West Seattle door-to-door alert: Magazines … for the troops?

The door-to-door alerts shared by WSB’ers have both alerted people to ruses and resulted in information verifying legitimate sellers – so in that spirit, here’s the latest:

Just out of the WSB inbox:

I’m writing because I just had a solicitor come to my door selling Magazines,with a hook.

First of all it was a young female probably between 18 to 22 years old. She kind of wandered past my gate,(probably looking in the windows to see if she could see anybody) then she gave a whistle to see if there was any dogs in the yard. When she heard the dogs in the house she came in the gate. I live in the 3600 Block of 48th Ave SW. When I opened the door she said she was the daughter of a neighbor,although I have never seen her. She said the her school had won a soccer championship and were traveling to Holland. As a way to raise funds for the trip she was selling magazines. The hook is that the mags were not for me ,but for OUR TROOPS.Whereupon she handed me a laminated sheet with names and APO addresses including USS Enterprise.

She never mentioned the name of her school,had no ID visible,and seemed pretty casual.

I sent her on her way. She proceeded through the neighborhood ,whistling at gates and then approaching doors.

Past door-to-door alerts (be sure to read the comments, where additional information often emerges) are here; city rules regarding door-to-door solicitors are here.

Robert August 13, 2009 (2:48 pm)

I’ve got about 12 steps to get up to my front door. Along the way, there are a series of 3 discrete, but visible “No Solicitation” signs. I haven’t had a solicitor, legit or otherwise in months.

You have no social responsibility to open your door to anyone. Let them fester on your doorstep until they walk away.

johnnyblegs August 13, 2009 (3:17 pm)

I had a guy come to my door a month or so ago with the exact same line, but selling children magazines to raise the money. He said his grandma lived in the neighborhood. He didn’t have an ID either. Even if he did, I wasn’t gonna buy a children’s magazine. BTW: How many soccer championships has this area won anyway?

kg August 13, 2009 (3:44 pm)

Ha, the one who knocked on my door said it was to fund a trip to Hawaii.

kg August 13, 2009 (3:45 pm)

Oh and it was for softball not soccer.

lighthouse August 13, 2009 (5:11 pm)

Just got someone with the same pitch: Younger white woman (somewhat heavyset) claiming she was the catcher for the “lady spartans” softball team who was raising money to go to some championshipo. (I have no idea if such a team exists — anyone know?) I think she said this was a high school team — if so, I think she looked too old to be in high school. Also claimed to be selling magazine subscriptions for troops, complete with the pre-printed list of addresses.
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When I told her I was not interested, she replied with a cutsy “I’m not selling interest, I’m selling magazine subscriptions.” When I repeated that I was not interested and she replied with the same come back, I said “Let me blunt: Please leave.” and shut the door.
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And yes, I have a “no soliciting” sign on my door. I usually reserve the “You’re violating Seattle ordinances” spiel for people doing pure commercial pitches (e.g., the Leafguard solicitor a while back who was incredibly rude when I told her to leave).

Lindsey August 13, 2009 (5:18 pm)

What schools are still sending kids out alone, door-to-door, selling things to raise money?? First, it’s not really teaching them modern marketing and fund raising practices. Start a Facebook page or a website. Record a viral video. Anything but door to door. Second, isn’t this kind of dangerous? If schools are really doing this, I’d like to know which ones so I can send my future children elsewhere.

That said, it sounds like a scam.

lighthouse August 13, 2009 (5:48 pm)

I’m pretty sure this person was not in high school, and I agree that it sounds like a scam.
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Also, I’m in the High Point area (a few blocks south of the High Point Community Center), so if it’s the same woman that spurred the initial report, she’s covering a lot of territory.

LisaM August 13, 2009 (6:16 pm)

I had a wierd one a couple days ago – guy said he was in the neighborhood to talk about “cancer”, I was like what?? Told him I was too busy meanwhile my dog is lunging and barking at him (good doggie!)

Josh August 13, 2009 (8:32 pm)

I just had a young man come to my door on 9200 block of 23rd ave SW selling magazine subscriptions for the “troops” just thought I would let everyone know that they are still at it.

baconbutt August 13, 2009 (8:42 pm)

Had a guy at the door selling something claiming he thought ‘no solicitors’ meant just prostitutes. FML.

Teresa August 13, 2009 (9:51 pm)

Just had a girl come to our door tonight with a similar story – selling mags for the troops to raise money for her team to go to Holland. (we live in 8800 block of 31st in Westwood area). I asked her what team and she said a volleyball team in Spokane. When I asked how she got involved in a team in another city when she’s not in college, she said it was through her youth group. Seems strange to me. No, I didn’t buy any ;)

Lynn August 14, 2009 (12:45 pm)

I’m so glad others have commented on this. The same girl just came to my door last night claiming she was selling magazines for her softball team the Lady Spartans. She rambled on and on, saying she was the catcher and the team needs funds to get to Hawaii. She also claimed, like others have said, her mother is sending her around. She got quite snippy when I said I wasn’t interested. I told her she needs valid documentation that she’s selling for her softball team, not just a laminated sheet with magazine’s listed. Sounds like a scam to me.

datamuse August 14, 2009 (4:54 pm)

This sounds a lot like the guy I contacted WSB about a month or so back–very similar spiel and presentation. Sports team, trying to raise money for a trip…I think it was Europe, that time.

I work in a library, I can read all the magazines I want there (and most of them are online now).

Sorry, comment time is over.