Door to door sales man / hawker / young offender
Discussion
Doorbell just rang, which is strange as no one tends to come down our drive especially late on a rainy Tuesday evening.
There was a young lad at the door with the possibly the biggest Nike sports bag I have seen! He had a laminated A5 sheet of paper which was shoved under my nose which professed to be some sort of ID for a scheme of some kind. I think it said "Hawker" or something and had facebook, myspace and other logos on it.
Almost immediately he launched into a patter about being a young offender and how he had been given a chance to do some door to door sales etc as part of his rehabilitation and so on, which I politely listened to though while silently but avidly trying to work out if this is legit, or if not, then what the angle of the con was.
He was perfectly polite and well mannered, and not in any way even close to 6ft 2 with a goatee etc (so being intimidating was out) so I listened politely and asked him what he was selling.
He didn't answer but said he would show me. Cue, being shown whatever it is they sell in those shops that seem to sell trampolines, flower pots and all manner of 99p wonderment (i.e. a random tat shop) where he had the car aisle / kitchen products aisle packed into his sports holdall.
I thought I might buy something seen as I am fortunate enough not to have to sell door to door in the rain, and I had a spare quid or two, but the "super absorbent 10x maxi chamois leather" was priced at £9.99 apparently (worth about 99p?) thus I declined and sent him on his way.
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The point of my spiel is; is he legit? If so, are there not better ways to learn to be a polite member of society (carpentry course or something perhaps) but if not, what is the point - is it to scope out my house? Con me into spending £9.99 because I don't know the price of dish cloths? Snatch my wallet? Anyone else experienced this?
Perhaps it's time to buy driveway gates.
There was a young lad at the door with the possibly the biggest Nike sports bag I have seen! He had a laminated A5 sheet of paper which was shoved under my nose which professed to be some sort of ID for a scheme of some kind. I think it said "Hawker" or something and had facebook, myspace and other logos on it.
Almost immediately he launched into a patter about being a young offender and how he had been given a chance to do some door to door sales etc as part of his rehabilitation and so on, which I politely listened to though while silently but avidly trying to work out if this is legit, or if not, then what the angle of the con was.
He was perfectly polite and well mannered, and not in any way even close to 6ft 2 with a goatee etc (so being intimidating was out) so I listened politely and asked him what he was selling.
He didn't answer but said he would show me. Cue, being shown whatever it is they sell in those shops that seem to sell trampolines, flower pots and all manner of 99p wonderment (i.e. a random tat shop) where he had the car aisle / kitchen products aisle packed into his sports holdall.
I thought I might buy something seen as I am fortunate enough not to have to sell door to door in the rain, and I had a spare quid or two, but the "super absorbent 10x maxi chamois leather" was priced at £9.99 apparently (worth about 99p?) thus I declined and sent him on his way.
---
The point of my spiel is; is he legit? If so, are there not better ways to learn to be a polite member of society (carpentry course or something perhaps) but if not, what is the point - is it to scope out my house? Con me into spending £9.99 because I don't know the price of dish cloths? Snatch my wallet? Anyone else experienced this?
Perhaps it's time to buy driveway gates.
I'd say yes, he's probably legit. We've had them from time to time but as the goods tend to be cheap and nasty but priced like a Faberge egg, nothing gets bought. Bought a first aid kit from one a while back for a fiver only to realise after it was probably worth less than 50p. Never again.
I'm not sure if it's legit but I had exactly the same thing even down to the crappy chamois.
He made out he was selling for a big company which helps these people get on the straight and narrow.
I did buy a couple of bits though, about £20 worth as tbh I felt a bit sorry for him, yes he has done wrong in the past but his manner was very polite and I sensed some desperation in him.
He made out he was selling for a big company which helps these people get on the straight and narrow.
I did buy a couple of bits though, about £20 worth as tbh I felt a bit sorry for him, yes he has done wrong in the past but his manner was very polite and I sensed some desperation in him.
Funny that, I had just the same sort of chap turn up on my doorstep last week.
Now, I'll have you know, however surly, bad tempered, or thunder faced you may think you are with randoms ringing your doorbell, I can assure you I am ten times worse..
But this young lad, Josh his name was, (I even remembered his bloody name!) just left me speechless.
His patter was absolutely faultless. He went swiftly through the contents of his holdall with precise deacriptions of each item, didn't repeat himself, kept some eye contact and didn't say um or er once. He even told me up front that he gets 70% of his takings.
For such a young lad, I was impressed if not a little surprised at his presentation. So, five minutes later and a tenner lighter, I became the proud owner of a tin of 'Wiked Max' car polish!
Honestly, I was so surprised at how well he presented himself, I could see myself thinking 'ok you've sold me, what shall I pick?'
And this is from someone whose usual opening reply to any door salesperson or Jehova is 'Go away. Right now.', followed by the door being firmly closed.
Well done Josh, despite your past misdemeanors, you will go far, you earnt my sale.
Now, I'll have you know, however surly, bad tempered, or thunder faced you may think you are with randoms ringing your doorbell, I can assure you I am ten times worse..
But this young lad, Josh his name was, (I even remembered his bloody name!) just left me speechless.
His patter was absolutely faultless. He went swiftly through the contents of his holdall with precise deacriptions of each item, didn't repeat himself, kept some eye contact and didn't say um or er once. He even told me up front that he gets 70% of his takings.
For such a young lad, I was impressed if not a little surprised at his presentation. So, five minutes later and a tenner lighter, I became the proud owner of a tin of 'Wiked Max' car polish!
Honestly, I was so surprised at how well he presented himself, I could see myself thinking 'ok you've sold me, what shall I pick?'
And this is from someone whose usual opening reply to any door salesperson or Jehova is 'Go away. Right now.', followed by the door being firmly closed.
Well done Josh, despite your past misdemeanors, you will go far, you earnt my sale.
Special K said:
Or you could look at it from this point of view .....
At least he's trying to do something positive with his life now. Could be worse, he could have been out stealing or mugging instead ?
I'm not criticising him for trying to do a bit of honest work, it's just I have never come across this kind of scheme before so was vaguely cautious.At least he's trying to do something positive with his life now. Could be worse, he could have been out stealing or mugging instead ?
I only had something odd like £3.23 on me but I would have bought something if it was within my 'spare change' price range.
wattsie_2004 said:
Special K said:
Or you could look at it from this point of view .....
At least he's trying to do something positive with his life now. Could be worse, he could have been out stealing or mugging instead ?
I'm not criticising him for trying to do a bit of honest work, it's just I have never come across this kind of scheme before so was vaguely cautious.At least he's trying to do something positive with his life now. Could be worse, he could have been out stealing or mugging instead ?
I only had something odd like £3.23 on me but I would have bought something if it was within my 'spare change' price range.
Seen them a few times, don't think it is a scam. Over priced goods but must be very hard for them - tough opening line to say you are a young offender... Even if it is a scam, it has fairly poor returns for them...
Edit to add - yes, bought tea towels as I'm always misusing ours according to my wife.... Apparently "on fire" is not an acceptable state for a tea towel....
Edit to add - yes, bought tea towels as I'm always misusing ours according to my wife.... Apparently "on fire" is not an acceptable state for a tea towel....
There are no such 'official' (ie run by the Probation Service or whoever) schemes in the UK. It's just a line. In fact, a lot of police forces actively warn people not to deal with door-to-door sales people who use the patter.
Although, don't buy something at your peril! http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/23...
Although, don't buy something at your peril! http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/23...
Ok, it's a scam. I paid £5 for 4 tea towels.
http://www.london-probation.org.uk/about_us/door-t...
http://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/950570...
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonabl...
Even our friends at mumsnet were taken for a dishcloth or 2, judging by other threads....
http://www.london-probation.org.uk/about_us/door-t...
http://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/950570...
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonabl...
Even our friends at mumsnet were taken for a dishcloth or 2, judging by other threads....
Amazed this has come up again so soon, but...
I did it in the school holidays back in 1982 selling tea cloths, ironing board covers, dusters etc with 'Robin Asquith' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdLgoAvwQL8&fea... whose name was Steve and it was a right laugh, he'd pick me and my bird or my mate up with a few others in a Transit and we'd go to all sorts of exotic places like Blackheath or Highbury and sell our wares.
If it was old people, we'd say it was for kid's/disabled charities or if it was young people, then we were selling for the OAP's homes.
Wrong I know, but we were only 15 and were were earning £50 a day. Which apid for the Pringles & Lyle & Scott jumpers.
Steve told us tales of the West Ham ICF he had working for him who would just fight absolutely everybody.
Not sure how this young offender approach started but I always have a laugh with them if they knock and say who are you trying to kid.
Did really well in the poorer areas, but was great fun in the school holidays.
I did it in the school holidays back in 1982 selling tea cloths, ironing board covers, dusters etc with 'Robin Asquith' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdLgoAvwQL8&fea... whose name was Steve and it was a right laugh, he'd pick me and my bird or my mate up with a few others in a Transit and we'd go to all sorts of exotic places like Blackheath or Highbury and sell our wares.
If it was old people, we'd say it was for kid's/disabled charities or if it was young people, then we were selling for the OAP's homes.
Wrong I know, but we were only 15 and were were earning £50 a day. Which apid for the Pringles & Lyle & Scott jumpers.
Steve told us tales of the West Ham ICF he had working for him who would just fight absolutely everybody.
Not sure how this young offender approach started but I always have a laugh with them if they knock and say who are you trying to kid.
Did really well in the poorer areas, but was great fun in the school holidays.
Edited by vixen1700 on Tuesday 7th August 23:28
NiceCupOfTea said:
Had one of these last week - didn't let him get into his spiel but I got the impression he was offering to do odd jobs. He rolled his eyes and muttered something as he wandered off up the drive, thereby confirming that I had made the right judgement call
That was what I was expecting from the knock at my door. Bearing in mind that there are 150 houses in my street sharing the same post code, we get targeted pretty much once or twice a week by someone, particularly utility companies. Some of them are outrageous. 'All right mate?'
No. Go. Away. Now. [closes door]
The only reason I don't kick off at 'em is I don't want some t
t scratching the car or pooing on me doorstep!The guy I met last week got his sale on merit, nothing more. A rare encounter in my experience, unlikely to be repeated.
Edited by pacman1 on Tuesday 7th August 23:36
I had this a while ago, the bloke looked like Plan B. Anyway, if you want to buy something but don't have cash on you (wallet on the dining room table etc) what is the etiquette? Leave the door open whilst you go back into the house to find you money? Shut it?
I didn't buy anything but probably would've bought some dish clothes as we ALWAYS seem to need them.
I didn't buy anything but probably would've bought some dish clothes as we ALWAYS seem to need them.
Our local police have asked to be called when these groups are around. Oddly they get *very* shirty and abusive if you tell them this. On the other hand they feck off out of the village very quickly too.
I'm sure it plays well with the tebbit bike faction, but the reality is that they are taking advantage of a lot of people and often being threatening and abusive.
Odd how the week after the last batch were around we had a spate of car thefts.
I'm sure it plays well with the tebbit bike faction, but the reality is that they are taking advantage of a lot of people and often being threatening and abusive.
Odd how the week after the last batch were around we had a spate of car thefts.
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