Door-to-door

For the Invader Zim episode see Door to Door (Invader Zim)

Door-to-door is a sales technique and is one of the most controversial and difficult forms of selling. In door-to-door selling, a salesman walks from one door to another trying to sell a product or service to the general public. A variant of this involves cold calling first, when another sales representative attempts to gain agreement that a salesperson should visit. Door-to-door selling is usually conducted in the afternoon hours, when the majority of people are at home. In the United Kingdom one of the most popular uses of door-to-door selling is to sell British Gas services. A door to door sales representative is also well paid in most cases, for example typical Cable TV representative can expect to earn $50,000 to $80,000 per year. This technique is also used for selling products that would usually be sold across a market stall.

Criticism

A large number of people consider door-to-door sales obtrusive, bothersome and disruptive. Problems with salespeople has causes many condominium and apartment buildings to adopt no solicitation policies, and salespeople are to be ejected from the building.

It is not uncommon for door to door salespeople to use deceptive selling techniques about who they represent, or the terms of what they are selling. This is often because of the competitive and difficult nature of door to door sales. People who are more trusting by nature, such as the elderly are often targets of deceptive techniques. An example of a common form of deception is salespeople who sell energy contracts (gas and electricity) implying that they are an employee of the current utility company.