Have you ever had someone come to your door to try and sell you something? Perhaps you found yourself the owner of a new vacuum that you didn’t really need. While it can be difficult, it’s okay to say no to a door-to-door salesperson, and here are some ways to do that.
Your door, your rules
In BC, there are rules when it comes to legitimate door-to-door sales, which means that you have rights. You also never have to agree to something that you don’t want to.
And remember, you don’t have to make a quick decision – take your time and do what feels right to you. After all, it’s your door, your rules.
It’s okay to say no
Because some of us want to be polite, we may find ourselves listening to a sales pitch for longer than we want to. Remember, it’s okay to say no. You are not obliged to let anyone into your home and you are certainly not required to make a purchase unless you want to. In fact, even if you are interested in the product or service, it’s always a good idea to take time to think about what’s being offered and decide whether it’s right for you (and your budget!). Make the decision that feels right to you and don’t be afraid to assert yourself.
Ways to say no
Consider these options and see what works for you:
- Don’t answer the door.
- Put a sign out that says “no soliciting” if you would prefer not to have anyone come to your door to sell you something.
- Thank the person for their time and tell them you are not interested.
- Say that you’re not interested and that you’ve already allocated your budget for the year.
- Tell the salesperson you will contact them if you want more information, but you don’t have time to talk right now.
- Tell the salesperson that you don’t want to waste their time because you have no intention of buying anything.
- Tell them that you have a personal policy to never buy anything on the spot, but they can mail or email you the information and you will contact them if you are interested.
Knowledge is power. Help yourself and others when it comes to door-to-door sales.
We have lots of information and tools to help you make informed decisions around door-to-door sales. Brush up on your knowledge and share what you know with the people you care about. The important thing to remember is that there are rules when it comes to these transactions. Take your time before you sign anything and talk to someone you trust if you’re unsure. You got this.
Learn more about door-to-door sales in BC
What needs to be in the contract
How to say no
What questions to ask
Know your cancellation rights
Learn what scams to watch out for
Hear a real story
Learn how to spot the bad operators
Where do we fit in?
Our organization is responsible for overseeing certain aspects of these contracts, like contract requirements and your cancellation rights. Learn more about when we can step in and help.
About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
If a salesperson is belligerent, and they sometimes are, tell them to leave the property immediately and nobody from their firm is permitted back on the property or it would be considered tresspassing and police would be called. They use bully tactics like telling older people they have already agreed to buy the item.
I think you need to be more clear on your site in explaining to people that these salespeople are not their friends. They are con bullies.
Hi Ray, thank you for commenting here. While there are some bad operators, we recognize that there are legitimate door-to-door sales companies out there as well. That’s why we created several blog posts relating to door-to-door sales and consumer rights in BC. We have a post about how to spot bad operators, how to recognize scams, and more. Our intention here is to share our knowledge and tips so people are able to make informed decisions when they come across these situations.
If you post a no soliciting sign and the salesperson chooses to disregard it, what recourse do you have?
Hi Brent, as far as we know, the consumer protection law in BC does not mention no-soliciting signs and their effect on salespeople so we would not be able to offer any advice on this. Checking to see who is at the door before opening the door may be the best option.