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Door-to-door sales: My breaking point
Published on June 4, 2013 7:08 PM
2 minute read
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So if you're wondering where I was, I had a job opportunity with Moxie Pest Control selling year-long contracts door-to-door. Yesterday, after having studied the manual cover-to-cover, buying a new belt, and getting pumped for the opportunity to earn $20,000+ in a summer while I psyched myself up over the weekend, I sold two accounts, which I was repeatedly told was a great first day.

It was a legitimate service, I was never asked to be dishonest, and everyone there couldn't have been nicer or better motivated/motivational.

But it's a mental game, and it's just not good for me to be inside my own head for that long; re: had I signed a contract, it would be like yesterday, going from 9am to 9pm with a two hour lunch break, Monday through Saturday from now until August; ok there's also driving to and from knocking area in there, but that also meant getting back to the office at 10pm, and I had a 30 mile commute home.

I feel a mix of ashamed and relieved, cause if I could have stuck with it, I probably could have earned back a good chunk of my student loans (like 2/3) in only a couple months, but then I also know I'd be miserable.

I've worked jobs that were similarly time intensive, and more physical before, but there's a certain mental high that kept me up through those. Being on a set just has a feeling of "I made it" to me and while people are assholes, most are genuinely happy when you provide them a service in food, administration or anything, but getting people to sign contracts just ... eh. I don't live for the sale like you would have to.

Anyway, a library clerk position is opening nearby, and along with a few other jobs, I've applied to it this morning after quitting. Hopefully, my MBA application and/or MFA in Filmmaking application also go through.

So I'll get to the massive inbox that's piled up as I go along while I once again hop on craigslist every day. What are you up to? And have you ever heard of a game called Chu lip? Has a lot of employment philosophies in its script, and is hitting a bit too close to home for me right now watching Game Grumps play through it. 

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Posted on June 4, 2013 7:14 PM

I could never do door to door sales. My dad used to sell satelites and there was so much cut throat involved. He was really good at it which pissed everybody else off. I hope you can get that library clerk position. That seems like it would be a great job if a bit boring.

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:48 PM

This was not cut throat in that sense, everyone was very much wanted everyone else to succeed even if they were having a bad week, it was a great group of guys, just not for me.

A lot of them were out-of-state and knew each other from religious schools like BYU, so there was a great support group there.

And boring is fine. lol The beauty of having this experience is that now so many things seem so easy by comparison.

Posted on June 4, 2013 8:44 PM

I deeply hope your dad really sold satellites and not just satellite dishes. Please don't tell me otherwise...

Posted on June 4, 2013 8:46 PM

er yeah that's what I meant lol. Satelite dishes. That would have been awesome if he sold satelites though. Laughing

Posted on June 4, 2013 8:59 PM

Dammit! Was hoping he could get me a deal.

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:15 PM

I was employed very briefly as a Kirby vacuum cleaner salesperson. Like a day, and I made no sales. I did have a nice clean floor when I was done, though Tongue Out. My briefest employment stint was McDonald's. I lasted 90 minutes, long enough to be oriented by an assistant manager who was unable to read and pronounce any word longer than five letters and had no clue what half of what he was attempting to read to me meant.

You'll find something good, and it shows excellent sense in not working at something that is going to make you crazy.

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:51 PM

I hope so. And the same way your carpet was very clean, I think I might recommend this service for our house's bugs, it actually was a good deal.

My shortest job other than this was actually also in the fast food industry, at Boston Market a few months. Everyone was very much literate and well-spoken, though. lol

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:20 PM

Stick with it bud, something good is bound to come up! I know I've been looking for a new job for a while, I just haven't found anything as of yet. Just keep pushing the envelope and something good will come your way!

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:51 PM

Indeed it will, thanks, hope you find what you're looking for as well!

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:27 PM

I almost got a job selling knives once until I was like "No Way."  I've had some really bad ones, including jobs that involved dead bodies.  We all have those ups and downs when we're looking for the right one.  Keep your chin up, something will come along eventually, I'm sure of it. 

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:52 PM

The dead bodies one actually sounds pretty interesting to me, but then again I've never actually done it, and I'm sure the smell is atrocious.

Posted on June 4, 2013 8:39 PM

I couldn't eat for days.  :(   It involved filming fake doctors demonstrating new medical equipment on cadavers.

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:33 PM

Sales make me sick. Out of desperation, I've actually tried to put on that mental attitude just to see if I could do it and nope... it's still not for me.

It seems like everything is about sales these days. It's the American way I guess. Maybe I'll move...

Posted on June 4, 2013 7:54 PM

To be fair, you need sales in anything, even art if you want to make money off of it, and there comes a point you just have to make money to live.

That being said, my decision here is a reflection that I need some form of time to myself to balance with money making, so I definitely understand where you're coming from.

Posted on June 5, 2013 6:59 PM

I understand its need. My interest is in creative inovation. I'll have someone else do the promotion and sales. Someone who likes that sort of thing.

Posted on June 5, 2013 7:04 PM

Yeah, I hear ya.

Posted on June 5, 2013 7:22 PM

Good luck btw!

Posted on June 5, 2013 7:31 PM

Thank you! And good luck with all your endeavors as well!

Posted on June 4, 2013 8:15 PM

I've never sold anything door to door,but I have tried to collect donations for charity. I know how tough that sort of thing can be,especially in summer. I did work as a loan collector one summer for one of those small loan companies. Over the course of three months I had collected 10 dollars! It's all a big game I found out. The people I was talking to had some money,they were just not going to give up a dime of it. Not unless they were threatened with a court date. So I was a total failure at that job. It paid my rent that summer,so I suppose it was worth it. Hope you are able to secure a job that is way better. Maybe even one that's fun! That would be great to find.

Posted on June 4, 2013 9:03 PM

I think my holy grail is set as air conditioning.

Posted on June 4, 2013 8:25 PM

I have never been a big fan of walking up to doors and knocking, or ringing the bell...  And the worst part is that it doesn't matter if they are a stranger or not.  I hate knocking on friend's doors.

Posted on June 4, 2013 9:04 PM

Yeah, it does make you feel like you're bothering people.

Posted on June 4, 2013 8:38 PM

Yikes. Door to door sales doesn't seem fun at all... Don't give up tho. I knew a chick who put in 50 apps to different places and only got 3 job offers. I'll be having to do the same thing here pretty soon.

Posted on June 4, 2013 9:10 PM

Yeah, I've been throwing my resume out like a peacock thrusts its feathers, and even with a Bachelor's and managerial experience, it's slim pickin's. I'm really hoping I get that library clerk job, though, sounds right for me.

If not, one of the other jobs I applied to. Back on my five apps a day rule now.

Posted on June 4, 2013 10:58 PM

Chulip was an interesting game, but I felt it wasn't very 'fun.'  The folks who made Chulip went on to make a MUCH better game with the same concept, called Chibi Robo.

Posted on June 5, 2013 12:17 AM

I've actually heard of Chibi Robo. Did not realize there was a connection.

Posted on June 4, 2013 11:25 PM

Props for trying that job. It takes a lot for someone to go door to door, especially since a lot of folks tend to be A-Holes. Something good will come up, you just have to go through a couple of speed bumps like this. The library job sounds good. Inside, quiet, and you have something to read. Have you checked out Rental Car spots? They like people with degrees, it's indoors, and if you upsale anything it's bonus money.

Keep at it man, something good is gonna come along and you're gonna be golden!

Posted on June 5, 2013 12:16 AM

Hope so. Applying like a beast again.

Posted on June 5, 2013 12:08 AM

Hey moneys money not to sound like Dad but stick with it till  you find something better, never burn bridges that resume looks alot better, you dont want a resume that says HEB 2 months Shell 1 month lol it looks alot better HEB 3 years Shell 2 years lol. but then again if your not happy then its time to move on.Wink

Posted on June 5, 2013 12:16 AM

Money's money, but I already have a Bachelor's, one year management experience, and two to three years in restaurant staff and general administration jobs, plus at the time I applied I was freelancing as a Production Assistant and still am. Money is money, but it's not worth my sanity when there are other things I can get. lol

Posted on June 5, 2013 5:57 PM

Well hell with that kind of background why the hell would you be pittling around with that job hell think big lol!!!

Posted on June 5, 2013 6:35 PM

The job could have made me $20,000+ on the back end of my sales in one summer, had I been able to sell 100 accounts or so; not "pittling" in my book. lol It's just that with my anxiety, I can't be on my own knocking on doors in an area so far away for so long. Like I said, studied the manual cover-to-cover and did everything I could to prepare and be successful cause it sounded like such a good offer, but once I experienced the reality of it, it just was not going to work for me.

However, I do have an interview this Friday for infomercial guy, and I could be on a set behind of or in front of a camera all damn day. Wish me luck, I could be the next Billy Mayes or Shamwow guy. lol

Posted on June 5, 2013 7:12 PM

Wasnt knocking you at all i just felt that your way over qualified and could be doing something you wantnthen doing something you dont it sounds to me with the kind of educational background you have you could be doing alit better then sales thats all i was saying.

Posted on June 5, 2013 7:20 PM

Oh, I wasn't taking it as a knock against me, I was just saying it actually was a good opportunity; to be honest, my degree is in radio/TV so finding a job actually isn't so much easier with my education, which is why I've been thinking of getting a more marketable degree like an MBA.

Sorry if I came across defensive, I was just saying it wasn't actually a bad gig had I been able to do it, all things considered, it just turned out it was not for me at this time.

Posted on June 5, 2013 7:44 PM

Nah you were not coming across defensive i just thought for the awesome education you got i didnt understand why you would be going for a door to door sells but of course with that kind of money involved now i could see why lol.

Posted on June 5, 2013 1:25 AM

I wouldn't last 5 minutes going door to door. The thought of it alone makes me feel ill.

Posted on June 5, 2013 1:36 AM

I lasted an entire day and even made two sales, but I have anxiety issues. The two don't mix; I think if it had been like freelance door to door I'd have been fine, but that contract talk ... and yet I'd gladly sign a contract of similar time to be a PA. Damn world, always against me. lol Kidding, it could be a lot worse.

Posted on June 5, 2013 1:26 AM

Not a fan of sales jobs either. Before I came to work with my folks I was working at Harbor Freight Tools. They constantly had us trying to cram warranties down peoples throats. The warranties were not very good deals and most of their junk they sold would break within thirty days anyway. But door to door is taking it to a whole new level. The liabray job sound cool though, I tried to get a job at the liabrary myself once, but I didn't have any college yet and they were really picky for positions like that.

 And I know its a tough buisness but with your Production Assistant expirience you might could find a lot of work here in New Orleans. My Aunt has been working as a makeup artist for almost 30 years and she loves the fact that this has become Hollywood South, she hated have to spend weeks or months at a time in LA. Just a thought.

Posted on June 5, 2013 1:41 AM

I did work with another PA who worked on films in NOLA. Thanks for reminding me.

And what I was selling was a legit service, I don't think I could lie to people. I sold the two I did cause I actually believed in the product, but it's just a bad idea for me to be on my own that long.

Posted on June 5, 2013 2:09 AM

Good luck getting another job. I wouldn't really try door to door sales, since like Jehova witnesses, I have a likely posibility that they could shut the door in front of my nose. Since I love books, i'd go with the library job.

Just heard of Chulip thanks to Game Grumps, but I haven't watched that LP. Right now, i'm in Mario Party 2.

Posted on June 5, 2013 2:29 AM

I haven't watched their Mario Party ones.

And most of the people I was working with were Mormons, so the door to door connection is there. lol Not a knock against them though, they were nice guys for sure, and that stuff takes dedication.

Thanks for the luck. Smile

Posted on June 5, 2013 8:28 AM

 Door knocking sucks balls. I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, and my dad was a bit fanatical. Up until I was 17, when I did a few things the religions frowned on and they told me not to anymore, I was door knocking. And it was terrible. Some people in the congregation had been shot at, we'd all been verbally abused - with kids with us, mind you - and it was just mentally draining. The longest I'd been out was 6 hours, but I wasn't getting paid. I was just getting closer to pleasing a fictional deity and apparently gaining immortality. I suppose if it were actually true, it would be a pretty sweet deal.

Posted on June 5, 2013 5:32 PM

Yeah, that does not sound fun. Granted work isn't supposed to be fun, so I realize I'm being a whiner, but childhood is supposed to be a good time.

Posted on June 5, 2013 4:17 PM

I could not do sales, not at all. Too people intensive. I don't even like a friendly debate, let alone trying to convince someone to part with their hard-earned cash for whatever I'd be selling. No thanks. Alternatively, I think a library job would be boring, yes, but kind of awesomely boring Smile But then again, I like books...

Posted on June 5, 2013 5:37 PM

Boring is really not an obstacle for me honestly, and especially not when they're asking for hours as part time as they are (I'd need another evening job, but I can live with that, I waited tables for years).

Plus, I like books as well. Or the infomercial guy position I'm interviewing for this Friday could go through.

Posted on June 6, 2013 3:17 AM

I actually want to try out Chu lip....it seems very interesting. 

Hopefully you find something better than door to door sales but at least it's something for now. It sounds like it could be a fun or a terrible job depending on who you meet.

Posted on June 6, 2013 3:55 AM

Well, I quit, so it's not really something for now. lol But there is a warehouse job, a library clerk job I've applied to, and I have an infomercial guy job interview Friday, so wish me luck!

Posted on June 29, 2013 6:33 AM

Could never do that myself so I understand where you coming from. Good luck with the library job (if you didn't get it already by the time of this comment) I tried for it before but didn't realize how much you really need for background to even be considered for that job.

Posted on June 29, 2013 4:06 PM

I did not get it, but I found another freelance gig, and am currently getting everything together for an MBA in the fall. Thank you.