Watch for shady magazine sales kids

project lulu Jul 22, 2011 28 Comments

Not that I distrust the kids totally, but there are some youth in Duluth going door to door. They are collecting ‘points’ toward a trip and award to sell subscriptions to magazines. But along the way, the young man who came to my door asked to come in for a writing surface. When the table in the entry wasn’t enough, he asked to come in further for a counter or dining table. Then he asked for some bottled water. All of this made me increasingly uncomfortable. After he left, I called the phone number on the receipt and Googled the name of the company. Upshot is, they are tagged by the Better Business Bureau for not refunding money and not delivering product. Buyer beware.

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28 Comments

bluenewt

about 14 years ago 

One of those guys came by my house yesterday, too. We said no before he was even able to say what he was supposedly selling, but he did say it was a contest. The magazine subscription contest is a really old scam! A guy tried it in our dorm when I was a freshman in college 30 years ago. They like to tell you they only need a few more subscriptions and then they win something, a trip to Hawaii or something.

dbb

about 14 years ago 

He asked for access to your house for a 'writing surface'? He probably wanted to case the interior for valuables. Then again maybe I'm just paranoid. Off to finish up chapter 10 of my manifesto.

Shana

about 14 years ago 

The kid who came to my house yesterday had a sheet listing names of magazines, but said that I only had to circle one (again, to earn him points) and give him any amount of money that I wanted.  "Cash, check, or the keys to the car," is what he said when I told him I had nothing on me, and on my second attempt to politely shoo him away as I was in the middle of teaching a piano lesson.  I guess I gotta give him credit for not even pretending I'd get a magazine?

Greg

about 14 years ago 

If they are going door to door, ask to see their solicitors license.

Ethan

about 14 years ago 

These guys are pushy.  I've encountered them a couple of times in the past few years.  They did the same to me - asked if they could use the bathroom, and asked for a glass of ice water.  I also thought maybe they were trying to case the pace for valuables, and it was a bit strange...

NateL

about 14 years ago 

2 stopped at my place a few weeks ago, but were extremely polite. The 500% mark up on subscription prices were a red flag.

jsmith142000

about 14 years ago 

I was in Jackson, WY earlier this summer and the same scam hit up the motel I was staying at. The young women asked to come into the room to use the table. I couldn't imagine what for, so I shut the door on her. Weird.

edgeways

about 14 years ago 

I had this happen a few years back. The magazine list was pretty blech. I did get my money back fwiw. 

(asked for bottled water? yeash)

Barrett Chase

about 14 years ago 

One of these kids came to our house last summer and in a two-minute conversation, about six red flags went up. First he said he was in a contest to see how many people he could meet in one day. Then he said a bunch of other creepy stuff I can't remember. At one point he blurted out that he was wearing $300 worth of clothing.

Griz

about 14 years ago 

One of these guys came to my house yesterday. He was high as a kite.

adam

about 14 years ago 

I'd put (somewhat) less on "casing the joint," and more on the I'll-buy-something-if-you-get-the-F-out-of-my-house sales tactic.

bp

about 14 years ago 

I'm not sure how they're pushy... Maybe learn to say "no" instead of being so stereotypically passive-aggressive? Then again, I wasn't there so I shouldn't really be acting like a know-it-all.

Ramos

about 14 years ago 

Take their pictures and post them here.

Ramos

about 14 years ago 

I can't wait till they come to my house.

Ramos

about 14 years ago 

"Why, certainly you can have a flat surface to write on. Just let me get my camera."

Ramos

about 14 years ago 

"Don't mind the hundred-dollar bills that I store in this open drawer over here."

EvilResident

about 14 years ago 

They came to my house. I said "no thanks," and they left. No issues whatsoever.

adam

about 14 years ago 

Both of you are the shittiest door-to-door victims ever, and take all the fun out of this game.

TimK

about 14 years ago 

I have a "no soliciting" sign on my door. I often need to explain what "no soliciting" means to solicitors.

zra

about 14 years ago 

I'd like a "No Soliciting, Proselytizing or Campaigning" posting for my door.

Beverly

about 14 years ago 

A friend of mine had someone visit her garage sale, asked to use the bathroom and stole prescription medicine. (Not related to the magazine kids, but another thing to think about.)

Starfire

about 14 years ago 

I also had a visit from these folks and after I told him no for the 8th time I Googled the business name. Turns out these kids are often shipped into town and put up in cheap hotel rooms and most of the money they make is kept for food lodging and transportation.

Henry Jenkins

about 14 years ago 

I want an 'if you are close enough to read this, get off my property' sign on my door.

zra

about 14 years ago 

"Anyone Found Here At Night Will Be Found Here In the Morning."

Dan Fuenffinger

about 14 years ago 

This is not just a Duluth thing, but Kaneohe, HI as well.

Barrett Chase

about 14 years ago 

A few weeks ago we had a guy come to our door wanting to demonstrate a vacuum cleaner. I thought I'd accidentally slipped into a 1960s sitcom.

Derek Montgomery

about 14 years ago 

Was this the kid you were talking about?

matilda

about 14 years ago 

Yeah, one of my friends fell victim to a  'friends' who sold her a 'super allergy busting vacuum' on a like $80 dollar a month sales plan for the rest of her life, or something. Odd that vacuum cleaner scamming is going on.

Basically, anyone who comes to my door is going to get ignored. good luck dorks. I hope the dog across the street bites you, too. GTFO

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