Disclaimer
 

Jeff,

Thanks for adding you thoughts to this thread - BUT - you didn't say whether you would buy it and why?

> What about local laws regarding soliciting?
> Might you run into a snag here?

Local laws are easily covered by a disclaimer: "Before selling door-to-door we advise to check with your local authorities for any necessary permits and/or licenses"

Whether you get a permit, even if it's needed, is totally up to you. And if you find you do need one, depending on what type of person you are, you could very well use thelack of a permit as another reason to keep sitting on your butt.

In all reality, Jeff, no-one (the public) really cares about "hawking" permits... I doubt they even know whether permits are required or no in their area...

Does each scout have one when they come knocking to do odd jobs? Do all of those collecting for the red-cross have one? What about the school kids selling candy to raise money for this or that? Or those people soliciting sponsorship money? Or that guy pushing the mower looking for mowing work?

And the local authorities have better things to do than rush around the streets trying to find someone knocking on doors trying to sell something. Maybe, if it was a sever problem, then the authorities would establish a "body" just for that purpose. But because door-to-door is hardly done (no one wants to do it, they would rather be underwear wearing kitchen table millionaires), the chances are good you could do it without getting a permit, even if you needed one.

I'm not saying you should do it without the proper paper-work. Just that it could be done.

As with all things in life... it's YOUR CHOICE to comply with the rules.

Now, would YOU buy a hotsheet like this?

Michael Ross.

Re: Disclaimer
 

Michael,

I'm just looking at all the angles on this. I realize most people wouldn't be harassed by police for doing this. I've done door to door sales myself and had no problems.

I just might buy a sheet like that to keep for a rainy day. The price is right. I think the only thing that might hold me back is buying it from an unknown source. Credibility is important even on a low priced item.

Incidentally, where I live there are signs as you enter the town that say No Soliciting, but I'm sure not many people even notice them.

Regards,

Jeff

> Jeff,

> Thanks for adding you thoughts to this
> thread - BUT - you didn't say whether you
> would buy it and why?

> Local laws are easily covered by a
> disclaimer: "Before selling
> door-to-door we advise to check with your
> local authorities for any necessary permits
> and/or licenses"

> Whether you get a permit, even if it's
> needed, is totally up to you. And if you
> find you do need one, depending on what type
> of person you are, you could very well use
> thelack of a permit as another reason to
> keep sitting on your butt.

> In all reality, Jeff, no-one (the public)
> really cares about "hawking"
> permits... I doubt they even know whether
> permits are required or no in their area...

> Does each scout have one when they come
> knocking to do odd jobs? Do all of those
> collecting for the red-cross have one? What
> about the school kids selling candy to raise
> money for this or that? Or those people
> soliciting sponsorship money? Or that guy
> pushing the mower looking for mowing work?

> And the local authorities have better things
> to do than rush around the streets trying to
> find someone knocking on doors trying to
> sell something. Maybe, if it was a sever
> problem, then the authorities would
> establish a "body" just for that
> purpose. But because door-to-door is hardly
> done (no one wants to do it, they would
> rather be underwear wearing kitchen table
> millionaires), the chances are good you
> could do it without getting a permit, even
> if you needed one.

> I'm not saying you should do it without the
> proper paper-work. Just that it could be
> done.

> As with all things in life... it's YOUR
> CHOICE to comply with the rules.

> Now, would YOU buy a hotsheet like this?

> Michael Ross.

Re: Disclaimer
 

Jeff:

> I'm just looking at all the angles on this.

Always good to look at the different angels.

> I just might buy a sheet like that to keep
> for a rainy day. The price is right. I think
> the only thing that might hold me back is
> buying it from an unknown source.
> Credibility is important even on a low
> priced item.

Yes. And as long as credible and proven figures and results are used in the copy - providing answers to questions you may have about the particular hotsheet - I see no real problem.

And, of course, the product would have to be available to you...

There are products in the US I'd love to work with. Unfortunately, by the time I factor in my landed costs the price is already right on the retail price - or higher. But if I was the only "known" source then who is to say it is high or not.

> Incidentally, where I live there are signs
> as you enter the town that say No
> Soliciting, but I'm sure not many people
> even notice them.

They'd notice them about as much as speed limit signs. HA!

Thanks for your feedback.

I'm working on the first one as I write. "Might" even make it available for free to test the waters for DO-ability.

Michael Ross.

Re: Disclaimer
 

Michael,

You bring up a good point, which I was about to ask anyway. While you are based in Australia, much of your audience (such as myself) are U.S.-based, others in the UK, etc. Doesn't this present somewhat of a problem, at least for some products, since your sources (or, at least, the economically practical ones) will most likely be down your way, as well? Or, am I making a wrong assumption?

Chris

Re: Would you
 

> buy this?

Assuming it was for a product I had some interest
in, yeah, I'd buy it.

This sounds like a great idea, and you're getting
some great feedback from other posters. In fact,
as has been been pointed out, the primary market
for this type of product may be teens and those
of college-age looking for ways to make (extra?)
cash. That said, perhaps you should find a forum
that targets that market and ask THEM if they
would buy this type of product.

Chris

The WORKaround...
 

Chris:

If something is economically viable from my P.O.V., then it certainly is from the POV of those in the US.

Our currency is worth about half as much as yours. Meaning, items from the US cost as twice as much.

If something is viable down here... even if it is from down here, it will cost you half as much and thus it will be very viable.

The WORK around to this is to do what Fuller, from Fuller Brush fame did when he started... make the product yourself at night and go out and sell them the next day.

I'm experimenting with two product types for the same market at the moment - one a make yourself and the other supplied.

Once testing is complete, the idea will be presented.

Michael Ross.