Door to door salesmen, how do you see us?

MarkAnthony · 30-01-2015 1:19am

If you're a good sales person, and I mean genuinely good rather than a pest, you don't need to be cold calling door-to-door. Depending on how good you could be in a nice office somewhere or selling Airbuses.

If you want to do some charity work on the side, you'd be doing way more good IMHO.

I'd simply tell you 'No thanks, probably before you've even started' and if you respect that then fair enough, personally though I think the practise should be banned.

Unless you're this guy:

GT_TDI_150 · 30-01-2015 1:27am

I live in the arse end of nowhere and get 0 sales people calling... I do however get GAA clubs from anywhere between 50 and 100 miles from me trying to sell me tickets for draws to win cars. They annoy the living ****e out of me.

I'll support what ever clubs my kids end up with, end of.

Jaxxy · 30-01-2015 1:30am

Incoming wall of text.

quainy wrote: »

You know, you spoke to me with a great deal of respect there, so much so that I want to reply to your post in full. First off, thank you for the compliments, I pride myself in the fact that I have a bubbly personality and that I was brought up by my grandfather who had served in the military, so I would certainly never badger anyone. I was though manners and no means no, even in my line of work.

You're very welcome. I always find a mannerly and respectful approach to most things reaps the most rewards.

I can see where everyone is coming from, I genuinely do, hell, I reckon if I wasn't doing what I am doing for a living then I would be of the same mindset. I just think that I can never truly see through a person's eyes without being in their position, so this thread was a sort of way for me to see it from the point of view of you guys.

Empathy and self-awareness are two extremely useful qualities to have, and no doubt they help you in many aspects of your life, including your work. Please be aware though that the majority of people here have had extremely negative experiences with door to door charity salesmen, and while you may be the exception to the general rule, you are not likely to change their perception. Empathetic or no, as people we're most likely to base our opinions on our own personal experiences.

It's an extremely intrusive line of work and in that sense, I feel genuinely bad, when I call to a door, I can tell, just by the look a person gives me. If I see that "Don't ever darken my doorway again" look, I simply smile and tell them to have a nice evening and that I am sorry for interrupting their day. You guys can be busy, that's not unimaginable, and I don't expect you to drop it for me. Never in a million years would I expect that.

Well, that's a refreshing attitude to have. If I'm honest, I don't think I've ever had someone in your line of work apologise for interrupting me. At least, not genuinely.

Everyone is suspicious of people that do what I do, and for good right. Do you know how ill I feel when I hear of people with no actual charity number scamming people and letting them believe they're helping but really just taking everything? I think its vile.

Actually, I don't like to call on pensioners, I have grand parents and I know how nice they are so I won't bother anyone of their age, it's just a thing that I can't do. I'm teased about it in the office and some days when I don't reach targets, they say "should have signed the elderly woman at the top of the road". I imagine and understand that majority of people in my trade do focus on this group of people as their target audience, however, I can't.

Again, even by your own admission, you're an exception to the norm. Elderly people are a very easy target, yes. My own grandmother was targetted by a door to door charity salesman during the early onset of her dimentia. She was cleaned out before we realised what was going on. It's sharp practices like this that can seriously colour common perception. I know it has coloured mine.

Yes, you're right, it is my job, it is how I earn a living, if that's what you want to call it. I'm not well payed, and I'm far from rich, but I get by. I do feel that maybe, just maybe that last guy could help. That's my motivation when I'm being ****ed on in December. However, I do understand it. Nope, I know that I'm not superior to volunteers, in fact, they are superior to me, taking time from their free time to do it. I am only saying that although those volunteers are lovely and a great asset, the fact of the matter is simply that somebody doing it five days a week and fifty two weeks a year will just have signed more for the charity.

I can certainly concede that your method of collection is more than likely the most effective. It's hard not to be cynical though, considering how these charities are run and the sometimes complete lack of transparency into how much money donated actually reaches the donor's intended destination.

I've no doubt it's a really tough job, with really tough days. I always imagined it would take a certain type of person to do such a job, and it's not something I could ever do.

Diabhal Beag · 30-01-2015 1:32am

The sincere ones give up easily and are happy to chat. Rude ones will pester and pester until they feel like you're wasting their time. Did it myself briefly and have a lot of sympathy for door-to-door salespeople. Nobody ever wants to do it but have to for various reasons. Some weeks you might earn less than €50, another week barely scrape past dole income in your commission and the week after that you might have an amazing run of luck. If nothing else they deserve a polite rejection even if it's just to apologise and close the door on them. That said even if salespeople seem nice any company still employing it as a selling tactic are super dodgy.

Maximus Alexander · 30-01-2015 1:36am

I live in an apartment, so someone would have to buzz you in. But nobody would buzz you in. So, in summation, I don't see you.

poisonated · 30-01-2015 1:43am

fryup wrote: »

i did door to door sales for one day

selling frozen fish...every second house slammed the door in my face

utterly soul destroying you need gater skin for it

I think you mean sole destroying... I'll get my coat. It has probably already been done

Mountainsandh · 30-01-2015 1:45am

I hate people who intrude on my private family time in the evenings. There simply is no right moment, I'm either doing Mum stuff, or work stuff (my day job also involves work at home), or enjoying not doing those. I resent any one who breaks into my cocoon, unless it's planned, friends or family (although I also like to know they might call).

If I'm in a position to help a charity, I seek it out online. Same for purchases.

Dirty Steve · 30-01-2015 1:50am

Sometimes I just sit and don't answer the door. They come every few days and I'm just sick of them at this stage.
One time these two guys would give it up though, must have stood there ringing the bell for a few minutes.

And door-to-door salespeople wonder why people don't like them..

KKkitty · 30-01-2015 2:06am

If you get door to door salespeople to your home how do you feel OP?

dpofloinn · 30-01-2015 2:08am

I have no time for D2D sales, Chuggers etc. What is it about the word no ye don't understand

If I wanted your product I would have gone out and purchased it myself without your help.
If I was arsed about whatever charity you represent I would already support it.
If its such a great offer, it would sell itself. So why are you here bothering me at home?.
So what if all my neighbors are buying it/ signing up to it ?
Why do you feel the need to stand on my doorstep and try and bull**** me?

HellboundIRL · 30-01-2015 2:12am

I hope you don't do the whole joke of asking people if they've got 50k/100k/1 million hiding down the back of their couch....I get that every single time I answer the feckin' door to a charity worker.

Iranoutofideas · 30-01-2015 2:12am

How do I see you?

Usually running out my driveway being chased by the Doberman

Lingua Franca · 30-01-2015 2:27am

quainy wrote: »

The fact of the matter is that I enjoy working with charities, and the idea that the last person I signed up, might just provide the few euro that will be needed to finalise the cure for cancer,

May as well rid yourself of that idea. "Cancer" is not one disease which will one day find a magical cure. It's a collective term for a very large number (800+, I believe) of diseases of cell mutation, some very complex and all requiring different treatments in differing forms, and thinking there's one day going to be a magical, one-pill-cures-all miracle elixir is kidding yourself and the poor suckers to whom you're flogging this myth.

As for how I see you, I can't stand cold callers and have a plaque on my door stating as much. No junk mail and no junk callers, tyvm.

Jen Pigs Fly · 30-01-2015 2:56am

An animal charity chugger called to the door, I listened to them (two girls) because I do like to help animal charities. They talked about all the good work the charity do, both claimed they help out at the actual shelter all the time telling me about the dogs and how my contribution will help etc.

As they were getting the papers to sign me up my black Labrador and my staffy mix came over to say hello behind the glass door. (Note they're Teddy Bears, the Labrador is a fully recognised irish therapy dog and the staffy mix is 13 years old and not a bad bone in her body)

Well didn't they loose their shîte, two of them visible froze up and asked could I remove the dogs. (Dogs were behind the glass door the separated the front door to the house.)

I asked were they serious. Not 2 mins ago was one of them telling me how they walk the dogs and everything.

One completely broke the sales woman character and almost had a melt down.

"She's terrified of dogs"

Me

you're collecting for an animal charity who deals solely with dogs?

They got nothing from me, and it really tainted my opinions of chuggers, people only pretending that they care when they don't.
These girls who were willing to lie through their teeth just to get money out of me it was absolutely disgraceful.

thehouses · 30-01-2015 2:59am

quainy wrote: »

because of what the owners of the charities earn every year

This is the reason why I refuse to donate a penny to certain charities.

Recently it was explained to me that a vaccine would cost 7c and that would save a child from a disease. If you do the maths and divide 7c by lets say reducing the CEO's wage by €150,000 you get 2.143 million children that would have been saved straight away if the owner decided to take a responsible wage.

Why would I want to become partly responsible for perpetuating system that denies children help due to money being leached away from a charity. Also how many top brass are on ridiculous wages besides the CEO?

SterlingArcher · 30-01-2015 3:01am

I like to answer the door straight out the shower, still dripping. tell you not to be shy drink it down. just don't rot your pupils on all that sweet sweet eye candy.

You may say nervously, "I seem to have caught you at a bad time" , to which I say "no, that was 10 minutes before my shower". I see a lump form in your throat, you're confused and aroused. like a lesser stag acknowledging his place in mother nature, you back away .

_Whimsical_ · 30-01-2015 4:30am

For me the fact that I'm talking to a paid salesman puts me right off and reminds me how corporate and fat cat laiden charities have become and I do find myself wondering how charities who are so desperately in need of money can employ enough sales people to regularly disturb me. It reminds me that my donation might just be paying the salary of yourself or a marketing team somewhere.
If someone from my neighbourhood who I recognise was volunteering their time came with the same patter I would be more likely to donate in that situation.

I am always curious as to what sort of people say "you know what, your speech here at the door has convinced me, let me just get my credit card /bank details".
Is there a particular sort of person who signs up with you OP?
I think it's a little mad to give your bank details to someone with a clipboard at the door to start with. Just who takes that leap of faith?

B.A._Baracus · 30-01-2015 4:51am

Door to Door sales men are, well ... rather foolish.
You are the front line employee for the company. The worker Ant. Your job is to go out in rain, sleet or snow and get some sales. But the kicker is if your sales are bad recently, well down the road jack.

Doesnt matter if you sold 2,000 units/subscriptions/whatever in your history with the company. You're only as good as your last sales quota.

Ruu · 30-01-2015 4:51am

/locks thread on OP.

The Diabolical Monocle · 30-01-2015 5:01am

mixed feelings. they're working and must have to put up with a lot.

the whole friendly psychological manipulation sales thing, the see through charade of the open questions and having me hold a list of offers however that pisses me right off.
why not just openly insult my intelligence and tell me to smell the chloroform rag. Id give more time to some guy who just said - give this crowd your money so I can get a 50 cent bonus would ya. But hey understandable.

live and let live.

Omackeral · 30-01-2015 6:32am

One such fella knocked at my door looking for me to sign up to a charity and I stopped him in his tracks politely and said ''I wont be giving out any bank details at my door so if this is heading that way, I'm just letting you know''. He was disgusted and said but it's only such and such a week and asked if I drink and tried to equate the price of a pint to the donation. I said I do drink the odd time but I also worked Christmas Day this year and do 12 hour shifts every time i go to work, so forgive me if I have a catch up with mates the odd time. He then got all defensive and start showing me figures on his iPad. ''For just 85cent a da...'' Hold on, I said. You have the nerve to call to my door and challenge me and yet here you are with a god damn tablet? Touch on!

I do help charities but it's on my time and when I want to and for causes that I choose.

Jawgap · 30-01-2015 6:43am

I feel sorry for you guys. It's a sh1t job but fair play to you for doing it.

I think sometimes timing could be better. There are probably a set number of calls you are expected to make, but I don't think disturbing people when they are having dinner or later in the evening sets things off on the right foot. Therefore your time window is quite narrow for getting your calls in.

Personally, I always cut them off because I'm never going to give my bank details to someone in person, we have our preferred charities we support and we're happy with our utility suppliers - so to save you wasting your time and get you on to your next call quicker, I just say 'no thanks' and politely explain that we're not interested.

The smart reps usually say a 'thanks' and move on, the less smart ones persist, which will just lead to a firmer 'no thanks' - the idiots who get aggressive get told to 'get off my lawn.'

Good luck with it, OP.

MadsL · 30-01-2015 7:11am

Just wondering OP - do you support the charity you work for financially yourself? Direct Debit?

Tzardine · 30-01-2015 7:26am

We lived in a house in clane , kildare before. I swear to god it was like ground zero for these folk. Felt like every bleeding day somebody would knock. Airtricity were the worst, they would send someone every 2 weeks at one point, trying to get us to switch to them. We were already bleeding with them!!!!!!

We now live in the sticks, with electric gates . Not been bothered by one person in the past year since we moved.

Do the failed sales people end up as chuggers on Henry street. Now they are the absolute worst.

Macavity. · 30-01-2015 7:26am

They should all be made walk the street having rotten food thrown at them and then be crucified on the top of Croagh Patrick.

petrolcan · 30-01-2015 8:00am

I have a little sign inside my porch window reading 'we don't buy or give financial details at the door' which seems to weed most callers out.

The ones I have the least time for are those that say they're not selling anything and then go on and try to sell you something.

niallam · 30-01-2015 8:07am

petrolcan wrote: »

I have a little sign inside my porch window reading 'we don't buy or give financial details at the door' which seems to weed most callers out.

My sign says "Bell is broken, like your nose will be if you try ring it"

blinding · 30-01-2015 8:13am

This Cold Calling should be illegal.

It opens the door to undesirable people coming to your door.

Their motives can be unknown and they can intimidate older people.

They may be just checking out properties to thieve from later.

The Gardai have enough to be doing than sifting through which are genuine (how many) and which are scumbags

They are generally selling(or collecting for dodgy charities) stuff that people are not interested in.

There is absolutely no need for cold callers in this day and age.

They should be absolutely no interaction with cold callers to discourage them and to Protect older people.

gnf_ireland · 30-01-2015 8:36am

To be honest, I would never get any bank account details to anyone at the door - no matter who they are. That could be the Gardai, Revenue Commissions or the pope/president himself. Why you think I would give them to a random salesperson is beyond me !

As a family, we give two 'reasonable' charitable donations a year. We never give anything outside this, unless it is a local school child on the road doing a sponsored walk or something similar.

What I find amazing is every time we tell this to the reps at the door (and we get a considerable amount of them), about 50% try to convince us that they are different and we should sign up for them straight away. However, when I ask them for a small leaflet stating their objectives, their immediate goals and what percentage of funds provided are left after all expenses, I have yet to be provided with one. Its always - "you can trust us, we are different" statements. They usually cannot even give us a 'business card' with a charity name and website details. *There was one exception to this which was John of Gods!

If your charity wishes to get a donation from me, you need to have some sort of leaflet (or at least business card with a website that provides the above detail easily) with this detail on it that can be provided so I will remember you when we are making our family decision. It might not lead to commission to the sales person directly, but it could benefit the charity you represent.

Please note, given the recent 'scandals' relating to certain actions of certain charities, we tend to give physical goods rather than money [although to the same value] - for example the Lions Food Appeal etc.

Jawgap · 30-01-2015 9:02am

Tzardine wrote: »

....

Do the failed sales people end up as chuggers on Henry street. Now they are the absolute worst.

I refuse on principle to give to any charity that uses chuggers, no matter how worthy the cause!

AudreyHepburn · 30-01-2015 9:43am

At the end of the day these people are just doing a job, like the rest of us, and there is absolutely no call for aggression and rudeness when they call.

It's really not that hard to politely tell them you're not interested etc. Calling it intimidating and intrusive is over the top tbh.

cloud493 · 30-01-2015 9:51am

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

At the end of the day these people are just doing a job, like the rest of us, and there is absolutely no call for aggression and rudeness when they call.

It's really not that hard to politely tell them you're not interested etc. Calling it intimidating and intrusive is over the top tbh.

How about when they're being intimidating and intrusive?

Lau2976 · 30-01-2015 9:53am

I would never be rude or aggressive but I can't stand charity "sales" people. They shouldn't need to employ people to "sell" the charity. If people are aware of the campaign and they have volunteers then the charity will work. Sometimes it doesn't, but if people like the cause they're going to donate whether they hear about it through an ad or a seller.

All I can ever think when I see these people is how much of my donation needs to be used to pay them.

Shiraz 4.99 · 30-01-2015 9:58am

I've had trouble with 2 services I've bought from door to door salesmen.
For that reason I never entertain another, your predecessors have blackened your name.

My refrain is "sorry, I don't buy anything from door to door sellers" then I politely close the door.
Some of the more aggressive ones will throw out a line they were fed at their last workshops but as I've said my piece I feel entitled to close the door.

elefant · 30-01-2015 10:06am

While I was studying abroad I did some call-centre work to keep a roof over my head. I wasn't selling anything, just asking survey questions for marketing purposes three evenings a week, but I would have rather have done anything else to pay my rent. I hated annoying people with that rubbish, even though I wasn't asking for bank details or anything (which I believe was the only reason the 'random digit dialing' was permitted by law).

At the same time, I was actually very pleasantly surprised how nice almost every Irish person I called was (I usually just called Ireland, and sometimes the UK). I was amazed how many people (a few each week) would take the time to spend 15-20 minutes of their time to answer questions about what television channels they watched and what magazines they read etc. Even when they didn't want to speak with me, I actually felt that most Irish people were too polite to just straight out say 'no', and just fobbed it off as being a bad time.

Calling to the UK was a different story completely. I got the feeling it is because getting cold-calls is more frequent there, but there was a startlingly frequent air of hostility about British people when calling.

I can only imagine how soul destroying cold-calling in person while looking for bank details would be. Actually makes me shudder to think about it.

Bullocks · 30-01-2015 10:09am

quainy wrote: »

I'm a door to door salesman. I like to think I'm a good one, in fact, I enjoy my job. Sure, I stand in the hurling rain, the sleet, the hail, but I sign people up that are willing to give monthly donations to charity. Some people slam what I do, because of what the owners of the charities earn every year and I understand that it can be frustrating, it's frustrating for us too.

The fact of the matter is that I enjoy working with charities, and the idea that the last person I signed up, might just provide the few euro that will be needed to finalise the cure for cancer, or might be the few euro used to save a homeless man from the bitter cold this January.

I want to know, how do you guys see us?

I know that some people see us coming and say "Son, get the door and tell them your mother and I aren't here." Some people, on the other hand, see the charity that I represent and instantly open the door. (Unfortunately, I can't disclose the charity I work for, as I need to ensure that my views are not misinterpreted as the views of that charity as a whole.)

So which one are you? And when it's all done and dusted and we ask, so are you in? Do you think.... **** off?

Do you get the ride much from bored housewives/househusbands ?

Rubberchikken · 30-01-2015 10:12am

i don't give the person any thought. i just say no thanks and all is fine:)

i only donate to two local organisations and they never collect at the door.

jack presley · 30-01-2015 10:15am

We're always been told to be vigilant about entering bank details online and making sure the site is secure etc. but there never seems to be as much concern about giving out name,address and bank account numbers to a stranger either at your door or on the street. How secure is that? What happens if he leaves his bag on the bus or in the pub after a few pints? How compliant are they with Data Protection laws?

As well as the annoyance factor, these are reasons why I never ever engage with these people.

Penny Tration · 30-01-2015 10:32am

I feel sorry for d2d salespeople.

It must be pretty fcukin' horrible to regularly have to deal with doors being closed in your face, people being rude, and wandering around in crap weather.

However, one thing which really does my head in is how most of these companies have a rule that you don't accept a no answer unless it's said three times. Once should be enough!

I signed up to one contract from a d2d person, for bin collection. The guy didn't really have a clue what he was doing :pac: he told us it was his first day, and he was really obviously flustered. The terms and price they offered were better than who we'd been with, so we switched, and the new crowd are great.

RoboRat · 30-01-2015 10:40am

I don't answer the door to anybody I don't know and I will look out the window first. I don't try and hide this and if they see me I just shake my head with a polite smile.

If I want to sign up to something/ buy something / talk religion, I will do so in my own time and not on my doorstep. I get a few hours per day to spend with my wife and son and I sure as hell am not spending any of it trying to politely tell someone I am not interested... and I am not letting the heat out either, costs enough as it is without wasting it with an open door!

Lovely Bloke · 30-01-2015 11:06am

The ones who's opening line is a "hilarious" quip. I hate them the most.

Interrupting my evening time with my son and wife if totally unwelcome.

apart from one time, a northern irish guy called to the door of a friday evening, just as I was sitting down to me burger and chips.

He was selling lemonade, and offering a service akin to the milkman, only he delivers lemonade of various and delcious flavours.

Now he comes every Friday with a bottle or two of lemonade, and collects the empties. Some weeks we don't buy, and even those weeks he's happy.

But apart from him, the rest of them are unwelcome.

bur · 30-01-2015 2:05pm

I shout "GO AWAY" without moving an inch.

Son Of A Vidic · 30-01-2015 2:31pm

quainy wrote: »

Door to door salesmen, how do you see us?

Usually screaming in terror and trying to get off my property, as my German Shepherd pack finish them off.

Magico Gonzalez · 30-01-2015 3:26pm

As I understand the model, it is either : the charity pays your company for a certain amount of "signups" you then go out and get those. Your company makes a profit but the charity benefits based on your still offering a lower cost per signup than the associated marketing costs (basically you are cheaper than tv/radio/magazine campaigns) to attract the signup by a different manner.

OR

You are on a direct commission model.

Either way, both are open to abuse. Pressuring people into signing up, the old, the mentally weak etc. I did this on the streets for a month or so in my youth. In the end the people who believe in these causes sign up via other mediums. The people you "catch" on the streets or doorsteps are caught via guilt trip, pressure or genuinely do it to get rid of you.

I have numerous times heard people lie "yeah, there is no commission, no one makes money" (the fundraising company does!) or "no, yeah, I do work for Save the Children" (nah, you don't).

It's a fairly grimey business and I think the charities have some blame for this. They should streamline their costs (HQs in Dublin, London) , be very strict on how they use their capital and allocate some of that resource to either full time fund raisers or for use social media for micro funding campaigns, there are other models which don't involve using profit for 3rd parties to obtain funds for the charity dubiously.

I'd also say that you aren't a door to door saleman. You are not selling a product.

chrissb8 · 30-01-2015 4:01pm

Your job is in no way noble. Annoying people at their homes is an invasion of privacy. I don't care how nice of a person they can be as well. If you are at my door unannounced trying to get money out of me and keeping me at the door by basically appealing to my manners by talking with no gaps so I won't close the door on your face you are sadly mistaken. I will flatly and coldly say No thanks and close the door on your face. I am the one who should take it personally not you Mr.Door to door getting in my face, guilt tripping, time wasting, money grabbing ejjit. Get real.

The job is becoming obsolete and soon when all the people the door to door people have left to go to know how to work a computer or just send money via text then no one is going to care for what you have. Ever. Also people don't enjoy the face to face. Not when they didn't want it. If they want face to face contact with someone about something they'll seek it out not vice versa.

miezekatze · 30-01-2015 4:34pm

I find them annoying and usually pretend I'm not home. I answered the door to them a few times in the past and found them very pushy, demanding to know my reasons for not wanting to sign up for anything on my doorstep, trying to make me feel bad for not supporting their charity, etc. I have never signed a contract on my doorstep and I'm not going to in the future either.

Oh, and one time a representative of one of the gas companies asked to speak to my "husband" when I answered the door! That was the end of that conversation.

eviltimeban · 30-01-2015 4:44pm

If you think you are a good salesman, get a job working in business / field sales. You'll get a company car so you won't have to walk around in the rain, and you'll get a much better response cold calling businesses than people's houses.

You'll also have a chance of actually making some commission on a regular basis.

dudara · 30-01-2015 4:50pm

I don't answer the door at home, unless someone has phoned me in advance to let me know, or I'm expecting something. It's as simple as that.

On the street, it's always a polite small smile, a shake of the head and "no thanks". I have my chosen charities (selected for personal reasons) and I will donate ad-hoc occasionally.

I do think charities have to be more commercial and actively pursue donations. Waiting passively for people to donate will not work. But there's a way and a means to do this without annoying people. And D2D sales is not that way.

bjork · 30-01-2015 4:53pm

I keep a copy of The Watchtower by my door for this very purpose, in case I'm caught off guard.

niamh.foley · 30-01-2015 5:03pm

Bugs the crap out of me.. sitting down enjoying your fav TV show and all you can see is a head looking in at you

SO When i hear the gate opening, i quickly turn off the tv and hide so if they looked though the windows they think no one is at home or if i see them up the road doing door to door i would normally go up stairs and hide..

Again you shouldnt have to hide in your own home over some idoits selling sh&t that if i want in the first place i would buy it..

Door to door salesmen, how do you see us?

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