Self Starters, Inc going door to door selling magazines? archived

oy...there is a whole thread about these sellers. please DO NOT buy anything from them and maybe they will go away!

I haven't seen the other thread, but PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANYTHING from these con artists. It is a total scam. Someone came to my neighborhood about 1 1/2 years ago -- different name of group, but same shpiel. I was totally taken in as were several of my neighbors. They get you involved because most people genuinely want to help others who talk about rebuilding their life, etc. The "seller" asked me for advice -- what should she do to achieve success? What did I think was the most important thing she could do to change her life?

I only purchased one magazine for a cost of about $40 a year; others bought in for $100 or more. Not one of us ever received anything. There was no phone number to call on the form -- which I kept -- but there is a fax number. We faxed to say that we would be contacting a lawyer, because to me this was REALLY about the principle, not as much the money, because they prey on your good nature and willingness to help them. Someone then called back and left a message on our VM to say they had been having some problems and the mailings were delayed but would be coming. Of course, nothing ever did come.

If your experience was anything like what I have described, please don't fall for it. Personally, I don't think they'll go away until someone tracks them down and puts them in jail. But who has the time .... But then that's what they count on.

We ended up getting our Architectural Digest after we called the organization a couple of years ago. Not sure they deserve to go to jail.

We had someone come to our door Thursday night w/ the 'could you give me pointers on how I present myself' pitch, too. I didn't let her in because it was late & bedtime for the kids- thanks for the 'heads up'.

These people likely do not have a permit to solicit door to door. Call the police and they will be issued summonses and ordered to leave MW.

Check out the thread on South Orange Specific. They were here the other night and I did ask for the permit. The young woman had a great lie about it, and I called her bluff and called MPD to check. She seemed to walk away from our house when she saw me on the phone.

She even made a point of telling me that she knows the police station is across the street from the library (not quite) and why would she know that if she didn't have permission?

I don't even answer the door anymore. It rings, I go look out the window. If I do not know them I do not answer the door. period.

These door-to-door scams prey on runaway teens. They're not at all legitimate. Here's a link from the FTC about reporting the scams (scroll down for the door-to-door variety) http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel03.shtm
and here's perhaps everything you would ever want to know about the scam:
http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/

We had a thoroughly unpleasant experience two summers ago with a young woman from one of these crews who came up to the door & started cursing me out when I said "no, thank you." I saw her three doors down looking in the window of another house (I knew the neighbors were away) and called the cops.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31684484/ns/business-consumer_news//

It happened to me too. I wish I could help but I didn't buy anything eventually because I don't like to be pressured to do anything. But they want you on the spot.

Posted By: james hetfieldI don't even answer the door anymore. It rings, I go look out the window. If I do not know them I do not answer the door. period.

same here.

I had a frightening experience with this group earlier this week. A girl came to the door and began to give me her story of "being given the opportunity to develop her business skills" all the while biting and chewing a granola bar. When I told her I was about to leave for an appointment she just kept talking. I had to close the door in her face, she wouldn't leave my stoop. She mumbled F..ng bitch as my door closed. The next evening, a young man came to the door, same story. This time I told him someone from his organization had been to my door the day before and I was not interested. He actually said something to the effect of...Well one of us will continue to come to your door until you hear us out. I told him that I would be contacting the police if they did. That night, any noise woke me or kept me up.

I don't even give them a chance to speak. I keep the door closed and yell out not interested and walk away. I have told my wife and kids never to open the door to someone you do not know. I never have and never will

Posted By: Oldstone

Posted By: james hetfieldI don't even answer the door anymore. It rings, I go look out the window. If I do not know them I do not answer the door. period.

same here.

Make that three.

I had two people come to my door with the same pitch. I said I wasn't interested.

I would like to hear from someone on the township committee why this is allowed. I had a very well-spoken young woman bang so loudly on my porch door that I thought the glass would break. Consequently, I had to answer the door. She told about herself,how she was working hard and then wanted to know what I had done at her age. She proceded to tell me what my neighbors had done betwen the ages of 20 and 25. She even remembered their names - a smart girl. Then she wanted to shake my hand and waited for me to unlock the porch door. Somehow I felt I had to do this. I thought if I don't perhaps somebody may break into my house. I guess that's silly but I had that feeling.No magazine subscription was mentioned. She just wanted donations for some unknown organization. We shouldn't have to put up with this.

I was thinking about putting up several signs:

1. beware of dog
2. no soliciting. police will be notified immediately.

I just don't answer the door. Heck, I wouldn't answer the phone if I didn't have caller ID.

Dave, I usually don't either, but sometimes they see in the house and do not stop banging until you acknowledge them.

"I would like to hear from someone on the township committee why this is allowed."

Commercial free speech under the First Amendment. Constitutionally permissible to leave pamphlets, solicit, etc. Town Committee can do nothing about it for the most part.

Posted By: shhDave, I usually don't either, but sometimes they see in the house and do not stop banging until you acknowledge them.

First you acknowledge them. Then you say "go away." If they persist, tell them you're calling the police. If they still persist, call the police.

What ever happened to laws against trespassing? I don't think anybody has a constitutionally protected right to harass you at your own door, particularly if you have made it clear they are not welcome.

I was visited twice in the past two weeks. And I think I need to change my habit of opening the door without looking outside first. Too bad, it's like living back in the city.

The strange thing was they said they were from different states that were dropped off on the street to walk different neighborhoods. And it was unsettling to see how their eyes peeked into my house when I first opened the door. I stepped out and listened to the first guy's whole story but declined to sign up for anything. The second guy was surprised to hear I was visited already.

After they left my property, the police showed up all of a sudden and had a long talk with them (the second guy and a female, both look like in their teens). Not sure what happened after that.

I don't feel threatened throughout the whole thing. But the sad thing is that they are using their talent at the wrong place. I wasn't half as articulate when I was his age. If those two young men I met could turn around and really put their talent into something positive, I bet they could be very successful.

I have had young teens selling items ranging from candy to first aid kits, all priced at $8.00. I can't remember exactly the name of the organization but had to do with Youth Group. Anyway, each time I was told that they needed just 3 more sales to meet their quota. Has anyone else had them come to their door? It has been in the past 4 months. There was another visit but I was able to dodge b/c I was just about to pull into my drive way, I circled the area until they were gone. Also there was a van waiting to p/u the teens.

As my front door has a large window next to it, I am often unable to hide from these people. I don't care anymore if they see me, I am not answerign the door.

This has plagued us in our sleepy little hamlet in Westchester since we moved into our cute little house in 2003. It happens about 2 times a week, despite the "no solicitors" sign I finally felt forced to put up. The first kid, back in 2003, charmed me and my husband into giving him 60 dollars, which is what I would now call a "stupid tax." After that, I put out the sign, which most of them seem to ignore or fail to comprehend. The worst is when I have my front door open and just the screen door closed, and they come up and ring while at the same time saying "hello?" My dog goes ape#$%* and usually all the ruckus wakes up a sleeping toddler. I am always polite but firm and say, "I'm sorry but I am not going to open the door. I do not accept any type of solicitation." They usually apologize and leave. The snarling dog makes them glad to do so. I feel bad for them. They are usually young kids, but one older guy looked like he was covered in prison tatts and when I told him "no thank you," he said in a very sarcastic voice, "Well ma'am I hope you have a MOST blessed and wonderful day." It scared me. I must say that he was nowhere NEAR as scary as the NYPIRG guy who banged on my door at 8:30 one night, in the pouring rain, dressed all in black (looked like he was out to burgle) and trying to get me to open the door. That guy yelled at me, saying "surely you can give NYPIRG some money! You have a nice car." I called the cops after I finally got him to go away, but he came back and did a "ring-and-run" at 10 pm. I saw him leaving my porch. NYPIRG guys are kinda militant.

Believe it or not, since I placed a "no soliciting" sign on my front door, actually it's a small thing made from a label making machine, I've not had one solicitor/sales person. Not even the gussied- up Jehovah's Witness ladies with their big pocketbooks dare ring my bell. It's a MIRACLE, I tell you! Can I get an "AMEN"???

ajetreo, what's NYPIRG?

NYPIRG = New York Public Interest Group. When I lived in Westchester they were ubiquitous. I never had a run in with them though, just told them I wouldn't be participating.

Some years ago I too had an altercation with a NYPRIG guy. It was late and raining, certainly past 8. I had just gotten my 2 1/2 year old to bed and being very pregnant was going to do the same. Long story short, he saw my in the window and I did not come quickly to the door, as I had no intention of opening it. But he just lingered, I felt forced and nervous, but thought it would be better to just get him off the porch since he had seen me. When I finally opened the door he seemed annoyed. Then I told him I was not interested he got very agitated, raising his voice. Simply put I was scared. So scared I called the cops, but as I recall he was long gone.

I am putting a sign up on my front door!

I actually got a job with COPIRG when I was in college in Boulder, CO, and it was the most awful (work)week of my life. I quit very quickly. A few years ago, I made the mistake when an NJPIRG kid came to our door of contributing. Since then, economic realities being what they are, we don't donate to them any more. But they are so persistent I just had to stop answering the door to avoid the conversation and guilt trip. At least the ones I've talked to in NJ are not quite as aggressive as the ones in NY seem to be! :shocked:

Well being as freaked out as I was, I called NYPIRG in NYC and talked to the guy in charge of sending out the canvassers. I told him my street and th etime it happened, etc., and he said "Oh, that was ________. He can be kind of militant." I told him that I had called the police and please never to send ________ to our neighborhood again, since I had actually reported him for a ring-and-run, apart from the badgering. I felt like the old biddy committee doing that, but seriously! Good thing he only came to little ol' Westchester, where all we do is report you to the authorities. Where I grew up, that kind of behavior will get you into some serious trouble.