[Martin S]

Hi all,

For anybody who goes ‘’door knocking’’.  Saw this article in the national press the other day.


‘SALESMEN IN STREETS BAN’

DOORSTEP traders could be banned from certain areas following the launch of a police backed ‘’no cold calling zones’’ scheme today.
  Salesmen who ignore window stickers in homes bearing the warning ‘’Doorstep sellers beware – you’re not welcome here’’ will be reported to police and consumer watchdogs.
  Posters will also warn door salesmen to steer clear of the ‘’No Go’’ zones.
  Whole streets are expected to sign up for the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) scheme, which has already seen doorstep crime drop by 11 per cent in Cambs where it was trialled in 2003.
  The scheme follows a TSI survey which found 96 percent of adults did not want a stranger calling at their homes to sell products from roof repairs to double glazing and insurance.
  TSI chief executive Ron Gainsford said: ‘’People are sick and tired of uninvited doorstep callers.  We are particularly concerned about those who use it as a front for criminal activity.’’
  Police believe there is a link between doorstep cold calling and crimes including ‘distraction burglaries’ where crooks con their way into a home.
  Cambs Det Supt Paul Craig said: ‘’The feedback from the public who live in designated zones has been extremely encouraging.’’

[Mike Halliday]

I would'nt be worried about these 'schemes'  until a law is passed making it a criminal offence to knock on some ones door then these schemes are toothless, what will happen if you going knocking in one of these areas? you'll get your bum smacked by a local bobby :

MIke

[Doug Holloway]

Martin,

I'm sure it will have an effect as having signed up to it people will have a very negative attitude to anyone who tries to cold call.

It's a bit like TPS where I find anyone who rings me now,  I say 'excuse me I don't think you should be doing this' or words to that effecct .

This immediately puts them on the defensive but equaly my mind set is that I'm on TPS and I don't buy from unsolicited callers.

Cheers,

Doug

P.S When I first started we cold called evry evening.

[Ian Gourlay]

My personal opinion is that if you want an enterprise society you have to allowed cold calling.

There is now a law that bans you from handing out leaflets in Town Centres and other designated areas. If Council decides to create a no leaflet zone.

You are not allowed to send letters if person is on MPS


Attempts are being made to stop leafleting.

How on earth do you let people know of your exsistence.

If all these people get their way.

[John_Flynn]

I blame the Councilers and Do Gooders they are turn out Country into a NO GO ZONE!!

[Dennis]

My personal opinion is that if you want an enterprise society you have to allowed cold calling.

I'm sorry Ian but that's absolute cobblers!

I'm 46 years old, if I want a conservatory or to change my power supplier or any of the other umpteen cold callers I get, I am quite capable of picking up the phone and getting it sorted.

At the end of the day if consumers/householders wanted these intrusions there would be no need for TPS or actions like Martin S has described.

Personally, I value my privacy and just don't want these door-step callers, especially the ones who, on being declined, then start to argue about it! 

And if you really want me to go off on one just mention the religious ones, go on I dare you. 

[John_Flynn]

I dare you

[Martin S]

Dennis,

I dare you too.   

[Dennis]

Now look what you've done!



 

[John_Flynn]

"Mine eyes have seen The Glory of the coming of the Lord"

[Mike Roper]

It's quite simple if you don't want religious callers to knock on your door ask them kindly not to do so in the future and they will make anote of it and not do so .
Mike

[John_Flynn]

I have done that in the past and then different people from the same sect come back later.

[Steve Weatherley]

I wonder how many of those who use this forum have complained in the past of door to door salesmen and then gone and done it themselves?

Personally I only cold call on businesses.

[spindle]

a few years ago on xmas day.............there was a knock at the door.............my dad answered.......still wearing dressing gown an slippers......it was a religious
group who do not embrace the spirit of xmas.......my dad unpolitly told them to
GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!

[John_Flynn]

Thought that only happened to me !!

[Paul Phillips]

I use a cold-call strategy to target small villages and the more affluent type of home. I also ALWAYS take note of any signs/stickers on door and respect the wishes of the householder.

Now here's a funny story. I was in a little village in the cotswolds last week doing some knocking. Went to a house that had a no-cold callers sticker on the door, so respected their wishes and walked away.
Went to next house and had a chat with the neighbour. Not immediately interested, but left info and card and started to walk away.
Was then approached by a lady from the 'no-cold callers' house who asked why I had not knocked.

I explained that I was just respecting their privacy and the sticker on the door etc. She then looked quite shocked and asked what I was doing. Explained about myself and company and how I was just enquiring etc etc.........

Got a cup of tea, a very pleasant conversation about my services etc and went back about 1 hour later and quoted for the entire house.
Doing the job tomorrow!

Asked Madam why, when they have the sticker - Response - She was impressed that I respected her wishes and gave me a some of her time. Respecting the privacy built the trust.

Moral of the story? Respect peoples wishes, one day it will help you out.

I NEVER knock on a door with anything resembling a no-sales type notice, never walk across grass, never direspect anyones house, basically be a nice person, approachable etc and if they say No, smile and walk away with a thank you!

[John_Flynn]

Hey Paul

So you are the one that leaves the gate open!!.

[Simon Green]

hey can anybody give me any idea of the success rate of cold calling for a domestic cleaning sevice. I done some door to door sales in past so i not that bad at it.

[Paul Phillips]

I get about 15 - 20% on door knocking.
Although it does depend on the type of area.

Look for the more affluent areas, places where people have money and will look to be getting someone in to carry out a service that they could probably do themselves, but want someone to take it off their hands.

Build the trust and you will get jobs

[Eddie Conroy]

Doorstep selling is by definition trying to sell goods and services at the time of unsolicited calling. There are some laws covering cooling off periods and it is possible that a larger clean job could not be carried out for a period of 7/14 days if an agreement is reached. Relatives of some older residents may sometime get involved because they may feel that they are vunerable and may have entered into an unwise commitment.
Giving information though, is not selling, although it may lead to a process where a sale is made.
I like cold calling in my local area and normally just point out ,when I hand my leaflet, that I  am a local tradesman and would be grateful for the opportunity to give a quotation if they ever consider carpet or upholstery cleaning in the future.
If interest is shown then I try to make an appointment for a later date and confirm the quotation in writing using a standard template and a NCCA form. I inform that that they are able to change their minds at any time. On occasions I have quoted ther and then using the NCCA form, but I always follow up with the formal quote/method statement
For me Cold calling is giving good results. with work obtained directly and classing referrals from jobs I have cold called I am nearly 2% (2 in a hundred). But this is measured on a very small number of leaflets distributed
Eddie