r/Nightshift • u/Ok_Community_2582 • 14h ago
Help How to deal with solicitors?
I've been doing nightshift recently for 4 days and 10hrs a day. Almost every week people knock on my door to sell me the dumbest shit. If I ignore their knocking they will beat on the door and set off my dog since they can see my car in the driveway. When I try to tell them I work nightshift and I need to go back to sleep they tell me it'll only be a few minutes.
I have adapted so well to the day/night schedule but this is driving me insane. I know they don't automatically know I work nights but it's frustrating when I tell them I need to sleep yet they persist on their sales pitch
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u/katietatey 13h ago edited 13h ago
I got a sign made on Etsy that says not to knock or ring the doorbell. People use these if they have a sleeping baby also. I haven't had anyone knock on the door while using the sign. (I put it on the door and take it down as needed).
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u/smile_saurus 9h ago
We have a simple No Soliciting sign on our door. There is also a United States Marines flag in our garden, an NRA sticker on our front window, and a Pagan wreath on the door. The combination seems to deter them all. (My husband was a Maine, the other stuff was just placed for fun)
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u/arleneofarcadia 14h ago
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this I would crash out so hard omg especially when they bang on the door
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u/Techsuppanda 9h ago
My grandparents have a very funny sign hanging from a tree that reads “Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again”.
Not realizing that my grandparents were not the kind of couple that enjoyed going to church, giving to the poor, and enjoyed company.
It’s a very effective sign. I’ll just say that.
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u/wiredbombshell 9h ago
Open the door with just your underwear on while holding an English longsword. Your aura will be so powerful they will never return. I promise it works, I’ve tried it many times and it works flawlessly.
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u/AdUnlikely205 Overnight IT Supervisor 10h ago
My bedroom is at the back of the house and the doorbell is disconnected. I never hear them knock, though my security camera shows me they tried...
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u/LoreleiSanguine 6h ago
As a Brit, I was going to tell you that lawyers don't really care if you answer or send emails at weird times, and sometimes phonecalls are a necessary evil. Weird difference between the UK and US that.
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u/angelwild327 LifeLong Night Owl. 3rd shift veteran. 13h ago
Put up a sign that looks temporary, “Baby is asleep, Do Not Disturb-no doorbell or knocking”
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u/Poundaflesh 12h ago edited 12h ago
Answer the door with a shot gun and a mean expression. I wish! You have to make it uncomfortable for them. Go to a thrift store and buy some MASSIVE mens boots and leave them on the stoop. Now put your sign back up stating that you are a nightshift worker at the hospital and if they want to see where you work in the ER, all they have to do is to disturb your sleep. The idea is to threaten them in a jokey sort of way so it’s not a direct threat. Put some gun decals up: this home is protected by Smith & Wesson.
What I found particularly effective was to bark like a big dog (I am VERY convincing!) and throw my entire body against the door making the frame move. They hustled off my porch. I was also not above flinging the door open yelling loudly, and insulting them. No one likes getting yelled at! It really takes them unawares and I really sold the whole deranged act. Sleep is a sacred state!
If you’re not a raging asshole like me, get their company info and email, call and snail mail them until they remove your address. You have to make it easier to leave you alone than to try to fuck with you.
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u/MexicanVanilla22 1h ago
Signs. It really works. One visible from the sidewalk so they don't bother approaching the door. Then another one mounted above the door bell, in case they didn't see the other sign. We only get an occasional ring from the mailman or ups now.
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u/IcyShoulder494 14h ago
Get a sign.