Knock, knock, who’s there

By Mary Powell

The possibility of an updated and improved city ordinance regarding peddlers and solicitors suggests Sequim has a problem with such sales tactics.

It makes sense, considering the age demographics of Sequim that includes a majority of senior citizens.

Not that seniors are necessary gullible or more prone to buying merchandise from solicitors, but as people grow older their chances of being victims of fraud and con games increase. Senior citizens are perceived by perpetrators to be easy prey.

There are thousands of stories involving people who have been scammed by door-to-door-salespeople, with a good majority of those stories about senior citizens. Not long ago, a woman in Sequim was talked into purchasing an expensive vacuum cleaner she didn’t need or want.

There was a time, for several decades before and after World War II, when the door-to-door salesman was much more commonplace than it is today. As late as the 1950s, 2 percent of the American work force listed their profession as door-to-door salesperson.

Possibly the most famous was the Fuller Brush man, who periodically stopped by the house with a suitcase full of brushes.

Another popular pitch was the vacuum cleaner representative who would (and surprisingly still does) demonstrate his product on a customer’s carpet. And there was hardly a home in America that wasn’t visited by a salesman for Encyclopedia Britannica or by the Avon lady.

Today, in the age of telemarketing, opportunities for door-to-door sales are limited, but not altogether gone. Schwan’s Foods is a door-to-door service, as are magazine sales and many home improvement gadgets.

Fortunately, the asphalt paving scam hasn’t made its way to Sequim yet, but it is making the rounds in the Midwest. This involves a salesperson showing up unannounced at the door claiming to have some asphalt left over from a previous paving job. Long story short, the special paving deal usually means cash up front and property owners are left with shoddy workmanship or nothing at all.

Many cities post what is called the Green River Ordinance, which prohibits door-to-door solicitation. This ordinance is named for the city of Green River, Wyo., the first city to enact it way back in 1931. Most cities have amended the Green River Ordinance to exclude nonprofit charitable, political and religious groups from the law.

Sequim does not have Green River ordinance signs posted at the entrances to the city but erecting some sort of sign discouraging solicitation is part of what the city council will consider when discussing stronger regulations over peddlers and solicitors.

Requiring background checks on salespeople might be in the offing, as well.

But is all the fuss regarding solicitors really necessary? Are citizens being scammed right and left and bothered all hours of the day and night? The answer to both questions is probably not.

Yes, there is a safety concern when a solicitor knocks at the door. But those stories are few and far between.

As much as many of us don’t like to be bothered by door-to-door solicitation, the problem in Sequim doesn’t appear to be all that severe. The council shouldn’t eat up too much time rewriting an ordinance that appears to be just fine and, in turn, add a whole bunch of new regulations that someone or some agency will have to enforce.

Frankly, Sequim residents, including its esteemed senior population, don’t need government regulations to save them from themselves. When salespeople knock at the door, they can choose to buy what’s offered or send them packing. If there’s a problem, a Sequim Police officer would be happy to help.

Everyone has to eat
A letter to the editor in the Aug. 13 edition of the Sequim Gazette brought to attention the desperate situation facing food banks today. Specifically, the writer warned the Sequim Food Bank’s holiday basket program may be in jeopardy.
While food banks and food pantries across the country are facing decreased inventories, some having to turn hungry people away, the Sequim Food Bank is not in dire straits — yet.  That’s not to say a few more months of recession, high gasoline and food prices won’t bring about a different story.

Stephen Morales, president of the Sequim Food Bank board, says the food bank spends between $4,000-$5,000 a month to keep commodities such as eggs, milk, margarine and eggs available. With the high price of food, that figure will surely increase.

That, coupled with the number of clients on the rise, is a bit troubling. Morales says there has been between 40 and 70 additional clients in the past six months.

The good news is this community is extremely supportive of the food bank. When a call went out that the food bank needed a new truck, the money was there to purchase the vehicle. Generous donations of canned goods are ongoing and often individuals or organizations contribute cash.

For instance, the teen club at the Boys & Girls Club this week organized a fundraiser at one of the fast food restaurants, with all proceeds going to the food bank.

But, like the letter writer, Morales is a bit worried about the holiday basket program. About 500 baskets, each including a turkey and all the fixings for a holiday dinner, are assembled and given out for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Keeping up with the demand, which could be higher this year, is a challenge, indeed.

If we plan ahead and continue to support the food bank in Sequim, those in need won’t go hungry and the food bank will be able to keep its inventory up and its shelves and freezers full.

That’s the mark of a caring community. That’s the mark of Sequim.

Mary Powell can be reached at editor@sequimgazette.com or at 683-3311.