How Aggressive Salespeople See 'No Soliciting' Signs In Utah

Is putting a “No Soliciting” sign on your door effective at keeping salespeople from ringing your doorbell? It might depend on where you live, and in some cases, it may be making you a target of the more aggressive sellers.

Each City Decides Consequences for Ignoring Signs

Most cities, according to KSL, require a salesperson to check for a “No Soliciting” sign and obey it. Some cities will outline penalties for actively ignoring it to the point of trespassing. In this case, the homeowner would have to make it clear they are out of bounds.

Warning someone knocking at the door that they are trespassing kind of defeats the purpose of the sign. The hope is the sign will deter the salesperson, so the resident doesn’t have to talk to them at all. This is why the sign can send a different message than intended.

Having a 'No Soliciting' sign can signal a salesperson that you have a hard time saying no. Canva

“No Soliciting” Sign Can Attract Aggressive Sales Techniques

If you have posted a sign to keep salespeople from ringing your doorbell to avoid talking to them and it might be because you have a hard time saying no or don’t like confrontation. This could be just what a well-trained salesperson is looking for.

A site for teaching sales techniques dedicates a whole article to getting around “No Soliciting” signs and it is far easier than you would expect. The idea is to not appear to be selling anything, just offering a free appraisal or inspection.

You might want to rethink your "No Soliciting" sign if you get more knocks since it went up. I don’t have a sign on my door, and I handle someone knocking like any responsible homeowner should. I peek through the window and then act like no one is home.