Curious sales pitch



So Jenny's working from home today, and we go out for lunch. As we're getting back in the car, getting ready to drive home, a white pickup pulls behind my Mustang. The driver motions for me to roll down the window.

Driver: Excuse me, sir, but is that your Mustang?
Me: (thinking to myself -- No, we're stealing it!) Yes.
Driver: I see you have some body damage on the side. I can fix that for you, if you like.

My car has a little scrape on the side, the result of an unfortunate incident in our parking garage where I tried to squeeze in a little too close to a pole. It's nothing big, though, and I certainly don't lose sleep over it. Anyway, back to the conversation...

Me: OK. Do you have a business card?
Driver: I can come take a look and give you an estimate.
Me: No thanks, but I will take a business card.
Driver: I don't think I want to give you one. (hits the gas, peels off)

This is the second time in a couple of weeks this sort of thing has happened. Last time, we were at a gas station in Jenny's car, which also had an unfortunate run-in with a parking garage pole. Again, it was a white pickup, but it was a different person.

So I have to ask-- was this a scam, foiled by my asking for a business card? I can only imagine that most body shops would be happy with a contact, even if it's just leaving a business card. But I'm not about to let someone give me an estimate in the middle of the Chili's parking lot!

Posted: Tue - January 18, 2005 at 03:28 PM          

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