Uhhh did you not see the ‘no soliciting’ sign, dingus?

[the_mother_thing]

Anyone else frustrated by door-to-door salespeople who ignore clearly-posted no-soliciting signs? What do you do/how do you handle when the interruptions are frequent and ‘significant’, such as interrupting your work, waking sleeping children/family members, etc.? I’m close to my wits end and going postal on the next salesperson who walks up our driveway to ring my doorbell and try to sell us pest control/financial planning/religion/politics/book club/cookies/gutter cleaning/etc. services.

We have a ‘no soliciting’ sign posted clearly at the entry to our neighborhood, yet every week it seems people just don’t give a damn about respecting the wishes of the homeowners and blow right on past it in a hurry to make some quota. If these people wouldn’t go door-to-door at shopping malls, church pews & business complexes hocking whatever they sell, why do they think it’s okay to do it at people’s homes ... especially in this day/age when so many are vigilant about who is in their ‘hood, watch programs, etc.? We have a lot of professionals who work from home (myself included) and in the medical field who work varying shifts which is why the HOA posted the sign in the first place ... to minimize ‘traffic’, uninvited disturbances, etc.

I actually had some jackass tell me two weeks ago (when I first tried to politely advise him there’s no soliciting in our ‘hood) that if I “don’t want my doorbell rang, I should post a sign in my yard.” Uhhh, how about you get off my lawn before you’re wearing a sign! I called that dude’s company and reported him, though I doubt it’ll do much. And being nice doesn’t stop them from going to the next house anyway, as that jackass was told the same by my neighbor before he rang my doorbell.

We aren’t supposed to have any signs in our yards except ‘for sale’/real estate signage, but I won’t lose sleep over pissing off the HOA since their efforts aren’t proving helpful and I need the interruptions to stop, so I may get a ‘tasteful’ sign for the yard right at the driveway anyway. I’m also considering using my cell phone to video them going forward and/or taking their picture to report them to someone, but who? The HOA isn’t likely to sue the company sending them out, the companies sending people out probably don’t care/won’t do anything, and it’s rarely the same company/person coming around.

What do you suggest/do?

 

[Tartansparkles]

There are stickers you can buy on ebay(.co.uk) that people here put on their front doors. They aren't pretty but might be less intrusive than a yard sign?

Edited to add the ebay link (wasn't sure if it was ok to post the actual sticker):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/No-Canva...les-People-No-Cold-Callers-Sign-/321136666273

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

we dont live on a very affluent neighbourhod (the only way we could get on the property ladder)
its real bad here as they pray on uneducated people who don't always no better and get them in over their head with easy credit on very overpriced items with criminal interest rates
i want to yell no ! i dont need a new flat screen tv
i already have one !
i never thought of a sign ....

 

[missy]

How about trying one of these signs?
My favorite one is the first one. I bet that does the trick...

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

How about trying one of these signs?
My favorite one is the first one. I bet that does the trick...

they are classic !
and also pretty inoffensive
now if i can just word that to also stop the door to door religion we get plagued with ....

 

[missy]

they are classic !
and also pretty inoffensive
now if i can just word that to also stop the door to door religion we get plagued with ....

Obviously this is an issue for many people. Look at all that is available. LOL.

 

[Tartansparkles]

Last summer we were plagued with a group of men going door-to-door offering to jet-wash driveways. I work from home and it drove me mad a) because of the noise - the machines droned all day long and b) because at one point I was answering the door to these callers 3 times a day. What was even worse is that they deliberately called again after 6pm, probably hoping that DH would answer and that he would give them a different response.

The postie/delivery drivers also know that I work from home so I've become the local depot for our street .

 

[bling_dream19]

I have a nice decorative no soliticing sign that I got on etsy. It has not stopped them. I was folding clothes the other day and saw 2 guys walk up and they did the fake hello and I just yelled NO I dont want anything i have a no soliciting sign. I am thinking about putting a second sign up. I dont know how to stop them.

 

[the_mother_thing]

@Tartansparkles I like the idea, but not really keen on putting any sort of sticker on our front door. Aesthetics aside, I just don’t want the salespeople to even get that far because by the time they are on our front porch, it’s too late ... the dogs watch that front door like a hawk during the day, watching out the sidelights for the neighborhood cat, FedEx truck, etc. I want to stop them before they even step foot up our driveway/sidewalk.

I have printed a quick ‘no soliciting’ sign on regular paper and taped it to my front door when I know I have a really heavy meeting day, but that lasts only for a day due to humidity, rain, etc. I’m thinking of getting something ‘weather resistant’ like this that I can stake in the ground right at the driveway/sidewalk and leave it for good.


@missy Those are all great, especially the one that details everything we don’t ‘need’! And I’ve seen some like that, but want to tread carefully between doing what I need to do in order to stop the problem right up to the line of what our HOA will gripe about. Of course, I know the religion-peddlers will still look the other way at the sign I posted above and probably ring/knock anyway because they feel they have their own ‘signs’ to share with me. Maybe I need a dual ‘No Soliciting & No Trespassing’ sign.

 

[the_mother_thing]

I have a nice decorative no soliticing sign that I got on etsy. It has not stopped them. I was folding clothes the other day and saw 2 guys walk up and they did the fake hello and I just yelled NO I dont want anything i have a no soliciting sign. I am thinking about putting a second sign up. I dont know how to stop them.

Now THAT would piss me off!

If I get a no soliciting/trespassing sign for my yard/door/driveway, and someone ignores it still and knocks/rings anyway, I think I will get a high-powered super soaker, open the door, and just blast them.

It’s better than an alternative I could grab and aim at them.

 

[missy]

@missy Those are all great, especially the one that details everything we don’t ‘need’! And I’ve seen some like that, but want to tread carefully between doing what I need to do in order to stop the problem right up to the line of what our HOA will gripe about. Of course, I know the religion-peddlers will still look the other way at the sign I posted above and probably ring/knock anyway because they feel they have their own ‘signs’ to share with me. Maybe I need a dual ‘No Soliciting & No Trespassing’ sign.

How strict is your HOA? We live in a coop and honestly they rarely enforce rules like this. We aren't supposed to have place mats out in front of our doors but many do. Little things like that they may not really care about but if they are "net nannies" like that I guess it's a real pain in your you know what. Soliciting is a quality of life issue and I would just push the envelope and see how much you can get away with...

 

[the_mother_thing]

How strict is your HOA? We live in a coop and honestly they rarely enforce rules like this. We aren't supposed to have place mats out in front of our doors but many do. Little things like that they may not really care about but if they are "net nannies" like that I guess it's a real pain in your you know what. Soliciting is a quality of life issue and I would just push the envelope and see how much you can get away with...

I don’t think they’re crazy anal; I mean, if you recall when I posted last year about this house and the neighbor’s fence was half-way into our yard ... the HOA didn’t bat an eyelash at that first fence install nor did they say a word when the neighbor took it down (which supposedly also requires HOA approval). So I don’t think they’re too nutty. And I agree - I’m of the mindset now where it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

 

[bling_dream19]

Now THAT would piss me off!

If I get a no soliciting/trespassing sign for my yard/door/driveway, and someone ignores it still and knocks/rings anyway, I think I will get a high-powered super soaker, open the door, and just blast them.

It’s better than an alternative I could grab and aim at them.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Obviously this is an issue for many people. Look at all that is available. LOL.

you made me laugh out loud
some awsome ones to choose from

our door bell is so old its painted over
around here people bang on the doors, no such thing as a polite knock
i actually brought a brass bell but ive been too chicken to put it up

 

[the_mother_thing]

I’m confused by all the emojis, so I think I’ll just go with your first, which applauds the idea.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

How strict is your HOA? We live in a coop and honestly they rarely enforce rules like this. We aren't supposed to have place mats out in front of our doors but many do. Little things like that they may not really care about but if they are "net nannies" like that I guess it's a real pain in your you know what. Soliciting is a quality of life issue and I would just push the envelope and see how much you can get away with...

to avoid cultural musunderstanding whats a coop ? (shurley not a house for chickens) and is a place mat a door mat ? what about when it rains and shoes would treck mud all through the house ?

some covidents on some subdivisions are redicoulss- no rabbit hutchess - no sign written vehicles in the driveway

 

[bling_dream19]

I’m confused by all the emojis, so I think I’ll just go with your first, which applauds the idea.

I'm slightly confused as well .
I have many emotions regarding the solicitor thing and it's fun to use emojis

 

[the_mother_thing]

@Daisys and Diamonds A ‘coop’ or ‘co-op’ (short for ‘co-operative’). Here’s an article that touches on them, though there are probably differences from one to the other. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/housingco-op.asp

 

[missy]

to avoid cultural musunderstanding whats a coop ? (shurley not a house for chickens) and is a place mat a door mat ? what about when it rains and shoes would treck mud all through the house ?

some covidents on some subdivisions are redicoulss- no rabbit hutchess - no sign written vehicles in the driveway

Sorry I should have specified. A co-op is short for Cooperative.

A co-op is where one owns shares of a corporation vs owning the actual apartment. The number of shares one owns is related directly to the size of one's apartment.

In our neighborhood there are only co-ops available to purchase. No condos. The reason is there is a stricter monitoring in who buys and the main concern is that the person who buys shares in the cooperative can afford the mortgage and monthly maintenance charges otherwise the whole building could suffer.

Here's a better explanation that I could hope to give.

https://streeteasy.com/blog/what-is-a-co-op-apartment-nyc/

If you’re plunging into NYC’s for-sale housing market, chances are you’ve come across a type of property called the co-op. No, this isn’t an exclusive store where you can buy fancy almonds on the cheap. But what is a co-op then? Read on if you want to be able to explain co-ops to friends at your next dinner party — or buy one for yourself.

What Is a Co-op?
A co-op, short for “cooperative,” is a housing arrangement where you don’t actually own the property. (Stay with us.) Instead, you own shares of a corporation, which in turn owns all of the property in the cooperative. The number of shares you own corresponds with the size of your apartment. So, if you own a large 3-bedroom, you’ll have many more shares than the owner of that studio down the hall.

In addition to paying for your co-op, you’ll also be responsible for maintenance fees, which typically include property taxes, the building’s underlying mortgage and interest, building insurance, management fees, building employee salaries, and common area upkeep. Some co-op maintenance fees also include heat and hot water, electric, gas, plumbing, pest control and trash, among others. And just as your co-op purchase is more expensive — and more valuable — with a larger unit, your maintenance also increases, and can fluctuate over the years. So when you’re considering a co-op purchase, it’s important to understand that the mortgage and maintenance fees are part of the deal.

What’s Good About Co-ops?
So, with maintenance fees and the confusing I-own-these-shares-but-not-any-actual-property issue, what’s the appeal of a co-op? First off, co-ops are generally more affordable than their condo counterparts. Also, although developers seem to be moving away from the co-op model, the NYC housing stock is still saturated with them. They make up an estimated 75 percent of the city’s owner-occupied buildings, with the remaining 25 percent condos.

https://bizfluent.com/info-8185508-advantages-disadvantages-coops.html

 

[the_mother_thing]

I am REALLY liking this ‘super soaker’ idea!

• It’s harmless if it’s just water.
• It’d bring me amusement & entertainment in the midst of my frustration and work day.
• It doubles as aim/target practice.
• It’d make my other immediate neighbors (who also WFH) laugh in the course of their workday. They’d probably see it happen as two of them also have their offices at the front of their homes with windows.
• In the summer, it’d afford the unwelcome solicitor a quick cool-down and hydration (trying to look out for others, ya know!).

I can have a custom sign made that reads: “NO SOLICITING - TRESPASSERS WILL BE SUPER-SOAKED WITH WATER” so they can’t say they weren’t warned! I mean, what’s the harm?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Sorry I should have specified. A co-op is short for Cooperative.

A co-op is where one owns shares of a corporation vs owning the actual apartment. The number of shares one owns is related directly to the size of one's apartment.

In our neighborhood there are only co-ops available to purchase. No condos. The reason is there is a stricter monitoring in who buys and the main concern is that the person who buys shares in the cooperative can afford the mortgage and monthly maintenance charges otherwise the whole building could suffer.

Here's a better explanation that I could hope to give.

https://streeteasy.com/blog/what-is-a-co-op-apartment-nyc/



https://bizfluent.com/info-8185508-advantages-disadvantages-coops.html

thanks for that missy
i was pretty sure you wern't living in a chicken coop but i did wounder if it was a cul de sac

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

@Daisys and Diamonds A ‘coop’ or ‘co-op’ (short for ‘co-operative’). Here’s an article that touches on them, though there are probably differences from one to the other. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/housingco-op.asp

thanks for that
i know nothing about apartment living always having been in the burbs

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I disconnected the doorbell, anyone who is coming invited knows they need to call first. Occasionally people still knock but it's infrequent thankfully.

 

[kgizo]

Ugh, I feel your pain. Check with your city administrator. In two cities I’ve lived if a solicitor approaches a house with a no soliciting sign then they / their company can be fined. The city also requires solicitors to have permits. You can also encourage your HOA / neighbors to hold themselves accountable for displaying signs and reporting non-compliance. My old neighborhood did this because thieves will often “scout” out a neighborhood by coming through as solicitors so they can see who isn’t home during the day, if windows are left open, etc. The HOA encouraged us to all get signs for our door - same little sign, I think it was like $3 from Home Depot.

 

[monarch64]

Check what your city says about solicitors. It’s very simple here: I just ask to see their business license. They NEVER have one and I just tell them I have to report them to the city if they don’t leave the neighborhood.

https://library.municode.com/in/bloomington/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT4BULIRE_CH4.16SO

 

[the_mother_thing]

I disconnected the doorbell, anyone who is coming invited knows they need to call first. Occasionally people still knock but it's infrequent thankfully.

I wish it were that easy. But we have windows along the entire front of the house/door, and my dogs will sound their bark-alarms if anyone proceeds up our driveway/sidewalk/front steps. And I want them to do that so if we’re in the back of the house or upstairs, we know something is going on. I just really want to stop the unwelcome/uninvited/unnecessary interruptions during the day.

 

[Slickk]

Sorry you have these intrusions. I don’t have a real problem with that here. I also just don’t answer, pretending to be out. Old pooch doesn’t even hear the doorbell anymore.
The good old days are gone...Reminds me of this comedic act!

 

[the_mother_thing]

You can also encourage your HOA / neighbors to hold themselves accountable for displaying signs and reporting non-compliance. My old neighborhood did this because thieves will often “scout” out a neighborhood by coming through as solicitors so they can see who isn’t home during the day, if windows are left open, etc.

This is precisely why we (myself & neighbors) all keep a close eye out on each other, and why we also want to curtail this nonsense. About a month or so ago, there were several car break-ins right on our street and several within our neighborhood and the one next over from us. Mostly petty theft type stuff, but these jackholes were brazen enough to just go driving in their car house to house, walking up to each car in people’s driveways, check the handles and if they were unlocked, they helped themselves to whatever was in there. They were caught on everyone’s security cameras and police reports filed, but we’re all pretty sure they’d been casing the area during the day, as I know I’ve seen the car in the security footage come down our culdesac on at least two occasions.

 

[the_mother_thing]

@Slick1 That clip is bang-ON! So reminiscent of my grandmom having ‘company-only’ food, napkins, etc. They never cared if someone showed up unannounced ... but then again, way back then when (typically) wives stayed home & did the ‘Suzy Homemaker’ thing, their house was always ready to receive visitors. Our house is always kept very clean & tody, but still, I can’t stand someone just coming by without so much as a call or text first. My DD moved into her apartment the end of June, and while she knows this is always her home, even she has the good sense to call/text before popping in, even if it’s just to pick up her mail.

 

[the_mother_thing]

A couple other signs I stumbled across, the first REALLY speaks to me, given my adoration for coffee!