Flyers And No Soliciting Communities?

StanH

I am trying to get started in the business of pressure washing (as a serious licensed and insured job) and was wondering about leaving flyers on doors or mailboxes offering my services in communities that have "No Soliciting" at their entrances. Is it okay to leave flyers providing I dont knock on doors? Or is leaving flyers in these communities frowned upon? I'm trying to keep expenses low in the beginning hence not doing a mailer... Thanks for the help!

LadyFinisher

Most places that have "No Soliciting" signs are not going to be happy whether you knock or not. I personally would not take the chance especially since you are just starting up. People might get the wrong idea about you and your company. That's my 2 cents.

karunnt

IMHO, 'No Soliciting' means no flyers, no salespeople, no free samples, no anything. It's not worth the risk. They may badmouth your business around town.

I've heard of a company delivering small papers to such a home and the owner calling every single advertiser on that paper and complaining about the delivery business.

If these are HOA's then you might try contacting the association itself and see if you can put an advertisement in their newsletter. It might be cheaper than printing/delivering a lot of flyers.

Also it there is a church or community center nearby that these residents frequent then their newsletter may be another opportunity.

ProWallGuy

It is illegal to leave anything in or on a mailbox.

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nEighter

Don't do it. Get postcards and send to those areas.

Dave Mac

news paper box is the ticket 200 a hour driving, YES IT IS LEGAL

pcplumber

I believe people put No Soliciting signs on their homes only to deter people from knocking on their doors. Afterward, many people try to extend the meaning of the sign to include No Advertising Material. I don't believe the sign makes adversiting material illegal even if the local government passes an ordinance against it.

The homes with the No Soliciting signs are the people most likely to buy your services. We get many complaints from people with the signs and we get threatening letters asking us to stop delivering to these homes from many different city administrators. We have been threatened with fines by the same cities several times, but I am ready to challenge a city if they try to stop us from delivering flyers. I don't think a city is willing to spend thousands of dollars litigating this trivial matter. I make enough money with flyers that I am willing to challenge the city's ordinance.

My personal thoughts are No Soliciting means you cannot knock on the door. No Soliciting does not mean you can't mail the customer a letter nor drop off a letter at the customer's door. I think we would be protected by some our constitutional rights.

The local and city governments are always making ordinances that violate our constitutional rights. We've had cities ban people from drinking alcohol on their own porches when this should be governed by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fire Arms. The mostly Hispanic and trashy city of Lynwood California passed an ordinance stating people could not paint commercial buildings specific colors of yellow and purple.

Every city allows supermarkets to have trucks driving down streets and fling newspapers on every lawn including homes with No Soliciting signs. These same cities threaten us regarding delivering flyers. I say deliver flyers to every house, make a lot of money, and cross the bridge when you get to it.

It is my understanding that the Do Not Call List is no longer in effect. If we let government walk all over us we would have Do Not Call, Do Not Solicit, and Do Not Mail laws. For the people with No Soliciting Signs, now we can put them on our Call Everyday List.

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pcplumber

on who owns the newpaper box. Many newspaper boxes are purchased and installed by the newpaper company and we have been threatened when we put them in their boxes.

Try telephone poles. I put up about 500 signs on telephone and light poles when I was looking for my dog and was threatened with a fine of $1,000 for each sign.

Put your flyers behind a U.S. mail box on a customer's home and the postal service usually threatens you within a few hours.

Put your flyers on a customer's porch and wait for a customer to call and tell you his mother slipped on your flyer, broke her neck, her entire body is paralyzed, and she can't talk. We've had two similar calls in the past year. You better make sure you have enough liability insurance.

Otherwise, we deliver 3 to 5 million flyers every year.

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StanH

I appreciate everyones response. I live in a newer community and while I can not remember if we have no soliciting signs or not I get people knocking on my door all the time. I also get door tags, flyers slipped into the door and flyers left on the red arm of the mail box.

I think as a worst case I might just do the door tags. Gotta start somewhere. Still, I look forward to others responses to my original question.

Thanks for everyones help!

Valencourt

Why do they even print the dam thing anymore?

To answer your question, BUY POSTCARDS AND KEEP SENDING THEM TO THE SAME PLACE AND SEE HOW IT GOES. what about "Clipper Magazine"

wireaudio

Post cards... oh man... these have the highest failure rate. Most of these get thrown right in the garbage before they are even read. I've sent over 1000 flyers to businesses i was interested in getting jobs from, and not even one reply.

IMO, and i'm starting to do this tomorrow, door tags are the most effective from what i've heard. Customer sees you went through the effort of hanging the tag, and they don't throw tags out right away, they actually take a moment to read the front of it.

And i was reading this article on about.com, and i'm about to modify all my door tags in accordance to this article:

http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynami.../brochure.html

Aniway, hope this helps.

nEighter

I have turned my postcards into door hangers and get calls all the time from them.

Bestheating

Sorry guys, but in this Companys opinion, NO SOLICITING means that person does not want to be disturbed and they are POLITELY trying to convey that message. Some however, whether at the door or on the phone, do not understand that.
Larry