Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

[Autobrite]

Ok, so I feel my phone vibrate and I grab it to discover I have an email from someone inquiring about getting his car done. As I was reading it I felt it was kinda fishy. However I responded to it anyway. Here are the emails in order as they transpired. Please let me know what you guys think. I am still uncomfortable about this email.


Email 1:

I need my 2009 Challenger detailed ASAP and was trying to find where your shop is! You do not have an address on your website or your current CL ad. I would like to drop it off later tonight so I can get this taken care of.

Thanks

Rob

My response:

Robert,

Our shop is located just outside of Dayton. I think you may have tried to call me but I missed your phone call. Are you looking for a full detail on your car?

Thank You
Tracy Davis
Autobrite Detailing
765-413-7547

Email #2

Yes I was but could not find your location or a business listing anywhere in the phonebook. I would like to drop it off but do not know where to go.


Response:
Rob,

Our shop is located on the corner of Dayton Road and Haggerty lane (200 south). We work out of a heated garage located at our home. Our address is **** Dayton road Lafayette In 47905. You can also call me at 765-413-7547. If you could please give me a call so we can make arrangements I am available to take your call. Or you can leave me your number and I can call you.

Thank You
Tracy Davis
Autobrite Detailing
765-413-7547

Email #3

I'm Sorry man. I can't take the risk of leaving my vehicle there. You are out in the middle of nowhere and probably do not have any insurance or even have a business license to operate since you work out of your home. And I'm guessing that you don't take charge cards which would be a must for me. My Challenger is my baby and I need someone who runs a professional business to take care of it.

Response:

I am very sorry you feel that way. We turn out very quality work and lock our vehicles inside the building at night. We are as professional as any business around. As well as insured.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T


I know this may not seem like a big deal but in a wayI almost feel insulted by his remarks. Especially in the last message. Most people inquire about cost or call for a consultation. Maybe I am way off base.

[Golden]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Probably cannot satisfy that person any way. Just keep an eye out for any funny activity outside your home, now that he has your address. Not trying to make you paranoid, but NEVER know.

[Autobrite]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Probably cannot satisfy that person any way. Just keep an eye out for any funny activity outside your home, now that he has your address. Not trying to make you paranoid, but NEVER know.

Thats what I was worried about. it just seemed very fishy. Oh well, if something crazy does happen I am sure he will get introduced to my alarm system. All 120 pounds of him.

[Calais]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

I would cut him loose. If he's already this much of a problem before you have seen the car, imagine how much trouble he will be after you have laid a finger on "his baby". He sounds like a nut and you are better off without him. You can't please every customer; if your work is top notch and your business is professional (despite what this whack-job says) you will get more customers regardless. Don't sweat the occasional weirdo.

Like Golden said, don't be too paranoid but keep an eye out for anything unusual as well, we live in a crazy world.

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Yup, that has CAUTION and SCAM and THIEVERY written all over it.

Plus- the guy never even wanted to talk with you.
If I was sooo worried about my car, I certainly would not consider dropping it off unless I met you first, then looked at your shop. I definitely would want to see some work you did.

Hmmm... I wonder if you've got a lot of fraud or burglary going on in your area that fits this M.O. ?

Good call on your part. Better safe than sorry... be on the lookout.

[tcope1]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

I'd not worry about it too much. I understand your point of view but look at it from his... many people "say" they can detail cars but the extent of their experience is that they spend $100 on a DA. These people usually work out of their garage and don't bother getting a license or insurance. Now I understand that this is not you... but how does this person know that? Perhaps that last email could have been worded differently but at least he was being honest.

[Autobrite]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

I'd not worry about it too much. I understand your point of view but look at it from his... many people "say" they can detail cars but the extent of their experience is that they spend $100 on a DA. These people usually work out of their garage and don't bother getting a license or insurance. Now I understand that this is not you... but how does this person know that? Perhaps that last email could have been worded differently but at least he was being honest.

I understand where you are coming from. I am still a little nervous about it being a fraud of some sort. He supposedly checked out my website, so he saw some of my work. The thing that really bothers me is that he didnt wanna talk or share his number with me or anything like that. Kept asking where I was located at, and like Kevin said if I were gonna drop my car off somewhere I would at least want to talk with someone and check their operation out.

[CharlesW]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Would it be advisable to pass on what happened to your local police department?
They may have some knowledge of anything similar happening with others.
It also gives them a heads-up if someone else calls about a strange contact.

FWIW, any calls I get where the sender's number is blocked, I don't bother to answer or respond.
If it does happen to be legitimate, they can leave a name and number in my voice mail.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

I would be careful. It sounds like some type of scam. I would not lose sleep over it, but just be aware of any strange activity.

In the future I would be more careful of handing out this type of info to people. At least wait to you talk to the potential client.

hope nothing comes of this.

[hot rod]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Never give someone your address unless to talk to them first. Don't trust anybody unless it's your mom.

[Autobrite]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Ok, so now I am really starting to feel like an idiot for sharing my address with this guy. My gut told me not to do so but I did it anyway.

[CharlesW]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Ok, so now I am really starting to feel like an idiot for sharing my address with this guy. My gut told me not to do so but I did it anyway.

Don't beat yourself up over it.
If you are working out of your home or at your home, lots of people know where you live. Same thing for your phone number.
Chances are, they are both in the phone book anyway.
You didn't give out any information that isn't fairly easy to get.
I would dump the guy and move on.

[Joenok]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

I don´t know man, but for me I don´t really think you have that much to worry about.

Some people talk/write like that, and you make an opinion about what kind of person they are. However, many times it just boils down to bad conversational skills.

I´ve been through a similar situation once, and turned out the guy was all right, once he got to meet me and such.

[CieraSL]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

I agree with everybody else - just move on from this guy. There are lots of loopy people out there. Just take it as a lesson learned.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Should i be offended by this guy's emails?

Ok, so now I am really starting to feel like an idiot for sharing my address with this guy. My gut told me not to do so but I did it anyway.

Don't sweat it. The guy went to too much trouble to explain why he wasn't comfortable with your business. Scammers and thieves try to get as much information as possible while minimizing contact. After your first two return emails, he already had enough information where he could have just cut off contact to minimize any suspicion. You likely would have just written him off as a looky-loo client.

But he does sound like a high maintenance customer. If you ever do detail his car, be sure to photo-document the "before" condition of his pride and joy. Best of luck.