Someone along our housing row was obviously getting some double-glazing done, so the contractor decided to see if he could sell some to the neighbours.
I answered the door and could see he was about to try and sell me something, so when he asked if our house was owned or rented, I lied and said we rented. It made him go away quicker and he didn't try to sell me anything, although did ask me to pass a leaflet something to a fictional landlord.
Should I feel bad that I did that?
2007-07-10 02:45:43 · 33 answers · asked by Devolution 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
To people saying I should feel silly for feeling bad about this or not being straightforward:
I don't lie very often because I get a conscience when I do. I would normally say "I don't want any" - I have done in the past - but I'm already annoyed today because I've sprained my ankle yet again, so I was not in the mood to deal with someone who could easily be persistant.
2007-07-10 02:52:05 · update #1
Hell no!! I say all sorts to people who come to my home trying to sell me things. You were actually quite polite I would have told him to sling his hook! :-)
2007-07-10 02:48:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think you were quite charming. He was already in the area having been contracted by a neighbor so took the opportunity to canvass the area, after all, he is a human being and needs to feed his kids too. Imagine how he feels if he was just a decent bloke trying to earn a crust and he gets a mouthful of abuse. Some of them deserve it I know, but what if he was one of the decent ones? Instead, you gently put him off by placing an insurmountable object in his path, you said you rented. That way you could both remain civil and no-one's feelings were hurt. I would say that he must have been a fairly decent chap for giving you the option, after all, it was he who asked if you were the owner or a renter. And you were a decent person for taking the less painful option. He probably respects you for not wasting his time or abusing him, and you should be grateful to him for not abusing your patience. No, you didn't do anything wrong at all. You behaved like a perfectly civil, courteous and sensitive human being.
2007-07-10 07:44:10 · answer #2 · answered by Tom G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do the same thing. I find the people that try to sell me stuff by going door to door are often very pushy. Just last week, I had someone of a certain religous affiliation (not gonna say which one) give me a pamphlet about how I need to be saved and I can go to a free conference in the next state over. I politely said that I wasn't interested but she insisted I take the paper. I firmly said no thank you, but then she went off the handle and told me I was damned and that I needed to be saved. She didn't even know me! I tried to be nice, but I ended up shutting the door in her face and she put her pamphlet under my door mat.
2007-07-10 03:28:57 · answer #3 · answered by Phoenixsong 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know what you mean - I hate to lie, too, even if it is only a 'white lie' for a 'good reason'.
Having said that - guilt is a useless emotion. Short of looking the guy up and apologising for lying to him, there is nothing you can do. If you are sorry, be sorry, take some time to come up with a better response, and move on.
I find that if no thank you doesn't work, "Get away from my door before I call the police/my dog/my boyfriend" usually works a treat!!
2007-07-10 02:59:12 · answer #4 · answered by Becki B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it was bad of you at all. Personally I am getting so sick of people trying to sell me something. It's become an epidemic with the phone ringing constantly, people at the door, junk mail. Give me a frigging break. With today's technology, if I want to buy something I know where to look for it thank you very much.
We once had a problem with Jehovah witnesses knocking on our door early in the morning on weekends. Finally, my hubby answered the door naked and told them to fire away. They never came back.
2007-07-10 03:13:22 · answer #5 · answered by shandi232000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've told telemarketers my dad was in jail before. I've lied and said that I rent my home from a company outside of the US, it's all very normal. I think sometime it can even be fun haha. Don't feel bad about it, but try to remember next time you always have the option to say, " thanks, I'm not interested" and shut the door. It is after all, your house =)
2007-07-10 02:52:32 · answer #6 · answered by Saoirse 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not at all. You were polite, but gave an answer that will discourage him and other tradesman that he may speak to from bothering you again.
In addition if I did need double glazing or some such, I would use a contractor recommended to me by a friend or trade association.
2007-07-10 02:51:49 · answer #7 · answered by Lucy W 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not.....door to door sales people canbe a real pain (it's what they are trained to do)!! I wouldn't feel bad about telling a little white lie as you did. If you do not care for sales people knocking on your door you can easily aviod this by getting a small no soliciting sing and putting it somewhere near your front door. Other than that I dont feel that you should feel guilty for something sos innocent as that.....did anyone get hurt?!? Then just let it go.
2007-07-10 02:51:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not understand how a stranger can come to your door and ask you if you own or rent your home. NONE OF HIS BUSINESS.
This happens to me when I do yard work. I won't let them past the gate. That is what I tell them "none of your business" and turn my back.
Feel bad . . . . . NO. If you feel you owe him an explanation then you did the right thing by expiditing the leech as quickly as possible.
He is not an invited guest or neighbour. He is intruding on your privacy and your home.
2007-07-10 03:38:25 · answer #9 · answered by Pacifica 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you asking if it was OK to tell a lie,
Everyone tells lies, Imagine if we ever told the truth for one day, it could cause us financial ruin.
(example) boss asks you if you worked hard today,? wife , does this look fat on me?
police asks how fast were you driving? son asks dad did you ever do something against the law when you were a boy?
we lie and think nothing of it,
the person you told that lie,
was just fishing for more work, you didn't lie you just brushed him off.
no big deal. we all do it
2007-07-10 02:57:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should never feel bad about lying to someone who solicits your house. You probably could have just told him the truth and said you weren't interested. But, no, I don't think you should feel bad. If I were you, I wouldn't have even answered the door!
2007-07-10 03:07:15 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋