Amber in AUS Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 how do i politely tell them i am not interested in becoming a JW? In the last month i have had over 4 instances where the JW's have knocked on my door. I am always polite, take their literature and say goodbye. One man in particular has decided to target me. He has just returned today and was asking about my beliefs again (this time about heaven) and offered the kids a book of bible stories which ofcourse they accepted. I am not interested in becoming a JW, i have a general Christian belief system but don't go to church and don't subscribe to a particular denomination. I don't want to be rude because i do find religion fascinating but i don't want to be continually targeted and then have to explain to the kids what he was on about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Perhaps a "no soliciting" sign by your door? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 If you ask them to not come back they will not come back. Also, they are really excited that you are taking the magazines. Don't accept them anymore. They come back when you take the magazines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Perhaps a "no soliciting" sign by your door? That does not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 That does not work. Why not? When our church goes around to hand out flyers on our VBS program, we always avoid the houses with "no soliciting" signs. There was only one time when I slipped because the sign was behind a hanging basket and I didn't see it. The person just pointed to the sign, I apologized and left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redrapunzel Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Do what I do, tell them that you are catholic and you have a church. That always makes them RUN from my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzyBee Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 IME, if you engage in conversation, they will keep coming back. You have to flat-out tell them you're not interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam101 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 If you talk to them and take their materials they will come back! I either hurriedly tell them no thank you and don't take literature. Or listen politly and thank them for coming by adding that I'm of a different belief while handing the papers back. At that point they tell you take them and read them and may ask if they can return at which point I say no. They are nice people and take rejection well. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Ok, so i am my own worst enemy. No doubt he will be back, although he did mention that he is going on holiday for 1 month so maybe i will get some reprieve. Maybe i should hang a nice sign "Thankyou for your concern. We are no longer engaging in religious discussion." Can you tell i hate confrontation :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 (edited) Why not? When our church goes around to hand out flyers on our VBS program, we always avoid the houses with "no soliciting" signs. There was only one time when I slipped because the sign was behind a hanging basket and I didn't see it. The person just pointed to the sign, I apologized and left. They tend to take that to mean no sales people. :) Edited December 15, 2009 by Sputterduck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 They are nice people and take rejection well. LOL Yes. They are rejected All The Time and do not take it personally. :) Leading them on though might end up in them feeling disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolingWithLove Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I don't answer my door unless your invited to my house, or someone in my family really likes you. I figure answering the door is optional, like answering the phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassiemc Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 We have a sign that reads "Sell crazy somewhere else. We are all stocked up here". That has stopped them, that and not opening the door!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcelmer Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 OK, maybe this is extreme, but I had a friend who put little (2x3") sign up, "no jehovas witnesses, or salesmen please" by the bell... It worked for them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I agree you are sending a mixed message by continuing to take their materials. From what I have seen in other discussions about this topic, that's a sure way to get them to come back because they keep hoping you will change your mind. You have to be very clear and direct about saying that you are not interested and will not be. Now, being polytheist Hellenic Neopagan, I chose a bit of a different tack. The last time I had one come to the door, I told him (truthfully) that our pantheon was full, thank you very much. Threw him for a bit of a loop. ;) Since you said you had a general Christian belief, that probably wouldn't be accurate for you. We haven't had anyone come back since and that's been several months at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I would just politely tell them you're not interested. And don't take their literature. By doing that you've probably gotten yourself on some sort of call back list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I would just politely tell them you're not interested. And don't take their literature. By doing that you've probably gotten yourself on some sort of call back list. Sort of. When you get someone who takes literature, you're then supposed to visit them again and again and eventually convince them to start a Bible study with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
min Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Friends of ours had a sign up at their door saying something like "unsolicited conversations regarding religion and sales will be charged at $xx an hour". It was worded heaps better than that - he's a really creative person - and it always made me smile. Must email him and ask how it was worded... Min Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 (edited) I found the best thing is to say, politely, that you are not interested. DO NO TAKE ANY LITERATURE. And, make sure to ask the person to have your address removed from their lists. If they are honest, they will make a note of it and will ask their organizer (or whomever keeps these lists) to remove you. If you get another visitor after that, don't take the literature, of course, and tell them you had already asked a previous visitor to have your address removed from the list. You may have to do this for more than one visitor, but generally, a single request should do the trick. You can do all of this very politely and with a smile. :) Edited December 15, 2009 by Audrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I found the best thing is to say, politely, that you are not interested. DO NO TAKE ANY LITERATURE. And, make sure to ask the person to have your address removed from their lists. If they are honest, they will make a note of it and will ask their organizer (or whomever keeps these lists) to remove you. If you get another visitor after that, don't take the literature, of course, and tell them you had already asked a previous visitor to have your address removed from the list. You may have to do this for more than one visitor, but generally, a single request should do the trick. You can do all of this very politely and with a smile. :) They don't actually remove your address, but they do put a note not to return. 2 years was the return time I think back when I was a JW because you couldn't moved... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coleroo Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 how do i politely tell them i am not interested in becoming a JW? In the last month i have had over 4 instances where the JW's have knocked on my door. I am always polite, take their literature and say goodbye. One man in particular has decided to target me. He has just returned today and was asking about my beliefs again (this time about heaven) and offered the kids a book of bible stories which ofcourse they accepted. I am not interested in becoming a JW, i have a general Christian belief system but don't go to church and don't subscribe to a particular denomination. I don't want to be rude because i do find religion fascinating but i don't want to be continually targeted and then have to explain to the kids what he was on about. For what it's worth.... my father had JW's target him once. They came even more than 4 times and each time he tried to be polite, asked them not to return, he had his own church, etc. They kept returning. Finally one day they came when he was taking a shower. He answered the door...without bothering to dry off, kwim? :lol: They never returned. YMMV..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 love this door mat...:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I got really fed up with door knockers 1/ selling power and telephone and TV 2/ charities 3/ surveys 4/ religious door knockers. So I put up a sign: "Read this before you knock or ring the bell" Unless you are a friend or a lovely delivery person do not bother to knock. We do not want *Your power or telephone *Your charity or survey *Your God" Since I put it up the knocks have gone to one almost daily to none. Well actually one. Who apologised profusely because he knocked before he saw it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate in Arabia Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 We were getting regular visits at one point when we were living in the Chicago suburbs; my mil was visiting once when they came and she told them she would take their material if they would take some of hers on Islam. They refused, and no one came after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev in B'ville Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 After our first JW visit, I got a sign that reads "No Trespassing: Violators will be shot; Survivors will be shot again." Oh, and a VERY big dog. Haven't had a uninvited visitor since then (3 years and counting). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 The last time I had a visitor at the door, it was a sweet older lady. I let her give her introductory speech but did not take her literature, and then told her that even though our views of Christianity were many miles apart and that I could never agree with her views, I really appreciated that she had such a strong faith and was willing to serve the Lord in such a faithful way. She seemed to appreciate that, and smiled as she left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 You just say, "Look, I'm not interested. Please don't come back." End of story. If they come back you say, "I've told you repeatedly that I'm not interested. I've asked you not to come back. The next time you knock on my door I will be calling the police." Or, you just don't answer the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Move to the dead end of a gravel road. We've been here 11 years and I think we've had JW come here ONCE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpupg Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I've tried signs, but some just won't/don't read English, I guess. Most effective method I've found: stop answering the door for them. If your door arrangement is such that you cannot see who is there before you answer ... well, you really should be able to see, as a safety issue ... but if you can't ... once you see who it is, close the door and lock it on them. I don't mean slamming the door, just calmly closing it and locking it. There's no law that you are obliged to answer the door for or speak with any solicitor. So set a boundary and protect it. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 The last time I had a visitor at the door, it was a sweet older lady. I let her give her introductory speech but did not take her literature, and then told her that even though our views of Christianity were many miles apart and that I could never agree with her views, I really appreciated that she had such a strong faith and was willing to serve the Lord in such a faithful way. She seemed to appreciate that, and smiled as she left. I like this. Even though I do not agree with the JW faith I do respect their desire to reach out to those around them. It is not a bad thing. I always say hello to them and politely let them know that I am very solid in my beliefs and attend church regularly. I have even told them politely that they should keep their literature because honestly i will end up throwing it away. they usually keep it and tell me to have a nice day. I don't mind them knocking at my door except as a homeschooling mommy I tend to be running around in house in my jammies with my hair a mess until I hop in the shower and get presentable (around 2pm. ):D It can be annoying but you could look at it as a kindness and concern from their side. ruby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 get an attack cat, it worked for me. The ones in Saginaw, MI think my cat is possessed and refused to come to our house, over heard them "discussing" it in my driveway, I think one of them was the one my cat attacked when they came to the wrong door the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezus Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Friends of ours had a sign up at their door saying something like "unsolicited conversations regarding religion and sales will be charged at $xx an hour". It was worded heaps better than that - he's a really creative person - and it always made me smile. Must email him and ask how it was worded... Min Make sure and include politics and fund-raisers as well! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks for all the advice. Time to firm up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.