Door-to-door sales

I was approached by a customer who asked me to write about door-to-door salesmen. When salesmen knock at your door they have nothing to lose. On the contrary, they can only benefit. They have no renting costs and they have direct access to consumers.

On the other hand, home owners are likely to lose out. Consumers often open their door to unwelcome door-to-door salesmen and very often buy whatever the visitor is selling just to get rid of him/her. The cost here is in terms of time wasted, money and disruption. They create need where none exists. If you really need something, you already know it.

They generally use high-pressure tactics and create a sense of urgency with comments like: 'I only have one left', 'This offer ends today', 'We're only in town for this week'. Don't let this influence you.

If you are not interested, here are a few simple but effective techniques for handling door-to-door salesmen. Don't answer the door. Don't listen to the presentation. Most sales pitches are designed to get you answering questions (usually with a 'yes'). Don't fall for it. Would you rather interrupt the pitch or buy an overpriced set of steak knives? Be firm but polite and don't let him/her in. 'No soliciting' signs don't work.

Don't let yourself be hurried or intimidated. After all, the sales person is at your door uninvited and keep him/her there only at your courtesy. If you're interested in buying from a door-to-door seller, then get everything in writing, including price, warranty and conditions. Tell the salesman you will check it out and get back to him.

They must show you identification, with name, address and employer (if they have one). You can ask them to leave at any time and are under no obligation to buy. If you buy, you must be given a copy of the contract immediately. The salesman must also give you two notices. One should explain your right to cancel the contract, if you wish; the other is the one you can use to actually cancel the contract. The contract must include full name and address of the salesman if he/she is the supplier, otherwise it should show the name and address of the supplier of the goods or services.