Misha Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 We regularly get solicitors (even though property clearly states they're not welcome). We have menus shoved through the section between the door and wall, a certain religious group, and your run-of-the-mill salespeople. I really don't like anyone knocking on my door unless I'm expecting them. It disrupts our lessons or seems to happen at lunch or dinner time. This happens at least once/twice a week and I'm ready to move at this point. Any suggestions on how to effectively remedy this? TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I have a laminated sign, which I stick with a suction cup to the storm door. It has a picture of a little red schoolhouse and a school bus with a stop sign extended, and a school crossing sign. It says in large print, Today is a school day! Please do not interrupt us. Thank you. That way we only get people who need us to sign for a package. It works much better than No Soliciting! I don't put it out every day any more unless we start to get a rash of interruptions or during standardized testing. I'd share it, but I'm pretty sure I didn't check the copyright on the images, since it was just for my personal use. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I wish I knew a cure-all for this. I used to have a "no soliciters" sign, but people would still knock and say they weren't soliciting. :cursing: Yes, you are "soliciting" my time, if nothing else. Many times, we just didn't answer the door in the middle of lessons. Our obnoxious barking dog eventually would make them leave, I suppose. Our homeschool room is in the back of the house, so that made it easier to do, though. Sometimes, I would answer the door if someone was particularly persistent and abruptly let them know that I was working (I do work from home) or that we were homeschooling. Most of the time, people were politely apologetic and would go away. It is really annoying. I'll be reading to see if anyone else has good suggestions. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Disconnect your doorbell and let them push it fruitlessly. The sign is a good idea. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Disconnect your doorbell and let them push it fruitlessly. Genius. :lol: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolate-chip chooky Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I know someone who puts a rubber (but realistic) snake on their front path near the door. Guaranteed success I hear. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Ooh. Put a really big plastic spider on the doorbell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 "This door is only opened for expected visitors. All others will be ignored." "If you are expected, you may ring the bell. If not, please call to make an appointment." 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 A public health quarantine notice might do the trick. :zombiechase: 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I have a no soliciting sign on my door, and when needed have disabled the doorbell (once I just shoved a Lego into the inside box in a way that stopped it from ringing). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I bought this a year or so ago and stuck it where the driveway meets the walk to the front door. Haven't had anyone bother me since! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonhawk Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 We have a No Solicitors sign on the door, and over the doorbell I have taped a piece of paper that says "Do Not Ring Doorbell". They would have to push through the paper to ring the bell. No one has pushed it yet, I think it's been up 6 years. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I have a laminated sign A "baby is sleeping" sign also works well. People know that moms are scary when nap time is interrupted. No actual baby or sleeping required. "Beware of dog" can also be effective, put this one further out, where they will see it before approaching the door. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Naked Baphomet door knocker? :D Otherwise, I'd probably report the solicitors for trespassing if it happened regularly. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I used to have a sign that said ABSOLUTELY NO SOLICITING. ANYONE WHO WAKES A SLEEPING BABY WILL BE PUNCHED IN THE THROAT. It worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I'd do the Beware of Dog sign, but okbud's sign is pretty fabulous, too. Disconnecting the doorbell, some people will still wake the dead with their knocking so you have to put fear into them to really be effective. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedicMom Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I used to have a sign that said ABSOLUTELY NO SOLICITING. ANYONE WHO WAKES A SLEEPING BABY WILL BE PUNCHED IN THE THROAT. It worked. A few weeks ago I had a long to do list and my toddler was refusing to sleep. I was rocking him in the living room and his little eyes had just closed and he let out a long, sleepy sigh.... And at that moment, two Jehovah's Witnesses knocked very loudly on the front door. ....let's just say they ran--not walked--off my front porch and will likely never be back. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera33 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 (edited) If I were bothered by solicitors I might put up a sign that said something like "All door-knockers will be shot with a paint-filled supersoaker." But I'm feeling ornery atm. Edited April 19, 2017 by mellifera33 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 My husband told me I wasn't allowed to put up anything that could be construed as a threat 😄 The baby sign sounds promising. I'm so tired of this occurring regularly. Thanks, eveyone, for the suggestions! Sent from my SM-J327P using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) I feel your pain, we lived in an older neighborhood that use to get tons of roof, gutter, window, security system solicitors, etc. It's mildly annoying when you get someone a few times a year, but a few times a week is obnoxious. The baby sleeping sign, just a handwritten note worked well for us. Edited April 20, 2017 by Rach 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Years, ago, we were having a problem with JW's, and one day I was riding a green, rank horse. I had JUST gotten the heifers gathered to take them to the hill pastures when the JW's came driving in (way too fast) scattering the cattle. I came down HARD on the hood of the car with my stock whip! They haven't been back... :lol: I want a stock whip! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Not exactly sure about this, but I think in our little city (spit of a town) you can contact the city and be put on the list of people who do not want solicitation. I need to check into that because there have been way too many door knockers and ringers lately. It is so annoying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 A few weeks ago I had a long to do list and my toddler was refusing to sleep. I was rocking him in the living room and his little eyes had just closed and he let out a long, sleepy sigh.... And at that moment, two Jehovah's Witnesses knocked very loudly on the front door. ....let's just say they ran--not walked--off my front porch and will likely never be back. What did you do??? :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 Well, we don't have doorbell ringers as they'd be met at the front cattleguard by VERY large dog! He's actually very sweet (as long as you don't bug his sheep) but only the FedEx and UPS guys know that. Years, ago, we were having a problem with JW's, and one day I was riding a green, rank horse. I had JUST gotten the heifers gathered to take them to the hill pastures when the JW's came driving in (way too fast) scattering the cattle. I came down HARD on the hood of the car with my stock whip! They haven't been back... :lol: Oh, that is fantastic! :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Disconnect your doorbell and let them push it fruitlessly. The sign is a good idea. How does that deter them? If they can see or hear you, they will just start KNOCKING loudly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Thankfully we haven't had anyone in years. We are in a neighborhood where the houses are set very far back and people don't come. But when we did, I would just peek my head out and say, "No thank you." and close the door. I would not engage in any of their conversations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdj2027 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 For a while I had a big sign on my door. "No English speak, Japanese welcomm". Nobody ever wanted to talk to me. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 I haven't really had to deal with this because we're in a gated, no-soliciting community. There's still the occasional kid looking to cut grass or sell chocolate, but it's very rare. Neighbors dropping in are even more rare. But that's what makes it even more unnerving when it does happen! I absolutely do not expect it. I've thought about what kind of signs I'd use if it happened often enough to put out every day. I'd love to go with "The children are armed." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Sit in a rocking chair on your front porch with a shotgun across your lap. Don't forget the blade of straw for your mouth. You might want to have banjo music playing in the background. That ought to take care of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 When we first moved here we had toddler twins and a three-month old. And the old house came with huge hanging chimes as a doorbell. I ripped those out the first day. :-) Now all we have is a small note taped to door, "doorbell broken please knock".AND a "No SALES" sign next to the door. I figure some folks might not know what soliciting is. No sales - no excuses. The one time a Jehovah Witness dared knock, I sicced my (then adult) son the argumentative, logical, gifted atheist in him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 ... I would just peek my head out and say, "No thank you." and close the door. I would not engage in any of their conversations. I don't, either, but many a school lesson (or nap) is ruined anyway by the interruption. The one that really ticks me off is the (only) phone company here. Dude, you have our phone number (though I'm not going to answer) and our billing address. Do not come out here and stand on my porch and bother me to try to tell me about some offer, as if I couldn't find you online if I cared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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