Have you ever done door-to-door sales?

[_Seth]

There are a lot of companies that reel you into it and it seems like a lot of people have crossed paths with them. I did it for 3 months and actually enjoyed it but wasn't good enough at sales to male it financially worthwhile. It was commission only. I was signing people up to donate to charity.

This is actually a rabbit hole because these outsourced sales companies are actually quite culty in that they are pro toxic positivity, they get you to spend all your time with them, they suggest cutting off negative people from your life even if they're important family members, etc.

[JDub1]

Now that it's spring time, I am getting those lawn care sales reps coming to my front door. When my doorbell rings, I don't answer it. They leave flyers though that go into my recycle bin.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Once, for about a day and a half. That was a good lesson for me to learn quickly: I am not cut out for selling anything to anyone for pretty much any reason.

[sfmarine]

I have never done it and never would. I thankfully do not get many people banging on my door. When I do get a knock I become alarmed as it is quite rare. I now have security cameras to notify me which helps + you cannot go wrong with a dog. I had a dude trying to sell me insurance a few years back which was bizarre. He never came back but he gave me Ned Ryerson vibes.


Another time a guy said he wanted to go onto my property in the woods and look for mushrooms so he could make flowers for people at a nursing home. He looked like a dirtbag and was smoking on my deck when he banged on the door. He definitely was not part of a charity.

Then there's always the Jehovah's Witness people. They stopped banging during COVID but they're back.

JDub1 has a good system and that is to simply not answer the door. Only problem is they'll keep coming back unless you do answer and say no/take me off your list. Only people who continue to come = the JWs no matter what you do or say. If you don't know much about them...I definitely suggest looking up the video by Chris Stuckmann as he was born into it and got out.

[stvn1974]

Not since I was eight and selling chocolate bars for Little League.

[Lee A Stewart]

Sales Manager is working with a brand new hire. He has knocked on 9 doors and has had all of them slammed in his face. But the new hire is even more energetik then when they first started.

"Son, you just had 9 doors slammed in your face and you look like you're on top of the world."

"Sir, at sales school they told us that 1 in 10 will buy our product - here comes my first sale!"

[VictoryAtNight]

The only door-to-door sales I’ve done was trying to sell my nephews & nieces elementary school fundraiser. I went to my sisters neighborhood, which is an affluent area. I got rejected 8/10 times. Ouch!

I had more success @ my work place. 8/10 would say yes.

[Moviefan2k4]

I remember selling both magazine subscriptions and chocolate bars in junior high school. I was never great at it, but it was a fun way to pass the time.

[LostNTheNoise]

When I was a kid, I did those personalized greeting cards you found the ads for in comic books. I remember having fun doing it and got a nice bike and a watch for like a week's work. Of course, a nine year old can't do something like that now.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by JDub1

Now that it's spring time, I am getting those lawn care sales reps coming to my front door. When my doorbell rings, I don't answer it. They leave flyers though that go into my recycle bin.

I've been telecommuting for years (long before covid). I hated getting disturbed while working so I decided to have some fun. I'd disconnect my doorbell during the day to force them to have to knock. Then I'd knock back but never open the door. I'd even imitate their knock. Got cussed out a few times.

[ThisIsJonny]

Yes, that is how I became the nanny named Fran.

[Show spoiler]I actually did try selling Avon products a couple of times. lol

[filmbuffTX]

I've done a ton of door to door sales. It builds character and really takes you out of your shell if you're more of a shy introverted person. It's all about selling yourself, more so than selling any type of product or service.

I would go door to door in my neighborhood as a kid raising money for Jump Rope for Heart (remember that?). I also was a Boy Scout and sold the popcorn yearly door to door.

As an adult in my early/mid twenties I worked for different energy companies going to door to door trying to get people to switch their electric provider. Deregulation of electric public utility companies was a new thing in my state at the time so companies were going crazy here trying to gain market share and take advantage of the new laws. Previously you had no choice as to who your electric provider was.

I've also sold random "as seen on tv" type merch door to door to businesses.

My last door to door sales job was for Quill office products. Coldly walking into businesses and trying to get them to immediately place an order.

I wouldn't do it again. I work in a completley different field now, but I appreciate the skills I learned from doing door to door sales.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Not since I was eight and selling chocolate bars for Little League.

same here. Just when I was in school, never real work.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

I also was a Boy Scout and sold the popcorn yearly door to door..

How far did you get?

[filmbuffTX]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

How far did you get?

First Class. I wish I had stuck with it to Eagle. I started playing sports in the 7th grade and it was hard to balance the two. I missed a camping trip for a track meet and that was the beginning of the end.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

First Class. I wish I had stuck with it to Eagle. I started playing sports in the 7th grade and it was hard to balance the two. I missed a camping trip for a track meet and that was the beginning of the end.

I made it to Star. I feel the same way and wish I stuck with it but it gets hard with all the activities.

[Samus Aran]

In grade school we'd sell pepperoni sticks to raise money for something I don't even remember, and the top sellers got rewarded with prizes. That would be the extent of it for me. Not a lot of success door-to-door though since we all hit the same houses.

What's funny is when the pest control companies all come by knocking on doors at the same time every year trying to offer their services.

"We're already going to be in the neighborhood for a job at Pete's home and would like to extend this offer to you."

"There's no one in the neighborhood named Pete."

[Ray Jackson]

It's the absolute worse thing you can do for a living.

Even worse than telephone marketing.

You're violating someone in the place where they're supposed to free from that kind of garbage.

Grown men who actually enjoy doing it are complete scum.

[Andriano20]

Hello. I agree, it's not the most welcoming process. When I was a schoolboy, I worked in a bookstore and was engaged in such sales. I went door to door, offering people newspapers, magazines and various booklets.

[beefytwinkie]

Door-to-door sales seems like a tough gig. I am constantly getting salesmen from solar companies. Always different companies with the same pitch “We are installing solar panels for your neighbor right down the street and would hate for you to miss out on this deal.”

I just ask them for their business card and documents so I can see the deal in writing. They never have business cards and never have documents but they will have their supervisor come right over to go over the details. I tell them I don’t need to speak to anyone. I just want to read everything.

Tough business. Definitely need a specific personality to excel.