The 'friendly grandma syndrome'

[Calico]

It may also come in handy if anyone ever tries to accost you. I remember seeing a piece on one of those news programs about how to react if someone tries to steal your purse. One recommendation was to do something unexpected, and they related a story about a grandmother who started smacking her assailant and screaming some nice sailor language. The perp must have thought she was possessed or something-- he ran off without the purse. Haha-- one for the good guys!


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That's my kind of grandma!!

 

[LOL!]

You all might like this. Yesterday, an Edward Jones guy came to door, so I was friendly and invited him in. He was under 25 years old and essentially knew nothing, yet was out doing the door-to-door selling that EJ employees have to do. I was very polite (didn't give him cookies though) and told him that Edward Jones was one of the worst companies to work for and that EJ basically steals money from clients. I told him that if it was in my power that I would put EJ out of business. I told him that he should find a better company to work for and a better career. I asked him about his wife who was a teacher and her retirement plan. I offered advice on what she should be doing.

He was ghost white when I let him out the door.

 

[Payin-the-Toll]

Well, if everybody has the attitude expressed in this thread, then how is my daughter 'Rachel' going to make any money working for Card Services??

 

[Amethyst]

Yes, it's like elevating your DEFCON status. Of course, we also have people who go straight to RED and bring out the shotgun when the doorbell rings!

Good for you! Lest people think I resort to the colorful language as my first choice, that isn't the case. People who are trying to take advantage of me - or anyone vulnerable around me -receive one polite request to stop - and one only. If they don't, out comes the language. Works like a charm.

 

[Calico]

Yes, it's like elevating your DEFCON status. Of course, we also have people who go straight to RED and bring out the shotgun when the doorbell rings!

Exactly!

Speaking of people ringing the doorbell - I can't tell you how many times I have taught some new "colorful" vocabulary words to the folks who cycle door to door in my area looking for new converts. I consider it my civic duty to contribute to expanding their vocabulary horizons (assuming my initial polite request to leave is ignored).

 

[ERD50]

You all might like this. Yesterday, an Edward Jones guy came to door, so I was friendly and invited him in. He was under 25 years old and essentially knew nothing, yet was out doing the door-to-door selling that EJ employees have to do. I was very polite (didn't give him cookies though) and told him that Edward Jones was one of the worst companies to work for and that EJ basically steals money from clients. I told him that if it was in my power that I would put EJ out of business. I told him that he should find a better company to work for and a better career. I asked him about his wife who was a teacher and her retirement plan. I offered advice on what she should be doing.

He was ghost white when I let him out the door.

Wow - you must have phrased everything very carefully to not have him just leave. Did he try to counter your statements at all?

-ERD50

 

[LOL!]

Wow - you must have phrased everything very carefully to not have him just leave. Did he try to counter your statements at all?

-ERD50

Nope. He was too green. I have kids about the same age as him, so I was just giving him some fatherly advice. Of course, my kids don't take my advice, so I'm not sure if he will or not.

 

[2B]

Nope. He was too green. I have kids about the same age as him, so I was just giving him some fatherly advice. Of course, my kids don't take my advice, so I'm not sure if he will or not.

He was probably just glad to have a job. He probably reported to his manager that his visit with you was "promising." Another possibility was that he was so tired walking door-to-door and just being told "no" that he liked having the opportunity to sit down and rest.

My going away lunch was announced so my whole department knows I'm retiring. Various people have come by to talk with me. A ~50 single woman came in and we started talking about investment philosophy that let me aquire enough to retire. I, of course, talked about passive index funds at Vanguard. She has a EJ account where her FA trades for her. She said that investing is too complicated. She is a chemical engineer so she certainly shouldn't lack math skills and logical decision making abilities. How I wanted to scream.

I wrote down Millionaire Teacher and Investor's Manifesto and said she should read these. She said she would but who knows.

I have 13 "in-office" days left until retirement. I keep hoping I can go sooner because the project work I'm doing is getting pretty thin.

 

[haha]

Nope. He was too green. I have kids about the same age as him, so I was just giving him some fatherly advice. Of course, my kids don't take my advice, so I'm not sure if he will or not.

He must have been crazy to waste his time listening. Say he agreed, what should he have done? Suddenly re-invent himself as a Wharton Graduate? Or maybe give himself a good GS rating and "regulate" commerce?

Not everyone has an engineering degree, and not everyone had an opportunity to get their education when it was cheap or even free. I see a kid like this trying to help his family survive and I respect him.

After all , if you are selling Carter's Little Liver Pills, you don't really want to be a hepatologist .

Ha

 

[youbet]

The minute they start the sales pitch I hang up eventually they stop calling .

If I pick up the phone, which I seldom do, and it's a sales pitch I also immediately hang up. But here the calls NEVER stop coming. The same robo-calls appear on my answering machine day after day after day.

I hate those guys.........

 

[aja8888]

If I pick up the phone, which I seldom do, and it's a sales pitch I also immediately hang up. But here the calls NEVER stop coming. The same robo-calls appear on my answering machine day after day after day.

I hate those guys.........

Here you go:

Amazon.com: SENTRY Dual Mode Call Blocker. Block 100% Robo Calls. Stop All Junk Calls, Election Calls, Survey Calls. 9999 Number Capacity: Electronics

 

[youbet]

Yesterday, an Edward Jones guy came to door

Our town has a very strict policy that door-to-door solicitors must receive a permit from the village and wear the tag where it can be easily seen. It's hard to get the village to issue a permit since general "selling" is NOT an automatic reason for soliciting in the village. I very seldom get knocks on the door and the few I do get are usually unauthorized peddlers.

I ALWAYS call the police when someone comes to my door unauthorized. And the police are very good about getting there quickly and escorting the door bell - ringer into the rear seat of the police cruiser.

Yes, you guessed it, I did this to an Edward Jones guy!

He was two doors down by the time the police arrived so I couldn't hear him clearly. But, reading his lips, he didn't seem too happy as the officer placed a hand on top of his head so he wouldn't bump the door opening as he slid into the back seat....... It was soooooooo funny!

 

[youbet]

Here you go:

Amazon.com: SENTRY Dual Mode Call Blocker. Block 100% Robo Calls. Stop All Junk Calls, Election Calls, Survey Calls. 9999 Number Capacity: Electronics

Thanks for that info.

The problem I have using devices like these is that I would need to activate and pay for caller ID. My landline is a cheapo $10/mo + tax ATT plan and I have NO add-on features. (Most of our calls are via our cell phones.) So, I'm more likely to just cancel the landline than start adding extra cost features......

 

[HFWR]

...just cancel the landline...

Yeah, that.

 

[aja8888]

Ditto on cancelling the landline....

 

[Tailgate]

+2 on landline.. Say goodbye to robocalls and political calls


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[Amethyst]

When the landline rings, and the electronic butler starts his spiel, the butler rarely gets too far before the caller hangs up. Meanwhile, the fastest feet in the house are already standing at the phone, and someone is yelling, "It's Mr. Unknown!" or "It's Mrs. Unavailable!" or "Hey, it's the people from Some Weird Area Code in Texas!"

Amethyst

 

[MRG]

You all might like this. Yesterday, an Edward Jones guy came to door, so I was friendly and invited him in. He was under 25 years old and essentially knew nothing, yet was out doing the door-to-door selling that EJ employees have to do. I was very polite (didn't give him cookies though) and told him that Edward Jones was one of the worst companies to work for and that EJ basically steals money from clients. I told him that if it was in my power that I would put EJ out of business. I told him that he should find a better company to work for and a better career. I asked him about his wife who was a teacher and her retirement plan. I offered advice on what she should be doing.

He was ghost white when I let him out the door.

He probably went through indoctrination, er training and may have smelled something funny. You did the young man a favor, it may take a while, maybe never, but you raised doubt in his mind.

A buddy of mine was telling me of his newly graduated son. Started working, training really, at a well known life insurance company. DS was practicing his pitch on my buddy and explained this investment paid 5% a month, he looked at his DS and explained the difference between a month and a year.

 

[HFWR]

...Some Weird Area Code in Texas!"

Amethyst

You're gonna have to be more specific...


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[mpeirce]

If I'm at the computer when I get an unknown call (most of my calls are unknown calls ) I google the number and usually up pops an explanation from one of many sites that track these numbers with info on it.

People in my contacts list are identified and I'll usually answer

Occasionally it's a local company I'm currently dealing with - they'll leave a message for me if it's important.

The only exception to this is doctors offices. For some reason, they don't leave message and I get pretty annoyed with them because of that.

 

[growing_older]

The only exception to this is doctors offices. For some reason, they don't leave message and I get pretty annoyed with them because of that.

There are some legal restrictions on the kinds of messages doctors can leave if they might be picked up by someone other than the patient. Many doctor's offices no longer want to analyze the content of each message for legality, so they just plan to call back as many times as it takes.

 

[Amethyst]

The phone screen says "Texas." Isn't that specific enough for anybody?

You're gonna have to be more specific...


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[Walt34]

There are some legal restrictions on the kinds of messages doctors can leave if they might be picked up by someone other than the patient.

That's it. Here medical offices will leave a message confirming an appointment but for anything else it has to be a live person.

 

[MRG]

That's it. Here medical offices will leave a message confirming an appointment but for anything else it has to be a live person.

I had to opt in to even get text reminders.

 

[calmloki]

You folks are hard core. If someone believes their brand of religion enough to go out and proselytize I figure it takes very little effort to wish them well in their endeavors and goodbye. Door-to-door pitchmen have a tough way to make a living, so I normally tell them I don't want to waste their time, shake their hand and let them get on to the next door. Can't think of a time I ever had to raise my voice or tell someone to GTFO who was trying to pitch me something.

Sure am tired of your daughter Rachel with Card Services though.