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Comment by JohnFen | Hacker News Reader

My "No Soliciting" sign actually worked very well with everyone except religious organizations. I still haven't figured out how to deter them aside from saying "I'll listen to your sales pitch about God only after you listen to my sales pitch about Satan."

Funny story, only once did that fail to get them to go away. In that case, it was a couple of Mormons and they took me up on the offer (leaving me wishing I actually had some sort of satanic sales pitch). They were very nice and pleasant company, and we ended up spending a couple of hours talking about the music of Frank Zappa.

But I didn't become a Mormon.

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Pro tip about Mormon missionaries (I've never been a Mormon but have been visited by them): the easiest way to get them to go away permanently is to get on their blacklist; they have them believe it or not. It is basically a "do not visit this house" list. And the easiest way to do that is to try to convert them to a different religion from Mormonism. If you're really good at it, they'll consider you a threat to their missionary work and blacklist you.

Now, you might be thinking "Nah, that sounds too much like work" but consider the benefit: you won't be blacklisted only by Mormon missionary trainer 1 and trainee 2, but no Mormon will ever visit your home ever again, because you are in their LDS ward.

While I really dislike anyone knocking on my door to sell me something, regardless of what that thing is, I do have to admit...

Mormons are usually the least objectionable of all the door-knockers. They tend to be genuinely friendly (or at least are able to fake it really well), respectful, don't do the "hard sell", and when I tell them I'm not interested, they honor my statement and leave without trying to change my mind or guilt-trip me.

I just put up a camera at the front door and check it before answering, if they're holding a clipboard or the like I leave them standing there.

That was smart of them to take you up on your offer! It reminds me of something I read that said if you are trying to sell something to someone and they're budging, ask them what it would take to change their mind. It's kind of a trick question, because often, whatever they request can be provided (or at least an equivalent), and once the salesperson provides it to them, it's very hard for them to say no. Most people want to appear consistent in their behaviors.

> That was smart of them to take you up on your offer!

It really was. I think the reason they did and the others didn't was that they understood that I wasn't being serious, but the others thought I was. They laughed when I made the offer and said "sounds great!".

But, to your point, once they agreed I wasn't really in a position to say "no, never mind" without losing a bit of face.

I was once offered a job across the country. I was flattered and a friend's recommendation was involved so I wanted to be polite. Instead of saying "no," I said thank you so much but looking at cost of living etc it would really take (to-me absurd offer, benefits, moving support, etc). They replied back: you drive a hard bargain but we can do that. Welcome aboard!

...shit. But yeah, I moved.

Well, how did it work out?

Really well, at least in the long run. I stopped being a "big fish" in a small-town pond and ended up discovering more cool opportunities than I thought existed.

Mormon salesmissionaries are trained to do whatever you want. They'll mow your lawn for you.

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