No Soliciting

I'm seriously considering putting up a "no soliciting" sign. Do those things actually work?

I've hesitated about doing anything that drastic for years because I don't want to discourage my cute little neighbor kids with their school fundraisers and of course I need to buy Girl Scout Cookies. :) But I just get so tired of those random rude salespeople that refuse to get off my porch until I slam a door in their faces.

OK, maybe I'm not that mean. But sometimes I think I should be.

So today I was working on the computer when the doorbell rang. My little ones are off track so all four of them immediately ran for the door. "Mom! Door!" Scout yelled, but I was already halfway across the office, heading in that direction. The kids had quickly backed away from the stranger and his half-used bottle of cleaner, and he wisely kept his distance until I appeared in the doorway.

This one was easy, I thought. I only bought stuff from the "cleaner" guys one time. They had this amazing product that took oil off my driveway and tarnish from my door knocker. I shelled out over fifty bucks when we could hardly afford to buy milk! Yeah, that salesman was long gone when I discovered that my "magical formula" was nothing more than tap water.

I was so disappointed! And annoyed... those guys would never get my hard-earned money again.

I tried to get rid of this guy politely, after all, he is not the one who scammed me a dozen years ago, but he just kept asking stupid questions and no matter how nicely I declined, he still stood at my door.

I finally but firmly told him, "I don't like cleaning that much anyway." I started to shut the door, but he put a hand against it to give me his parting shot. With a nasty grin he confirmed, "Yeah, I can tell!"

Even sharing this story with all of you makes me angry all over again. He had no right to judge me just because I wouldn't buy his worthless cleaner...

Now where can I find me one of those signs?