soliciting-vinyl-decal-t-rex-dinosaur?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=dinosaur+soliciting&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all

Hahaha, that's cute Stargurl!!

 

[Laila619]

Generally I don't.

I have a funny story about this, though.

About two weeks ago my doorbell rang while I was home alone. I just stayed where I was in the living room and waited for them to leave, but this person was ringing incessantly over and over again. I peeked out the window, and couldn't really see the person at the door, but I could see their car in the driveway. It was a silver SUV I didn't recognize with a logo on the side that looked like it said something like "Cookies by Design." Well, heck, I certainly did not order any cookies and I know DH wouldn't have either. So I continued to ignore. The ringing stopped, but after about 15 minutes I realized the car was still there. Then, all the sudden, I hear noise on my back porch. Now I should add hear that we have a fence, and the gates are tied shut because our dog can push them open otherwise, so that means this guy had to JUMP THE FENCE. By this time I was totally freaked out and moved into my bedroom where I couldn't be seen from any windows, and was very seriously thinking of calling the cops, when my husband calls and says "hey, this guy just called told me he's trying to deliver some cookie thing, and he left it on top of the air conditioning unit under the back deck... Will you go get it and see what it is?" I made him call the guy back and ask him to leave before I went outside, though, because I decided this guy is a major creeper, even if he really was just trying to do his job. Turns out some of our friends had sent us a cookie cake to tell us they were thinking of us after DH's father had been in the hospital the week before. Who knew some delivery people could be SO determined? Now granted, it was raining, so I understand why he didn't want to leave the thing on the front step (though that didn't stop the fedex person who left my important paperwork for my new job out in the middle of a rainstorm last year They didn't even knock the door- I was home when they made the delivery!! The papers got completely ruined because I had no idea they were there...) Meanwhile, our friends think it would have been an even better story if I had called the cops and had the cookie delivery guy arrested for trespassing

OMG jazzoboe, I would have been freaked out!

 

[luv2sparkle]

I answer my door a lot because my son's best buds live next door and they are over all the time. A lot of time I just tell them to come on in and not bother, but they still knock at times. I don't answer if I don't know who it is and tell my family to do the same but sometimes they still do. Our door is clear glass and people can see in too. We have an intercom and I sometimes use that and say I am not interested if they won't go away. Our no soliciting sign is above the doorbell but it does not deter one single person!

 

[lulu]

Well, I look first and if it's someone I want to see, I open the door. If not I make a gesture at the barking dog and walk away.

 

[lliang_chi]

I live in a condo, so people have to ring to get buzzed in. Something else to think about if/when we get a house.

 

[lyra]

I answer the door from 11am to about 3pm. That's the usual window of time for package deliveries, and someone in the house is always expecting something in the mail. We look after our neighbour's dog often, so if there is a knock on the door, I'll answer that. Neighbours knock, solicitors ring the bell most of the time. I never let anyone actually enter my house unless they have an appointment. We always have building supplies in our living room, and it's pretty embarrassing. We've had new toilets sitting in there on a couple of occasions. Oddly though, I will not answer the phone unless it is a family member.

 

[NonieMarie]

Holy smokes, this thread is quite a strange one for me to read. I never knew people felt so strongly about something as simple as answering the door!

People in Perth are 'poppers by.' It seems to be very much the norm here - but having been raised in the States it took a while for me to get used to. I've mentioned to a few people that it would be nice if they called before coming over, and most do that now. If you make a big deal out of it though, you're the one who seems weird, not them.

I always answer my door. Always. It wouldn't even cross my mind not to do so.

I open the wooden door, and still have a deadbolted, barred screen door between myself and the other person. It's pretty simple to ascertain who it is and what they want. If they are religious/salespeople/pollsters, I just say I'm not interested or am busy, thank you very much. I don't need to avoid them, I can happily turn them down face-to-face.

Strange for me too. I never think not to answer. I guess, because I grew up in a small town, I'm just not jumpy about some ax murder trying to kill me.
justginger, I've been to Perth twice visiting friends. I understand "poppers by". On many days, during my visits, a neighbor would stop by and before you knew it they were bringing their dinner over and it would be potluck.

 

[kenny]

... I never think not to answer. I guess, because I grew up in a small town, I'm just not jumpy about some ax murder trying to kill me.

Uhm, I also am not jumpy about some ax murder trying to kill me.

The reason I don't answer my door is not fear of crime (though that is a legit concern) I just don't want to be bothered by people trying to sell something.

When the phone rings I hang up the instant I determine it is a sales call.
I don't wait for them to end a sentence and I don't even say no thanks or goodbye.

When I play a DVD from Netflix if it has previews, which are ads, I mute the sound, make the window small, open a new window on top so only a thin vertical slit of the window showing the previews is visible behind the new window, in which I surf the Internet waiting for the 'commercials' to end.

When viewing CNN or BBC news website if I click on a video of a news story and it starts with an add I'll mute the audio and scroll down so only the scroll bar at the bottom of the video screen is visible and I'll read the text of the story till the ad ends.

All junk mail goes to the bottom of the parrot cage, unread.

I don't like advertising.
People selling do not have a right to my time and attention.
The more ubiquitous and insidious advertising becomes the grouchier I get and the harder I work to avoid it.

 

[CharmedOne]

I would get people ignoring my no soliciting sign from time to time. Mostly kids selling newspapers for "Sports camp help" or someone peddling something. So I added add "We are NOT Interested in what you are selling." It dawned on me that the kids (and some adults) may not know what "No Soliciting" means. Now we don't get bothered at all.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I look through my blinds and then decide. Recently, an older woman handing out religious info came to my door while I was working out. I took the paper she was giving out and closed the door in her face w/out letting her speak. No guilt there. Another time, two guys were at my door and I shook my head through my window and said no thanks. I won't open the door to two grown men.

My kids have been instructed never to open the door...a few weeks back they did while I was up in my office. It was a girl scout cookie kid and she asked to speak to me and I went to the door and told her we don't buy those cookies b/c they have too many calories and she wouldn't leave. She started DANCING around on my deck shaking the box at me. I was like WTF?! Then her mom (who I couldn't see from the door) called her back away. Weirdos. lol

ETA - and the girl scout cookie campaign has gotten out of control! EVERY day for a couple of weeks, no matter which store I was at, kids would be standing their selling their cookies. They even were outside the post office. Then everyone posts on FB that their kids are selling and then people even send emails informing their kids are selling. I refuse to buy them ever again!

 

[JaneSmith]

... I never think not to answer. I guess, because I grew up in a small town, I'm just not jumpy about some ax murder trying to kill me.

Uhm, I also am not jumpy about some ax murder trying to kill me.

The reason I don't answer my door is not fear of crime (though that is a legit concern) I just don't want to be bothered by people trying to sell something.

When the phone rings I hang up the instant I determine it is a sales call.
I don't wait for them to end a sentence and I don't even say no thanks or goodbye.

When I play a DVD from Netflix if it has previews, which are ads, I mute the sound, make the window small, open a new window on top so only a thin vertical slit of the window showing the previews is visible behind the new window, in which I surf the Internet waiting for the 'commercials' to end.

When viewing CNN or BBC news website if I click on a video of a news story and it starts with an add I'll mute the audio and scroll down so only the scroll bar at the bottom of the video screen is visible and I'll read the text of the story till the ad ends.

All junk mail goes to the bottom of the parrot cage, unread.

I don't like advertising.
People selling do not have a right to my time and attention.
The more ubiquitous and insidious advertising becomes the grouchier I get and the harder I work to avoid it.

Kenny, I ask out of curiosity with absolutely no snark, how did you find Leibish?

I rather miss VHS, it was easy to fast forward through the FBI warnings et al. Some DVDs don't let me skip straight to the menu. Argh!

 

[kenny]

Jane, I found Leibish by hanging around PS years ago before they advertised here.

 

[mary poppins]

Our doorbell rings to our phone system. I generally answer the phone when someone rings the doorbell because we frequently have packages delivered, our neighbors stop by occasionally if there's a neighborhood issue, and I don't want strangers to think our house is vacant and available for crime.

I answer the phone and then decide if I want to go to the door. It's much easier to get rid of solicitors that way, too.

 

[wordie89]

Yup. most of the time it's neighbors or deliveries. Usually say no thanks to pamphlet pushers and close door. On occasion I'll just sit in my LR and ignore doorbell but I like the suggestion to give the peace sign! Rarely answer telephone. Feel no obligation to answer door or phone if DH and I are, ahem, otherwise occupied

 

[MichelleCarmen]

we always answer the door b/c burglars will ring the door bell first to see if anyone is home before they break in. We have a frosted glass type of front door that people can see through. i just wave my hand at them w/o opening the door to let them know that i'm home.

Just a quick comment. A burglar did break into a house in a subdivision by us. It's a really nice, upper-middle class area and there was a kid home (14+) and she didn't answer the door when the door bell rang so they broke in. It set off the alarm, but the burglars still did enter the home. Later I heard the teen hid while the burglars walked through the house! Yikes! (There are actually a lot of crimes dispite the nice area...someone had pointed out that nice things attract thiefs.)

 

[beaujolais]

Never once, has my door said anything to me so I've had no need to answer it.
-------------

Often, I don't. I've seen too many Datelines and 24 Hours with people getting dead that way. Also, I don't have the energy for those selling things.

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Never once, has my door said anything to me so I've had no need to answer it.

Puhahahha!!!

 

[kenny]

Never once, has my door said anything to me so I've had no need to answer it.

 

[NonieMarie]

Never once, has my door said anything to me so I've had no need to answer it.

That really cracked me up!!

 

[dani13]

I can look first without people seeing me, which is great. If its not someone I know and/or am expecting, I NEVER answer the door. HELL NO!

 

[Smith1942]

I rarely answer the door unless I'm expecting someone or a delivery. Mainly, this is a safety concern. We live in a big city, in a condo. A few weeks ago, two nights in a row, our doorbell rang at about 5.30 am! I wouldn't have dreamed of getting out of bed and answering it. It was probably just kids mucking around.

A few months ago, I did answer the door and it reminded me why I don't. An elderly neighbour was moving and he stood there offering me some food. (I didn't really want it - I do not like other people's food. I mean, some of it was quite nice but I just don't like other people's cast-off food and I don't like splitting orders in restaurants either. That's another modern trend that gets right up my nose. It's MY meal. I ordered it. So why are you eating off my plate? Are we a pack of starving wolves? I also don't like it when everyone else has to taste a bit of what everyone's having. Get off my plate!) Anyway, I digress. The man came back SIX more times giving me more and more food. Since he already knew I was there, it was difficult not to answer the door. He was a friend and I liked him - I didn't want to be rude.

And THAT'S why I don't answer the door! If you're not expecting someone, it's likely to be something that's a pain in the arse for you.

But in a different situation, it could be fun. If I lived in a close-knit suburb with lots of kids I think I would like other moms popping in and out, and kids all around the place. I've always lived in the centre of big cities with no sense of community and friends who live a few miles away, so in the right neighbourhood I'd enjoy the companionship of the poppers-in. I think England used to be more of a popping-in place, but these days in the south-east it's mainly seen as rude.

 

[kenny]

And THAT'S why I don't answer the door! If you're not expecting someone, it's likely to be something that's a pain in the arse for you.

So true.

If I win the lottery I'll go door to door handing out $100 bills.

 

[Enerchi]

And THAT'S why I don't answer the door! If you're not expecting someone, it's likely to be something that's a pain in the arse for you.

So true.

If I win the lottery I'll go door to door handing out $100 bills.

PLEASE come to my door, Kenny!!!

 

[partgypsy]

I do. Our front door is glass pane, and between that and the dog and the kids calling out, it's pretty obvious when we are home. I really hate when it is someone who is trying to sell something, so if it seems like what it is, I try to have my husband answer the door because he can be really abrupt and curt (cuts down on repeat visitors). There have been times I don't recognize the person, but find out that our dog got out the backyard, or the neighbor has a missing cat, or some other neighborhood issue. So even if I don't recognize the person to me it's the neighborly thing to do.
Our dog, in addition to barking and lunging at the door, whimpers and whines like he wants to rip someone's throat out, so I'm pretty comfortable that the person's probably not going to want to force their way in with the dog behind the door.

 

[ericad]

We have windows next to the door, and can see who it is. If it's a neighbor, package delivery, etc., I'll answer. If it's a stranger (usually a solicitor or someone handing out religious materials), I will ignore but DH will always answer. But he takes his pants off first. Yup, true story. He answers the door in his underpants. Keeps the sales/religious pitch short and sweet and gives us a bit of entertainment (we live way out in the country and don't get out much.)

 

[ponder]

We have windows next to the door, and can see who it is. If it's a neighbor, package delivery, etc., I'll answer. If it's a stranger (usually a solicitor or someone handing out religious materials), I will ignore but DH will always answer. But he takes his pants off first. Yup, true story. He answers the door in his underpants. Keeps the sales/religious pitch short and sweet and gives us a bit of entertainment (we live way out in the country and don't get out much.)

This made me laugh out loud, because my DH has done this too!!! But in all fairness, it was to an exboyfriend of mine that repeatedly kept popping by unannounced.

 

[justginger]

I forgot about the time that I didn't even get a chance to answer the door!

One afternoon DH and I were in the living room, watching tv. The curtains across our big front window were closed, but the sun was going down so we could see a little shadow flit across them out of the blue. I had just long enough to think, "I wonder who that is?" and resign myself to getting off the couch to answer the door...and then there was a child in my living room!

We had left the screen door unlocked (an anomaly) and he had raced across our front porch, thrown open the door, and ran into our living room without hesitating or even announcing his presence. He looked to be about 6.

I looked up at him from the couch and he blurted out, "Have you seen my cat?!"

Thank God our large dogs are extremely child-friendly. If we had aggressive or territorial dogs, the situation could have turned very ugly, very fast.

His parents were down at the end of our driveway with their other two children, one in a pram.

I was most unimpressed. I don't think I've forgotten to lock my door since.