I Think I Screwed Up--Door to Door Rep

[MMMark]

Yesterday around 3 my wife and I were relaxing at home, watching a little TV. The doorbell rang...dog went nuts, we debated whether my wife or I should get the door...I did, finally. An attractive young lady, short brown hair, petite, maybe 24 was standing there and began muttering something about having missed another resident for delivery of some frozen meats & seafood, did I want a fantastic deal as she HAD to "unload" this shipment somewhere, etc. I was quite taken aback, not fully awake, and simply told her "No, we don't deal in stuff like this" and sent her on her way. She appeared to have emerged from a white colored panel truck, although it was
partially blocked from view from where I was standing outside my door with her.

Later I thought, as did my wife, that I should have immediately called the authorities. Were they casing our place? Truly selling frozen food...but even so, that's not legal here, right? What should I have done? Anyone have a similar tale?

[Happinow]

We were found in the same position about 6 months ago when a white truck with two guys pulled into our driveway. They said the exact same thing. Someone missed a delivery and could we help them out. They said they had "restaurant quality" fish, steaks, pork and chicken. I was immediately Leary but my husband said let me go take a look. So he did and they suckered him into shrimp, some other kind of fish, chicken, strip steaks, filet steaks and ribeye steak. He brought them in and the guys left after getting paid. (I can't even say how much we overpaid!!). I looked through them and the steaks were about 1/4" thick, chicken was a consistancy I'd never eaten before as was the tenderloin beef steaks. After forcing ourselves to eat about 6 meals of this stuff I finally put it in the garbage. It wasn't fit for human consumption, yet they claimed it was restaurant quality. Don't get taken by these scam artists. Never buy product peddled out of the back of a truck.

[jim1941]

Probably stolen merchandise.....IMHO

[buzzy]

When I told the steak guy that there is no soliciting in The Villages he became defensive and waved a badge on a lanyard. When I told him that I don't by meat from a truck, he became irate. He would not leave my doorstep until I tried to get a better look at the badge. Then he made a rapid retreat. I took a picture of the truck, but it had no markings. In retrospect, I should have called Community Watch.

[dbussone]

When I told the steak guy that there is no soliciting in The Villages he became defensive and waved a badge on a lanyard. When I told him that I don't by meat from a truck, he became irate. He would not leave my doorstep until I tried to get a better look at the badge. Then he made a rapid retreat. I took a picture of the truck, but it had no markings. In retrospect, I should have called Community Watch.

Don't call Community Watch. They won't/can't do anything. Call the police. That's what CW told me when I called them.

[applesoffh]

We went through the same thing yesterday, also. It was the "last box of steak" $40.00. This happened to us before and we quickly said no. White panel truck, but we got a guy that came to the door.

[gerryann]

We were found in the same position about 6 months ago when a white truck with two guys pulled into our driveway. They said the exact same thing. Someone missed a delivery and could we help them out. They said they had "restaurant quality" fish, steaks, pork and chicken. I was immediately Leary but my husband said let me go take a look. So he did and they suckered him into shrimp, some other kind of fish, chicken, strip steaks, filet steaks and ribeye steak. He brought them in and the guys left after getting paid. (I can't even say how much we overpaid!!). I looked through them and the steaks were about 1/4" thick, chicken was a consistancy I'd never eaten before as was the tenderloin beef steaks. After forcing ourselves to eat about 6 meals of this stuff I finally put it in the garbage. It wasn't fit for human consumption, yet they claimed it was restaurant quality. Don't get taken by these scam artists. Never buy product peddled out of the back of a truck.

I was relieved to see your last two sentences.......but wow, you were lucky you didn't get very sick. God only knows where that stuff came from.....and what was in it.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Why doesn't everyone go to Ace or Do-It Hdwe., Lowe's or Home Depot and get one of those small "No Soliciting" signs and stick it to the front door; I did and no door to door people ever knock. :boom: Problem solved.

[Carla B]

Why doesn't everyone go to Ace or Do-It Hdwe., Lowe's or Home Depot and get one of those small "No Soliciting" signs and stick it to the front door; I did and no door to door people ever knock. :boom: Problem solved.

Even here, in The Villages?

[NYGUY]

This is a well known scam that has been going on for years.

[Barefoot]

This is a well known scam that has been going on for years.

I agree, but the scam has been going on for decades. And it's not limited to The Villages or even to Florida.
I've experienced similar scams in subdivisions in Canada.
The thought of buying left-over meat or fish from the back of a truck ...... :yuck:

[Sandtrap328]

This is a scam to try and make the homeowner believe they are getting a great bargain. The meat is not stolen. It is just very low quality meat.

Remember, it it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

Just smile, say "no thanks" and close your door. It is not worth a confrontation to argue or to try and take a picture of their truck.

[graciegirl]

I think this is poor quality meat from heaven knows where. I think they have tried to hit up all of us. We just say no.

[Chatbrat]

A person came to my door several months ago, I called community watch- they know the individual & they said there is nothing they can do-

[MMMark]

Appreciate the feedback thus far folks; thanks to you all. I think I'm going to get the "No Soliciting" sign and put it up here. This worked well for us in WI and no reason it can't here, too. All in all, sounds like we did OK by just sending her (them?) on their way.

[jblum315]

I think I will just look for a sign that says "Go Away!"

[KeepingItReal]

A person came to my door several months ago, I called community watch- they know the individual & they said there is nothing they can do-


See this response a lot on a lot of different problems, just what is it Community Watch really can do about anything except, "just watch"? They also couldn't do anything when a tractor trailer truck was all the way up in our neighbors drive to the garage door trying to back down a street? But then the SSO couldn't or wouldn't do anything either, said it was a civil matter??

[dbussone]

See this response a lot on a lot of different problems, just what is it Community Watch really can do about anything except, "just watch"? They also couldn't do anything when a tractor trailer truck was all the way up in our neighbors drive to the garage door trying to back down a street? But then the SSO couldn't or wouldn't do anything either, said it was a civil matter??


Don't waste your time calling CW. Just call the police when you need to.

[Barefoot]

See this response a lot on a lot of different problems, just what is it Community Watch really can do about anything except, "just watch"? They also couldn't do anything when a tractor trailer truck was all the way up in our neighbors drive to the garage door trying to back down a street? But then the SSO couldn't or wouldn't do anything either, said it was a civil matter??

Community Watch specializes in "public relations", not law enforcement.

[KeepingItReal]

Community Watch specializes in "public relations", not law enforcement.

Don't think we need public relations in the middle of the night, it they don't do anything why have them? Mostly see them checking property the developer still owns.

[Challenger]

I am amazed that people who have lived long enough to move to TV still fall for the most basic of scams. Have the been hermits for 55or more years.

Caveat Emptor. No amount of policing can protect us against a lack of common sense.

[Shimpy]

, chicken was a consistancy I'd never eaten before as was the tenderloin beef steaks. k.

Probably thawed and refrozen several times. This meat I doubt had a "sell by " date.

[hulahips]

Very suspicious. I would have reported it and gave heads up to neighbors

[kstew43]

we have the scam down here in Miami.......

[Rango]

Why doesn't everyone go to Ace or Do-It Hdwe., Lowe's or Home Depot and get one of those small "No Soliciting" signs and stick it to the front door; I did and no door to door people ever knock. :boom: Problem solved.

I had one and solicitors ignored it. Maybe they are illiterate.

I would never buy anything from someone selling door to door.

[NYGUY]

This is a well known scam that has been going on for years.

[SIZE=3]I agree, but the scam has been going on for decades....

LOL Bare....I'll raise your decades with a century!!

[eremite06]

Working in my garage this afternoon. The meat guy rolls up in a white pickup with a cooler in the bed. Walks right in the garage and I tell him the words out. He says what? Yeah, you're ripping people off and get off my property. He does a quick exit, mumbling something along the way. Would have called PD if I wasn't so engrossed in my project.

[RickeyD]

Working in my garage this afternoon. The meat guy rolls up in a white pickup with a cooler in the bed. Walks right in the garage and I tell him the words out. He says what? Yeah, you're ripping people off and get off my property. He does a quick exit, mumbling something along the way. Would have called PD if I wasn't so engrossed in my project.


[emoji106]🏻

[RickeyD]

I had one and solicitors ignored it. Maybe they are illiterate.

I would never buy anything from someone selling door to door.


Not even from the Fuller Brush man ? [emoji6]

[dbussone]

Not even from the Fuller Brush man ? [emoji6]

I haven't seen one of them since the late '50s.

[CFrance]

Not even from the Fuller Brush man ? [emoji6]

I haven't seen one of them since the late '50s.
That reminds me that there was a time when door-to-door salesmen were legit! I remember my mother lusting after fuller brushes. (Well, not literally...) Most of them were too expensive for her at that time.

[Jaggy]

I loved staying home from school and seeing all the "people" that came to the house.. Fuller Brush... Milk Man, Bakery Truck Man, Mailman, Insurance Man to collect premiums, Avon Lady, I know I am forgetting some.. The world today is entirely different, isn't it?

[dbussone]

I loved staying home from school and seeing all the "people" that came to the house.. Fuller Brush... Milk Man, Bakery Truck Man, Mailman, Insurance Man to collect premiums, Avon Lady, I know I am forgetting some.. The world today is entirely different, isn't it?


We had a vegetable/fruit man who came by twice a week. And our meat order was delivered to our door as well. What was the name of the vacuum company?