"We've dealt with cases involving elderly people sold $3000 vacuum cleaners that clean no better than vacuums you can buy for $100. We've also dealt with complaints from consumers pressured to buy grossly overpriced beds and other household goods they couldn't afford and had to go into debt to purchase.
"We're encouraging people who don't want door-to-door sellers to knock to put a sticker on their letterbox, front gate or front door."
Grey Power Tauranga president Christina Humphreys said she now got more complaints from members about telemarketers and phone scams than door-to-door salespeople although she encouraged people to use the stickers.
"You get the people that are 80 and 90 and they don't need pressure from all sorts of people. It would be quite good if they did have a sticker they could put at their door or on their letterbox," she said.
"It is quite scary for some of them."
Age Concern chairwoman Deborah Jager agreed.
"It comes in waves. At the moment what we're finding is that there is a lot more harassment down the phone, people trying to sell things."
Elderly people were now often tricked into handing out credit card or bank details over the phone and became caught up in scams, she said.
How to get a "Do Not Knock" sticker
• A free "Do Not Knock" sticker is included in the November issue of Consumer magazine.
• Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Do Not Knock, Consumer NZ, Private Bag 6996, Wellington 6141.
• Visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau.