Oneontans: Brace Yourselves For Door-to-Door Sales

As an Oneonta City Resident, I was dismayed to see a Facebook notice from the City of Oneonta, relaying a message from the Office of the City Clerk:

"From the Office of the City Clerk: Jonay Jones of the Southwestern Company has been granted permission to conduct a home-to-home canvas in the City of Oneonta between 08:00am and 09:00pm Monday through Saturday beginning July 29, 2013. The permission extends through August 22, 2013. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 432-6450."

If you're wondering about the Southwestern company, it's a  company that recruits and trains college students to sell educational books, software, and website subscriptions door-to-door using direct selling methods. The students who take part in this venture are independent contractors and employed by Southwestern and they are selling products directly to individuals at retail cost for delivery at the end of the season.

You can at least rest assured that this is a legitimate company.  However, I am NOT a fan a someone coming to my house to sell me something.  I'm always suspicious of the sales person because we're always hearing about scams and you don't have an opportunity to find out if they're legitimate before they're coming at you with a sales pitch.  Plus, they seem to show up at my home during the most inconvenient times.  The last guy who came to my house to sell me something arrived just before 9pm!  Are you kidding me?!!  If it's dark outside and you're knocking on my door, you get a "no" no matter what.  I am angry that these sales people are allowed to bother me up to 9pm at night!  I go to bed at 9pm.  I realize that's early for most adults but since when has anyone been happy to see a solicitor knock on their door after 8pm?  If I had my way, door-to-door sales would be outlawed.  We all get bombarded enough with sales so many other ways.  I don't ever want it showing up at my door step.