"Vacuum Cleaner Salesmen" in my lil Town

[rhino]

I interpreted the orginal message to suggest that some (probable) scumbag pretending to be a vacuum salesman (not the quotation marks in the topic title) was engaging in suspicious behavior. I did interpret any criticism or impugning of the character of actual, bona fide vacuum sales persons.

Cold calls on someone's porch in an isolated area after dark are something that makes me very suspicious too.

 

[lovemachine]

I interpreted the orginal message to suggest that some (probable) scumbag pretending to be a vacuum salesman (not the quotation marks in the topic title) was engaging in suspicious behavior. I did interpret any criticism or impugning of the character of actual, bona fide vacuum sales persons.

Cold calls on someone's porch in an isolated area after dark are something that makes me very suspicious too.

Which is why I put salesman in quotation marks. "salesman".

I deal with salesman everyday here at work. And they get my business only by stopping by. I won't deal with any new salesman if they call. Only if they stop by and deal face to face. That's how I order all my parts and tools anymore. And I don't believe any of them are scumbags.

 

[TacticalM4]

I had a "carpet cleaning company" offering to clean one room for free, wanted to come in and look around. Lady looked like a crack head, yes I am profiling. I let her see our great dane, fo sho.

On another note, I have a cousin in-law (?), a brother of my wifes sisters husband, so whatever that makes him, that's a vacuum cleaner salesman... what an incredibly tough job, I would never submit to doing that. I'm in sales and door to door sales would SUCK. Be nice to the real sales people, they probably see worse people than cops.

 

[4x4]

Do your parents happen to live in Mayberry circa 1962?

Seriously, I thought vacuum cleaner salesmen went out with the milkman.

 

[youngda9]

...Some guy pulls up in a POS car and walks up and says he's selling meat which I found odd right away...

Reminds me of a couple years ago I was outside in my driveway and a scraggly looking guy was walking down the street with his buddy following him in a beat up car. He asked me if I wanted to buy meat. To which I replied in the negative and he proceeded onto the next door neighbor's house.

Who the heck would buy meat out of a cooler in the back of a beat up Ford Escort?

 

[Liberty Sanders]

Just a headsup for the participants here fron an old LEO...

A favorite tactic of daylight residential burglars is to dress up decently and go door-to-door. If the resident answers the door, they give them some double talk and go to the next house. If NO ONE answers the door, they then have the green light to break in. The other possibility is that of catching a woman home alone and forcing entry.

If you're the type who does not answer the door to solicitors, be on your guard! Your failure to answer does not mean the guy is going to go away.

I happen to have a window that gives me a good vantage point to observe my neighbor's houses. When I ignore a solicitor I:

1) Make sure he goes away from MY door, and;

2) I watch him as he goes down the street and I make sure he doesn't break in/force his way in the door of any of my neighbors.

What drives me nuts is when any of my numerous, older, single neighbor ladies ALLOWS a guy in. I'm always suspicious and gravely concerned when they do that, but there is little I can do about it.

I suggest keeping a "door" gun that you can lay hands on while on your way to the door. I never answer my door to a stranger without that gun (a S&W Model 57) held discreetly behind my back.

 

[SideArmed]

I suggest keeping a "door" gun that you can lay hands on while on your way to the door. I never answer my door to a stranger without that gun (a S&W Model 57) held discreetly behind my back.

+1 That is all good advice, & I keep my door gun on my hip.

 

[Jubba]

Last summer I had a guy come to my door and offer to paint my barn roof. He said he was good friends with the former owner and painted it for him a couple times. I said "oh, you know Bill?". He said he did and would like to paint my roof and wanted to come in to talk about it. The former owners name was John not Bill. My interpretation at the time was that this guy was up to no good so I declined and asked him to move on. No problems.

 

[jbombelli]

I usually listen at least long enough to find out what they're peddling, because you never know. It might be something I can use. Last time it was light bulbs. Yes, light bulbs. I bought a couple packs because at the time I actually had a couple burned out bulbs and needed to get replacements. I paid a little more than I would have paid at the store, but that's okay. I didn't have to go to the store.

 

[EdC]

Maybe he's a vacuum salesman, maybe he's a serial killer. Maybe he's a little of both.

Ok, now that's a great tag line for a movie!

 

[Cam]

I don't comment much on here, but this generalization that vacuum salesmen are thieves is crap. I am not a vacuum sales person, but they are trying to make a living like everyone else. Door to door sales has been around for longer than anyone alive now. I am on my phone so I will comment more on the subject later.

Making a living showing up in the evening? If that's truly what they are doing, they need to take some marketing classes.

If that's not what they are truly doing, well, sounds like you are the exact type of trusting person they are looking for.

Sorry if you don't like the stereotyping, but if you show up in the evening at my home (which is in the country) peddling ANYTHING, I assume you are casing my property and will strongly advise you leaving just seconds before unholstering.

 

[hooky]

Making a living showing up in the evening? If that's truly what they are doing, they need to take some marketing classes.

If that's not what they are truly doing, well, sounds like you are the exact type of trusting person they are looking for.

Sorry if you don't like the stereotyping, but if you show up in the evening at my home (which is in the country) peddling ANYTHING, I assume you are casing my property and will strongly advise you leaving just seconds before unholstering.

See, I'd lean the opposite way. You'd want to show up after people get home from work if you wanted to sell something. Show up during the day, you're more likely to be casing the place as described by Liberty.

 

[civilwar]

Just one question for the OP, where is this occuring? With no location listed with your avatar this could be in Ohio.
I understand the concern and would like to inform my relatives in my area if this is occuring close by.

 

[jkfletcher]

Had a guy come to my house a few years ago supposedly selling security systems. Told him I wasn't interested and he kept going with the pitch anyway. Told him again that I wasn't interested and he asks if I already had one(seemed fishy then). I told him I did and he asked what kind it was. At that point I told him it was a Rottweiler as I opened the door just far enough for him to see my 130lb Rotti. Guy literally ran away from my door and I never saw him again

 

[TSmith]

I don't like any salesman coming to my door. Even if they are legit, they could still have a "second job" of being a thief, or have buddies and let their buddies know. Theives

 

[Que]

Didn't you have a Kirby salesman at your house earlier this week?

Yeah, but I thought they were pests, not potential BGs.

 

[Que]

Well, in the case of my mom, according to her it went like this.

"Salesman"- I'm a vacuum salesman, may I come in?
Mom- what kind of vacuum are you selling?
"Salesman"- Umm, may I come in?
Mom- what brand are you selling?
"Salesman"- May I come in?
Mom- get off my property. I'm not interested.

And he left in a single cab truck. No vacuum cleaner, couldn't even say what brand or type. You can't tell me he was an actual saleman.

Oh, I got it!

 

[bigiron]

CAUTION!! if you shoot one door to door salesman, three more are born!

 

[abnk]

I guess country people don't vacuum there house.

Warehouse?

It is inconsiderate to knock on someone's door after dark to make a sale. It is even more inconsiderate when they ignore the no solicitation signs.

 

[Cam]

See, I'd lean the opposite way. You'd want to show up after people get home from work if you wanted to sell something. Show up during the day, you're more likely to be casing the place as described by Liberty.

Whichever way you want to look at it is fine. Just don't show up at my house after dark to sell me something. But to keep the spirit of the OP in mind, stay clear of my moms house after dark (or any other time) too! Yeah, it's paranoia, but I do watch the news and work in public service.