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gnomiYesterday, mabfan had a medical procedure in the morning, and then he and I went home for him to recuperate. We got home at about 1:00 PM, had lunch, and then I set about doing random Stuff while he rested and worked on healing.
At about 2:45, the buzzer rang. I went down the three flights of stairs to the front door to see who it was (we weren’t expecting anyone, but we didn’t know if perhaps a package was being delivered). It was a perky-grinned, earnest young woman wearing a MASSPIRG jacket. “Good afternoon,” she started. “I’m sorry,” I said. “My husband just had surgery this morning; I don’t really have time to talk to you today.” She apologized and left the building and I headed back upstairs. We heard the buzzer in the apartment below ours buzzing as I got back into our apartment, so I figured that MASSPIRG Chick had decided to come back into the building and try her luck with some of our neighbors.
The afternoon progressed, I got more Stuff done, and then at about 6:15, the buzzer rang again. I sighed and headed back downstairs. Again, we weren’t expecting anyone, but since our building intercom doesn’t work properly, there was no way for me to determine if it was someone who we wanted to see or not without going back downstairs. To my surprise, who was at the door but the same MASSPIRG Chick. She greeted me with the same perky grin she’d had the first time until I got the door open. She then realized who I was. “I thought I told you I didn’t have time to talk to you today,” I said. “I didn’t mean to buzz you again,” she replied. Of course, she’d already buzzed folks in the building earlier, so she’d come back to harass someone again. “You’ve just guaranteed that I won’t be giving money to MASSPIRG this year,” I said. “I’m sorry,” she said, and then she turned and left the building again. I didn’t see her come back this time, nor did I hear her buzz anyone else in the building, so I do believe she left for good.
An overreaction on my part? Perhaps. But once you’ve been told that a person you’re trying to solicit money from is not interested, it’s in your best interest to make a note on your sheet so you don’t bother them again within a four-hour period.
mabfan had a medical procedure in the morning, and then he and I went home for him to recuperate. We got home at about 1:00 PM, had lunch, and then I set about doing random Stuff while he rested and worked on healing.At about 2:45, the buzzer rang. I went down the three flights of stairs to the front door to see who it was (we weren’t expecting anyone, but we didn’t know if perhaps a package was being delivered). It was a perky-grinned, earnest young woman wearing a MASSPIRG jacket. “Good afternoon,” she started. “I’m sorry,” I said. “My husband just had surgery this morning; I don’t really have time to talk to you today.” She apologized and left the building and I headed back upstairs. We heard the buzzer in the apartment below ours buzzing as I got back into our apartment, so I figured that MASSPIRG Chick had decided to come back into the building and try her luck with some of our neighbors.
The afternoon progressed, I got more Stuff done, and then at about 6:15, the buzzer rang again. I sighed and headed back downstairs. Again, we weren’t expecting anyone, but since our building intercom doesn’t work properly, there was no way for me to determine if it was someone who we wanted to see or not without going back downstairs. To my surprise, who was at the door but the same MASSPIRG Chick. She greeted me with the same perky grin she’d had the first time until I got the door open. She then realized who I was. “I thought I told you I didn’t have time to talk to you today,” I said. “I didn’t mean to buzz you again,” she replied. Of course, she’d already buzzed folks in the building earlier, so she’d come back to harass someone again. “You’ve just guaranteed that I won’t be giving money to MASSPIRG this year,” I said. “I’m sorry,” she said, and then she turned and left the building again. I didn’t see her come back this time, nor did I hear her buzz anyone else in the building, so I do believe she left for good.
An overreaction on my part? Perhaps. But once you’ve been told that a person you’re trying to solicit money from is not interested, it’s in your best interest to make a note on your sheet so you don’t bother them again within a four-hour period.
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 05:58 pm (UTC)The kids get to take 15% of the money they receive from door to door canvasing, as well as receiving little bit from what ever monies the other canvasers get. The staff people take an additional 25% of what the kids take in.
The rest goest to headquarters.
Jeez
Date: 2007-01-03 06:32 pm (UTC)I think it's awful how you and other people are beating up someone for an innocent mistake. There are plenty of worse things to be upset about.
Re: Jeez
Date: 2007-01-03 06:44 pm (UTC)As the aforementioned recovering husband, I will note that we were most forgiving of the first time the person rang the bell, and we assumed that this would be the end of it. But there is really no excuse for her ringing the bell again only a few hours later. I'm involved in local politics, and I make sure always to note when someone has said "Do not bother me" for whatever reason.
As for your ridiculous question -- sure I've dialed a wrong number. But I never dialed the same wrong number a second time, after being told the first time that a person at the number was recovering from surgery and please don't call again.
Re: Jeez
Date: 2007-01-03 09:28 pm (UTC)That said, I still think that this was as described, an innocent accident, and that it had the bad timing to occur on a bad day for you guys. The first time your bell got wrung was not "a wrong number." The first time was a legitimate "I'm hitting up everyone to solicit."
The second time, based on my experience, was likely hitting the wrong button in the dark at the end of the day, because a neighbor had been a "no response" previously.
As I said in my previous comment: someone genuinely doing a return in the hope you had changed you mind would have repitched you.
Re: Jeez
Date: 2007-01-04 08:28 am (UTC)Re: Jeez
Date: 2007-01-04 03:18 pm (UTC)If you feel so strongly about your position, stand behind your words with your name.
And from the way I read the phrase, "I think it's awful how you and other people are beating up someone for an innocent mistake," I interpret that as an act of criticism. The person is clearly criticising our actions, in which we complain about being bothered twice on a day I was recovering from surgery.
I also wish to point out that neither my wife nor I ever beat up anyone, nor do we enjoy the accusation. Instead, we shared a complaint about how we felt harrassed by a representative of MASSPIRG. Perhaps this will convince MASSPIRG to give better training to their volunteers, issue better procedures, and help them raise more money in the long run. So on the flip side, isn't it good that we brought this to their attention?
no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 08:43 pm (UTC)Can I just send my 60c for each dollar directly to HQ?
no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 09:29 pm (UTC)