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Creative Sales or Just Down Right Deception?

This morning, I got a knock at my door. I work out of my home office. When I'm home alone, I never open the door for anyone. I peep through the blinds, "Hi, how have you been?" The stranger says. I've never seen this man before in my life. "So, good to see you again," he continues.

I try to take a closer look, without opening the door. "Yes, can I help you?" I ask through my locked door. He's holding up a little pamphlet, but far enough away so I can't really see what it it.

"Your neighbor, right next door told me that you would want to see this," as he pointed to the North. Well, I'm here to tell you that my neighbor next door is a dear, sweet 85 year old woman that won't open the door for anyone! She's very sharp! And she is very suspicious of everyone!

"What is it?" I asked.

He was selling some type of all purpose cleaning product.

"No thank you." I never opened the door.

I think he was legitimately selling a cleaning product. I think he was probably harmless.

But, I couldn't help but wonder if this was creative sales tactics he was using, to get people to open the door, or was it downright deception?

Posted by Sandy Shores, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL, Brevard County Real Estate & Investing on 11/26/2008 09:54 AM

Comments (46)

creative sales or downright deception, door to door sales, brevard county real estate, melbourne florida real estate

Originally posted at: Melbourne Real Estate News, Brevard County Florida by Sandy Shores Melbourne FL Realtor: Creative Sales or Just Down Right Deception?

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46 Comments on Creative Sales or Just Down Right Deception?

NOV

2008

I am glad you didn't open the door. People should not be rewarded for conducting business that way.

Probably a little of both. The means to getting to the ultimate point may have involved deception even if he had a good, legitimate product to sell.

I think it could be both - - better to not take chances.

I vote for downright deception here, Sandy. If he was legit I would have to give him kudos for getting out and hitting the pavement, but these days you just never know.

Deception for sure. I have had this same line used on me...your neighbor so-and-so down the street...yeah, right!

Trust your instincts. I won't open the door for anyone I don't know period!

Hi Sandy

From what you're saying, my bet it a very deceptive practice.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

Totally deceptive - good thing you didn't open up your door. We can't be to safe.

Sandy - Yeah, they use that one a lot in my neighborhood. Interestingly enough, the last time someone hit me up with it, it was for an alarm system. I told them I was happy with my current system (which wasn't in use, but I didn't tell them that). A few days later I was burglarized. Cleaned out. I'll never know if the two had anything to do with each other, but I have my suspicions. Of course, I know have an alarm. I have seen the line used for real purposes though...when we installed our alarm, the sales guy went to my neighbors with a similar pitch and that definitely wasn't any sort of deception. I just tell everyone that comes to my door selling products that I don't buy from my front door.

a bit of deception and sales tactics... but neither are "professional" or ethical... I say the pro word in quotes because I am sure this guy was given the script to use... "standard practice" and "professional practices" are not always the same... and I mean professional not in the sense of making money, but in the sense of qualified, knowledgable, ethical, and transparent... deception works, so be careful.

Glad you did not open the door... perhaps this fellow will learn that this technique just does not fool anyone, and so does not work. Next...

Door to door in this day should be tabu. I do want anyone showing up on my doorstep unannounced unless they are my family or friend. Did you call the police? Those people must have a license to sell door to door.

Sandy, You'll never know, and thats a good thing. Trust your gut instinct and stay safe.

Agreed on all points above! I used to feel a little guilty, here is someone just trying to make a living, couldn't I just buy a little something? Then, on the occasions that I did buy, the product was inferior, the magazines wouldn't stop, (or never came), and I was very frustrated. I stopped buying, and stopped answering the door, because I was wasting my money, and now I would be wasting their time, because I don't plan to buy!

Hi Sandy:

I thought for sure that you were going to say it was a religious type person giving out a pamplet!

Definitely don't like that tactic, very deceptive.

It reminds all of us to be careful.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Better safe than sorry it's best not to take chances.

I think it may be a little bit of desperation along with deception. I'm sort of surprised salesmen still go door to door, honestly. I wouldn't have opened the door, either.

Sandy,

If he was legitimate (and let's assume that he was), a stretch in his his story is easily detected and all credibility is shot. I would have responded the same way for the same reason. :)

STeve

Sandy, in this economy, better be cautious then to regret.

This has happened to me before. I open the door and they begin going into their sales pitch and started cleaning the window of my door, and proceeded to direct me to my car so they could show how well it works on windshields. However, I declined to buy but sent them to my friends house, which was 4 doors down, so they could get the pitch.

I don't blame you - I hardly ever open my door for strangers either. And, cold calling like that is a thankless business; he's had his share of unopened doors.

Sandy, That's a typical foot in the door sales technique that has been used for eons. Keep your door locked!!!

Door to door sales is such an archaic process. I don't trust anyone coming to my door without an appointment even if they just want to save my soul.

Since it's doubtful your neighbor sent him down I would say deception. My Dogs usually take care of the door to door people...LOL

Just stopped by to say Happy Thanksgiving Sandy! Cheers to it!

Steven, I agree that deceptive business practice should not be rewarded.

Jason & ReMax, Thanks for your viewpoints that there was a little bit of both going on. Take care!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kris and Gary, You both said deception for sure. Thanks for your views. Gary, it's funny because I had not heard this line before today. Go figure!

Hi Betina, In this day and age you never know who is knocking on your door. We are hearing more and more about home invasions - scary stuff!

Hi Lou and Debra, You both said this is deceptive. I agree that today you just can't be too save. Take care!

Oh my gosh Josh, That's a horrible story! I hate to hear that! You got cleaned out after people came to your door 2 days before! Wow! That really does make you wonder, doesn't it? Did they ever find out who did it?

Focus, I think it's scary that this kind of thing really works on some people. But, I guess that they wouldn't be using it if it didn't - like you said! Thanks for your comment!

Hi Valerie, I don't like people that come door to door either. If I want to buy something, I'll go out and get it myself. No I did not call the police. I didn't know that you must have a license to sell door to door. Thanks fo the info.

Hi Richard, Agreed - I think we should always remember to go with our gut. Great advice.

Cheryl, I've never really had a problem with saying no to a salesperson. I am so glad to hear that you don't have a problem with it anymore, either! Great job! You go girl!

Toula, No religion, this time. I agree that we must be very, very careful today. Thanks for the input!

Pat, I really don't like to open my door for people that I don't know.

Rich, We have lots of different people that come around for tree trimming, candy, cookies, religion, etc. I think you may have a point that a portion of it is desperation!

Hi Steve, I agree, that he lost all credibility when he was deceptive immediately. Great point!

Hulting, Good point, in this economy we must be careful, Take care!

Jacinto - You're cracking me up - too funny! Thanks for the chuckle. I suppose it is ridiculous when you put it that way, although it didn't make much sense to me when he said it.

Carol and Paul, I agree that we should keep our door locked. I don't care to buy from people that come to my door. I think that door to door sales are a thing of the past and I think that it is a thankless business.

Fred, I love your comments - just too funny! I have to tell you I really, really do not like when people come to my door to try to read me a passage out of the Bible. I do not feel that religion should be peddled door to door - I feel that it cheapens it! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mary, My 85 year old neighbor would just as soon take a shot gun to a salesperson, as answer the door for one. I love your comment about your dogs taking care of them. My dog is very vocal when someone comes to the door also. I hope you are well and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Hey Teresa, Thanks and I hope that you also have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Take care and thanks for being a friend.

I had the same thing happen in my old neighborhood. The your neighbor bought this and sent me to talk to you. All I did was take my cell phone out and ask the guy, which neighbor? Let me call them... That got him to leave in a hurry.

You really have to be careful with people coming to your door these days.

Of course, misleading at the least. I just would have done as you did and called the neighbor real quick to make sure she was ok, or warn her he was on the way. Just can't be too careful, unfortunately, but these are the times we are living in. Nice of you to watch out for her...

NOV

2008

Guess you'll never know. Probably a good thing you didn't open the door.

Hi Rich, WOW! Good for you! That was incredibly quick thinking on your part -telling him you where just going to call the neighbor to confirm they had sent him. I wasn't that quick on my feet. I really wanted the guy to go away. I hope you're well-take care!

Terrylynn, I always try to keep in touch with my 85 year old neighbor. She is a wonderful woman - a real spitefire. I could see her walloping the guy over the head with a newspaper if he messed with her. You are so right that we can't be too careful. I completely agree that it was very misleading.

Hi Amber, I think you're right - in a situation like that, you really don't want to know, nor do you need to know!

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