Do you answer the door if someone knocks/rings the bell? (1 Viewer)

[NutterButter]

It doesn't happen often but when it does I never answer. I figure nothing good could come from it. I think I'm batting a thousand on avoiding close calls. Made me wonder if I was the only weirdo that does this. Similar I guess to not answering your phone if its an unknown number but the in person version.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Yes. Last time is was some girl looking for her lost cat.

 

[Zow]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

 

[nirad3]

Yup. Usually a friend of one of the kids, so I sometimes just holler at the kids to go get the door. If it's a sales pitch I just say "we rent, but thanks" and close the door.

 

[jhib]

Not unless I'm expecting it beforehand (and sometimes not even then )

I posted this recently in another thread, but... Doorbell

 

[NutterButter]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

 

[AAABatteries]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Generally yes, assuming it’s daylight hours

more often than not it’s a solicitor and I immediately tell them “no thank you” before even hearing the pitch

If they’re pushy then I start to be a ****

 

[NutterButter]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

 

[nirad3]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

Ring Camera... man, we got one of these (my wife won it at a taping of the Ellen Show) when they first came out and we were like WTH is this? We ended up selling it. No one had them. Now I wish we would have kept it. We have a camera at the front door but it's not linked to the doorbell.

 

[Zow]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

Usually it's either somebody I recognize or somebody in a delivery uniform or some other obvious identifying moniker. If it's a vagrant or a salesman I can usually tell.

I have been directly involved in the criminal justice system for 20 years now. I've seen a lot of ****, including some awful and brutal home invasions. I don't believe I have ever seen a home invasion involving a ruse at the front door, though.

 

[AAABatteries]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

Honestly, I’d say 80-90% of the time it’s a delivery person. We are in a large neighborhood and know all of our neighbors around us - they don’t stop by very often but it does happen, usually to borrow or return something. My wife is in a neighborhood book club and has women drop off or pickup books occasionally. She also runs a home business where people will sometimes stop by to drop something off or pick something up.

 

[NutterButter]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

Usually it's either somebody I recognize or somebody in a delivery uniform or some other obvious identifying moniker. If it's a vagrant or a salesman I can usually tell.

I have been directly involved in the criminal justice system for 20 years now. I've seen a lot of ****, including some awful and brutal home invasions. I don't believe I have ever seen a home invasion involving a ruse at the front door, though.

Speaking of home invasions which you probably know the cause of, what are people even stealing? Like besides my laptop, cell phone, guitar, and mountain bike, I don't have a single thing that's worth stealing and even those things are questionable in value. Other people just have a lot of jewelry or cash to make these crimes worthwhile?

 

[NutterButter]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

Honestly, I’d say 80-90% of the time it’s a delivery person. We are in a large neighborhood and know all of our neighbors around us - they don’t stop by very often but it does happen, usually to borrow or return something. My wife is in a neighborhood book club and has women drop off or pickup books occasionally. She also runs a home business where people will sometimes stop by to drop something off or pick something up.

Delivery people ring your doorbell and for me that's just amazon? Mine just throw it on the porch or leave it by the garage.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

Honestly, I’d say 80-90% of the time it’s a delivery person. We are in a large neighborhood and know all of our neighbors around us - they don’t stop by very often but it does happen, usually to borrow or return something. My wife is in a neighborhood book club and has women drop off or pickup books occasionally. She also runs a home business where people will sometimes stop by to drop something off or pick something up.

Delivery people ring your doorbell and for me that's just amazon? Mine just throw it on the porch or leave it by the garage.

UPS dude does this sometimes. Thanks for waking the dog so she can go bonkers.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I've avoided knocks on the door and then someone will catch me coming or going and say "Didn't you hear me knock?" and then I just say i was probably on headphones listening to music
Depends on the knock, most have my cell number if they need to reach me where I live

-Sometimes I might ask who it is and if it's not a neighbor I certainly do not open the door.

-Obviously if I am expecting a food delivery or pizza I'm more inclined to answer the door.

 

[NutterButter]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

Honestly, I’d say 80-90% of the time it’s a delivery person. We are in a large neighborhood and know all of our neighbors around us - they don’t stop by very often but it does happen, usually to borrow or return something. My wife is in a neighborhood book club and has women drop off or pickup books occasionally. She also runs a home business where people will sometimes stop by to drop something off or pick something up.

Delivery people ring your doorbell and for me that's just amazon? Mine just throw it on the porch or leave it by the garage.

UPS dude does this sometimes. Thanks for waking the dog so she can go bonkers.

Back when i had dogs, that was any visitor in general since they hung out on the bay window and did their neighborhood watch. Would startle the crap out of me sometimes.

 

[NutterButter]

I've avoided knocks on the door and then someone will catch me coming or going and say "Didn't you hear me knock?" and then I just say i was probably on headphones listening to music
Depends on the knock, most have my cell number if they need to reach me where I live

If you JUST said "Yes" with a straight face, that would've been priceless.

 

[Wingnut]

Depends. If it's a solicitor I'll usually ignore it, if not I'll usually answer.

 

[Don Quixote]

I’ll answer if a UPS person looking for me to sign a wine delivery.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Maybe 15 years ago I was playing Madden and got a knock at the door. I opened the window and asked what they wanted. Told him I wasnt interested and he called me a racist. I dropped my controller and went outside to confront him about his BS and told him that NOBODY wants to talk to salespeople no matter what they look like and that he better get used to being told no without taking it personal.

Since that day I stopped answering unless I know them.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

Usually it's either somebody I recognize or somebody in a delivery uniform or some other obvious identifying moniker. If it's a vagrant or a salesman I can usually tell.

I have been directly involved in the criminal justice system for 20 years now. I've seen a lot of ****, including some awful and brutal home invasions. I don't believe I have ever seen a home invasion involving a ruse at the front door, though.

There was a recent one locally where they posed as people from the gas/electric company and killed the guy. Iirc he was a jeweler

 

[Max Power]

Since moving to the country I always answer the door. No one shows up to my house unless they need something.

In the burbs people were at my door too much for all sorts of random useless things.

 

[AAABatteries]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

Honestly, I’d say 80-90% of the time it’s a delivery person. We are in a large neighborhood and know all of our neighbors around us - they don’t stop by very often but it does happen, usually to borrow or return something. My wife is in a neighborhood book club and has women drop off or pickup books occasionally. She also runs a home business where people will sometimes stop by to drop something off or pick something up.

Delivery people ring your doorbell and for me that's just amazon? Mine just throw it on the porch or leave it by the garage.

My wife is subscribed to every service under the sun and with 7 people and a dog at our house there’s daily deliveries of something.

 

[zamboni]

Only the following people should be let in:

Sister Suzie
Brother John
Martin Luther
Phil and Don
Brother Michael
Auntie Gin

 

[Yambag]

Never, in fact we usually get real quiet hoping they will go away.

 

[NutterButter]

Yup. Usually a friend of one of the kids, so I sometimes just holler at the kids to go get the door. If it's a sales pitch I just say "we rent, but thanks" and close the door.

I remember those days. Riskier times.

 

[NutterButter]

Never, in fact we usually get real quiet hoping they will go away.

Do they ever not?

 

[Captain Cranks]

Rarely until I ignored a ring on a random Sunday morning this time last year. I looked out my window, didn't recognize the guy, and went about my business. Turns out it was a neighbor a few doors down attempting to tell me my boat was sinking.

 

[NutterButter]

Rarely until I ignored a ring on a random Sunday morning this time last year. I looked out my window, didn't recognize the guy, and went about my business. Turns out it was a neighbor a few doors down attempting to tell me my boat was sinking.

Boat life

 

[-fish-]

I work from home so a break to have actual human interaction is often welcome.

Most of the time it's someone trying to sell either tree trimming, landscaping or pest control services. A few political door-knockers. One was a guy asking if I would sell my 1977 Toyota Landcruiser parked in the driveway. Occasionally it's the Mormons. They're always really polite and I usually offer them a bottle of water. Once in a while it's a neighbor for one reason or another.

Why are you people afraid to answer the door? At worst you say, "sorry, not interested" and close the door.

 

[Zow]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

Usually it's either somebody I recognize or somebody in a delivery uniform or some other obvious identifying moniker. If it's a vagrant or a salesman I can usually tell.

I have been directly involved in the criminal justice system for 20 years now. I've seen a lot of ****, including some awful and brutal home invasions. I don't believe I have ever seen a home invasion involving a ruse at the front door, though.

Speaking of home invasions which you probably know the cause of, what are people even stealing? Like besides my laptop, cell phone, guitar, and mountain bike, I don't have a single thing that's worth stealing and even those things are questionable in value. Other people just have a lot of jewelry or cash to make these crimes worthwhile?

Stealing?

That's far less common. I won't get into details but it's usually some form of assault if there's a home invasion. The most common home invasion where the goal is to actually steal that I see is somebody stealing from a drug dealer where the robbers know the dealer/homeowner is flush with cash or drugs.

A straight burglary where the motivation is purely pecuniary gain is honestly pretty rare in my experience - especially if the homeowner is home (burglarizing a home where the owner is known not to be there is much more prevalent). Further, the burglar usually knows the homeowner somehow (e.g. drug addict grandson and his friends burglarize grandma's home when they know she is at Bingo or something).

A random home invasion (e.g. Home Alone scenario) is very rare in my experience.

 

[Zow]

Same as Woz - if I’m not expecting someone I’ll check the Ring and see who it is. Sales people I don’t bother. Neighbors I’ll answer it.

Ah, yeah neighbors. I only know one and without the ring camera, i ain't risking it. I mean the odds are pretty low.

Honestly, I’d say 80-90% of the time it’s a delivery person. We are in a large neighborhood and know all of our neighbors around us - they don’t stop by very often but it does happen, usually to borrow or return something. My wife is in a neighborhood book club and has women drop off or pickup books occasionally. She also runs a home business where people will sometimes stop by to drop something off or pick something up.

Delivery people ring your doorbell and for me that's just amazon? Mine just throw it on the porch or leave it by the garage.

My wife is subscribed to every service under the sun and with 7 people and a dog at our house there’s daily deliveries of something.

We live similar lives. Neighborhood kids will also randomly come to the door.

 

[NutterButter]

I work from home so a break to have actual human interaction is often welcome.

Most of the time it's someone trying to sell either tree trimming, landscaping or pest control services. A few political door-knockers. One was a guy asking if I would sell my 1977 Toyota Landcruiser parked in the driveway. Occasionally it's the Mormons. They're always really polite and I usually offer them a bottle of water. Once in a while it's a neighbor for one reason or another.

Why are you people afraid to answer the door? At worst you say, "sorry, not interested" and close the door.

I think I'm afraid I'll actually get sucked into talking to someone about something I really don't care about which is slightly less than 100% of the things that people want to talk about. It really depends on my mood. Like in the past before taking this approach, on some days, I'd be in that mindset of quickly just saying "no thanks" and closing the door. But other times depending on the circumstances I might actually step out onto the porch and having a conversation and once that conversation begins there's like a switch in my mind that makes it harder for me to just firmly stop it and walk away. So now I just stick to that hard rule. Same as I do for unsolicitied phone calls. And besides, I really don't see the upside.

ETA: Also wfh and my semi-weekly costco trip gives me my human fix.

 

[SWC]

i answered no but only because my lady got one of those fancy camera doorbells so i would say about 80 percent of the time it is people trying to sell me insect service or lawn care or political junk or sometimes a religion thing so those we just sit and keep on enjoying eachothers company the other 2 times it is people we know and then heck yeah we answer the door take that to the bank brochachos

 

[NutterButter]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

Usually it's either somebody I recognize or somebody in a delivery uniform or some other obvious identifying moniker. If it's a vagrant or a salesman I can usually tell.

I have been directly involved in the criminal justice system for 20 years now. I've seen a lot of ****, including some awful and brutal home invasions. I don't believe I have ever seen a home invasion involving a ruse at the front door, though.

Speaking of home invasions which you probably know the cause of, what are people even stealing? Like besides my laptop, cell phone, guitar, and mountain bike, I don't have a single thing that's worth stealing and even those things are questionable in value. Other people just have a lot of jewelry or cash to make these crimes worthwhile?

Stealing?

That's far less common. I won't get into details but it's usually some form of assault if there's a home invasion. The most common home invasion where the goal is to actually steal that I see is somebody stealing from a drug dealer where the robbers know the dealer/homeowner is flush with cash or drugs.

A straight burglary where the motivation is purely pecuniary gain is honestly pretty rare in my experience - especially if the homeowner is home (burglarizing a home where the owner is known not to be there is much more prevalent). Further, the burglar usually knows the homeowner somehow (e.g. drug addict grandson and his friends burglarize grandma's home when they know she is at Bingo or something).

A random home invasion (e.g. Home Alone scenario) is very rare in my experience.

Ok, I was thinking more of the random home invasion motivated by material gain which is the one I think about personally b/c its like what do I even have worth stealing. I think you're talking more about where there's some relationship between the victim and the invader.

 

[SWC]

also our delivery people always ring the doorbell and lean whatever we ordered up against our screen door so then we have to out the back and walk around becuase you cant open the door without tipping over whatever it was and hey it might be a leglamp from italy fragile or something like that take that to the bank bromigos

 

[Zow]

also our delivery people always ring the doorbell and lean whatever we ordered up against our screen door so then we have to out the back and walk around becuase you cant open the door without tipping over whatever it was and hey it might be a leglamp from italy fragile or something like that take that to the bank bromigos

If it is, get ready to pay the $50 tariff.

No joke, we had the UPS guy at our house last night and he wanted the tariff paid for my wife's like ten dollar lawn ornament or something.

 

[Zow]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

Usually it's either somebody I recognize or somebody in a delivery uniform or some other obvious identifying moniker. If it's a vagrant or a salesman I can usually tell.

I have been directly involved in the criminal justice system for 20 years now. I've seen a lot of ****, including some awful and brutal home invasions. I don't believe I have ever seen a home invasion involving a ruse at the front door, though.

Speaking of home invasions which you probably know the cause of, what are people even stealing? Like besides my laptop, cell phone, guitar, and mountain bike, I don't have a single thing that's worth stealing and even those things are questionable in value. Other people just have a lot of jewelry or cash to make these crimes worthwhile?

Stealing?

That's far less common. I won't get into details but it's usually some form of assault if there's a home invasion. The most common home invasion where the goal is to actually steal that I see is somebody stealing from a drug dealer where the robbers know the dealer/homeowner is flush with cash or drugs.

A straight burglary where the motivation is purely pecuniary gain is honestly pretty rare in my experience - especially if the homeowner is home (burglarizing a home where the owner is known not to be there is much more prevalent). Further, the burglar usually knows the homeowner somehow (e.g. drug addict grandson and his friends burglarize grandma's home when they know she is at Bingo or something).

A random home invasion (e.g. Home Alone scenario) is very rare in my experience.

Ok, I was thinking more of the random home invasion motivated by material gain which is the one I think about personally b/c its like what do I even have worth stealing. I think you're talking more about where there's some relationship between the victim and the invader.

Not saying this doesn't happen, but in my experience it's very, very rare. I assume because it's a massive risk with modern technology and a stranger won't known if there's anything inside worth the risk.

I have seen some very drunk or high people wander into people's homes - which is undoubtedly scary and I'm not trying to diminish it but in those situations no harm or theft appears to be intended.

 

[NutterButter]

also our delivery people always ring the doorbell and lean whatever we ordered up against our screen door so then we have to out the back and walk around becuase you cant open the door without tipping over whatever it was and hey it might be a leglamp from italy fragile or something like that take that to the bank bromigos

If it is, get ready to pay the $50 tariff.

No joke, we had the UPS guy at our house last night and he wanted the tariff paid for my wife's like ten dollar lawn ornament or something.

What? The delivery guy is trying to collect the tariff? I would think that's just tacked onto the price when buying

 

[Gally]

Not unless I'm expecting it beforehand (and sometimes not even then )

I posted this recently in another thread, but... Doorbell

I guess you are not a fan of the pop-in

 

[Zow]

also our delivery people always ring the doorbell and lean whatever we ordered up against our screen door so then we have to out the back and walk around becuase you cant open the door without tipping over whatever it was and hey it might be a leglamp from italy fragile or something like that take that to the bank bromigos

If it is, get ready to pay the $50 tariff.

No joke, we had the UPS guy at our house last night and he wanted the tariff paid for my wife's like ten dollar lawn ornament or something.

What? The delivery guy is trying to collect the tariff? I would think that's just tacked onto the price when buying

Yep. We thought the same thing. UPS guy said that UPS fronts it and we don't get the package without paying it.

Fortunately, I am married to a sane woman and she just declined to accept her package which, again, was some $10 item from China or something.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

also our delivery people always ring the doorbell and lean whatever we ordered up against our screen door so then we have to out the back and walk around becuase you cant open the door without tipping over whatever it was and hey it might be a leglamp from italy fragile or something like that take that to the bank bromigos

If it is, get ready to pay the $50 tariff.

No joke, we had the UPS guy at our house last night and he wanted the tariff paid for my wife's like ten dollar lawn ornament or something.

I don’t think the T word is allowed here

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

also our delivery people always ring the doorbell and lean whatever we ordered up against our screen door so then we have to out the back and walk around becuase you cant open the door without tipping over whatever it was and hey it might be a leglamp from italy fragile or something like that take that to the bank bromigos

If it is, get ready to pay the $50 tariff.

No joke, we had the UPS guy at our house last night and he wanted the tariff paid for my wife's like ten dollar lawn ornament or something.

What? The delivery guy is trying to collect the tariff? I would think that's just tacked onto the price when buying

Yep. We thought the same thing. UPS guy said that UPS fronts it and we don't get the package without paying it.

Fortunately, I am married to a sane woman and she just declined to accept her package which, again, was some $10 item from China or something.

I’ve never heard of this but apparently its always been a thing.

 

[NutterButter]

This has gotten close. You take away those fancy doorbell cameras and some of those yes's would be no's.

 

[Hastur]

I live in the country.

No, I don't have a door bell camera.

Yes, I answer the door.

I live in a state where you MUST assume everyone is carrying at all times(my next door neighbor carries even while just hanging out at home).

 

[belljr]

Yeah, but only because I have a Ring camera and can see who it is.

So what's the criteria to determine if you answer b/c for me, if its a person, i don't answer?

If it's someone I know or a kid I answer.

If it's not I don't

 

[belljr]

This has gotten close. You take away those fancy doorbell cameras and some of those yes's would be no's.

I voted no.

I check camera then determine if I'm going to actually answer the door

 

[fruity pebbles]

Absolutely not. I can be seen peaking out the window though.