Cold Callers and Doorstep Etiquette

I don't know how other members feel about cold callers knocking at their front door, but personally I detest them. Most of them are overly matey and start their pitch by enquiring 'How are you today, Sir?' or even worse, by proffering an outstretched hand. This does not go down well. I am reluctant to engage in any way without an explanation of who they are or seeing their ID. I work on the basis that none of the discussion will be to my benefit, so I listen politely for a few seconds before giving some excuse to terminate it e.g. I have a pan on the stove, my pet tarantula has escaped, or have you met Jesus? etc. This will usually get rid of them.

I don't know why they are coached to be so matey. English people generally do not want to shake hands with someone they do not know. Perhaps this forwardness has come from America. I have also noticed it exhibited by the smartly dressed young missionaries from Salt Lake City. 

I'm always polite but firm. I also pull the door close behind me so that they can't see into the house. 

Some can be pushy and if they get too be to much I think they can see it in my face.

I did have one young chap, selling security alarms who came by three times in one day, on that third time I told him that I would call the police if he came again.

I was actually a missionary going door to door back in the early 80's. There were some VERY nasty people out there and some very polite ones. You can imagine which ones I appreciated the most and is the reason why I'm always polite.  

I was assaulted on my own doorstep.  I opened the door to a cold caller.  He held his hand out and I shook hands with him without thinking.  Only then did I notice the blue rosette,  he was a Tory MP.

Imagine my shame if anyone had seen this.  

I did the same not long ago Ruth and the cheeky b....d looked through the window and started knocking on it. I can't write here what I shouted at the person concerned, but he got the message.

Edward you've hit the nail on the head with this one for sure.

And Mick.....oh dear mate, the shame indeed! lol

I think we all have the right idea, but sadly not all of us can dish it out when the time comes.

Another way of discouraging cold-call telephone callers is to ask for their home phone number. When they ask why, just say so you can call them back just when they are about to have dinner. They soon ring off.

Seriously though, registering with the Telephone Preference Service is free and stops most cold calls.