Had to get mean with Trugreen

So Trugreen comes to my door, two guys, 7:00 at night on Saturday. I step outside with them and salutations are exchanged. He asks to walk around the yard, and I let them do a hot lap. Then the guy immediately goes into how my yard looks terrible compared to the two neighbors, and that "it's urgent we get pre-emergents down". I say great, leave a card and I'll discuss with the wife and get back to you.

Well, the guy goes into a story that somehow ties in home depot trips and his wife, basically saying that I should man up and sign up. I tell him to leave a card again, and he asks if there's something I don't understand, and why we're not "connecting".

I tell him in a firm (not loud) tone that it's my lawn, and he can either leave a card or not, but we're done talking. He looks at me like I just punched him in the mouth and says "all right" and walks off with his trainer/trainee in tow without giving me a card.

The funny thing is,I had been considering signing up with a chem service because he's right - my yard needs some work. My neighbors on both sides are retirees and they love their yards, and they look great. Mine is a working man's yard and this will only be my second summer here. But there's no way I was signing up with that guy!

So, did I overreact? Pretty fuming right now, and annoyed I was stupid enough to answer the phone in my socks, but glad I had my .38 in my pocket as I always do.

 

I don't think you overreacted. Dude deserved it! I hate pushy salesman.

 

Not at all. Most door-to-door salesman aren't the most upstanding people to begin with so they don't really know how to be pleasant to deal with.

I usually just tell them, "Sorry dude I don't want to waste your time of my time."

 

I have plenty of people come to my door trying to sell me things, it certainly gets irritating when they are pushy. I always tell them that I will think about it, and ask for a card. If they don't want to leave a card, that is their issue. I don't think you overreacted.

 

I always tell anyone who comes to my door to fuck off

 

You should thank yourself for ending the relationship on the first visit. I am in a completely different state but, starting to realize their problems are corporation wide. I started their service with the promise my lawn would need 4 treatments a year.....a month after the first treatment they were back out (while I wasn't home) and applied/billed another treatment. When I called to find out what was going on, they denied the 4 treatment story and said it would require at least 7. This almost doubled the annual cost. It took three calls on three different nights to finally end the service with out a termination charge. On two different occasions the employees on the other end of the phone actually swore at me. Be glad you learned your lesson easier than I did.

 

Thanks - that makes me feel better. I did a quick search on them online after the visit and I see a lot of that same story. Four $50 treatments turn into eight real quick.

 

Oh, and I guess it's Friday, isn't it? I took the day off so it feels like Sat to me. Gave the Tacoma a good handwashing too!

 

Yeah he didn't want to leave a card at that point, he didn't want you to know his name. Sounds like he was trying to show out since he had a trainee.

 

nope... i have had the same issues. I pretty much do the same thing you did... i have told a few to go fuck their hats a few times.

 

We dont go home so "entitled" business can trap us there. Imo solicitation at our homes should be under domestic terrorism, no jury . just irrefutable evidence leading to whatever conviction I see fit.

See , we teach them "its ok" by even listening to them. I'm ok with the kids n school stuff, not sale of lawn/alarms etc. Same with the phone too. If you EVER allow a sale you just invite more vermin upon us all. Sadly i have become expertly verbally abusive to anyone harrassing me on my time off at home.

What you did is just fine, you were...mercifull. I dont get violent with them, or dont intend to , or threaten them, but one guy put his foot in my door.I slammed it on it , damn sole was too stiff to cause damage , so i told him at his face and loud to GTFO of my house, he got the hint.
They always try to bully , especially women, that pisses me off . Everyone should just put a sign out saying " I peppper spray salespricks". All door to door and even more so, telemarketers should quit thier job and lick a horses ass to get thier self respect back.

 

OP you were not wrong in getting mad, besides who tries to sell stuff door to door anymore. I expect to see neighborhood kids selling candy, not grown men trying to make a living. It's not the 1950's anymore and those guys come off as creepy SOB's. If I go to answer my door and I see a stranger standing there wearing a tie and holding product, I just look at them through my window and walk away.

 

Anymore at least for me the "No Soliciting" sign seems to get ignored or else people can't read.

 

You can probably do just as good a job yourself with a decent broadcast spreader.

 

I dont think you over reacted. Probably handled it better than I would have

 

No Soliciting sign on my front door. For those that knock anyway, I open the door, point to the sign, and ask them if they can read, or if they would like me to do it for them. Done deal.

 

Trugreen is a shitty company, if I was you and wanted a good looking lawn I would ask some of the people who live around you, and find a good local small business to treat your lawn.

 

Trugreen is a horrible company! We have been using them for two years, and while the yard looks better since they started....it doesn't look as good as it should for the money being spent. I called and canceled. I had to get ugly with them because they really do try and bully you into staying. Their customer service is the drizzling shits! I will never recommend Trugreen to anyone!

 

You can/will do a better job working on your lawn on your own...

Sounds like the guy was a dick. I don't mind people trying to upsell me ONE time. Keep pushing it or use BS stories (specially chauvinistic ones like this idiot) and I get ticked off.