I live on Chapin Street (between South Avenue and Western Avenue). Tonight after dark a young fellow in a blue hoodie showed at my door offering “The Toledo Blade” for free. He had what appeared to be several copies in his arm, and the top copy was today’s edition. I didn’t open the door to him (I told him I already have a subscription), and sent him on his way. I called my next door neighbor to alert her (she said no one rang her bell although I saw him turn in the direction of her house as he left). Anyone know anything about this? I don’t know why “The Toledo Blade” would bother with such efforts. I have a subscription, and I can get a lot of my information for free off the Internet. Also, my neighbor is always being offered “free” copies of the Sunday edition since she doesn’t subscribe to that one.. She received about 20 editions in a row, and she still doesn’t subscribe to the Sunday edition. Why “The Toledo Blade” would be sending out salesmen for their newspaper after dark doesn’t seem reasonable. We live in a time when it is reasonable to be suspicious of people coming to your door (especially after nightfall).
Is The Blade Being Shopped Around at Night For Free?
Comments ... #
You can't afford to think otherwise that your neighborhood is just being cased for later burglaries. Some galoot probably just pinched a stack of newspapers just to make it look good for being some sort of salesman. Call the police the next time, and keep an eye on him as the suspect leaves. Chances are, if he sees you taking interest in him, he'll bolt, and then you have an ID to tell the police.
I live south of the Zoo, and this seems to be happening more. Don't put up with it. Fight back.
Doesn't sounds like the typical Blade marketing approach to me -- they just hassle me on the phone every few months!
Nice work tipping off the neighbor, a few proactive neighbors can really work wonders in making a block unappealing to the less desirable types, if in fact that's who this was.
I'm always pleased to have 70 pounds of hyperactive canine by my side when strangers approach the door, day or night. Don't be coming to my place after dark hiding under your hoodie!
GZ, I forgot to put this in: I did call the Scott Park station (the non-emergency number), and they promised to send a patrol car (that was five minutes after I saw him). I asked if they had heard of such a program, and they said they hadn't but "The Toledo Blade" isn't required to notify them of their marketing efforts. I was mainly trying to find out if anyone else had been contacted in such a way. I saw a neighbor across the street, and asked him about it (about 10 minutes after the incident, and after the phone call to the police). He thought it might be legit because the guy I described was rather like the younger brother of a neighbor. He had received a phone call from this guy asking to subscribe to the Blade. I don't want to get someone arrested who is doing something legitimate, and I appreciate efforts to do business. I just don't like it being done door-to-door. Too many forced entries out there to take anything for granted.
posted by oldsendbrdy on Feb 14, 2008 at 01:26:29 pm #
OSEB,
I think this is a legitimate marketing effort of the Blade. About a month ago or so, a youngman (about 15-17 yrs. old) rang my doorbell and asked me the same question. I explained that I was not interested but he said the paper was free anyhow and gave me a copy of that days edition. I notice that another person (a young lady) was canvasing the other side of the street at the same time while their ride which appeared to be driven by their parent slowly kept pace as they worked their way down the street.
This was on a Saturday afternoon and not a weekday evening however.
How will they get arrested for doing something legitimate, OSEB? You lost me there.
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