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SnooDrawings1480 t1_iwxqefn wrote

Open the door and say "sorry, I'm not interested"

You'll never stop them from knocking completely, but being firm and resolute is the best way for them to realize further attempts will be as fruitless as the first.

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John_EightThirtyTwo t1_iwxu69v wrote

>"sorry, I'm not interested"

This is the way.

For me, it helps to remember that they're trying to earn a living, as we all need to, and since I'm not going to buy anything, the kindest thing I can do is save them from wasting any time talking to me. So I'm polite, but super direct. And regardless of how they respond, I close the door, gently but immediately.

Likewise, when people solicit me on the street, I'm polite, but direct, and I don't break my stride.

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SonOfTed t1_ix4sl1b wrote

I was literally just listening to a podcast today where they interviewed door to door salesmen, and this is exactly what they said is the best phrase to use.

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tbrugman t1_ix1kpmg wrote

Leave out “sorry”. Just say: I’m not interested, goodbye.”

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EvaViaMusic t1_iwxvong wrote

If I didn't order a pizza, I don't answer the door.

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ricardo9505 t1_iwxr2t4 wrote

I mean you could, but then you'd be the family on the block with an ISIS flag. On the bright side you can cancel home security. FBI will always be watching your house. (Forget who did this bit)

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kittyfbaby t1_iwxsytb wrote

Tbh we used to get Jehovah's Witnesses quite a bit. One time, I said, nicely, that most of the building is Jewish (which is true) and no one is interested.

They haven't come back. Crazy it worked.

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kempff t1_iwxpl4i wrote

Answering the door naked has always worked for me.

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reddituser7542 t1_iwxqio0 wrote

You were lost, and now you are found, my brother ( sister). Let me tell you about the kingdom of our lord Jesus Christ.

Try this with few and see how everyone stops ringing the bell. Also, it is fun to see them squirm and run away.

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SnooDrawings1480 t1_iwxu9bb wrote

Might work on salesmen, but i tend to get missionaries and local church people more than salesmen and it might have an opposite effect

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Various_Succotash_79 t1_iwxvxj7 wrote

Tell them about the dark lord Baphomet or something like that.

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[deleted] t1_iwylhgp wrote

Have you met our lord and savior, Greg Glassman? Wanna do some burpees together?

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reddituser7542 t1_iwyoi78 wrote

Hahaha, not sure if the opposite would work...when they knock, try selling them membership of a club where they need to bring more members and make money.

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Walauyavishum t1_iwz0lxi wrote

Open and tell them you're atheist or Jewish or whatever they're not.

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snohobdub t1_iwxqm4l wrote

Yell through the door that you will be there in a minute. And then never open the door.

The worst thing for them is getting their time wasted, so waste as much as possible and they will leave you alone in the future.

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MYOB3 t1_iwxurbq wrote

Replace the NO SOLICITING sign with a big honking NO TRESPASSING sign, taped to the inside of the glass of your storm door. If anyone violates the no trespass, CALL THE POLICE. Tell them that a sales person or whoever violated a posted no trespass. They won't do it again! (If you think I am kidding, I'm not. Our neighborhood is bombarded with sales people. But the only ones I have had to actually call the cops on are the Verizon doofuses. They are RELENTLESS)

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Demetrius3D t1_iwy7ni1 wrote

We have a sign on our door that reads, "Whatever it is, we're not interested." It actually works pretty well

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commercial-menu90 t1_iwxpxun wrote

Beware of dog sign or come out coughing and pretend you're sick

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finnegan976 t1_iwxsj4b wrote

Just don’t answer the door

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Hiho-hatetheserules t1_iwxt8km wrote

Depending on your jurisdiction, they may be legally considered trespassers because you have the “No solicitors” sign. Add to the sign something to the effect of, “You are on camera. Violators (trespassers) will be prosecuted.” Even of it doesn’t apply in your jurisdiction, and you don’t have cameras, I think a lot of people would buy it.

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chrisstraus24 t1_iwxv29a wrote

As a former door to door guy that was pretty good at it, and now a homeowner in a development that gets them all the time, I laugh at myself because I simply don’t answer the door, which I hated when people did that when I was working. Most places have an iPad and keep track of sales, not interested, and not home etc. I had a company in my development the other week, and I just never answered the door, but over 3 days they knocked literally 7 times. So I could’ve saved my cats from sprinting to hide under the bed 6 times but I never interacted with anyone. Side note, if you have a video doorbell, they tend to knock instead of press it lol

Edit to add, FWIW, if I saw a no soliciting sign I skipped the house. Only time I knocked one is when I legitimately didn’t see it.

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Haunting-Ad-9790 t1_iwxz3q8 wrote

I'm annoyed, but they're just trying to earn a paycheck. I immediately say no thank you, but not rudely, and close the door. Why waste your or their time? The less time they spend talking to someone definitely not interested, the more time they have to find someone who is. So it's not rude to be direct.

If they're religious or not my political persuasion, and I'm not busy, I engage them. They'll never convince me. I'm not going to debate them, no point. But the more time they waste on my doorstep, the fewer people they'll bother.

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Elderban69 t1_iwy0ppr wrote

Don't answer the door, they'll get the hint and will eventually stop coming. I never answer my door, and I even tell people that might come over, including family, that if they don't tell me they are coming over I won't answer the door.

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keepthetips t1_iwxpgj1 wrote

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!

Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.

If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.

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Dull_Lavishness7701 t1_iwxydge wrote

I just tell them I rent and can't make any decisions. Most of the door to door types I get are offering some kind of service for homeowners, security systems, summary, past control, etc

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r2002 t1_ix2muvo wrote

Have one of those "Warning Dog Will Attack" signs.

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