No soliciting

[herbivorie]

If there is a sign saying "No Soliciting" in front of a supermarket, what does it mean?

 

[bhaisahab]

If there is a sign saying "No Soliciting" in front of a supermarket, what does it mean?

Where have you seen such a sign?
This is the most common definition of "soliciting": http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/soliciting

 

[alex_genius_20]

If there is a sign saying "No Soliciting" in front of a supermarket, what does it mean?

It exists but it's more an American than a British sign.
In that context, it means: to try to sell a product or service by taking it to homes or businesses and showing it to the people there. The sign is may be usually used in boutiques.
(In British English it usually means "no looking for business")

(I'm not a teacher)

 

[herbivorie]

Where have you seen such a sign?
This is the most common definition of "soliciting": soliciting noun - definition in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionaries Online

I saw one in New Jersey, the United States.
I was wondering if it's related to prostitutes or selling products.

 

[alex_genius_20]

I was wondering if it's related to prostitutes or selling products.

herbivorie, it depends on a context. I don't think it refers to prostitutes if you have seen it in a supermarket or a boutique.
Context is important. Without enough context related to your question, you won't get a proper answer.
It is another way of saying "No salespeople" so don't come in trying to sell advertising, insurance,gym memberships, or anything else!

 

[herbivorie]

I know context is important, but in this case, the only context is that I saw such a sign in front of a supermarket in the US, which I already wrote. The sign didn't say anything else.

 

[alex_genius_20]

I saw such a sign in front of a supermarket in the US

Don't come in trying to sell advertising, insurance,gym memberships, or anything else!

 

[Rover_KE]

The sign is commonly seen in the US at housing developments, apartment blocks, stores, hotels etc.

In the BE the AE 'solicitors' are 'cold callers'.

 

[Barb_D]

The idea is that people who want to sell gym memberships, insurance, etc. know that people go to the grocery store. They don't have to go knock on door after door; they can sit and wait for people to walk past them. However, this is annoying to customers, so the stores say "You can't do that here. You cannot solicit our customers for business on our property."

The exceptions are various charities - grocery stores usually allow those little girl crack dealers (by "crack" I mean, Girl Scout cookies, which I find just as addicting), the Salvation Army, etc.

It has NOTHING to do with prostitution!