Outlaw telemarketing and door to door sales?

Question

I think both of these selling methods should be put to an end. First telemarketing as well as door to door is a huge invasion of your privacy. I personally become very angry when people come to my door to sell me something. Even if it was something I was about to get into the car and buy that very second I wouldn't buy it at my front door. Now telemarketers when someone calls you. You have no idea who this person really is and i'm not giving personal info. like credit card and address over the phone. Hello identiy stolen. Do people think its time to end this means of selling and harassing people in there homes?

Someone added a good point. Junk mail needs to go too. But the military on it :) And yes there is a difference between junk mail and door to door I can filter junk mail. and delete my account. Also to remove a pushy door to door salesmen requries you to get nasty. Junk mail doesn't give me lip.

Answer 1

I completely agree. I have put my phone number on the Do Not Call List and that helps alot but it does not help against accounts you already have. I also put a big "No Solicitation" sign by my front door but I don't think most people know what that means. I just stopped answering the door if I don't know you.

Answer 2

I believe saying that it is an invasion of your privacy is an excuse for something more really.. AND,....I actually think that we should open up a telemarketing protection agency because of how messy people get over the phones. I’m telemarketer for Bank of America (aren’t a few people gonna faint at this point) you act like were a totally different race, when we are humans, humans that make money on how much they can sell. We don't make a buck until we sell it to you, that’s our job, and someone has got to do it. Number one, telemarketers, if they are from a legitimate company (like Bank Of America) they are aloud to offer you to give out more personal information (like Social Security) in the mail - or partial information over the phone...we understand with all those scams now-a-days, that you don't feel very savvy in trusting someone over the phone, so we try to make it as easy and secure as possible for you. That shouldn't even be an issue since they offer that. Number two, we disclose who we are, if a telemarketer calls you and doesn't disclose their full name right away, they probably not a telemarketer, because by law we need to disclose our full identity to protect our company. Number three though, What I don't understand, is why most people act like they don't have five minutes to listen to a telemarketer, and make a decision based on the products and all that wonderful stuff.. Isn't it fair enough, to have someone spend their energy, their hopes, and all that good stuff attempting to tell you the finer points on their product, then you making an honest and thoughtful decision on it? I believe its pretty darn fair, I mean for example, I work with credit cards, and honestly, applying for a credit card and receiving it is free, your the one has total control on how you use and spend your credit. If I’m looking for credit, and suddenly someone calls me because they found I was interested (or more likely matched the pre-qualification criteria) in receiving a credit card, I'd be excited to find out what they are offering, of course, me personally who has had some experience with phone scams (but in Africa...) would much rather prefer only giving partial information, still Sometimes you gotta think...its that convenient! We help you fill out your credit card application, and answer any questions you may have along the way, plus its also faster, and much more secure now, (especially since we can take partial information) I don't know about door to door sales since I haven't ever remembered anyone selling us something at the door that didn't involve changing religions...or candy, but that’s the reason they developed these ways of selling you know, to get people like you who close their minds to everything else and won't give anything else a chance unless really, maybe even severely pushed into the idea. Sales people really do have a tough job, because their living, their income, most all their life is riding on each person that decides to buy the product or not, do you know the thousands of people who would be out of work if telemarketing, or other forms of aggressive sales positions just suddenly stopped one day? Much much more than thousands... Not only does this provide jobs for people, but it allows many people who would never become customers any other way except having someone who is a good presenter --- present the product to the potential customer more aggressively, so it helps a company prosper, if you owned a company that depended on the amount of buyers wouldn't you want to make money too? If you were a sales person who had to sell stuff for a living, wouldn't you want the other person to just at least consider the product too? Sometimes its easier to see the point of the other person when you look through their glasses and see, sales people are like everyone else, everyone wants to make money, what’s wrong with that? Why end something that provides thousands if not millions of jobs to people?

Quote from a favorite website on telemarketing, link will be listed below

"People who will be selling or serving by phone must be convinced that selling is an honorable, necessary profession, and that if no one sells anything, nothing happens. Businesses can only survive by making their products or services known and understood through the efforts of their sales staff. Consultative selling actually provides a needed and wanted service to all types of consumers and businesses worldwide."

Answer 3

How is someone knocking on your door to offer to sell you something any more an invasion of your privacy than junk mail? Do you want to stop the girl scouts from selling cookies door to door? as far as telemarketing if you don't want it then get on the no call list.

Answer 4

I'm ok w/ banning telemarketing and door-to-door; in some places they already are banned and of course there are things you can do to cut down on that stuff.

The thing that gripes me about the current Do not call list, is politicians and charities are exempt. So even though we don't answer calls unless we recognize the caller ID, last election they still filled up our voicemail with long annoying messages.

Mail, I actually like to get it, sure there's a lot of coupons and stuff I never use, but my wife likes them.

I personally subscribe to many biz magazines which means I get lots of related offers like professional conferences, training, software, etc, which I don't mind at all because it helps me keep up with things.

Worst case is I toss it in the recycle bin, no big deal.

Answer 5

absolutely not.... Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and a host of other service organizations raise money selling door-to-door. That is the BEST way to earn money for those purposes. Almost NO companies sell door-to-door any more. No return on it.

I dislike telemarketers, too, but you can get on the no-call list and they will drop way off.

I work in direct sales via referral, but would never call anyone without permission.

What I wish is that some companies who can legally call you because you have a relatioship with them - like your credit-card company - would make it easier to tell them to stop calling you.

Answer 6

Defenitely,

The problem is that people are obviously buying stuff otherwise they would be gone. Until everyone is on board with that, than they will continue. Anyone who gives info to a telemarketer is an idiot.

Answer 7

to me this is a means of harassment because they will not give up until you buy something or get rude with them and i do not like getting rude with anyone. So there should be a law banning these sort of dealings

Answer 8

Door to Door should stay and they don't invades privacy unless you want them to break in your house.

Answer 9

good idea!