General Discussion

Intractable

(2,647 posts)

9. The days of the proverbial Fuller Brush Man are long gone.

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 01:00 PM

Jul 1

Nowadays, for most of us, it's potentially unsafe to open the door to strangers.

Even Fuller Brush does it mostly online now.

From Google:

Yes, the iconic door-to-door "Fuller Brush Man" is extremely rare, but a few independent dealers still make rounds in local neighborhoods.
The profession has largely transitioned online. You can purchase their signature cleaning supplies and personal care products directly through the Fuller Brush Company website or via Amazon.

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Boomerproud The Blue Flower Joinfortmill

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My wife, home alone, opened the door to a door-to-door salesman. [View all] Trust_Reality Jul 1 OP

NOPE. IT'S "DON'T EVEN OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!".... ColoringFool Jul 1 #1

Absolutely! SheltieLover Jul 1 #11

I NEVER open the door unless I know Who it is--i have the advantage of looking riversedge Jul 1 #55

We have a peephole in our front door. calimary Jul 1 #71

100% correct. AZ8theist Jul 2 #74

I signed in just to Rec this comment. SidneyR Jul 2 #91

Another Useful Rule: Never Hire a Contractor From a Company That Runs Frequent TV Ads. MineralMan Jul 1 #2

+1. Plumbing and HVAC companies that run TV ads are the worst. They want to replace, not repair dalton99a Jul 1 #5

There's a commission on a sale. Conjuay Jul 1 #14

yes there is esp car repairs Oppaloopa Jul 2 #87

And never, EVER front them the money. They get paid when the job is done to your satisfaction! n/t PatrickforB Jul 1 #31

Do not touch the door. Ignore them, and call the cops if they try to loiter dalton99a Jul 1 #3

I don't open my door to anyone Diamond_Dog Jul 1 #4

Same here, DD! SheltieLover Jul 1 #12

When the Jehovah's Witness people come by, I invite them in to see my Amway products. Permanut Jul 1 #42

Ahh yes, the old Jehovah's Witness blitzkrieg that used to happen in my apartment complex. OldBaldy1701E Jul 2 #82

Having been on both sides of that door I endorse this post SSJVegeta Jul 1 #6

Once I was mowing my front lawn and was approached by a guy spooky3 Jul 1 #7

That was quick thinking! Good for you! Diamond_Dog Jul 1 #13

TY! A more unsettling incident was when I was sick and spooky3 Jul 1 #20

I would also be leery of letting someone I don't know come inside if I were home alone. Diamond_Dog Jul 1 #26

Not just these days. It has always been that way for women. Since my niyad Jul 1 #50

Thank you! raccoon Jul 2 #79

Martial Arts ninjanurse Jul 2 #84

So very true. And the younger we get girls started, the better. Age 4, as niyad Jul 2 #85

Smart Joinfortmill Jul 1 #39

Maybe 1980, a steak salesman came to the door nilram Jul 1 #48

Good one! Nt spooky3 Jul 1 #52

I used to use the same line when we'd get land line calls... 3catwoman3 Jul 2 #72

They practice their pitch and don't have a comeback helpisontheway Jul 2 #75

Years ago -- like in the 50s my parents were approached by a beef-selling salesman RVN VET71 Jul 2 #73

Around here, it is more likely to be young evangelists from LDS or 7th Day Adventists or other... hlthe2b Jul 1 #8

Tell them "You work for Jesus? Give me his number. I want to call him." dalton99a Jul 1 #65

Only one really irritated me in recent years and to them, I told them I was Muslim and began speaking in Arabic. hlthe2b Jul 1 #66

The days of the proverbial Fuller Brush Man are long gone. Intractable Jul 1 #9

It must be such a treat to be married to you, belittling and infantilizing your wife on DU. Maru Kitteh Jul 1 #10

I first thought it was going to be satire leftstreet Jul 1 #32

I know. Yikes! Joinfortmill Jul 1 #41

Whow! OK. Trust_Reality Jul 1 #59

Actually I like almost all of the other posts better. Sorry it hit a tender spot with you. Trust_Reality Jul 1 #61

I live near a major city - TBF Jul 1 #15

I have an outer metal gate in front door with an atrium in the middle kimbutgar Jul 1 #16

Can't win anywhere by opening the door. And some non-advice. usonian Jul 1 #17

We've had a couple of vacuum cleaner guys around. The rest are madinmaryland Jul 1 #18

A lot of those outfits are scammy as fuck Stacey Grove Jul 1 #19

The Pella guy was aggressive because their product is crap LT Barclay Jul 1 #21

They may ask you to sign their tablet just showing that they visited your house. If you do they will use the twodogsbarking Jul 1 #22

+1. dalton99a Jul 1 #64

I feel bad for your wife, she was probably the only person who actually answered the door FakeNoose Jul 1 #23

The best two dollars I've spent in while. Ohiya Jul 1 #24

We have a No Soliciting sign at the entrance to our sub. llmart Jul 1 #30

I have a No Soliciting sign just underneath my doorbell. SeattleVet Jul 1 #51

Sadly, I live in a city where solicitors can't read Rorey Jul 2 #83

I don't open the door to any strangers. Way to dangerous TommieMommy Jul 1 #25

Another threat was covered by an AARP Bulletin story about a year ago. There allegorical oracle Jul 1 #27

Diabolical Joinfortmill Jul 1 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author LogDog75 Jul 1 #28

Nope. Don't let any sales people in the door. You cannot get rid of them. Initech Jul 1 #29

Huge red flag xuplate Jul 1 #33

One way to stop them in their tracks is to ask for the city license/permit for sales LogDog75 Jul 1 #34

Even better, don't open it in the first place. ananda Jul 1 #35

I just saw a video on SocialDemocrat61 Jul 1 #36

OMG!!! FoxNewsSucks Jul 1 #68

Maybe she just shouldn't be home when they return. Or just shoo them away. LeftInTX Jul 1 #37

We're lucky in one regard. cab67 Jul 1 #38

I never answer the door for unannounced visitors or the phone for unknown callers. GoodRaisin Jul 1 #40

I never answer a knock on my door JoseBalow Jul 1 #43

I love the first one! n/t ReRe Jul 1 #47

I have doorbell cameras. murielm99 Jul 1 #45

i have a sign that says i charge $50 to listen to their pitch moonshinegnomie Jul 1 #46

I never ever open the door, they can ring the bell and knock on Raine Jul 1 #49

Growing up Faux pas Jul 1 #53

I never answer the door nor the phone unless I know who it is. hamsterjill Jul 1 #54

"Potential" doorbells (satire!) usonian Jul 1 #56

Better yet Rebl2 Jul 1 #57

Captain Beefheart sold door-to-door orthoclad Jul 1 #58

I had a phone salesman call me (right at dinnertime!).... lastlib Jul 1 #60

this is obviously the aggressive "believe in your product" salesmanship rampartd Jul 1 #62

I put something like this above my door bell Monsieur_Grumpe Jul 1 #63

In our town, door-to-door sales people have to register with the police first. Otherwise, they can be arrested. Wonder Why Jul 1 #67

we get rogers salespeople here constantly...i won't do business with them because i caught them doing something dawn5651 Jul 1 #69

Pella windows are excellent radical noodle Jul 1 #70

Are you young newlyweds? Bread and Circuses Jul 2 #76

I have been trying to convince her for 58 years! She is also highly educated. Trust_Reality Saturday #95

I feel sorry for the door knockers. Aussie105 Jul 2 #77

Yes! Ask for a business card. Tell them directly::: No card equals SCAM. Norrrm Jul 2 #78

We usually open the door DFW Jul 2 #80

As the expression goes: How can you tell when a salesperson is lying? Orrex Jul 2 #81

This is a sad thread, but not unexpected. Ron Green Jul 2 #86

I've learned to be polite while ending the conversation quickly. Music Man Jul 2 #88

I hung a 'No Solicitors' sign at my front door, and the doorknocks dropped off amazingly. Aristus Jul 2 #89

As a recent widow, I don't even answer the phone for numbers I don't recognize. Ziggysmom Jul 2 #90

It's a wonder she isn't dead, or worse. Never open the door, door to door people are hawking crap. mucholderthandirt Jul 2 #92

Just porch pirate their asses away! GreenWave Jul 2 #93

If you are a woman and home alone, DO NOT open the door to anyone you do not know or are not expecting. camartinwv Jul 2 #94