West Seattle, Washington

24 Saturday

56℉

Door-to-door alert: Solicitors targeting Genesee

July 21, 2011 11:14 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Door-to-door alert | West Seattle news

Got two notes today/tonight about what sound like the same solicitors, who were the subject of a recent report, too – read on:

Susan wrote:

At 10:00 pm?

Genesee Hill.

Just had two women who would not take no come to my door at 10:00 pm with educational materials for kids. They acted surprised that I hadn’t heard about this from the other parents. I am assuming that there is not a neighborhood project about this going on?

How late can they come to my door before I can call the police?

James had written late this morning:

There are people going door to door in Genesee neighborhood. It’s the folks selling “early learning” material, asking about children in the neighborhood.

Came to my door at about 11:15, ignoring a “no solicitors” sign.

In both cases, city rules appear to have been violated – the ordinance says 9 pm is the cutoff for cold calls, and that “no solicitors” signs cannot be ignored.

Share This

30 Replies to "Door-to-door alert: Solicitors targeting Genesee"

  • Bill July 22, 2011 (12:19 am)

    We have a “No Solicitor” sign as well. Girl came by around 8 am other morning.

  • aw July 22, 2011 (4:36 am)

    Maybe if you invest in the early learning material, the next generation will know what soliciting is.

  • Robert July 22, 2011 (5:53 am)

    These two are shameless. They ignored 3 “no soliciting” signs up my walk and acted surprised that I was angry at them knocking at my door.

  • Perry July 22, 2011 (7:32 am)

    It is a violation of city law for any sales people to ignore a no soliciting sign. If they do, they have committed the criminal offense of trespassing. You can and should call the police each and every time this happens, as it will help discourage unwanted solicitors at your door.

  • ummm July 22, 2011 (8:02 am)

    Does anyone have a description of these women?

  • Stephanie July 22, 2011 (9:01 am)

    Had a woman and a man come to our house when I was not home, talked to our daughter who said we would be home shortly. We live at 38th and Genesse. Didn’t expect them to come back but they did (9:30pm). Selling that same educational material as previously mentioned. Lots of name dropping of other children/parents in the neighborhood. Kinda creepy. After their shpeel I said not thank you and then they asked if they could have a couple of granola bars for their trouble (weird).
    Didn’t know about the law as far as ignoring “No Soliciting” signs, but definitely going to post a few!!

  • steve July 22, 2011 (9:31 am)

    They were in my area last week. I noticed after they were gone that my “no soliciting” sign is gone. One woman was Asian, the other woman dark complexion–maybe pacific islander

  • west seattle steve July 22, 2011 (10:38 am)

    They’re in Admiral today.

  • Nick July 22, 2011 (12:37 pm)

    Anyone know where to get a “No Soliciting” sticker?

  • SJ July 22, 2011 (12:39 pm)

    They were at our house again last night, 2nd visit (Admiral) – they don’t seem dangerous, but are fairly aggressive sellers. Tried a couple of sales tricks… chatty with the kids, asked for a drink, we’re just learning/students/from out of town blah blah blah…

    The no soliciting sign is going up today.

  • 365Stairs July 22, 2011 (1:19 pm)

    Who do they represent? Is the organization legit (BBB?) and have they been contacted to register these complaints?

    The redflags of late times visited and persistence past posted signage is very concerning and need to be escalated if possible…

  • eileen July 22, 2011 (4:20 pm)

    I just had the same two steve described knock on my door. Thanks for all the heads up from everyone – told them not interested through the window- did not even open the door. Was odd they drove off in a white honda, like they had stopped and come directly to our house or had been watching for us since we just got home. Creepy.

  • breezygirl July 22, 2011 (4:25 pm)

    @Nick- I got a large black and neon orange one, similar to the ones people use to sale cars or post garage sales, at the junction true value a few years back. However you could always make one on your computer as well….

  • LM July 22, 2011 (5:03 pm)

    These two came by our house last night in previously described white Honda. I found them delightful, but was surprised that they knew we had been out of town and also knew which school our neighbor’s child was planning to attend. They led us to believe they knew which houses had kids and which did not. How did they get their info?

  • Karma July 22, 2011 (5:16 pm)

    These same two women came to my house (Genesee) yesterday, too, twice. Once (afternoon) I just ignored them and they went away. Then they came back around 9pm and I looked at them through the front window, shook my head no and made a frowny face, and they laughed and ran away.

    I thought 9pm seemed pretty late for solicitations. I really want to get a NO SOLICITATIONS sign, too. I didn’t know that it really made a difference…

  • B1723 July 22, 2011 (6:09 pm)

    I run a childcare out of my home and the lady and man came at 4:50pm. When I opened the door the lady asked if I was the mom I said no and she said good because u look too young. I thought that was very rude. I had parents coming to get kids so I said no thank. The lady kept talk so I asked if she had any paperwork on what she was selling. She said she did not and I had to get all the information I need from her.

  • Pokey July 22, 2011 (6:10 pm)

    As has been stated many times before in these type of columns, ask to see their i.d immediately. If they don’t have one, or don’t leave at your request, take a digi or phone pic of them. Then call 911 or at least the non-emergency number. Tell the dispatcher that you’re suspicious they are casing your house and neighborhood, esp late at night or very early in the a.m. Reference how many comments have been made in this regard on the blog.

    They are violating several ordinances here, especially when they ignore your ‘No Soliciting’ sign and show up after acceptable hours.

    So, what’s everyone waiting for? The inevitable break-in at your or your neighbor’s house? The reason they’re hanging around is that everyone’s being too nice to them. Turn ’em in. Otherwise you’re just sending them to other houses and encouraging them.

    This is no longer a legitimate way of doing business and should be made illegal by the city.

  • WS Suzanne July 23, 2011 (12:26 am)

    Re Pokey’s comment “This is no longer a legitimate way of doing business and should be made illegal by the city.” — I agree! Is contacting our City Council mmembers the best place to start? The Mayor’s office?

    • WSB July 23, 2011 (12:52 am)

      WS Suzanne – The City Council would be the ones to propose legislation. I would suggest you start with either Councilmember Mike O’Brien, whose committee includes Neighborhoods, or Councilmember Tim Burgess, whose committee includes Public Safety. Councilmembers’ contact information is at http://seattle.gov/council – You might also consider throwing the idea out as a question at a campaign forum (five city councilmembers are up for re-election this year). Next one in West Seattle is next Thursday night, 6:30 pm, Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College. – TR

  • nm98106 July 23, 2011 (12:32 am)

    I’m pretty sure this is what they are selling: http://www.skwids.com (I got a pamphlet). One of the young women came to my house in Highland Park at the end of June. She seemed nice and non-threatening but my gut had a bad feeling. It was 9 p.m. when she came by our house and I don’t have a No Solicitors sign but am putting one up tomorrow.

  • dancingcat July 23, 2011 (12:02 pm)

    Door to door no more!!!!!

  • WS Suzanne July 23, 2011 (12:33 pm)

    WSB — Thank you so much. I’ll ask for this in Thursday’s campaign forum at SSCC. If anyone else would like to encourage the councilmembers to consider proposing making door-to-door sales illegal, it would be great if there was more than one of us there.

  • McCoy July 23, 2011 (4:11 pm)

    Southwestern(referenced in the link) is a company that has been in business since 1855 doing door to door sales of educational materials. These are mostly college students. They are supposed to obtain any local solicitors license and are only allowed to go door to door between 8am and 9pm. If someone comes to your door outside of those hours, ask to see their license (not a bad idea for any soliciter- in fact they should offer to show it to you) then call the police if outside of those hours. If they come during the right times and have a license, they may actually have materials you would like. At least be nice, they are likely college students trying an entrepreneurial way of making money for college.

  • soosan July 23, 2011 (7:05 pm)

    Erm…check out the section titled “Controversy.”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_company

  • Hatmomma July 23, 2011 (9:22 pm)

    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_Ordinance

    Green River Ordinance is an ordinance that prohibits door to door solicitors. Named after Green River, Wyoming – the first city to enact such an ordinance. I’d support such a thing in Seattle.

  • Paul July 23, 2011 (10:54 pm)

    quit answering the door and maybe they will stop

  • No door to door solicitors for me July 23, 2011 (11:36 pm)

    Soosan’s wikipedia link lead me to this (bottom of page)–http://southwesterncompanytruth.com/ . Really eye-opening. Wretched working conditions for the poor kids trying to eke out a living, which sounds like it’s next to impossible at this company. Predatory selling is encouraged. Definitely not a company I would support. And the door to door approach is an automatic “no” under any circumstances for me.

    Incidentally, my homemade sign next to my doorbell reads: NO SOLICITORS. NO EXCEPTIONS in large letters (font size: 48 point). It’s been up for 4+ years and now I get maybe one solicitor every couple of years. It really works.

  • WS Suzanne July 23, 2011 (11:39 pm)

    Paul and Pokey — Can you come to Thursday’s City Council meeting? –See WSB’s comment above.

  • West Seattle Wanderer July 24, 2011 (2:27 pm)

    One came to my door at 8am, despite the no solicitation sign. Glad I now know it’s illegal to solicitate when you’ve got a sign on your door (I simply printed my own for the person who asked where to get one).

    Will definitely call the police next time.

Sorry, comment time is over.