Homeowner got tired of solicitors walking past a 'No Soliciting' sign and ringing the bell — so started leaving their companies one-star Yelp reviews

Every homeowner knows the unwritten rule of front-porch etiquette: if there’s a sign clearly stating "No Soliciting," you turn around and walk away. But for one fed-up homeowner, cold-callers, pest control reps, and door-to-door salesmen kept treating their front walkway like an open runway. The homeowner usually ignored the visitors and threw away their flyers. But after another salesperson crossed their lawn and ignored the sign, they decided to take their complaint somewhere potential customers could see it. Posted by u/bunsenburneracct on October 16, 2026, this story has gained 11,000 upvotes and over 600 Comments.

Doorbell drama

The unwanted visits disrupted a household where both partners worked from home. “My partner and I both work from home, and we have a dog, so someone ringing the doorbell is more than just a minor annoyance,” the author explained. The interruptions set their dog barking, and some visitors crossed the grass before ringing the bell despite the sign beside the front door.

One-star revenge

Determined to restore peace without engaging in shouting matches, the homeowner devised a systematic online strategy. Every time a salesperson trespassed past the sign and rang the bell, the homeowner immediately pulled up the offending business's page on Yelp and left a blunt one-star review detailing the exact boundary violation. "I didn't make anything up or exaggerate what happened," the author shared. The review described the representative crossing their lawn and ignoring the clearly posted sign. "I think I'm going to start doing this whenever it happens," the homeowner concluded.

Why take it online?

A 2026 BrightLocal survey of 1,002 US adults found that 97% read online reviews for local businesses, while 41% said they always read them when browsing for businesses. That gives complaints like this homeowner’s a potential audience beyond the company itself, although the Reddit post does not say whether the review prompted a response.

'This is a beautiful idea'

Netizens had plenty to say about the infuriating situation, with many sharing their own door-to-door horror stories while applauding the petty revenge tactic. Commenter u/Knitsanity wrote, "Thanks for the idea. Pretty good and petty". Agreeing with the clever online counteroffensive, user u/FreedomPretty6893 simply added, "This is a beautiful idea". Meanwhile, u/missykins8472 shared their own method for handling pushy salespeople, writing, "They get a $1000 fine when reported to the city. So I started doing that."

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