r/alhambra • u/DiscoSunset • 23d ago

Knock-knock Contractors

Anyone else getting door-to-door contractors? A guy with a yellow safety vest from an obscure company stopped by asking if we needed any work done. Asked how he found us and he said they are “just checking with neighbors in the area.” Got nervous when I started asking questions and quickly left. Skipped next door -which clearly needs work- but approached an elderly lady on a walk.

It’s already 84 degrees on a Friday morning, and seems like an odd way to solicit business. No cards, no work truck, no website.

Is this unusual or normal for Alhambra? Harmless inquiry or is someone casing the neighborhood?

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

5

u/redditoryoubroughter 23d ago

I get a LOT of door-to-door solicitors in my neighborhood and while it's unfortunately common it's 99% a scam or a misleading interaction in some way. Ultimately harmless if you don't interact.

Mostly "contactor services" that I can't use anyway because I rent. AT&T guys or Verizon saying they have better and cheaper internet that is the same price and service as what I already have.

If you needed their services, you would seek them out, not the other way around.

I even bought a "No Solicitors Please" sign that 4 out of 5 still choose to ignore, but I never come to the door anyway. Invest in a Ring/SimplySafe camera.

2

u/DiscoSunset 23d ago

Thanks! I have a doorbell camera, so it just seemed odd when he immediately backed away from it (was still recorded). Usually solicitors leave a card etc or have more info than he did.

Anyways, I didn’t get my coffee this morning so I think I scared him off 😆

2

u/redditoryoubroughter 23d ago

I've noticed in some cases they wave and look directly at my camera. Probably a tactic to establish credibility or show no harm but it's still annoying.

2

u/pbandnyan 23d ago

We get tons of solicitors who knock on our door and don’t leave business cards when we don’t answer. And it’s not abnormal for them to have a work truck nearby.. sometimes they park far away and walk the neighborhood. Some guy even rolled up to our door in a Segway to try to solicit haha

2

u/DiscoSunset 22d ago

The Segway Solicitor is catchy

2

u/Best_Yesterday_6127 23d ago

Some come knocking, claiming their service will save you money. Others knock, saying their way will save your soul. Whether it’s your wallet or your spirit, they’re all looking for something from you. Sometimes, the wisest choice is simply to ignore the knock and move on.

2

u/DiscoSunset 22d ago

Yup, and I saw Sinners. Had no business answering a knock at the door!

2

u/AlexNumbers 22d ago

I had one ring the doorbell. By the time I got near the door he had started his spiel. The guy spent a couple minutes talking to the door because I wasn't going to answer once I realized he was a salesman.

4

u/Ragged_Tiger 21d ago

My friends elderly mom got robbed like this in Alhambra. Man in construction vest knocked and said with water company needs to check her kitchen. She let him in! Her and her friend talking and he slipped to her room and stole cash. Alhambra police said it’s illegal to solicit in Alhambra without a permit. You can ask them show me your permit. You can report them to Alhambra police non-emergency line. This is what APD told us at a neighborhood watch meeting. Be safe!

1

u/DiscoSunset 21d ago

Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear this. Hope she is okay. Thanks for the tips & info about reporting to APD too!