An amusing occurrence at a customer's house

contender

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
31,366
City & State/Province
Lake Lure NC USA
The other day,, I went to look at a house that has some bats in it's gable vents & behind a chimney. The owner, a nice lady,, with a Yorkie greeted me. Of course the Yorkie barked a good bit until the owner made her settle down & she realized I wasn't a problem.

Now,, I make appointments & the customers expect me to be there.

While we were walking around her house,, the Yorkie went to barking. A clean-cut, well dressed black guy,, "appeared" at her steps,, between the hedges. He wasn't expected, nor invited. He was soliciting for a pest control company. He wasn't driving a vehicle,, but riding a "sedgeway" (spelling?) and going around the neighborhood.

One of his first comments was; "Wow,, I like your alarm system" meaning the Yorkie. I immediately responded; "That's the alarm,, I'm the enforcement" before I thought.

He was polite & all, but I could also tell my customer didn't appreciate him just appearing like that. He tried to sell his company,, but my customer declined to go further. He left.

After he left,, my customer said; "I'm GLAD you were here,, that scared me a little!" I smiled,, and said; "Well,, I meant it when I said I'm the enforcer." She said she was glad to know I was there & capable of being that way. She never knew I had a gun in my pocket.

Kevin's post about a scammer & all,,, made me think of this. Most likely,, in this case,, the guy was legit. But to be riding a sedgeway & all was a bit unusual there. Even for the Trasheville area. This was in an older,, yet upscale neighborhood.

Gotta be careful anymore,, no matter where you are.
 
I've seen a pest control guy riding one of the small Segways, the kind with the tower that almost goes to the knees.

1754748720063.png


Coming from Utah, where the dominant religion trains young people to go door to door trying to sell said religion, there are constant help wanted ads looking for return missionaries. Companies will hire them and then send them all over the country to saturate a market for a couple of weeks, until they move on to the next one.

Their job is to develop the lead and make an appointment for the "closer". Everything from pest control to solar and vacuums. And they will routinely ignore "no soliciting" signs since (in their mind) they are not actually trying to sell you anything and once they make the appointment....

I cannot wait to get to Montana... anyone knocking on my door is likely to be met with the business end of a revolver. Friends will know to call first.
 
I had a young white guy riding one of those show up here a couple of weeks ago. He said he was selling spraying for mosquitoes, etc. It was on a Saturday. He rang the doorbell. Delivery people often leave a package, ring the bell & leave. I looked through the peephole didn't see anyone so I thought that was what was going on. When I stepped out he popped around the corner. He was talking so much & so fast he didn't hear me telling him to leave the first two times. The third time I said, "You know you can just go." He heard me & left. I did not like it that he had backed off where I couldn't see him. I think the next time the doorbell rings when I don't expect anyone I will either ignore it or go out the back door & walk around to answer it. I guess I need to get a camera.
 
I think they are trained to back off from the door so as not to be threatening, but hiding isn't good either.

They ran through here recently with some bug preventative. The guy was thorough I had ignored him twice, but the third time he caught me talking to the neighbor.
 
Yep. There is a pest control company here that uses them. They get dropped off at the base of the "mountain" and zip around door to door. Fox Pest Control.....they are a nightmare to deal with if you want to stop service. Spiders don't bother me.....they eat bugs that do bother me.
 
contender said:
The other day,, I went to look at a house that has some bats in it's gable vents & behind a chimney. The owner, a nice lady,, with a Yorkie greeted me. Of course the Yorkie barked a good bit until the owner made her settle down & she realized I wasn't a problem.

Now,, I make appointments & the customers expect me to be there.

While we were walking around her house,, the Yorkie went to barking. A clean-cut, well dressed black guy,, "appeared" at her steps,, between the hedges. He wasn't expected, nor invited. He was soliciting for a pest control company. He wasn't driving a vehicle,, but riding a "sedgeway" (spelling?) and going around the neighborhood.

One of his first comments was; "Wow,, I like your alarm system" meaning the Yorkie. I immediately responded; "That's the alarm,, I'm the enforcement" before I thought.

He was polite & all, but I could also tell my customer didn't appreciate him just appearing like that. He tried to sell his company,, but my customer declined to go further. He left.

After he left,, my customer said; "I'm GLAD you were here,, that scared me a little!" I smiled,, and said; "Well,, I meant it when I said I'm the enforcer." She said she was glad to know I was there & capable of being that way. She never knew I had a gun in my pocket.

Kevin's post about a scammer & all,,, made me think of this. Most likely,, in this case,, the guy was legit. But to be riding a sedgeway & all was a bit unusual there. Even for the Trasheville area. This was in an older,, yet upscale neighborhood.

Gotta be careful anymore,, no matter where you are.
Click to expand...
Betcha ya didn't have shoes on....that's what scared him away.....
 
My sub has 300 homes, Salesman selling solar, bug killers, lawn service, painters and new windows are traveling about on electric gizmos. What's funny, is homes are 5 years old or less. None need repainted or new windows. Most have solar. I would have solar if the house was built with it. The 1st owner didn't include it. He lived here 16 months. One winter and he sold and went back to Seattle. I got an estimate of 34,000 for solar, no thanks. I pay 72 bucks a month for all the power I need. Solar would never pay back its investment. I am 68 and Likely will downsize in a few years.
 
MaxMan said:
Segway? No tag number to trace.
Click to expand...
I don't who the OP is but I think the guy is out there trying to earn a buck at a very hard job. Door to door sales are very hard and sometime the abuse is discouraging. I think the company should have done some training and maybe give them a vest or something to help Identify the employees. Sounds like O training or orientation for the job. I had a telephone solicitor call for life insurance (burial insurance) and they told me I had 40 days to try it out. Me Do I have to die to try it out. Prolonged silence and click. Training?

Someone ought to look into the OP negative sarcastic individual to be sure.
 
Mike J said:
. . . I think the next time the doorbell rings when I don't expect anyone I will either ignore it or go out the back door & walk around to answer it. I guess I need to get a camera.
Click to expand...
Installing a peep-hole is an easy DIY project, however,walking around from the side is what we do - puts "visitors" in surprise mode.

My front door has a peep-hole, along with security cameras and a nearby window (our 100 lb. pup likes to keep an eye on things). On the inside is a 2x4 barricade for when we may be away for a few days. As it turns out, the barricade stays in place all the time, and a side door has become our general in-out route.

The rare visitor is greeted by us popping around the corner from the side door. Works great!
 
I’m sort of afraid of peep holes. I prefer to walk around the side and surprise them. I do love my Ring cameras.

This was our Segway saleslady last week.
IMG_8813.jpeg



The funniest surprise I ever got. I went up to the door to ring the bell for a scheduled service call.

The scarecrow sprawled on the front porch told me to go around back the bulkhead was open for me.

The homeowner was dressed like a scarecrow waiting to scare trick or treaters!
 
MaxMan said:
I don't who the OP is but I think the guy is out there trying to earn a buck at a very hard job. Door to door sales are very hard and sometime the abuse is discouraging. I think the company should have done some training and maybe give them a vest or something to help Identify the employees. Sounds like O training or orientation for the job. I had a telephone solicitor call for life insurance (burial insurance) and they told me I had 40 days to try it out. Me Do I have to die to try it out. Prolonged silence and click. Training?

Someone ought to look into the OP negative sarcastic individual to be sure.
Click to expand...
I think you may be taking this a bit wrong. The OP is Contender (his real name is Tyrone). He has been a member here for many years & is an all around good guy that removes/relocates wildlife that is causing people problems. He is also an Eagle Scout. He hosts an East Coast gathering at his home almost every year (the hurricane messed up last years planned festivities). I have never met him face to face but I have read enough of his posts that I believe I have a pretty good handle on who he is. Most people don't care to have door to door salesmen come around.
 
Mike J said:
I think you may be taking this a bit wrong. The OP is Contender (his real name is Tyrone). He has been a member here for many years & is an all around good guy that removes/relocates wildlife that is causing people problems. He is also an Eagle Scout. He hosts an East Coast gathering at his home almost every year (the hurricane messed up last years planned festivities). I have never met him face to face but I have read enough of his posts that I believe I have a pretty good handle on who he is. Most people don't care to have door to door salesmen come around.
Click to expand...
My BIG Mistake. I was referring to myself as the OP. Sorry contender, Enjoy your contents. My big mistake putting it that way.
 
"Betcha ya didn't have shoes on....that's what scared him away....."

Actually,, I do wear sandals & shorts in the summer when calling on customers. HA!!!!!!!

And the gun in my pocket was smaller than other things in my pocket.


The guy was wearing a company logo shirt,, (a company I didn't recognize either) and while he was polite & all, he was also a bit "pushy" in trying to get an appointment with her.

This kind of door to door sales crap is not the same as it was many years ago,, where you could put up a sign about "no solicitation, " and it work.

I know that I would NEVER buy any services from any company that used that type of sales techniques.
 
Ok,,, I also wear shirts. Sheesh,,,!

I will admit to occasionally going after a critter while barefoot. But in general,, I do understand what folks expect when a service type person shows up for the first time!

But if the call is an emergency & time is of the essence,, I'll often be barefoot. Such as when I went & caught the rattlesnake a few months ago.
 
MaxMan said:
I don't who the OP is but I think the guy is out there trying to earn a buck at a very hard job. Door to door sales are very hard and sometime the abuse is discouraging. I think the company should have done some training and maybe give them a vest or something to help Identify the employees. Sounds like O training or orientation for the job. I had a telephone solicitor call for life insurance (burial insurance) and they told me I had 40 days to try it out. Me Do I have to die to try it out. Prolonged silence and click. Training?

Someone ought to look into the OP negative sarcastic individual to be sure.
Click to expand...
Door to door salespeople are looked upon the same ways as telemarketers. No one invited them so they are not welcome. They need to get a job that hangs a shingle and gets a yellow paper add and wait for a call. My favorite thing to tell either of these two types is "I did not invite you into my life, so now get out and stay out. And if you don't like being told off get a decent job."
 
eveled said:
I’m sort of afraid of peep holes. I prefer to walk around the side and surprise them. I do love my Ring cameras.

This was our Segway saleslady last week.
View attachment 79274


The funniest surprise I ever got. I went up to the door to ring the bell for a scheduled service call.

The scarecrow sprawled on the front porch told me to go around back the bulkhead was open for me.

The homeowner was dressed like a scarecrow waiting to scare trick or treaters!
Click to expand...
Haloween video years ago, big ol boy comes up the porch for trickertreats and the scarecrow in the chair comes alive. Bigboy hammers a coupla rights down into him then immeduately goes into full apology mode. Not sure i woulda let him get away with that, but i dont have a big enough front porch here anyway...
 
TheTexasRAT said:
Door to door salespeople are looked upon the same ways as telemarketers. No one invited them so they are not welcome. They need to get a job that hangs a shingle and gets a yellow paper add and wait for a call. My favorite thing to tell either of these two types is "I did not invite you into my life, so now get out and stay out. And if you don't like being told off get a decent job."
Click to expand...
Whenever a door-to-door salesman catches me outside I tell them I don’t buy anything from door-to-door sales people. Drop any literature in the mailbox if you want to. Have a nice day. Some try to keep talking, but I just walk away.
 
My wife & I were caught on the front porch by a kid selling pest control (note to self, put another No Soliciting sign nearer the street). We told him that we were very happy with our current system. "The ants keep the termites away & the spiders & cats deal with the rest of the problems."

He looked confused & went away.
 
During the second time i was desperate enough to try doortodoor (still wasent any money in it) i was told No Solicitors! Cantcha Read The Sign?!? and they pointed to a businesscard sized sign a coupla feet to the other side of the hinge. I put on a nice British and said Am'nt a solicitor, m'lady, tho i understand you call them..."lawyers"...here...
She closed the door in a hurry to keep me from seeing the laugh that was building up.
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blockin out the scenery, breakin my mind, Do This Dont Do That! Cantcha Read The Sign?
 
el caminero said:
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blockin out the scenery, breakin my mind, Do This Dont Do That! Cantcha Read The Sign?
Click to expand...
What part of NO do people have a problem with?

If one has a problem with not wanting to obey someone's signs, then it would be best all around for them to simply stay off of the property as the signs demand! I.E. - Get a life, ELSEWHERE!

Door to door sales people and Telemarketers are the same type as those that intrude upon people's privacy with unsolicited advancements as senders of SPAM email. This world would be a better place if these three groups of people would mature in understanding and repent of their ignorant way. Then and only then there will be no need for signs reminding the ignorant what is not acceptable behavior.

If one was not invited then they are an intruder, period. And nobody likes an intruder. Don't be that guy. Not to mention they are lucky if they get to depart in one piece.

Shalom.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

V
Amusing reminder of aging
2 3 4
Replies
95
Views
2K
el caminero
el caminero
M
Amusing Nicknames
2 3 4
Replies
93
Views
2K
Neon Vernon
N
Fox Mike
A bluebird house
2
Replies
31
Views
781
32shooter
32shooter
Pistolero
As an old guy, I'm an Expert at the Pro level!
Replies
27
Views
558
Ale-8(1)
A
M
Was having a beer at Ann O'Malley's
Replies
28
Views
641
M118LR
M

Latest posts

Back
Top