Door to door

Who says we need roofing?

Lately I’ve had a plague of door to door salespersons – banging on my glass door, despite the very obvious, lighted door bell.  I know that times are hard and people are trying to make a living the best they can, but REALLY? In the world of 24/7 online shopping, it’s hard to believe that anyone can still make a living as a door to door salesperson.

Of course, these salespersons are NOT selling anything. NO, of course not. That is the opening line. “Hello, I’m ________, and I’m not here to sell you anything.” Then, if I continue listening, they go on to ask if I’m concerned about: energy prices, home security, roofing and siding, water purity, and so on. Next, they tell me they’re shocked, SHOCKED, about the travesty of: high energy prices, poor home security, shoddy roofing and siding, or lack of water purity. Then they implore me to: put a sign in my yard, sign a petition, join my neighbors in decrying ______. Then, wait for it, here comes the kicker. The not-selling-anything sales person tries to sell me: better energy options, a home security system, roofing or siding, or a water purifier.

By now, readers are shaking their heads and saying to themselves “Huffygirl, why do you stand there and let them go through the dog and pony show? Just slam the door and be done with it.” Well, first I’m too kind to slam the door, and second they go through it all so fast I’m always caught off guard.

But now, I’m ready. I’m on to the door to door nonsales-sales ploy, and I’ll be ready the next time the perky young man comes to my door NOT selling energy efficiency, replacement windows, or home security. But by then, it will be time for the sweet-faced kids Little League kids  selling candy bars.

How about some nice replacement windows?

© Huffygirl 2012

Your ad here (no, not really)

Convenient reminder or spot advertising? (Photo: Huffygirl)

I’m looking at a sticker on my furnace duct placed there by the man who cleaned it. It gives the name of the company, the name of the person who did the cleaning, the date and phone number. Convenient reminder or spot advertising? I didn’t ask Chris from Dirty Ducts Are Us to place a big sticky sticker on my furnace duct, nor did I give him permission.For some reason an image of dogs marking their territory springs to mind.

There’s a sticker on my furnace too, from the company that serviced it. And on my car windshield from the oil change place. Ditto on my water heater,  lawn mower and garage door opener. I wouldn’t be surprised if I left the hair salon tomorrow with one slapped on the back of my neck. At your next colonoscopy - a discrete, tasteful  label pressed on  your bottom, proclaiming “Your colonoscopy brought to you by Dr. No. See you in 5 years.”

Advertising – it’s everywhere. Why? Because we have gone from a country whose economy is based on making things, to one that’s based on

(Image courtesy of Google)

 selling things. We are indeed the great infidel of retail. Without advertising, our economy would fail. It’s even more important now in such a tight, recessed economy with unemployed and underemployed folks guarding their money and purchase decisions carefully. Everyone has to get their two cents out, their product advertised, and those little stickers are either a great, inexpensive way to do it, or a curse of in your face advertising, depending upon your outlook.

What do you think? Is micro advertising clever, annoying, or so last year that you don’t even see it?

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