[Mack's Window Cleaning]

  Today was my first day of leafleting / canvassing. After about two hours of dropping leaflets in letterboxes, I saw a light on in the hallway of a house so I thought I would go for it and try my pitch. When the door opened, I was
greeted by a lady of retirement age, very stern and suspicious looking, and before I could end my introduction, I was told "no, shoo, shoo!!!" And just like that, she was gone! Still trying to grasp what had happened I turned around, and with card still in my outreached hand, and vacantly walked away...(everybody Awww!) That was my first official interaction with a potential customer! It really knocked the wind out of me if I'm honest. The only way is up I guess. I've always been told I have a friendly and outgoing personality, so I may have to grow a thick skin fast, otherwise I might as well give up before I have even started I guess!
Any other Newbies got any stories about when they started out, good or bad?

[daniel worgan]

Never been treated like that and i can well guess that would knock your confidence,but as you said the only way is up.
Keep knocking those doors,when the first new customer gives you that magic YES then you will feel a lot better and you will soon have a book full of work.
Good luck.

[jonnyald]

you know how it is -you knock on the door then theres a long pause . you gaze around and notice the frames are rotten  and just realize you are onto a loser . then a curtain twitches and a creature from the black lagoon glares out at  you !   guess weve all been there and dunnit 

[daz1977]

i was handing ot leaflets yesterday, and there was a bloke just stood in the drive, so i asked him, was this is house  and snapped at me   i wouldnt be stood here other wise would i,   so handed him a leaflet and he just ripped it u in front of me,  so i said to him no probs, u probably couldnt afford it any way looking at ur house   have a nice day and just walked away.


its there lose mate

[ringo1968]

Today was my first day of leafleting / canvassing. After about two hours of dropping leaflets in letterboxes, I saw a light on in the hallway of a house so I thought I would go for it and try my pitch. When the door opened, I was
greeted by a lady of retirement age, very stern and suspicious looking, and before I could end my introduction, I was told "no, shoo, shoo!!!" And just like that, she was gone! Still trying to grasp what had happened I turned around, and with card still in my outreached hand, and vacantly walked away...(everybody Awww!) That was my first official interaction with a potential customer! It really knocked the wind out of me if I'm honest. 

    You will possibly get the odd (in every way) mentalist like this but mostly you will be greeted politely with "no thanks" or "we already have a window cleaner" !!!

[woody1]

when i get a response like that i say ok no problem have crap window mate and walk off, and when people snap saying they have a window cleaner i say thats fine if your happy with a poope window cleaner working for beer money that gets there back i smile off i go and hope to get the next door house so she see me every month and i always make a point off saying hello every time they see you, you can see they want to push you off your ladders it is great

[weetot]

Just let it go straight over your head mate.....

2 things to remember in this game.

1. Heart like a lion.
2. Skin like a rhino.

It dont matter which way they are put in order, just remember it for the future.

iwitot. 

[Steve_c]

It seems to me to be a south thing. People on the whole are just rude and pig ignorant and up their own backsides. I come from London and have moved to Milton Keynes and now for the past 11 years Andover. The older Londoners seemed genuine,  in Milton Keynes were you had about 70% London over spill the people seemed OK especially the northerners that moved there. In Andover it's a right old mixture Londoners, local, and Military so those people are from all over. In my own canvasing experience Local= Rude but some are really nice,(no in between) Londoners = Mix some rude some OK Military = the best people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. So mate grow a thick skin because in the south on the whole people are Sh**. Sorry Rant over!

[amayze]

I was told by my wife that the mother of a friend at work wanted her windows cleaned. I was told she was expecting me, and that I had to speak very clearly, moving my lips slowly as she was deaf. My wife told me she lived at 120.

The day came, I knocked at the door, which was greeted by an old lady with what looked like a fresh dressing on an amputated arm just below the elbow. Poor cow I thought, deaf and lost an arm .......turns out it was the wrong house ! My missus had read the text on her friend wrong, it should have been 128 !

[tom2009]

Today was my first day of leafleting / canvassing. After about two hours of dropping leaflets in letterboxes, I saw a light on in the hallway of a house so I thought I would go for it and try my pitch. When the door opened, I was
greeted by a lady of retirement age, very stern and suspicious looking, and before I could end my introduction, I was told "no, shoo, shoo!!!"

Did she have her teeth in? They can be a bit scary them old ladies when their nashers start flashing

[david watts]

one told me the other day; your sacked got some one else you havent been for weeks
so i said have you not noticed ice snow about? gave a bit of lip so i told her straight
talk to the hand] thing is a lot of newbys starting up at mo taking all the crap off my hands
you have to roll with the punches

[Ian Mason]

Hi,

When you get a rude reply, why don`t say, "I should have listened to the advice from your neighbours, because they said you were like this, & that you would not be able to afford a window cleaner anyway". 

[Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle]

if you dont laugh, you cry.

keep on laughing 

[Londoner]

Don't even think about it, water off a ducks back. Just laugh and move on to the next house.

Years ago at Kodak I used to work with a Sikh bloke called Mohan, he sold double glazing door to door in his spare time. Can you imagine the abuse he got? He taught me a lot about door to door knocking.

[John Walker]

People like that are doing you a favour - do you really want to clean their windows - they will probably complain at every opportunity. 

Treat it like an automatic  'nasty person filter'.   

I don't know you so this isn't personal but do make sure you look very presentable when door knocking - shaved - hair washed - uniform or tidy clothes - shoes/boots polished.

[windowinfo]

Good afternoon all!

the best advice i can offer to anyone after my expirence of door knocking is to have a
"POSATIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE" I spent 2 years as a door canvassing manager for a large double glazing firm with very good results during this time. and gained a wealth of expireance and your mind set is by far the most important thing as well as your personal appearance,
 a person will make a judgement of you within the first few seconds of seeing you so make it count!!
   * BE SMART       ( gives a good impression of you and your bussiness)
   * SMILE             ( you will be accepted more freely)
   * BE RESPECTFULL OF PROPERTY     (ie use pathways not lawns)
   * POLITE           (why put their back up before youve started?)
   * AND TO THE POINT   (bullsh*t dose not baffel brains)
   * DELIVERY        ( have a leaflet to offer services that her current wc cannot offer)
   * PERSSISTANCE  ( the hardest door to open is the car door, get out and get on with it)

you will meet some lovely people who will end up your loyal customers !  BUT there will be the odd 1 in 100 that has to take the "TWAT AWARD" ...
  GOOD LUCK BOYS NOBODY WILL DO IT TOR YOU  ( NOT FOR FREE ANYWAY )

[Bill1903]

I once handed a leaflet to a chap on his drive.
He didnt look at it and put it straight in the bin.
I lost my rag with him and made him get me the leaflet back out of the bin for me
Called him a few names aswell which was a bit daft with my van parked nearby fully sign written.
I wouldnt do this again like as its not very professional

[martinsadie]

I once handed a leaflet to a chap on his drive.
He didnt look at it and put it straight in the bin.

i do this all the time shopping in Manchester,they get paid for handing them out not for me reading them so im helping them earn a wage 

[G Griffin]

I once handed a leaflet to a chap on his drive.
He didnt look at it and put it straight in the bin.
I lost my rag with him and made him get me the leaflet back out of the bin for me
Called him a few names aswell which was a bit daft with my van parked nearby fully sign written.
I wouldnt do this again like as its not very professional

  did you get hold of his ear and walk him to the bin.

[Mack's Window Cleaning]

Thanks for all the replies, I have been cracking up at some of them! Looks like not I'm the only one!