Inner City Teens selling stuff door to door (1 Viewer)

[John Bender]

Since moving into a very heavy residential area my doorbell rings, on average, 3-4 times a week now.

Almost every time it's a teenager who is from the South Side of Richmond with a story about how he is drug free and he's out raising money for a "program" to keep drugs out of his community. When I ask for any specifics about the program they usually don't have very good answers.

Or magazine subscriptions to raise money for college.

What's the real story with these "programs" to keep kids off drugs or raise money for "teens"? Anyone know? I feel bad but I've stopped answering the door at this point. The neighborhood has a no solicitation sign posted at the entry.

Just curious really about what the story really is (or if it's true at all) but something seems generally off about the story usually. I can't quite figure out what. Are they part of a bigger company/business that just happens to raise money this way?

Really just curiosity.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

What am I going to do with 40 subscriptions to Vibe?

 

[Otis]

Pretty sure these "programs" are scams devised by the kids to make a few bucks.

I was at a suburban Long Island shopping center the other day and a bunch of kids purporting to be from some high school in Georgia were collecting donations for a fundraiser their basketball team. They basically bum rush you on your way into the store and ask you for money. They had flyers. I suppose they felt that made it official seeming.

Because it totally makes perfect sense that the high school in Georgia gets up and says "guys, here's an idea. Let's all get on a bus to Long Island, and we'll go panhandle out in front of the Toys R Us there."

 

[jon_mx]

Pretty sure these "programs" are scams devised by the kids to make a few bucks.

I was at a suburban Long Island shopping center the other day and a bunch of kids purporting to be from some high school in Georgia were collecting donations for a fundraiser their basketball team. They basically bum rush you on your way into the store and ask you for money. They had flyers. I suppose they felt that made it official seeming.

Because it totally makes perfect sense that the high school in Georgia gets up and says "guys, here's an idea. Let's all get on a bus to Long Island, and we'll go panhandle out in front of the Toys R Us there."

They are not devised by kids, but by adults exploiting kids.

 

[cstu]

I started an 'Urban Achievers' program similar to this. Dedicated to inner city children of promise but without the necessary means for a higher education. I'm committed to sending all of them to college.

 

[Caesar]

I have had some come to my door in Virginia Beach. The most recent had a box full of COMPLETELY different items, from Fiddle Faddle to Kit Kat to shortbread cookies. I was 99.9% sure that this was a "scam". I asked how much, and it was $7 per item.... any one of which you can get for under $2 at the store next door.

I don't even mind paying a little more in helping out kids, but this just really seemed shady to me. It sucks if it is adults exploiting kids, but its not surprising. People suck.

 

[otello]

Inner city. Nice.

 

[jandyt]

Only annoying people that come to my door regularly is the lawn care services at least once a week during the summer and fall.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Pretty sure these "programs" are scams devised by the kids to make a few bucks.

I was at a suburban Long Island shopping center the other day and a bunch of kids purporting to be from some high school in Georgia were collecting donations for a fundraiser their basketball team. They basically bum rush you on your way into the store and ask you for money. They had flyers. I suppose they felt that made it official seeming.

Because it totally makes perfect sense that the high school in Georgia gets up and says "guys, here's an idea. Let's all get on a bus to Long Island, and we'll go panhandle out in front of the Toys R Us there."

They are not devised by kids, but by adults exploiting kids.

Yup. The only people making money on this are the scummy adults that practically enslave kids and send them around with this garbage. Most of the adults are also drug dealers and get the kids hooked on drugs. The kids are then charged a ton of money for lodging even though they're housed in slummy conditions.

And of course, many times you don't even end up getting any magazines that you order.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Our local kids are just looking for the door that doesn't get answered. That way they can break in and steal your valuables.

Actually true

 

[John Bender]

Our local kids are just looking for the door that doesn't get answered. That way they can break in and steal your valuables.

Actually true

I'm hoping my hellhound of a dog barking her head off is a deterrent for this.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Our local kids are just looking for the door that doesn't get answered. That way they can break in and steal your valuables.

Actually true

I'm hoping my hellhound of a dog barking her head off is a deterrent for this.

Same here. No one's coming in this house with how my dog goes on tilt.

 

[Courtjester]

Usually you see a group of them dropped off by one adult in a big white van. It is a complete scam and I bet these kids see $.50 of each sale if they are lucky.

It is the same with the magazine and carpet cleaning sellers--who just need "one more sale" so they can go on a trip to Europe.

The funny story I have about them, the doorbell rings and there was this absolutely gorgeous college girl selling magazine and she had a really good sales pitch--least I think she did. I know she had a great rack. So I invite her in and am about to pull the trigger and order one. My wife comes down and I am like "This is Tiffany (or whatever it was) she is selling magazines and just needs one more sale to go to Europe" Wife is mad this nubile, young thing is in our house I can tell. Then Tiffany pulls out the order sheet. It was close to $80.00 for a year's subscription for like ESPN magazine, The markup was probably 500% I gaze over at the wife with the "so....we getting this" look. Tiffany got shown the door by my wife and probably never got to Europe.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Usually you see a group of them dropped off by one adult in a big white van. It is a complete scam and I bet these kids see $.50 of each sale if they are lucky.

It is the same with the magazine and carpet cleaning sellers--who just need "one more sale" so they can go on a trip to Europe.

The funny story I have about them, the doorbell rings and there was this absolutely gorgeous college girl selling magazine and she had a really good sales pitch--least I think she did. I know she had a great rack. So I invite her in and am about to pull the trigger and order one. My wife comes down and I am like "This is Tiffany (or whatever it was) she is selling magazines and just needs one more sale to go to Europe" Wife is mad this nubile, young thing is in our house I can tell. Then Tiffany pulls out the order sheet. It was close to $80.00 for a year's subscription for like ESPN magazine, The markup was probably 500% I gaze over at the wife with the "so....we getting this" look. Tiffany got shown the door by my wife and probably never got to Europe.

And now we know why you lost your job as a porn screenwriter.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Only annoying people that come to my door regularly is the lawn care services at least once a week during the summer and fall.

And they always stick their damn sales pamphlets in my door handle.

 

[belljr]

I had a hot chick knock on our door once at like 8pm. She was super nervoud. Saying she had to do this for some public speaking project. She gave me some spiel but didn't try to sell anything.

I was confused and aroused by the whole thing

 

[matuski]

Usually you see a group of them dropped off by one adult in a big white van. It is a complete scam and I bet these kids see $.50 of each sale if they are lucky.

It is the same with the magazine and carpet cleaning sellers--who just need "one more sale" so they can go on a trip to Europe.

The funny story I have about them, the doorbell rings and there was this absolutely gorgeous college girl selling magazine and she had a really good sales pitch--least I think she did. I know she had a great rack. So I invite her in and am about to pull the trigger and order one. My wife comes down and I am like "This is Tiffany (or whatever it was) she is selling magazines and just needs one more sale to go to Europe" Wife is mad this nubile, young thing is in our house I can tell. Then Tiffany pulls out the order sheet. It was close to $80.00 for a year's subscription for like ESPN magazine, The markup was probably 500% I gaze over at the wife with the "so....we getting this" look. Tiffany got shown the door by my wife and probably never got to Europe.

And now we know why you lost your job as a porn screenwriter.

Seriously.. that story sucked.

 

[Courtjester]

Usually you see a group of them dropped off by one adult in a big white van. It is a complete scam and I bet these kids see $.50 of each sale if they are lucky.

It is the same with the magazine and carpet cleaning sellers--who just need "one more sale" so they can go on a trip to Europe.

The funny story I have about them, the doorbell rings and there was this absolutely gorgeous college girl selling magazine and she had a really good sales pitch--least I think she did. I know she had a great rack. So I invite her in and am about to pull the trigger and order one. My wife comes down and I am like "This is Tiffany (or whatever it was) she is selling magazines and just needs one more sale to go to Europe" Wife is mad this nubile, young thing is in our house I can tell. Then Tiffany pulls out the order sheet. It was close to $80.00 for a year's subscription for like ESPN magazine, The markup was probably 500% I gaze over at the wife with the "so....we getting this" look. Tiffany got shown the door by my wife and probably never got to Europe.

And now we know why you lost your job as a porn screenwriter.

Seriously.. that story sucked.

Sorry guys sometimes the truth sucks. I will work on an alternative version.

 

[comfortably numb]

Had a cute girl knock on the door a few months ago while wife was at some PTA meeting that lasted all night

Girl was pretty nervous...

Saying something about genetically modified food and making people aware etc...

I was like oh cool, thanks for the heads up.

Then she says can we count on your support?

Yea, sure, I support you guys

A check for $75 is what we are looking for....

Oh...I don't want to support THAT much.

How about a $30 check?

Uhm....i didn't want to spend any money...sorry.

Well...can we leave you with this pamphlet to write to our senator?
You can use the verbiage on the pamphlet to better illustrate our main concerns if you don't know what to say.

Sure, you got it.

Ok...we will come by at 730 to pick it up...just tape it to your door.

Oh..yea, ok...(crap...now I feel like I have to do this...)

I call the kids down explain our mission to them...and how important this was.

We did a good job man, they each got a couple of sentences to write.

I had them address our senator and write in crayon and stuff to tug at some strings

Self addressed and stamped envelope and all.

Kids were all in...super excited.

We taped them to the door at 710.

We were all glued to the window at 730 waiting for the cute girl...745....to 800...830...845...bed time.
Kids were devastated their letters weren't going to the president like I told them. I said maybe she is late.

Left it there overnight and when I went to work in the morning I threw them out and told the kids she came later on at night.

She let us all down man...and on top of that I had to explain to my wife why the kids were telling her about some girl that came to the house to get letters from daddy while they were in bed.

 

[pollardsvision]

Our local kids are just looking for the door that doesn't get answered. That way they can break in and steal your valuables.

Actually true

I'm hoping my hellhound of a dog barking her head off is a deterrent for this.

Does your dog hate "inner city" people?

 

[comfortably numb]

Our local kids are just looking for the door that doesn't get answered. That way they can break in and steal your valuables.

Actually true

I'm hoping my hellhound of a dog barking her head off is a deterrent for this.

Does your dog hate "inner city" people?

Don't all dogs?

 

[Arizona Ron]

Another reason I love living in a building condo.

 

[John Bender]

It might be more of a southern thing. I never, in 2 years near Philadelphia had someone knock on my door.

The 3-4 times a week are just the kids.

The rest of the week is filled with guys driving through the neighborhood seeing if I want any mulch, need the leaves in my yard raked for 50 dollars, are running for local office.

 

[NREC34]

I was in the NYC area once. Got lost on the way to JFK and my app had me driving through downtown Newark NJ. Got stopped at a light when this teenage African American comes up to my car in the middle of the street. I was crapping bricks thinking I was about to get carjacked. Turns out he said he's just out on the streets trying to get by and selling gummy bears to stay out of the gangs and out of trouble. I was so relieved. I said give me 2 boxes and keep the change.

 

[Otis]

Pretty sure these "programs" are scams devised by the kids to make a few bucks.

I was at a suburban Long Island shopping center the other day and a bunch of kids purporting to be from some high school in Georgia were collecting donations for a fundraiser their basketball team. They basically bum rush you on your way into the store and ask you for money. They had flyers. I suppose they felt that made it official seeming.

Because it totally makes perfect sense that the high school in Georgia gets up and says "guys, here's an idea. Let's all get on a bus to Long Island, and we'll go panhandle out in front of the Toys R Us there."

They are not devised by kids, but by adults exploiting kids.

I have no doubt.

 

[John Bender]

I do remember going door to door slanging candy bars for youth football seemingly every year of my childhood.

Nowadays, I see this crap where youth sports programs are just standing at intersections holding out a hat for passing motorists and it bothers me. Lazy ####s.

 

[Annyong]

I do remember going door to door slanging candy bars for youth football seemingly every year of my childhood.

Nowadays, I see this crap where youth sports programs are just standing at intersections holding out a hat for passing motorists and it bothers me. Lazy ####s.

I did that too.There is usually some kids freezing their balls off in front of the gas station in the early spring, selling candy for baseball. I'll always buy candy from baseball kids.

 

[pollardsvision]

It might be more of a southern thing. I never, in 2 years near Philadelphia had someone knock on my door.

The 3-4 times a week are just the kids.

The rest of the week is filled with guys driving through the neighborhood seeing if I want any mulch, need the leaves in my yard raked for 50 dollars, are running for local office.

I used to sell door to door, in different parts of the country. South, Midwest and more sparsely populated places are much preferred.

Also, it's not that there weren't sales people in Philly. It's just that they probably missed you. In densely populated areas, you just hit a smaller percentage of people. If someone isn't home, there are a bunch of other people close by that are. You might try back later, but again, there's are so many other people that are home, and you can just keep moving on. In more spread out areas, it's easier to hit up everyone.

Or you lived in a place that sales people avoid. In big cities, that amounts to well over half of the city.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

This is why I always go to the door with no pants on. Sometimes it ends well, sometimes it doesn't...but it always ends.

 

[RBM]

Our local kids are just looking for the door that doesn't get answered. That way they can break in and steal your valuables.

Actually true

Racist

 

[yak651]

Usually you see a group of them dropped off by one adult in a big white van. It is a complete scam and I bet these kids see $.50 of each sale if they are lucky.

It is the same with the magazine and carpet cleaning sellers--who just need "one more sale" so they can go on a trip to Europe.

The funny story I have about them, the doorbell rings and there was this absolutely gorgeous college girl selling magazine and she had a really good sales pitch--least I think she did. I know she had a great rack. So I invite her in and am about to pull the trigger and order one. My wife comes down and I am like "This is Tiffany (or whatever it was) she is selling magazines and just needs one more sale to go to Europe" Wife is mad this nubile, young thing is in our house I can tell. Then Tiffany pulls out the order sheet. It was close to $80.00 for a year's subscription for like ESPN magazine, The markup was probably 500% I gaze over at the wife with the "so....we getting this" look. Tiffany got shown the door by my wife and probably never got to Europe.

And now we know why you lost your job as a porn screenwriter.

Seriously.. that story sucked.

He's no Arizona Ron...

 

[Meatwad Reloaded]

Ever hear of Cutco or U.S Beef?

These kids are cut from the same cloth. Don't be stupid.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Our local kids are just looking for the door that doesn't get answered. That way they can break in and steal your valuables.

Actually true

Racist

Valiant effort, but tremendous failure.

 

[the moops]

Yup. The only people making money on this are the scummy adults that practically enslave kids and send them around with this garbage. Most of the adults are also drug dealers and get the kids hooked on drugs. The kids are then charged a ton of money for lodging even though they're housed in slummy conditions.

And of course, many times you don't even end up getting any magazines that you order.

is this a script from a lifetime movie?

 

[[scooter]]

Yup. The only people making money on this are the scummy adults that practically enslave kids and send them around with this garbage. Most of the adults are also drug dealers and get the kids hooked on drugs. The kids are then charged a ton of money for lodging even though they're housed in slummy conditions.

And of course, many times you don't even end up getting any magazines that you order.

is this a script from a lifetime movie?

The only way this scenario gets turned into a Lifetime movie is if the inner-city boys are changed to suburban girls, and the drug-dealing ringleader is changed to an alcoholic father with a wife played by Valerie Bertinelli.

 

[John Bender]

Is it Virginia or is this just a general southern thing? My doorbell is now ringing at least once a day (today 3 times) with people selling magazines, guys in trucks trying to ask if I want to buy mulch, visits from local campaigning politicians, a local dry cleaner just going door to door to solicit new clients, and even lawn service companies just ringing the bell because I have a few leaves in my yard.

We do have a "No Soliciting" sign at the start of our neighborhood. Not sure what else to do other than what I did tonight. We were clearly home, both cars in driveway, lights on in house, and someone rang the doorbell. It's gotten to the point where I literally dont answer, even if they can clearly tell I'm home. I realize this is rude, but so is banging on someones door with a solicitation. They rang once, I yelled up to my S.O. and said "dont answer it" - they waited 3 minutes and rang again. This is re-#######-diculous

 

[modogg]

It might be more of a southern thing. I never, in 2 years near Philadelphia had someone knock on my door.

The 3-4 times a week are just the kids.

The rest of the week is filled with guys driving through the neighborhood seeing if I want any mulch, need the leaves in my yard raked for 50 dollars, are running for local office.

I used to sell door to door, in different parts of the country. South, Midwest and more sparsely populated places are much preferred.

Also, it's not that there weren't sales people in Philly. It's just that they probably missed you. In densely populated areas, you just hit a smaller percentage of people. If someone isn't home, there are a bunch of other people close by that are. You might try back later, but again, there's are so many other people that are home, and you can just keep moving on. In more spread out areas, it's easier to hit up everyone.

Or you lived in a place that sales people avoid. In big cities, that amounts to well over half of the city.

i've lived in Philly for 20 or so years, maybe had kids knock on my door once. no jehovah witness' or things like that either. i am sure it is for the better for both parties involved

 

[Johnny Rock]

Put a Beware of Dog sign near the front of your driveway and your own No Soliciting sign on your front door. Maybe throw up a No Trespassing sign too.

 

[Jobber]

All this cute girl talk. What's the legality if I, with nary a word, pull out my peen in this situation?

 

[The Big Guy]

Is it Virginia or is this just a general southern thing? My doorbell is now ringing at least once a day (today 3 times) with people selling magazines, guys in trucks trying to ask if I want to buy mulch, visits from local campaigning politicians, a local dry cleaner just going door to door to solicit new clients, and even lawn service companies just ringing the bell because I have a few leaves in my yard.

We do have a "No Soliciting" sign at the start of our neighborhood. Not sure what else to do other than what I did tonight. We were clearly home, both cars in driveway, lights on in house, and someone rang the doorbell. It's gotten to the point where I literally dont answer, even if they can clearly tell I'm home. I realize this is rude, but so is banging on someones door with a solicitation. They rang once, I yelled up to my S.O. and said "dont answer it" - they waited 3 minutes and rang again. This is re-#######-diculous

Yelling F off at the top of your lungs will probably work well. Would suck a bit if it was your neighbor, but probably for the best with that too

 

[DallasDMac]

I installed one of those peep holes in the door for just this situation. Though I have to admit, they look so far away when I look through the hole, it's hard to make anything out. And I feel like they're looking right back at me.

 

[dschuler]

I have had some come to my door in Virginia Beach. The most recent had a box full of COMPLETELY different items, from Fiddle Faddle to Kit Kat to shortbread cookies. I was 99.9% sure that this was a "scam". I asked how much, and it was $7 per item.... any one of which you can get for under $2 at the store next door.

I don't even mind paying a little more in helping out kids, but this just really seemed shady to me. It sucks if it is adults exploiting kids, but its not surprising. People suck.

I had that happen in VA Beach a few months back. There is another one floating around that area for a Magazine/book club. They asked if I wanted to donate for books/magazines and said it would only be like $5 each. So I said I would get four of them. What they didn't say is it was $5 per month each, aka, $20 a month that needed to be paid up front, $240 total! I didn't give them any money and it was a clear scam.

 

[John Bender]

Is it Virginia or is this just a general southern thing? My doorbell is now ringing at least once a day (today 3 times) with people selling magazines, guys in trucks trying to ask if I want to buy mulch, visits from local campaigning politicians, a local dry cleaner just going door to door to solicit new clients, and even lawn service companies just ringing the bell because I have a few leaves in my yard.

We do have a "No Soliciting" sign at the start of our neighborhood. Not sure what else to do other than what I did tonight. We were clearly home, both cars in driveway, lights on in house, and someone rang the doorbell. It's gotten to the point where I literally dont answer, even if they can clearly tell I'm home. I realize this is rude, but so is banging on someones door with a solicitation. They rang once, I yelled up to my S.O. and said "dont answer it" - they waited 3 minutes and rang again. This is re-#######-diculous

Ugh - turns out it was delivery of a gift from my mother for the holidays

 

[SacramentoBob]

A lot of these are just kids with door to door sales jobs selling magazine subscriptions or whatever. Trips to Europe are part of the sales pitch.

 

[cstu]

All this cute girl talk. What's the legality if I, with nary a word, pull out my peen in this situation?

Assuming you do not touch her, then within the confines of your home without being able to be seen from outside it should be legal.

Entering someone's home is an acceptance of the risk you might see them naked.

 

[SacramentoBob]

Anyone get the house number on the curb pitch?

They leave a flyer on your door saying they're painting house numbers on the curb in front of your house so that ambulances or whatever can locate you easier. They'll do it sometime in the next week, then come back a week later to take $20 for their service. Only way to decline is to tape the flyer over the old numbers on your curb and hope it stays in place all week or until the paint kid comes by.

Never seen that but they can eat a #### if they think I'm paying them $20.

 

[cstu]

Am I the only one who hates the coded language of "inner city kids"? They were black kids, say it.

 

[avoiding injuries]

I don't get many unannounced visits, but since my dog must think anyone who rings our doorbell is going to try and kill everyone, I disconnected it.

 

[John Bender]

Am I the only one who hates the coded language of "inner city kids"? They were black kids, say it.

Why do you hate it? The one story I remember (that I posted) was the kid telling me about how he was from the bad part of the city and his program was to raise money for inner city kids like him.

He used the term.

The kids selling magazine subs were white last time I opened the door.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Am I the only one who hates the coded language of "inner city kids"? They were black kids, say it.

I believe you have been proven wrong.