The 'friendly grandma syndrome'

[MRG]

+1
We lived in a rural area often a stranger would knock on the door, run out of gas. Dad would give them his can with however much gas it had, wouldn't accept payment. In 30 years that can always was always dropped off full, with a payment. Try that today.

Many seniors, DF was included, still believe they live in that world. It's great when people watch over them. Harder than any job ever was in many ways.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB That may explain some cases. She also answers the door because she was raised to see this as the polite thing to do. The men there knocking are well aware of this, so they dress well and show fine manners while very coldly attempting to exploit her financially. Same with the people calling.

[Calico]

Wow. This thread makes me realize how glad I am that I have never, ever been afflicted with the need for people to like me. Also makes me glad my father only had daughters, no sons, and he taught us to swear like the ex-sailor he was. It has come in handy several times already in getting rid of pushy salespeople.

[Amethyst]

Sometimes I think Mr. A. has a little bit of Friendly Grampa Syndrome. We had an ADT salesman in our home, and I was the one who had to throw him out when he started browbeating Mr. A. for "wasting his time" by not going along with the sales pitch. I didn't swear or raise my voice. I simply told him to get out of our house, now. He got.

A.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calico Wow. This thread makes me realize how glad I am that I have never, ever been afflicted with the need for people to like me. Also makes me glad my father only had daughters, no sons, and he taught us to swear like the ex-sailor he was. It has come in handy several times already in getting rid of pushy salespeople.

[Philliefan33]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calico Wow. This thread makes me realize how glad I am that I have never, ever been afflicted with the need for people to like me. Also makes me glad my father only had daughters, no sons, and he taught us to swear like the ex-sailor he was. It has come in handy several times already in getting rid of pushy salespeople.

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!


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

[Calico]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst Sometimes I think Mr. A. has a little bit of Friendly Grampa Syndrome. We had an ADT salesman in our home, and I was the one who had to throw him out when he started browbeating Mr. A. for "wasting his time" by not going along with the sales pitch. I didn't swear or raise my voice. I simply told him to get out of our house, now. He got. A.

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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philliefan33 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! Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

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!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calico 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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!]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moemg 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet ...just cancel the landline...

Yeah, that.

[aja8888]

Ditto on cancelling the landline....