Kirby Door to Door Sales - Awkward Encounter

[Proudiddy]

So, I'm watching my kids, hanging out around the house earlier and get an unexpected ring of the doorbell. I look out the peep hole and see a woman, probably late 30s-40s. I don't recognize her, but figure she might be a new neighbor or something because our neighborhood is still doing a lot of building.

My kids are still running around playing, I open the door and in hindsight, I think the woman was walking upwards, as though she was forcing my hand to let her in... So, per usual, I step out of the door and shut it so she can't come in or look in. She's holding a spray bottle and hands it to me, shakes my hand and says it's a free gift she's giving out as part of "her business."

Then she starts to tell me that she's going around doing in-home demonstrations for her products and so "we're just gonna come in and do that. okay?" I told her no, that I was home watching 3 kids and didn't really have time for it (now wishing I would've just told her no and not been cordial about it and gave her any other info).

She continues, saying "you've heard of Kirby vacuums?" I told her I have, but I have other stuff going on. I said the kids are playing and everything so I just can't do it right now. She keeps badgering me and made it a point to say at least 3 different times, that she's not asking me to buy anything, she just gets paid for doing the in-home demonstration. Regardless, I don't like strangers invading my personal space or having the opportunity to check out my family, our home, our property, etc.

I tell her that I'm all about supporting people's businesses and entrepreneurship, but I'm just not comfortable with it. She asks what I'm not comfortable with and I tell her "I don't know. I'm at home watching my kids, we got other stuff going on... I'm just not comfortable with it. I can't do it." She then asks if they're my kids, I tell her yes, and she says it's okay, they can watch the demonstration. She also asked if I was the homeowner and how long I've been in the home (which I lied about and said a year because it was none of her business).

I reaffirm that I'm not comfortable with it and I can't do it because I'm not going to buy anything from her anyway so there's no point in doing it... She acts pissy, takes her magic green spray bottle gift and says "well, let me have that for the next one then..."

The whole time she was talking to me there was a dude sitting out in a beat up Astrovan or something with a magnet for Kirby sales on the side and he was eyeing me down the whole time. One good thing that happened during this was that my alarm was set to stay when I opened the door so I had to run back and turn it off before I came back to the door and talked to her. So, she knows we have a legit security system.

Anyone had any similar experiences? Think anything sounds extra fishy about this or is it par for the course?

We've only been here since May or so, and that's about the 3rd different door sales pitch I've encountered. I hate that stuff... I find it disrespectful and unprofessional. No to mention this lady was dressed like she was going to the club and not to work.

[Johnny Rockets]

Should have let her in. Those Kirby demonstrations are pretty bad ass. Would have been like having a built in babysitter for an hour or so because the kids would have loved it.

Of course if she was part of some sort of Natural Born Killer duo, you probably made the right choice.

[Darth Biscuit]

I tell people that come to my door to leave... if I want something I'll go to the store.

Those freaking religious nuts do it too... I tell them to leave the neighborhood or I'm calling the cops.

You were more restrained than I would have been in that situation... once I told her I wasn't interested she better have got the fug off my porch.

[Johnny Rockets]

Oh yeah almost forgot....we really are going to have to see pics of this 30 something year old in her club attire to make a proper assessment of the situation.

Thanks

[Jase]

Yeah, I hate it when salespeople come door-to-door.

The worst is when roofing companies come to my door, tell me that my roof is damaged and they'll do all the legwork for my insurance company to pay for a new roof.

I just bring my wife to the door and she informs them that what they're doing is illegal, and they're being reported to the department of insurance. They leave really fast.

It's not always bad though. One time the doorbell rang at my office, and I was greeted by three beautiful blond representatives selling vouchers for discount tires. It took a little longer than usual to tell them no.

[Proudiddy]

I tell people that come to my door to leave... if I want something I'll go to the store.

Those freaking religious nuts do it too... I tell them to leave the neighborhood or I'm calling the cops.

You were more restrained than I would have been in that situation... once I told her I wasn't interested she better have got the fug off my porch.

Yeah, I've seen a lot of scams over the years but if whatever they're doing is legit, I still try to be considerate of what that person is going through. I'm sure they didn't want to end up in d2d sales but may have fallen on tough times - IF, they truly are selling something. So, I try to be diplomatic and cordial about it, but if I feel a direct threat, I'd be much more assertive.

Maybe it was because she was a woman as well and was the only one actually out of the car.

[Proudiddy]

Oh yeah almost forgot....we really are going to have to see pics of this 30 something year old in her club attire to make a proper assessment of the situation.

Thanks

Sorry I didn't snap any, lol...

But, if it's of any consolation, she had man hands. Looked like she's done some heavy duty work in her days.

[Darth Biscuit]

Yeah, I hate it when salespeople come door-to-door.

The worst is when roofing companies come to my door, tell me that my roof is damaged and they'll do all the legwork for my insurance company to pay for a new roof.

I just bring my wife to the door and she informs them that what they're doing is illegal, and they're being reported to the department of insurance. They leave really fast.

It's not always bad though. One time the doorbell rang at my office, and I was greeted by three beautiful blond representatives selling vouchers for discount tires. It took a little longer than usual to tell them no.

This gorgeous sweet little thing with one of those pixie haircuts stopped by the office one afternoon, probably been 5 or 6 years ago... she was selling DHL shipping services... well we were already established with UPS, but she was so freaking cute I let her talk me into setting me up with DHL... I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours she was here filling out papers and showing me how to use the online system... I'll also admit I played dumb on the computer so she'd have to bend over me and set the thing up... :cool:

Never shipped one damn thing with DHL, but I did use some of the packing material and envelopes she left me. :)

Yeah, I've seen a lot of scams over the years but if whatever they're doing is legit, I still try to be considerate of what that person is going through. I'm sure they didn't want to end up in d2d sales but may have fallen on tough times - IF, they truly are selling something. So, I try to be diplomatic and cordial about it, but if I feel a direct threat, I'd be much more assertive.

Maybe it was because she was a woman as well and was the only one actually out of the car.

I get your point... and I'm like that at work, much more tolerant of phone calls/sales visits... unless they give me attitude.

At home however, that's my space... gtfo

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, I hate it when salespeople come door-to-door.

The worst is when roofing companies come to my door, tell me that my roof is damaged and they'll do all the legwork for my insurance company to pay for a new roof.

I just bring my wife to the door and she informs them that what they're doing is illegal, and they're being reported to the department of insurance. They leave really fast.

It's not always bad though. One time the doorbell rang at my office, and I was greeted by three beautiful blond representatives selling vouchers for discount tires. It took a little longer than usual to tell them no.

LOL, good deal.

My wife tends to be the more assertive in terms of talking, whereas obviously I do more when it comes to action/reinforcement if need be.

I wish this would've been three hot women selling tires. This lady looked like she's lived a rugged life. She had a pretty face in there somewhere, but looked like she's lived really hard. And her clothes and general appearance made me think someone just picked her up off a street corner and was like "hey! wanna sell some vacuums instead?"

[Jase]

LOL, good deal.

My wife tends to be the more assertive in terms of talking, whereas obviously I do more when it comes to action/reinforcement if need be.

I wish this would've been three hot women selling tires. This lady looked like she's lived a rugged life. She had a pretty face in there somewhere, but looked like she's lived really hard. And her clothes and general appearance made me think someone just picked her up off a street corner and was like "hey! wanna sell some vacuums instead?"

both involve a fair amount of sucking I would say.

[Guest]

This gorgeous sweet little thing with one of those pixie haircuts stopped by the office one afternoon, probably been 5 or 6 years ago... she was selling DHL shipping services... well we were already established with UPS, but she was so freaking cute I let her talk me into setting me up with DHL... I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours she was here filling out papers and showing me how to use the online system... I'll also admit I played dumb on the computer so she'd have to bend over me and set the thing up... :cool:

Never shipped one damn thing with DHL, but I did use some of the packing material and envelopes she left me. :)

I get your point... and I'm like that at work, much more tolerant of phone calls/sales visits... unless they give me attitude.

At home however, that's my space... gtfo

awesomeyoudamanlikeaboss :D

[Proudiddy]

I get your point... and I'm like that at work, much more tolerant of phone calls/sales visits... unless they give me attitude.

At home however, that's my space... gtfo

Yeah man, that's how I feel as well but I try to temper it. Sometimes I've wondered whether I'm a little too diplomatic and have felt I should be less so... But, I've done pretty well for myself in maneuvering through life thus far, so I guess it isn't that big of a flaw. It's weird, in my work and education history, I never put up with someone stepping on my toes and had a very short fuse, but on a personal level, I always seem to be patient with people (which again, I don' necessarily like).

It's just weird. Like I said, in hindsight, I didn't owe her an explanation whatsoever. A simple "no, I can't do it" should've sufficed. Instead, I tell her I'm home watching my kids, my wife is at work, etc. But I definitely don't like anyone showing up uninvited on my doorstep.

[panther4life]

So, I'm watching my kids, hanging out around the house earlier and get an unexpected ring of the doorbell. I look out the peep hole and see a woman, probably late 30s-40s. I don't recognize her, but figure she might be a new neighbor or something because our neighborhood is still doing a lot of building.

My kids are still running around playing, I open the door and in hindsight, I think the woman was walking upwards, as though she was forcing my hand to let her in... So, per usual, I step out of the door and shut it so she can't come in or look in. She's holding a spray bottle and hands it to me, shakes my hand and says it's a free gift she's giving out as part of "her business."

Then she starts to tell me that she's going around doing in-home demonstrations for her products and so "we're just gonna come in and do that. okay?" I told her no, that I was home watching 3 kids and didn't really have time for it (now wishing I would've just told her no and not been cordial about it and gave her any other info).

She continues, saying "you've heard of Kirby vacuums?" I told her I have, but I have other stuff going on. I said the kids are playing and everything so I just can't do it right now. She keeps badgering me and made it a point to say at least 3 different times, that she's not asking me to buy anything, she just gets paid for doing the in-home demonstration. Regardless, I don't like strangers invading my personal space or having the opportunity to check out my family, our home, our property, etc.

I tell her that I'm all about supporting people's businesses and entrepreneurship, but I'm just not comfortable with it. She asks what I'm not comfortable with and I tell her "I don't know. I'm at home watching my kids, we got other stuff going on... I'm just not comfortable with it. I can't do it." She then asks if they're my kids, I tell her yes, and she says it's okay, they can watch the demonstration. She also asked if I was the homeowner and how long I've been in the home (which I lied about and said a year because it was none of her business).

I reaffirm that I'm not comfortable with it and I can't do it because I'm not going to buy anything from her anyway so there's no point in doing it... She acts pissy, takes her magic green spray bottle gift and says "well, let me have that for the next one then..."

The whole time she was talking to me there was a dude sitting out in a beat up Astrovan or something with a magnet for Kirby sales on the side and he was eyeing me down the whole time. One good thing that happened during this was that my alarm was set to stay when I opened the door so I had to run back and turn it off before I came back to the door and talked to her. So, she knows we have a legit security system.

Anyone had any similar experiences? Think anything sounds extra fishy about this or is it par for the course?

We've only been here since May or so, and that's about the 3rd different door sales pitch I've encountered. I hate that stuff... I find it disrespectful and unprofessional. No to mention this lady was dressed like she was going to the club and not to work.

I had the same thing happen last week. A guy handed me dish soap instead of a spray bottle and that it was a free gift, just like she said to you. Then asked if he could use some floorspace for a demo, I said no and he tried a little harder to keep pushing, saying he has to do the demo to get his $25..just got to a point where I told him i don't wanna be an asshole but your wasting your time with me, he understood and disappeared.

[Proudiddy]

I had the same thing happen last week. A guy handed me dish soap instead of a spray bottle and that it was a free gift, just like she said to you. Then asked if he could use some floorspace for a demo, I said no and he tried a little harder to keep pushing, saying he has to do the demo to get his $25..just got to a point where I told him i don't wanna be an asshole but your wasting your time with me, he understood and disappeared.

Good job man... It's a relief that someone else had the same thing happen and they told you they got paid for the demo as well. I really questioned that pitch.