0 permissions out 7 asks

[goes4ever]

Originally Posted by gameoftag

I have the same luck as Goes4ever, probably because I say almost exactly what he says after reading it on his website last year. The only thing I say different is when I start, I introduce myself and that I have a hobby of metal detecting, but I usually add that I like to go around to older houses and ask if I can check their yard for older items such as coins, or other older small items. Other than that, I say it just like him. The reason I add the going around to other houses is because people like to be included and they don't like to look like a jerk. If I ask others, and they say yes, some feel like they should be nice also. Also, if I get yeses elsewhere, then it validates me as a little more trustworthy to a total stranger knowing others have trusted me. A little psychology goes a long way.

Also, people love to talk about themselves. If I see someone in a yard that I want to check, I almost alway open with questions about the house. How old it is. If they know any cool history about it. I also ask how long they have been there as they get more comfortable. Then I swing to the question of detecting. By this time, I usually get a resounding Yes, because they are now as curious about whats there as I am after I got them thinking about it.

Just a couple thoughts. Don't be discouraged, keep at it.

good post!!!! and some good points you made

[gameoftag]

Just went back and read G4e's post, and he also says that. I probably say it just like him then.

[ramer]

Originally Posted by Dark Chameleon

people coming up to you in parks and asking can be a connection if you just say you detect in parks and have done peoples gardens, they see the holes you dig and if you tell them youve dug there for ages and theres no marks of where youve been they might find it interesting to have you at their home...you become less creepy if your detecting in a park and willing to talk.

Excellent suggestion. I have people coming up to me all the time and asking me about my hobby. Very excellent suggestion.

Thanks

[pocketspill]

Originally Posted by goes4ever

I keep it in my car, so if they say yes, I start right away

I have your 7/10 number in my head when I start out each day :-)

Agreed with others that being able to say "The Joneses down the street let me detect their yard and we had a good time with it. I saw your beautiful house and just had to stop by and ask. Would you like to see some of the finds we came up with?" ... the *finds* are a great sales tool.

My failure streak is probably because I've been phoning property owners lately. I have a hard time just driving 45 minutes to hope to catch the owner of a field I've researched. I only have a few hours per weekend to hunt so need to make a trip count.

I've also been leaving my request with "office managers" who are serving as gatekeepers. I feel rude insisting to speak with the owner / minister/ etc. I've tried to set up meetings with them but they usually get cancelled.

[dogpound]

askin permission over the phone or thru email..letters ect is an easy way ta get a NO, face to face is always the best approach and also gives the homeowner a sense of who their dealing with......unless ya look like charlie manson

[gameoftag]

Originally Posted by dogpound

askin permission over the phone or thru email..letters ect is an easy way ta get a NO, face to face is always the best approach and also gives the homeowner a sense of who their dealing with......unless ya look like charlie manson

Couldn't agree more. I get yeses all the time face to face. Over the phone, I have only got a yes once and many no's. Face to face is the only way to go if at all possible.

[Myrddin]

I get a lot of this to... As it is its getting harder and harder for me to dig local area...

[goes4ever]

asking on the phone makes it very hard to get permission, EXCEPT when i am getting permission for farm fields, i almost never drive to the farmers house, i just call them. Once you get permission from one farmer, then the next one, you say I just hunted "farmer Joe's" fields...and all farmers know each other....I average 9.5 out of 10 when calling farmers for fields.....it is very RARE to get a "No" for a farm field

[ks coyote]

I agree that your approach has a lot to do with getting permission. I'm retired military and usually start with that and I rarely get turned down. Also, I'm very selective about the houses I hunt. If it looks like chemlawn does their yard I just keep on looking. The land around here is very dry now and not being able to dig a good plug is keeping me from detecting yards but I can wait. Hopefully the rains will come.

[ramer]

I am 0 for 9 in getting permission. Do you think it is the Star Trek uniform and the beany cap with the propeller on top I wear that freaks out the home owners?
I mean, I thought everyone was a "treakie."

[ramer]

A story a club member told is really funny. He approched this elderly couple who were out in their yard and asked if he could detect their land since it was a pretty old house and they might be interested to see what is buried on their land. They said ok, but asked him to come back in two days because they were leaving and would be back then and wanted to be there when he was detecting. Two days later he is driving down the road to their house and what does he see: the couple each had a detector and were swinging furiously all over the place. He decided to keep on going.

[TECTONATOR]

I have recently had a lot of no's ...but most of them were very polite and I still chatted with them for a while. Very few have been jerks about it. I have met so many nice people...my wife is actually cross stitching one person's 19th century house as a thank you for letting my son and I detect his property.

Not doing any door knocking for a while, though. It is VERY dry here...haven't had rain for weeks...and I don't want to leave big brown circles in people's yards.

[fullstringer]

[QUOTE=Dark Chameleon;1266952]people coming up to you in parks and asking can be a connection if you just say you detect in parks and have done peoples gardens, they see the holes you dig and if you tell them youve dug there for ages and theres no marks of where youve been they might find it interesting to have you at their home...you become less creepy if your detecting in a park and willing to talk.

This is a great idea! I am approached quite a bit at the park. The other day, an evangelist approached me with a slip of paper... small story, scripture etc... then she explained that she was able to speak in tongues at will. She spoke a few lines in tongue... I managed to handle myself pretty well......
This story sounds like bologna but I promise this really happened!

I should have asked her if I could swing at her place.

BTW, I apologize if this was offensive to Pentecostals or others but I was taken aback as I have previously had no exposure to this practice.

[Joel Shappell]

I take one of my boys with me. I tell them to look sad.

[pocketspill]

Originally Posted by Joel Shappell

I take one of my boys with me. I tell them to look sad.

I should take my teen daughter along and say we're working on a college fund.