2 West Seattle door-to-door alerts: 1 persistent, 1 peeved

Two more encounters that your fellow West Seattleites wanted to share – read on:

Received tonight from Paul in Belvidere:

Between seven and 7:15 pm this evening an African American gentleman knocked on our door saying that he had talked to all of our neighbors and started naming them off with names we did not know and asked us to open the door. We pointed out the “No Soliciting” sign and he said he was not soliciting. He was well dressed with a navy or black jacket, white shirt and tie, closely cropped hair, in his early 20’s, lean and approximately 6 feet tall. He was quite persistent in trying to get us to open the door. This is a repeat of the type of activity that was occurring about 4-6 months ago.

And from Kristina, sent this afternoon:.

I live on 45th near Brandon [map]. Someone just rang my bell and my dog growled – which he doesn’t usually do. He was a nicely dressed, good looking young man/older teen (?), and he started to give me a sales pitch about helping him get ahead, get an education, or something. I think he was selling subscriptions to something – I didn’t wait to find out. He was peeved that I wouldn’t help him. On the up and up? I don’t know – but I hate door to door soliciting

See the city rules for door-to-door solicitors here.

MargL October 13, 2009 (11:30 pm)

Maybe they’re pissed and persistent for fear of being beaten!
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/64192632.html
… or watch out for brass knuckles?

CB October 14, 2009 (12:00 am)

Yep, same guy has come to our door twice now, including tonight. He called my wife a bitch when she refused to listen to his pitch. He was quite peeved with me when I sent him on his way. I smell a phony charity.

Leroniusmonkfish October 14, 2009 (12:21 am)

He called your wife a “bitch”? Damn! I would have kicked his ass and then some.

poc October 14, 2009 (6:51 am)

He was at my house (46th & Brandon) at 3:45 Tuesday. I spoke to him through the glass door and pointed to my “no soliciting” sign and he said that “he couldn’t read”. Then I asked for his badge/id and he said he had none and started accusing me of not wanting help young people. I told him that I would be contacting the police and watched him continue on to the neighbors home. He flipped me off as he walked away.

Andrew October 14, 2009 (7:29 am)

When I see that its a “solicitor”, I grab the digital camera now and take their picture as soon as I open the door. They quickly leave without a problem.

Meghan October 14, 2009 (7:40 am)

So now people have to deal with being verbally harassed because they don’t feel like opening their door to an aggressive stranger who is hurling a sales pitch at them through their door? I’ll bet you anything if someone printed up a few thousand (smallish and “tasteful” in color, but noticeable from 30 feet) signs that said “Absolutely no solicitors” for people to put on/next to their front doors, advertised it in the W. Seattle Blog and W. Seattle Herald (where it would likely get picked up by the news and local newspaper) and sold them at local business or events, they could make some money and provide a valuable service to people who are sick of door to door sales. If people who put these signs up absolutely refused to ever open their door to a stranger, after a very short perioud of time (if not right away), the people who go door to door would know not to waste their time on those houses. Whoever takes this idea and runs with it can thank me later! :-)

MT October 14, 2009 (7:46 am)

You described the same young man that came to my house on Monday night 10/12 around 5PM. Since I was not expecting anyone, I didn’t open my door. He was as you mentioned persistent and was at my door (knocking and ringing the bell) for a good five minutes.

marty October 14, 2009 (8:22 am)

Just one more incident for the list! How long will we have to put up with this crap before door-to-door sales are made illegal? I think it is time…..

poc October 14, 2009 (8:51 am)

One issue with ignoring their knock at the door is that some of these folks may be casing the neighborhood; looking for a safe area to burglarize. I like for them to know that they are being watched. And I too have taken photos of them at the door. But for personal safety reasons, I understand why one might be reluctant to answer the door. If you have a safe barrier such as a screen door or a safety chain on the door then I would recommend addressing them. There is also concern about “retaliation” such as their returning and vandalizing the home/vehicle. Use caution and POST the incident on the WSB so others are aware.

Max October 14, 2009 (9:02 am)

We are also in Belvidere and had a pair of guys visit us Monday night. The one who talked was the same as Paul described, and he rattled off a list of “neighbors” none of whom I recognized. Very persistent.

fj October 14, 2009 (9:04 am)

I have a “no soliciting” sign up, AND a definition of it, since most are too stupid to know what it means.
“to make petition, to entreat, to approach with a request or plea”.

It’s helped a little. I don’t even open the door. I point to the sign and walk away.

swimcat October 14, 2009 (9:11 am)

We had a young black man trying to sell magazine subscriptions up on Gatewood hill Sunday night too. It was during dinner time and my husband listened to his pitch. Do these people ever have any luck getting someone to buy something from them?? I can’t help but think all door to door ‘sales people’ are doing is just casing your house.

dw October 14, 2009 (9:28 am)

Could it be that these ‘acts’ of soliciting are simply a cover for casing houses for owners at home. With an opened door they get to see more of what is inside to come back later and steal (maybe even weeks or months later). The abusive language and ‘flipping off’ you could easily associate with the dregs of society who prefer to break into people’s homes. Would explain why they’re camera shy.

rob October 14, 2009 (9:37 am)

If you see them call the police right away.

Lola October 14, 2009 (9:49 am)

I also had a white male knock on the door Monday night. Both the hubby and I were home but I decided not to open the door just told him we were not interested when he started to tell me what he wanted. We are in the 50th and Alaska area. We just painted our house and have to put back up the No Solicitors signs.

I loved the one a while back when the women pointed to her No Solicitors sign the guy said I am not a Prostitute. She said she just shut the door in his face after that.

I do believe they are getting more brazian so that is why I do not open my door. I do have a screen but it does not lock.

Concerned Person October 14, 2009 (10:09 am)

It’s getting downright scary!!! My nieces house was broken into while they were at work! It’s too bad these “theifs” think it’s ok to take other peoples things!
I’m sure with the economy it’s not going to get better! Even with Block Watch it’s not easy watching everyones home … too many at work or fences, bushes, not wanting to be snoopy. Hopefullly they will be caught real soon!

owen October 14, 2009 (10:55 am)

The first door-to-door sales guy mentioned above caught me at my home yesterday while I was outside getting the mail. He’s selling magazine subscriptions for La Familia aka Pacific Coast Clearing Services, a washington-based company with a BBB rating of F. I’m a sucker so I listened to his spiel: training opportunity, keep teens off drugs, 6 kids to feed, got to make my quota, look at my dimples, etc. He was slick, quick, and high pressure.
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In the end I walked away from a bad deal: price was about normal + $15 processing fee + sales tax = no thanks. With persistence on my part, he took no for an answer and wasn’t rude to me.
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Thanks for the link to the City of Seattle regs. In looking through them, and it seems to me like magazine sales reps may not need actually need a license. The license exceptions say that a license is not required for: “Any person who merely solicits orders for goods, which orders are to be accepted and goods delivered at a future time from a place outside of Washington State.” But licenses aren’t that much of hurdle anyway – $225/yr for the company + $50/yr for each agent.
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I agree that it is time to end door-to-door sales. The current rules don’t seem restrictive enough to control the nuisance it has become.

Claire October 14, 2009 (11:12 am)

We had three young men come to our door on Saturday. They knocked on the door the way that a friend would. I didn’t answer the door. They stayed a long time and knocked again. My husband saw them later and they said they were Mormon men witnessing.

Wendy October 14, 2009 (12:02 pm)

One of these guys should sell No Soliciting signs door-to-door they would make a killing.

RainyDay October 14, 2009 (12:36 pm)

This is why I NEVER answer the door – unless a known friend has called and said they are on the steps waiting. Never found a reason otherwise. Best case you avoid solicitation, worst case you don’t give someone an opportunity to barge in your house or case it through the door.

yumpears October 14, 2009 (12:56 pm)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411135_beat14.html?source=rss

scary line of work their in…

AdmiralWayish October 14, 2009 (1:26 pm)

Last night (Tuesday) and again around 13:00 an African American man in his 20s has been aggressively trying to sell SOMETHING to a whole bunch of homes up here. His requests include coming into the house for a glass of water, just wanting some time with a pretty lady, getting angry when turned away or when neighbors won’t answer the door.

He was last seen heading west across the Admiral Way ravine and turned north on Walnut. Called the non-emergency line and asked for patrol to come by and check license. 206-625-5011 ext. 2, then ext. 8

star 55 October 14, 2009 (2:35 pm)

I got my “no soliciting” at True Value.

Brian October 14, 2009 (3:09 pm)

just answer the door with a shotgun. Doesn’t even need to be loaded.

Irukandji October 14, 2009 (3:57 pm)

RE: Fresh Start Opportunities

http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?&id=23970

WSB October 14, 2009 (4:37 pm)

We reported that here the other day, too.

Todd October 14, 2009 (5:03 pm)

Glad to see a consensus here with the comments so far. Just to add a bit, I have seen door to door sales in the news for about 20 years. It should be outlawed just based on the treatment the agents receive (no food money unless you make quota, beatin’s, cigarettes put out behind their ears, etc) and for the number of accidents/deaths they have caused because they try to switch seats while driving to save time. One tv show even caught agents smokin’ doobies prior to “operating an automobile.” High class!

Maybe there are some legitimate businesses that will suffer if door to door is outlawed but it’s like everything, a few bad apples spoil the bunch. Or in the case of magazine sales, a lot of bad assho, I mean apples..

Paul October 14, 2009 (11:02 pm)

We were hit again in Belvidere neighborhood this evening by a different solicitor who was not nearly as pleasant and was angry when he left.

Mike October 15, 2009 (9:05 am)

http://www.seattle.gov/police/prevention/Neighborhood/default.htm

I like having the personal size advantage over those soliciting, with a dog who barks and is energetic. Each time they show up they back off my front porch and back up a few steps. I’ll also step up into their face and look directly into their eyes, which freaks them out. They expect you to never do that.

Best bet is if you don’t want to confront them at all, don’t open your door. If they keep knocking and ringing the door bell, call 911. If you are threatened in your own home (being afraid to open your own door), it’s time for the Police to step in.

cclarue October 15, 2009 (11:24 am)

I had one a couple weeks ago. trying to win a trip to Hawaii, very persistent, asked if he could have a soda at least. very thirsty. i gave him one just to get rid of him.

JG October 15, 2009 (1:22 pm)

We also had an African American male in his 20s or early 30s come to our door last night. He was wearing a jacket and tie, and had some catchy slogan he had clearly repeated thousands of times. My dog went nuts, and when I opened the door he was quite aggressive and trying to hand me something (presumably to keep me at the door). I refused to take it, and pointed out my no soliciting sign, at which point he apologized and left. Generally not a good idea to do this kind of stuff after dark. You can really catch people off guard.

Sorry, comment time is over.