He Said I Wasn’t Very Nice

The door bell rang unexpectedly three times in three days. The first on Wednesday, was a couple high school kids trying to drum up some window washing jobs. They seemed like good kids, and after telling them I already had cleaners, I felt sort of bad sending them away empty handed. I hope they get some jobs in the neighborhood.

The second ring, on Thursday, was from a guy selling exterminator services. Pretty quickly he launched into his spiel, dropping names of neighbors, and asking leading questions. I sent him away politely and with a minimum of effort.

The third ring came Friday evening at 7:40, and was another salesman. He just started talking. I interrupted, asking him, what have you got? It was another bug guy from the same company as the  day  before. Then he was right back at it, asking me questions that  I had no intention of answering, even talking over me as I tried to explain that we already had a service contract with another provider. So I spoke louder, and that’s when he said I wasn’t very nice. There were a few more words, then he asked if I had a bottle of water. I said no, and shut the door. 

If my brain were a bit more efficient, I would have better articulated my annoyance with him. I’d have told him that it was too late in the day to knock on my door, that I was standing there in the same clothes I planned on wearing to bed, that he didn’t introduce himself or tell me who he represented, and he sure as heck didn’t first ask for my permission to ask me questions that weren't any of his business to begin with. On top of all that, he was interrupting an episode of  How to Get to Heaven from Belfast on Netflix. I wonder if he sold a pesticide to deal with door to door salesmen. 

Our 55+ subdivision is quickly filling with new homes and residents, so I suppose we are fertile ground for door to door marketing. As people age, many become more susceptible to shady sales techniques.  Also, it’s not safe to open our doors to strangers. This week, we will install a “no soliciting’ yard sign, and begin shopping for a video doorbell. 

And does anyone know how to attack train a balinese kitty cat? Sick ‘em, Sophie!

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