PrairieSong Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I've never had a "no solicitations" sign but I'm seriously considering it. In the past 7 to 10 days I've had several people come to my door to sell me something...home exterior companies, frozen foods. Sometimes I am in the middle of doing something else and also, some salespeople will not take "no" for an answer. I had to shut the door in one guy's face. I'm not typically rude to people but I said "not interested" about three times and he would NOT stop talking. Ugh. Does anyone else have a sign? Do people respect it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I just shake my head through the door and don't answer. Big, barking dogs help too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 We have a sign that reads: "Homeschooling in Progress. Please Do Not Disturb." We've never had a problem with anyone disturbing us when the sign is up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 We have a sign that reads: "Homeschooling in Progress. Please Do Not Disturb." We've never had a problem with anyone disturbing us when the sign is up. Do you take it down after school hours? Most of the sales people come between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebra Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I had a huge problem with people coming to the door. During election season I can get several people a day, and at some point I got on the "hit list" of a certain religion and they were sending people to me regularly. I have NO IDEA why they kept coming and coming, but I finally had it and put up a no soliciting/canvassing sign. It has worked beautifully. I have actually seen people come to the door, read the sign, and turn around. I have had the urge to run outside and hug those people, but that would defeat the purpose of the sign :lol: !!!! People have been extremely respectful of it, and I have been very pleased. I do not care if people think I am rude. Even if I believe in a cause/religion/item to buy I absolutely refuse to join a religion/sign a petition/buy it from someone who solicits me. I will come find you if I want it. I honestly feel like I am doing them a kindness by saving them from wasting their time with me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 You can order stickers for your door from amazon. The tree cutting fellows around here have me shopping for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 My son wouldn't let me override the sign when he was selling Cub Scout popcorn, so I can vouch for its success from the other side! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 I had a huge problem with people coming to the door. During election season I can get several people a day, and at some point I got on the "hit list" of a certain religion and they were sending people to me regularly. I have NO IDEA why they kept coming and coming, but I finally had it and put up a no soliciting/canvassing sign. It has worked beautifully. I have actually seen people come to the door, read the sign, and turn around. I have had the urge to run outside and hug those people, but that would defeat the purpose of the sign :lol: !!!! People have been extremely respectful of it, and I have been very pleased. I do not care if people think I am rude. Even if I believe in a cause/religion/item to buy I absolutely refuse to join a religion/sign a petition/buy it from someone who solicits me. I will come find you if I want it. I honestly feel like I am doing them a kindness by saving them from wasting their time with me! I feel the same way!! If we need to buy something, we will research and ask people we know and trust for recommendations. I wonder if part of it is that now so many people don't have land lines and these companies don't have our cell phone numbers, so they are going door to door more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justkeepswimming Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 We have a sign. Which is promptly ignored by at least half of all solicitors. 😠Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 We have a sign. Which is promptly ignored by at least half of all solicitors. 😠I think that in that case, I would either not answer the door or smile and point to the sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Do you take it down after school hours? Most of the sales people come between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. I often forget to take it down. Basically, I leave it up anytime I don't want to be disturbed whether homeschooling is happening or not. I have even left it on the door when we are gone as a security measure (anyone casing our house would then be led to think that even if there isn't a car in the driveway, someone is home). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justkeepswimming Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I think that in that case, I would either not answer the door or smile and point to the sign. Oh, we do. But by that point, the dogs are barking, the kids are distracted, I have to stop what I'm doing to go to the door.... So they usually receive a pretty cranky expression while I gesture to the very visible sign. 😩 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeganCupcake Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 We have a sign. Which is promptly ignored by at least half of all solicitors. 😠Ours is ignored by all solicitors. I have heard that people with "No Soliciting" signs are less able to refuse because they don't have a backup plan when the sign is ignored. And I know that it's hard for me to repeatedly, strongly say no! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 Ours is ignored by all solicitors. I have heard that people with "No Soliciting" signs are less able to refuse because they don't have a backup plan when the sign is ignored. And I know that it's hard for me to repeatedly, strongly say no! That may be true for some people, but not for me. I can easily say that I'm not interested. I just don't like the interruption which wastes my time and theirs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I have a sign right on top of my (disconnected) doorbell button. It's a hand printed index card that says: No Sales, No Missionaries, No Thank You! During election time I put a sticky note which says "Politicians Welcome!" because I like to talk to them LOL The sign works. Only once in a while does someone not notice/ignore it. Even though the door bell doesn't ding, my dogs let me know there's someone on the doorstep anyway so sometimes I still stick my head out (especially if I'm expecting a parcel) A while back it was a pair of Mormon boys and they were SO apologetic that I came to the door... They were sweet. I swear each of them apologized several times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Our neighborhood has them. Judging by the number of solicitations we get, I think they're completely ignored. Our HOA has been advised by the local police department to call the non-emergency number and report solicitors, because legally they're not supposed to be in a neighborhood where the signs are posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 When I ran a home daycare I'd post a sign on my door during nap time that said, "Shhh! Babies sleeping. You wake 'em, you take 'em!"I must say, no one ever dared unnecessarily knocked on my door when that sign was in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5wolfcubs Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I have a sign right on top of my (disconnected) doorbell button. One Halloween (back in AZ I disconnected the doorbell, I never saw fit to reconnect it, and that was discovered on the home inspection when we sold the house! Now I have a dog (no doorbell needed!). I hand write my signs in permanent marker on 4x6" cards. I replace them every couple months when they fade from the sun. My current sign reflects "How to Train Your Dragon": You are twelve days north of Hopeless, a few degrees south of Freezing to Death, located solidly on the Meridian of Misery. NO SOLICITING My previous sign was a reference to the "Wings of Fire" dragon series by Tui Southerland that read: SkyWing Dragon Lair Solicitors will be (the corner was cut off in a curved jagged line) These signs bring me joy every time I walk in the front door. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I just don't answer the door. The kids will peek out the window, jump up and down telling me what kind of car they're in, who they might be and I Jair ignore it. I'd be happy to smile and wave to them through the window. No sign needed. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 We used to live in an older neighborhood where solicitors rang the bell a few times a week. I had a handwritten no soliciting sign that worked for everyone but the Jehovah's Witnesses and those college kids that get dropped off in neighborhoods to sell books. My stress level went way down once I put up the sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Our sign has been respected. It reads, Today is a school day! Please do not interrupt us. Thank you. It has a picture of a schoolhouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 We had one. It's not like anyone ever heeded it. Or could read. One or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I have a sign that says "don't wake the baby, you wake her, you deal with her" dd2 gets really cranky if woken before she's ready :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltop Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I made my own sign on bright orange paper and laminated it. It is small and fits under our door bell. We rarely get solicitors any more. ☺ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 From the number of posts on this thread reporting that "No Solicitors" signs are often ignored, I'm beginning to wonder if people (the generic) understand what the words "solicitations" or "solicitors" mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertBlossom Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 People knock despite our sign. Unfortunately I'm the type that assumes all solicitors are really bad guys in disguise, so it doesn't matter how convincing their sales pitch is, I'm not buying. And I tell them so if they ask. If I need their company's services, I will look them up online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I just plain don't answer the door if I'm not expecting anyone. The dog can shove the blinds aside and bark his head off as much as he wants... they'll go away! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 We are moving into a neighborhood for the first time in years. I've already found several signs on etsy I like. I plan on getting one that says, Unless You're A Kid, NO SOLICITING! Kids selling stuff don't bother me (I prefer the ones with the boxes of thin mints); but the adults do. I looked at some signs and saw one that said, No Soliciting unless you're selling thin mints. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 From the number of posts on this thread reporting that "No Solicitors" signs are often ignored, I'm beginning to wonder if people (the generic) understand what the words "solicitations" or "solicitors" mean. Many don't. Maybe they know one meaning of the word, but not the one intended by the sign. Lawyers and "Johns" aren't allowed, but people selling meat off a truck should be okay, right? LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I agree that people don't understand solicitation in the context other than illegal activities. About 15 years ago, I printed a small sign off the printer and hung it right under the doorbell. It used to read simply "no soliciting" but that didn't work and people looked confused when I would point to it and have to say "that means no salesmen", so I changed it to "absolutely no sales of any kind and no religious solicitation". I couldn't figure out a way to put the religious part without the word solicitation in it, but apparently the point got across as our interruptions reduced dramatically. There will always be those who pretend to not see the sign, and when I peek through the window and see them standing there with their pamphlets/goods, I pointedly look at what they are holding then give them a dirty look, shake my head, and leave, letting the drape fall closed. It's up to them to figure out what that meant. :lol: I figure if I want Girl Scout cookies or Boy Scout popcorn, I'll stop at one of the umpteen thousand stands that pop up outside the places where I shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 You can order stickers for your door from amazon. The tree cutting fellows around here have me shopping for them. We are about to get bombarded with the "your gutters need cleaning" guys. They don't seem to notice my sign. :cursing: I think I will enhance it for this spring cleaning season so they WILL notice it. Thanks for the reminder---- I end up talking to them through the window because they aren't selling a "thing" so it isn't as obvious as to why they are there. They could be asking about a lost child or animal or letting me know they saw someone break into my car or that my house is on fire, and THOSE people I'll speak to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingiguana Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 We have a handwritten sign. It works, most of the time. I do get the occasional young man who insists his boss insists he knock on all doors. Yeah. Waste of my time. Waste of your time. Get another boss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingiguana Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 My neighbor down the street has a handwritten one that exempts kids selling cookies and whatnot. I would, but there are a lot of companies that use kids to sell their candy and magazines along with some story about how it's going to help them go on a trip or something. Actually, the police want us to call those in, because a lot of times these kids are runaways or some such thing who are being carted from state to state by their bosses. Least, that's the story I hear from our city council people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 When I ran a home daycare I'd post a sign on my door during nap time that said, "Shhh! Babies sleeping. You wake 'em, you take 'em!" I must say, no one ever dared unnecessarily knocked on my door when that sign was in place. That is hilarious! I'm going to be laughing at inappropriate times today thinking about it! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 If it's someone with a clipboard, I don't even open the door. Even if my kids are looking out the window, I completely ignore them. I am under no obligation to open the door to strangers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I don't have one, but when I've seen them, I respected them. I sold Avon in the late 90's early 2000's before it went online. When I was putting catalogs on people's doors in my "territory", if I saw a No Soliciting sign, I didn't leave one. When ds was in Cub Scouts and selling candy, we would walk the neighborhood with him. We taught him that you don't knock on doors with No Soliciting signs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 We have a sign. Which is promptly ignored by at least half of all solicitors. 😠My mom has a no solicitors sign like this one. A realtor came to her door the other day, said "Cute sign! I'm just in the area..blah, blah, blah" and then she seemed baffled when we pointed to the sign, and closed the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 My house is too small to ignore people at the door. I generally look like half baked crazy just woken up lately, so I'm more than happy to answer the door and act that way. The last person apologized for waking me up, which he hadn't. I just went with it. I'm good at no, unless it's kids selling those $1 chocolate bars. I've considered a sign and may do so this spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJosMom Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 I found a large German Shepherd to be quite effective when we lived in the 'burbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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