Reader report: Going door-to-door in search of “royalty”?

Elizabeth wonders if anybody else had the same door-to-door visitor she had last night at 36th/Graham (map) – read on:

Last night around 6:00 I was interrupted by a loud knock on the door – a sassy rhythmic knock. I opened the door to a white male in his late 20s, who said to me in an East Coast accent, “Are you the king of the castle?” I replied, “What do you want, and what company are you with?” His response was, again, “Are you the king of the castle?” At this point I became annoyed and asked, “What are you selling and what do you want?” He flashed a green flyer, and said he was trying to win a contest. Again I asked, “What are you selling?” and he said, “You don’t have to cop an attitude with me.” I then said, “Not interested.” He said something unprofessional (that I don’t remember now) as I was shutting the door. I was suspicious of him from the moment I opened the door, and got a feeling he was up to no good. Did anyone else encounter this person?

As discussed after many previous door-to-door reports, the city code for “residential sales” requires licenses be carried and displayed, so you have a right to ask for one. Read the code here; you can find it any time in the Resources section at the bottom of the WSB Crime Watch page (not that door-to-door selling is a crime, but earlier this year, some would-be burglars did their casing door-to-door, so it’s as good a place as any to keep the info to help you tell whether someone is legit).

12 Replies to "Reader report: Going door-to-door in search of "royalty"?"

  • Dave November 9, 2008 (12:02 pm)

    Please report this to the police.

  • Arby November 9, 2008 (12:30 pm)

    We live at 37th & Brandon and had a visit last night from this same “salesman”. He was offering carpet cleaning services and did not want to take no for an answer. He was accompanied by a teenage African-American girl. They did not have sales licenses.

  • ERough November 9, 2008 (12:43 pm)

    We’re at 37th and Graham and we had the same guy show up here. However, with the two loud dogs behind me while I answered the door, he didn’t have a problem with me saying we were not interested.

  • Fre-D November 9, 2008 (1:02 pm)

    We also had someone offering carpet cleaning services – 29th & Raymond. He wasn’t too pushy, but he definitely didn’t like it when I said no.

  • Bonnie November 9, 2008 (1:23 pm)

    I need to go make sure my knocked down No Solicitors sign is put back up. Not that it would stop anybody.

  • DavidA November 9, 2008 (2:55 pm)

    I just got a knock on my door from a young black lady who was selling carpet cleaning services trying to win a contest. She was pushy but I refused. I watched her leave and she did not go to the neighbor next door like I figured she would. She talked very quickly, gestured with her hands a lot and wore fashionable thick framed black glasses.

  • WTF November 9, 2008 (5:56 pm)

    Report the incident to police and provide a description of the people. They are casing your house!!!!! HELLO people. For anyone who reads the crime watch blog knows very well what these people are up to. These guys are more than likely paid to provide information about you, your house and your surroundings. If someone comes to your know, you don’t know them, don’t open the door. If you do, make sure that they know that WILL NOT entertain then and to leave.

    I had the same experience (28th) two years ago. Let’s just say, when I told the guy know, he got pissed off at me. My tenaciousness kicked in and he knew exactly where I stood and encouraged him not to come back to my neighborhood, least of all my property.

  • smikes November 10, 2008 (7:36 am)

    I had a pushy salesperson a year ago (on 36th coincidentally). He was downright rude so I called the police and within 10 minutes they had located him and dealt with him. I called the police because of a few widows on my block who I figured wouldn’t be able to deal safely with his pressure and rude delivery. The police determined he didn’t have a business license and was antagonistic with other people as well. I was called by someone from the city a few months after and asked if I would be willing to appear in court if they decided to pursue the matter further. I said I would but never heard another word about it.

  • DLB November 10, 2008 (9:58 am)

    We had a similar incident next door to us on 37th and Brandon – two days after the “salesman” came on our block our next door neighbor was robbed sometime between 10am and 2pm while she was out. Same MO – carpet cleaning. I think on the form they get a lot of info and never come back with cleaning contract #2 to finish the deal.

  • Jessica November 10, 2008 (12:27 pm)

    Why are you even opening your doors to these people when all over the news are stories of people, our neighbors, being assaulted in their own homes? Snap a photo of these people through your window and send it to the police.

  • John November 11, 2008 (6:34 am)

    anyone seen a guy pretending to work for the cable company lately? My cable box was wide open when I got home yesterday, around 5000 block Delridge. Was someone pretending to work on cable while casing my house?

  • Katie November 15, 2008 (4:56 pm)

    Hey everyone. So I know exactly what you all are talking about. JWL Enterprises I’m assuming with the FREE vacuum and shampoo. It really isn’t a scam. I met two really nice girls that had just started the company. It was their first day “canvassing.” They were very real with me, never pushy once. I let them do a demo for me, and they gained points to their contest. Nothing fishy was going on, they just showed me their Kirby and shampooed a room. It was actually pretty cool. I do get what you guys are saying though.

Sorry, comment time is over.