Yesterday, 3 young men (I'd be surprised if they were old enough to drink) knocked on the front door (Flag #1, NOBODY uses the front door around here.) and did their best to convince me that I should opt in on solar power. The "deal" is that the solar farms are putting power into the grid anyway, and the local power company (Versant) has been charging a fee to support solar development which has been included on my bill for years (true). If I did the paperwork I'd get a separate bill from the solar outfit for their part of supplied power AND a 15% discount on my regular bill. (Flag #2, separate bills with a vague promise of a "discount") and I could "opt out" at any time (Flag #3, if it's such a great deal, why would I want to opt out?)

I listened to their spiel and told them I'd do my own research and get back to them and took some contact information.

So I checked a couple of on-line sources and the results were from neutral to negative with the main objections being that it rarely, if ever, amounts to 15%, in some cases the total bill actually when UP, and the "opt out" can take up to 180 days. Shades of the old vinyl record club scams...

Well, just now ANOTHER (just one this time) young man appeared. Initially I thought it was the first crew checking back, but he had no knowledge of another crew in the area (Flag #4) and I had to get borderline rude (shocking, I know...) to convince him that I'd heard the spiel and wasn't interested.

I don't think it was an out-and-out scam, I don't doubt the solar farm operators are pushing it, but I believe it's unduly complex and I do NOT believe I'd see a significant "decrease" in my energy costs.

The payback around here is very questionable even with the various government subsidies that were available. We get a ton of sun here, too. The initial cost is quite high. Those door-knockers are probably making a good commission on every sale! Just like the exterminator sales in the south.

I'm solar-curious from a preparedness standpoint, keeping the heat on in the winter in the event of a sustained power outage.

I’ve had 35 solar panels on my house since 2014. I leased them. It was a solid deal for me long term because I did the math. The array overproduces too, and I’m sure the leasing company hates that. A contract is a contract though, so fuck you.

The solar door to door sales has been to the point I’ve had to call the PD. One guy would come by the house with his “solar panel cleaning business” advertising washing them with special water, etc. Dude you stand there with a garden hose, with a sprayer nozzle on the end, and hose them down for 5 minutes with tap water and done. And that’s only 1-2 times a year, when say dust or pollen has accumulated with no rain or no wind for days. It’s rare I even have to clean them. And they certainly don’t need special water, chemicals or anything else. So this salesman is a scam artist. He would drive to my house, park his house right in front of my house, put his flyer on it. It was state $550, that would be crossed out, then $450, the same, crossed out, then $350, finally today only $250! Something I could do myself for ten cents. He came by 7 times man. The 7th time I had him pulled over by the PD and they told him to never come by my house again.

Since then I’ve had the two man teams of idiots coming to the house to try and sell me additional solar panels. My 35 cover the entire back roof and garage. I’m not adding any to the front of the home because that is dumb for the pitch/azimuth. But they seem to think because you have them you’ll buy more. Well you fucking idiots I didn’t buy them. I leased mine. It was way better deal for me. So now when they ignore the no solicitation sign on my storm door, I answer the door, and just tell them to get the fuck off my property or I’ll call the police. I could ignore the doorbell or open the ring app and talk to them through the app but I enjoy answering my own door and telling dirty ass salesman, pointing at the sign, can you not read? Their answer is often “I’m not here to sell anything.” My response is always so you go ring door bells and criminally trespass on people’s property for fun? They try to respond and I cut them off telling them to fuck off, GTFO my property or I’m calling the PD. I’m usually working with this happens and I’m tired of got damn salesman ignoring my sign, trespassing, and bothering me. I don’t care if you have the cure for fucking cancer, get off my got damn lawn.

^^^^^ Does your state or county require a solicitor's license? Most do, I suppose. If they don't have it, ask for their contact information and the state/county agency or police will contact them further.

We get the roof inspectors (hail damage) around here.

We've had them by here with the same story, some are polite and engaging, others are dick heads.

Yesterday, not solar but a Vivant sales rep was at the door, rang it a few times, I could see him on the Ring, and finally went up to explain.

1) The subdivision is private roads and property it's clearly displayed up front,
2) We have a no Tresspass sign up front,

Clearly ignored both, when I explained it to him nothing but negative and "I'm licensed by the City" to which he was told that doesn't mean anything.

Today he was back and the HOA president asked him to leave, same BS I'm Licensed, right now the city police are trying to find out what house he's in to trespass his ass out of here.

Rude, indignant, if we get his name we'll contact the employer as well

I get very few unannounced sales calls. If I don't expect someone at the door, like my landscaper or whatever, or they don't have a badge, it's pretty much "get the fuck off my property." I don't have time for silliness.

My last door to door types turned out to be Jehovahs Witness folks.
They fled when I asked them "hey, what did you guys give each other for Christmas"?

For years we were overrun with solar salespeople. I'd be polite and tell them no. Several years ago a middle aged, rough looking character showed up. He had some bad history and told me he was just trying to make a living. We chatted a bit about the outdoors, hiking etc. He never gave me a pitch, but did tell me that my home was not suited for solar, faced the wrong way and solar on the front would ruin its looks. I thanked him for his honesty and he left. I've used that to quickly end any other solar sales.

It probably goes without saying but this is a good place to bring this up. Never go with a solar company without doing extensive research on them. The insurance company I used to work for insured one of the largest solar installers in the country and even they would burn houses down or cause other types of significant damage more often than you'd think.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
^^^^^ Does your state or county require a solicitor's license? Most do, I suppose. If they don't have it, ask for their contact information and the state/county agency or police will contact them further.

My city requires it. They NEVER have one. I’ve asked probably 40-50 times over the years. I just to choose to bitch them out. Get off my got damn lawn!

Back when living in town I used to get a salesman come to the house once in a while but since moving to the boonies I've never had one. I kinda miss them in a way since I seldom get any visitors, at least I'd have someone to talk to.

"GIT! Go on and GIT!"

Answer the door carrying a 20.5” double-barrel shotgun in broke-open condition for cleaning or carrying. And then ask them what they want; and then see how fast they skedaddle off your property.

This is why I'm glad I have a speakeasy portal on my door. Selling something? "No thanks,", and it gets closed.

Answering the door wearing my SIG Forum unitard was also effective.

The door-to-door thing is your first indication this is a racket.

I had two young guys try this with windows and I just said "NOPE!" and shut the door in their face the second he started his pitch.

A good window company doesn't need to go door to door pushing their product.

I've had solar pushers several times in the last year. I give them a hard time for my own entertainment.
Mostly I get the "we're doing work in your neighborhood (roofing, driveway, tree removal) and can give you a discount" guys.

I always answer the door with my 70 lb Pit by my side. It's fun to see them actually retreat back from the screen door when they see her.

Even though I own my house I tell any sales person I rent. That shuts down further discussion.

quote:

Originally posted by blueye:
Even though I own my house I tell any sales person I rent. That shuts down further discussion.

I do this every time I walk into Home Depot and there's someone with a booth slinging some nonsense like solar or a new HVAC system.

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:

I do this every time I walk into Home Depot and there's someone with a booth slinging some nonsense like solar or a new HVAC system.

I just ask them where to find <whatever I'm looking for>.