Door to door steak salesman?

[JerryCarr]

I am posting this in keeping with Rob's philosophy of "assume the best and ask quesions." As chairman of the HPP Neighborhood Watch, I have received calls from nervous homeowners regarding a man who is driving into HPP driveways and when approached by residents says he is selling steaks. On at least one occasion, he was described as quite nervous and made great haste to leave when told "no thanks." No one with whom I have spoken has actually tried to buy any steaks, so we don't know what he would do if that happened.

There has been a very notable increase in burglary in HPP in December, and people are nervous. Door to door salespersons are rather unusual here, so I can see why some would be concerned. If this individual is legitimate, I would like to be able to tell people so. Is anyone aware of a business that operates this way? I'm hoping that this is just someone trying to make a living.

Cheers,
Jerry

[mdd7000]

There are a couple of companies (can't recall the names) that do this on the island. The vehicle will be a pickup truck with a large freezer in the back. The seller will usually (apparently not in your case) be very well trained on how to approach and sell door-to-door. Their training involves instruction on how to overcome most all objections to the sale, including lack of money from the buyer.

The prices of the steaks are high - and quite negotiable. They are trained to be very persistent. The quality of the steaks (and pork and chicken) are rather dubious.

Companies like these have been on the mainland for years.

[missydog1]

Yes, what mdd said. They came to our house in Hilo a few years back. Very persistent and high pressure. So it exists here. Whether this guy in HPP is legit or impersonating the company, don't know.

[Devany]

In the East Bay we lived in a much smaller private community (only 200 homes on 600 acres with private roads like HPP) and no soliciting signs were posted at the entrance. If ANYONE knocked on a door trying to sell something they were told to exit the community and the police were called (and they came immediately.) We had a few instances of those kids being dropped off trying to sell magazine subscriptions and the occasional tree trimmer try to sell his services. I also remember meat and frozen food companies that went door to door on the mainland in the '70's and 80's. mdd and Kathy are right, they are predators and very aggressive. And then there are guys who steal a few cases of steaks off of a loading dock... I would think a no solicitors sign might be of help. Regardless, notations should be made of the license plate especially if he is not driving one of those freezer trucks. And people should always ask to see ID of anyone other than friends or neighbors coming on to their property.

Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[Chuysmom]

We had one guy approach us at Foodland in Keaau a couple of weeks ago. SO familiar 'cause they always seem to say "I'm done for the day and I have some left over product to sell at a really cheap price." (Which they are not.)

We've been approached by these guys quite a bit on the mainland and they always say the same line.

Carrie


"The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it." Galadriel - LOTR

[Frankie Stapleton]

Jerry, I think it was the same guy who came to my door in Nanawale a coupla weeks ago. He was persistent but I just told him I don't eat meat. He then tried to sell me seafood but I turned him away, telling him I live on Soc. Security and don't have the money for seafood. (He didn't seem to quite understand that but he was young. And I was just making an excuse not to buy.)

I was kinda impressed that someone at least had the initiative to go out and try to make a buck, earn a living, even going door-to-door selling food. All you have to do is say no. And there's no way he was scoping out my place for a ripoff cause I'm home most of the time and all my neighbors are too and we're front-and-center on the main drive. And I have nothing worth stealing cause I'm on Soc. Sec.......

[kani-lehua]

i know of at least one punawebber that has actually bought steaks from a female door-to-door salesperson. as was previously mentioned, the price (s) are negotiable. the product was so-so and would probably not be recommended as good quality.



"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."

w. james

[JerryCarr]

Thanks to all who replied. I'm inclined to think that this was just somebody trying to make a living. Going door to door in HPP is tough, though. I wouldn't want to try it, what with suspicious people, lots of dogs, many homes well off the road, and generally low density. Hard times will make someone try things they might not otherwise do.

Cheers,
Jerry

[Chuysmom]

Funny we're just talking about this yesterday - doing a job in Kapoho there was a knock at the door and a young man says "we are here in Kapoho and done for the day and..." I said, "Steaks, right?" he said "Yes." - Anyway it's just funny that this is a current topic and here they are! Like they were channeled or something. Are there really that many of these guys around?

Carrie


"The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it." Galadriel - LOTR

[Carey]

"Done for the day" steaks YUM!! X~(

With a sales pitch like that, could there really BE many of these guys???? That said, in Keaau town we have had these guys showing up at odd intervals in the 4+ years we have lived in this house, selling various animal parts out of an freezer in the back of a pickup (I always wondered, can you really adequately power a freezer on the back of a pickup???? - but I digress... again!)