Door-to-door alert: “Earning points” solicitor in Highland Park

| Door-to-door alert | High Point | West Seattle news

WSB’er “Datamuse” sends along this solicitor sighting:

I didn’t get a lot of details–this kid interrupted me at work and I just wanted to get rid of him–but his pitch reminded me of the “points for college” story that’s appeared on the blog a couple of times. I didn’t let him get as far as what he was selling, but he claimed to be a student (did not say from which school) who was earning points for a trip to Europe.

He did have some sort of credential, but it definitely wasn’t a license and if it was instead supposed to be agent identification, it didn’t have his name.

This was in Highland Park around 3pm, Sunday July 19.

It may well have been legit–anything may well be legit–but it surely triggered my scam reflex. Lots of fast talking, unnecessary detail, and flattery.

Here’s the Seattle city code regarding solicitors – they have to have and display a license, among other requirements. (Reminder that we share door-to-door reports to facilitate neighbors discerning who’s legit and who’s not.)

mike July 19, 2009 (7:57 pm)

Yesterday there was a teen that was selling Seattle Times subscriptions by Schmitz Elementary, but his tactics were far from professional.

Aaron July 20, 2009 (11:24 am)

I had a kid stop by my neighborhood last week selling Seattle Times subscriptions he seemed legit and very professional. I live on 16th near South Seattle Community College. Said papers would start last Friday but I have yet to see one we will see what happens.

Mike July 20, 2009 (11:57 am)

A person stopped by my place yesterday as well. It was a female that stopped by my place in Highland Park. They tried asking me some questions about where me and my wife worked and then to sell or get donations for books (which earned them points). Whole thing felt a little fishy so I got rid of them as quick as I could. They did have a badge (though it wouldn’t have been hard to fake it with photoshop).

sam July 20, 2009 (12:55 pm)

Aaron- the same kid stopped by our house too. he was professional as in he was well-dressed and spoke respectfully.
However, his pitch and legitimacy was hard to determine. all he had was an address list and printed google map of the area. no badges or anything.

his pitch started out with “hi I’m taking over the paper route, and I’d like to know where you’d like your paper delivered (front porch, sidewalk, etc.).” I told him we didn’t have a subscription to the paper, and I had to tell him this 3+ times before he explained Seattle Times was trying to improve Sunday subscriptions by offering free papers on weekdays- and wanted to know if I’d like to sign up.

I half thought he was casing the place but I wasn’t sure.

dale July 20, 2009 (3:45 pm)

Man just came by and was trying to earn “points” by selling magazines. I asked if we could do it online and he said no and the only way was through him. I dont like doing things that way and was wondering if it was legit. He asked what I did for a living and was very nice but would still like to know what the story is about them if anyone can tell us. I live by Bonair and on quiet dead end street. We have had cars broken into in our neighborhood and cars stolen out of neighbors driveway.

datamuse July 20, 2009 (4:43 pm)

I’m quite sure this kid wasn’t from the Times, and reasonably certain that that wasn’t what he was peddling–though like I said in my e-mail to WSB, I didn’t let him get that far in his pitch. Mike’s and Dale’s experiences sound very similar.
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I work in a library so, you know, there’s not much point in my subscribing to things individually anyway, but the experience felt a bit like walking onto a used-car lot–the kind where you suspect the salesman has just kicked something important out of sight under the car you’re looking at.

Sorry, comment time is over.