And Then She Cried !

Zillah · 11-03-2014 01:36PM

chrissb8 wrote: »

People are entitled to answer the door to whoever they like in their house. There's no manners about it. Unless you're food ordered a friend/family member calling in or a scheduled call in of any other kind then why. Would you answer your phone if it was vodafone crapping on about nothing. I don't think so. I don't care if I hurt their feelings. They know the job they took. Door to door people are annoying end of. Even if they are doing their job they usually keep talking until you can't get a word in. Now that is not having courtesy.

This is my view. I will never, ever entertain a conversation with people coming to my door or stopping me in the street. You're interrupting my life to try to sell me shit I have no interest in, don't accuse me of being rude. I won't be cruel, I won't hurl abuse at them, but they're being told very clearly that I have no interest.

As for answering the door: They weren't invited, this is private property, fup off. If I don't feel like having a conversation I'm under no obligation to answer the door. My friends all have my phone number and I didn't order Chinese. What on Earth makes anyone think I'm obliged, socially or in any other way, to come out and endure someone's marketing pitch at a time of their choosing?

Wish I had a shotgun to run them off sometimes, 'Murica style :pac:

EyeSight · 11-03-2014 02:08PM

I live in an apartment block so i don't get them

But years ago a fianna fail campaigner held down my door bell until i answered. I almost killed the prick

Chuggers are getting to sneaky. Some of grafton street have small ID cards on their waist, so you don't know they're chuggers until they stopped you(i thought she was gonna ask for directions).
Also i see either Concern or Oxfam have these new bibs which say "community health officer" and then in tiny writing on the end is the name of their company.
On small streets like where the Gaiety is there are sometimes 6+ of them. No way to avoid them.
BAN THEM!

FouxDaFaFa · 11-03-2014 02:16PM

One of them cornered me just as I was getting to the door after a run. I could see his eyes lighting up when he saw me, like I was an injured gazelle.

I tried to explain to him that the bills aren't in my name/happy with X, etc. until he came out with:

"Don't you like Airtricity?"

Lol.

I told him that, shockingly, I don't really have any opinion regarding Airtricity, that I imagined they did not occupy my thoughts as much as his.

Then I played the "just in from a run, all pink and sweaty" angle but it did not deter him.

"Average customer savings are a billion a year"
"...what?"
"A bill in a year"
"Oh"

I felt bad for him because it was freezing and has to be a miserable job but no-one should feel obliged to listen to sales pitches.

Sadderday · 11-03-2014 02:22PM

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

One of them cornered me just as I was getting to the door after a run. I could see his eyes lighting up when he saw me, like I was an injured gazelle.

I tried to explain to him that the bills aren't in my name/happy with X, etc. until he came out with:

"Don't you like Airtricity?"

Lol.

I told him that, shockingly, I don't really have any opinion regarding Airtricity, that I imagined they did not occupy my thoughts as much as his.

Then I played the "just in from a run, all pink and sweaty" angle but it did not deter him.

"Average customer savings are a billion a year"
"...what?"
"A bill in a year"
"Oh"

I felt bad for him because it was freezing and has to be a miserable job but no-one should feel obliged to listen to sales pitches.

hahahaha an injured gazelle.... rapid way of describing that situation

magicmushroom · 11-03-2014 02:27PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

People could be right jerks as well. She'd see people in the sitting room just looking out... not a chance of opening the door and showing some courtesy. Asking too much.

I never answer my front door unless I know who it is.
I don't know anyone locally well enough that they would just knock uninvited, so if the doorbell goes I know it's someone selling something.

I'm a young girl living alone and I do NOT feel comfortable opening my door to strangers in the evening and why should I anyway, I've been at work all day, I'm tired, it's my front door and I don't have to answer it!

LynnGrace · 11-03-2014 02:31PM

EyeSight wrote: »

Chuggers are getting to sneaky. Some of grafton street have small ID cards on their waist, so you don't know they're chuggers until they stopped you(i thought she was gonna ask for directions).
Also i see either Concern or Oxfam have these new bibs which say "community health officer" and then in tiny writing on the end is the name of their company.
On small streets like where the Gaiety is there are sometimes 6+ of them. No way to avoid them.
BAN THEM!

Ugh, yes. I had one of them walking towards me one evening there, near the Gaiety, with arms outstretched, and that fake cheery greeting, like you are their long lost relative.

LynnGrace · 11-03-2014 02:32PM

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

"Average customer savings are a billion a year"
"...what?"
"A bill in a year"
"Oh"

Love it!

Pigeon Reaper · 11-03-2014 03:48PM

Dog Trust called once.
"I don't buy anything at the door and no you're not getting any personal details"

Salesperson:
"Don't you like dogs?"

Me:
"No I hate them"

Que the dog walking up behind me to look out and see what the noise was.

Salesperson:
"But there's a dog behind you"

me:
"thats not a dog, it's a cat. The guy in the pound told me it's a cat. I hate dogs"

At this point I closed the door slowly and they never called back.

Kirby · 11-03-2014 04:21PM

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

Dog Trust called once.
"I don't buy anything at the door and no you're not getting any personal details"

Salesperson:
"Don't you like dogs?"

Me:
"No I hate them"

Que the dog walking up behind me to look out and see what the noise was.

Salesperson:
"But there's a dog behind you"

me:
"thats not a dog, it's a cat. The guy in the pound told me it's a cat. I hate dogs"

At this point I closed the door slowly and they never called back.

I swear this is from a movie or tv show but I just can't place it. The Simpsons maybe? :P

astonaidan · 11-03-2014 05:42PM

Went for a interview in Sydney for Unicef, never did it as I knew I couldnt go asking people for money and much rathered just sticking to construction

endacl · 11-03-2014 05:54PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

She'd see people in the sitting room just looking out... not a chance of opening the door and showing some courtesy. Asking too much.

But the one that annoyed me the most was she put a catalog in this one house, was only 2 houses down (like less than 30 seconds later) and the owner just throws the catalog out on to the road while shouting something.

Glad she doesnt do it anymore.

Yeah, I do that. Even better if it's raining and I have the fire on. I've never thrown a crapalogue out in the street. I do hand it back to them the odd time our paths cross with a recommendation that they pay better attention to the prominent 'no junk mail' sign beside the letter box.

I won't show courtesy to people I don't know who rock up to my door annoying me with whatever cr4p they're flogging. They didn't show me any.

The very odd time, if I'm in the humour, I'll stay chatting for an extended period about whatever it is I'm supposed to be signing up for, and back out at the last minute. Petty, but satisfying if I've a bit if time to kill. Plus, it keeps them from annoying whichever neighbour might be at the end of their route. So, neighbourly and also civic-minded too. If everybody did this those 'jobs' (which really aren't worth having) would disappear overnight, and there'd be nobody disturbing our cuppa after a long day at a proper job.

OneArt · 11-03-2014 05:56PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

It would take hours of work just to make a mere 35 euro. People could be right jerks as well. She'd see people in the sitting room just looking out... not a chance of opening the door and showing some courtesy. Asking too much.

Well to be fair, it's their house and they're not obliged to open the door to anyone. I don't answer my door unless someone yells up to the balcony or lets me know beforehand. I've seen a fair few salespeople coming to my apartment through the peephole and I've ignored them because, quite frankly, they'll gain nothing out of it.

I did the job for nearly a week, made about 300 in a four days but I'd rather slit my own throat than do it again. Nightmare job and when a VERY old lady climbed onto her windowsill, opened the door and asked if I was the meter man, I decided to quit there and then. I just had to make sure she got down again in case she fell and I had to call an ambulance.

rubadub · 11-03-2014 06:45PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

But the one that annoyed me the most was she put a catalog in this one house, was only 2 houses down (like less than 30 seconds later) and the owner just throws the catalog out on to the road while shouting something

I can understand this, posting unsolicited litter/junkmail in peoples doors is one thing, I would like to see it outlawed. But actually asking & expecting people to hang onto your litter is disgraceful, totally unacceptable. If the person 2 doors down brought their wheelie bin down to keep in your driveway what would you think.

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Making it clear you're not interested is fine; it's actual abuse that's uncalled for. Two different things.

I do wonder why people fall for these "jobs" though...

People partly fall for them because not enough people give abuse about this intrusion. Seriously, the abusive people are not all just doing it simply for the sake of it, some would think of it like scolding a child or dog, or beeping a horn and roaring at someone, to demonstrate what they are doing is totally unacceptable and to really show their annoyance. The last thing they want is to encourage this behaviour by making people think most do not mind. Its a job which many think should be illegal. Not only is it intrusive but gives a prefect alibi to potential burglars checking out neighborhoods.

I have no doorbell so at least do not suffer from unwanted callers, have had none for about 10 years now, would recommend anybody to get rid of it, unless you really need it for some reason.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup · 11-03-2014 08:18PM

finix wrote: »

That's them but did not want to mention any company

It wasn't eircom phonewatch, they sold that off last year.
http://www.phonewatch.ie/

They still use the eircom blue & orange colour scheme out and about though.

finix · 11-03-2014 08:27PM

Always Always answer the door with a phone to your ear and when you see the seller just say into your phone ''Can you hold on a sec'' and when you hear the first 10 secs of their spiel say something like... I am on to my sister in Australia, My dad is seriously ill in hospital etc and while you are politely closing the door say in to your phone ''sorry about that''
The phone to your ear also works wonders with ''chuggers'' Tappers etc on the street but it helps if you see them in the distance and have time to get said phone from your pocket !

mrsbyrne · 11-03-2014 08:36PM

I hate to waste peoples time so its just answer the door instantly a big smile and a firm "No thank you" and close the door.
But my husband works some nites and if he's in bed he comes down and roars at them and he's 6 4" and 17 stone and an ugly brute.

finix · 11-03-2014 08:46PM

mrsbyrne wrote: »

I hate to waste peoples time so its just answer the door instantly a big smile and a firm "No thank you" and close the door.
But my husband works some nites and if he's in bed he comes down and roars at them and he's 6 4" and 17 stone and an ugly brute.

Do you make love in the dark ?

endacl · 11-03-2014 08:48PM

finix wrote: »

Always Always answer the door with a phone to your ear and when you see the seller just say into your phone ''Can you hold on a sec'' and when you hear the first 10 secs of their spiel say something like... I am on to my sister in Australia, My dad is seriously ill in hospital etc and while you are politely closing the door say in to your phone ''sorry about that''
The phone to your ear also works wonders with ''chuggers'' Tappers etc on the street but it helps if you see them in the distance and have time to get said phone from your pocket !

Why lie? Just be honest. 'I don't want to talk to you and I find your intrusion unacceptable'. Frame this in whatever language you like. They need to hear it.

MagicMarker · 11-03-2014 08:52PM

I did it for Eircom for a little while, it was actually a pretty decent job if you're good at selling. Good basic, fantastic commission, car included, fuel/tax/insurance covered, lunch allowance, phone allowance that covered your mobile and home phone. Not to mention that you don't start work until about 12pm, and I rarely worked past 6-7pm as I didn't like knocking on people's doors too late. Winter is the worst though, there's no worse feeling than knocking on someone's door at night, doesn't matter if it's 5pm or 9pm, it's "nighttime".

This was a few years ago now, doubt they still offer the same salary/benefits.

mrsbyrne · 11-03-2014 08:53PM

finix wrote: »

Do you make love in the dark ?

Well I'm 22 stone and 5'2" so .....

Renegade Mechanic · 11-03-2014 09:03PM

mrsbyrne wrote: »

Well I'm 22 stone and 5'2" so .....

Love has no weight limits mate! Could happen!

uck51js9zml2yt · 11-03-2014 09:10PM

Was talking to a Eircom guy on a course I'm doing.
Referred to them as FOTS. Feet on the street.
They get a minimum wage

finix · 11-03-2014 09:17PM

mrsbyrne wrote: »

Well I'm 22 stone and 5'2" so .....

A race to the light switch so !

ringadingding · 11-03-2014 09:29PM

finix wrote: »

A race to the light switch so !

Not a sprint I'd imagine

Diabhal Beag · 11-03-2014 09:44PM

Did it once filling in for somebody. Never again. Get them a good bit here but always just politely refuse and get them talking about something else. It gets them to break their character and they always have a genuine reason for needing the job. Wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

mrsbyrne · 11-03-2014 09:48PM

finix wrote: »

A race to the light switch so !

Actually, like Ali we're back in bed before the room goes dark

smileyj1987 · 11-03-2014 09:49PM

I did one of those a few years ago during the summer and it was a complete con of a job . I saw fellas coming to work and going hungry because they weren't making a living off it . I felt sorry for those people . They really do brainwash people into thinking it's all about the team and you will make a fortune .
I had one from Vodafone knock at my door last week . I asked what he was selling and told me Vodafone fibre . I replied with fibre broadband isn't in the area and politely closed the door .

Beargrylls01 · 12-03-2014 12:23AM

Did it in America over the summer for a charity. Was really difficult, had people set their dogs loose on me and some threatened to come back with their shotgun if they saw me again at their door, Quit on day 3. ****ing Americans

Capt'n Midnight · 12-03-2014 12:53AM

finix wrote: »

She told me the company insisted she sign off job seekers benefit before starting with them.

That sounds like the "employer" is scamming the Job Plus Scheme.

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Jobs-Plus.aspx

If approved, the employer will receive a monthly payment over two years. The payment is oriented towards those who have been out of work for the longest time.

The employer will be paid €7,500 over a two year period if they recruit and retain in employment a person who has been unemployed for between 12 and 24 months.

The employer will be paid €10,000 over a two year period if they recruit and retain in employment a person who has been unemployed for 24 months or more.

zanador · 12-03-2014 01:35AM

I've done the job and the people I liked most were the ones who just said no thanks straight off. Worst was people feeling sorry for you and letting you do your spiel for about 5 minutes (the same spiel you had done about 50 times already that day) and then saying no.

When they come to my house I don't open the door, just look through the window with a big cheery smile and say 'No, thanks'.

And Then She Cried !

Comments