Etiquette RE: Soliciting

Polite and Abrupt are the Watchwords

Alison Green takes a question from someone who works from home about fending off door-to-door solicitors.

The questioner has the right idea about ending the interaction quickly and politely, except that he isn't being quite selfish enough.

Although Green didn't put it that way, her answer does contain the perfect thing to do and reasoning that has the right implicit premise:

You're being far more accommodating than you need to (or should be). People who show up randomly at your door are not owed access to you; you decide how much of your time you're willing to give them, and you don't need to give more because they want it (or any at all, for that matter).

It's really okay to just say, "No, thank you" and close the door. Truly. Say it politely, but you're not required to let them control your time. You've delivered the essential information -- that you're not interested...

Green also suggests that a No Soliciting sign would probably head off most of the problem.

I have long hewed to this approach, and have been known to impress neighbors with it.

Similarly, one can offer a quick No thanks! without breaking one's stride when accosted by pushy salesmen when leaving a place of business, or even while shopping. (Walmart, I'm looking at you and the salesmen you let set up shop near your electronics section.)

-- CAV