It's a resounding 'no” to dodgy door-to-door sellers from Tauranga Age Concern members as a national campaign fighting back against invasive tactics reaches 100,000.

Consumer NZ this month launched the 'Do Not Knock” campaign with free stickers distributed as part of the campaign.

Tanya Smith thinks the 'Do Not Knock” campaign will help to empower the vulnerable. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Since then nearly 100,000 stickers have been handed out with Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin saying the stickers are proving so popular more are being printed to meet demand.

'We launched this campaign because of the serious complaints we get about the hard-sell and exploitative sales tactics used by door-to-door traders,” she says.

'Our ‘Do Not Knock' stickers have given people a simple way to tell these traders they're not welcome.”

Age Concern Tauranga general manager Tanya Smith says the organisation fully supports the initiative in what is a way to 'empower” the more vulnerable.

Once they have the stickers, people are encouraged to put them on their letterbox, front gate or front door.

'We do support this because we get a lot of vulnerable callers expressing they have had a sales person,” says Tanya.

'I think it will help the people out there and give them more power. Some have put it on their door or mail box and can say ‘no thank you'.”

Tanya says a prime example came a fortnight ago when an Age Concern Tauranga member alerted them of vacuum cleaner sales.

Many cases nationwide involve elderly or vulnerable consumers, pressured to sign up for products they don't want and can't afford.

She explains: 'They received a phone call saying ‘let us come and give your carpet a clean'. Then they had the sales person on their doorstep, giving the carpet a quick clean and then trying to sell her a $4000 vacuum.

'She asked them to leave and they got shirty.”

Sue says since the launch, Consumer NZ has heard from more people who have had bad experiences with door-to-door traders.

'The most concerning cases involve elderly people who have been pressured to buy products - including extremely heavy vacuum cleaners - they don't need and are unable to use,” she adds.

Requests for "Do Not Knock" stickers have come from individuals around the country as well as from budgeting services and community organisations including those working in areas where there have been problems with mobile clothing trucks.

A recent Consumer NZ survey found 70 percent of its members disliked door-to-door salespeople and wanted them to stop calling.

The Consumer NZ stickers can be found at Age Concern's Fraser Street building and will also be handed out at its monthly meeting this Thursday. Otherwise, visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau.