Strange texting experience…

[JaxDad]

I can see how he would take offense to what you said. But unless he is swimming in business, I think it was a little odd that he went to "no soup for you."

I spoke to a friend last night who had work done by this guy, and the Soup Nazi comparison fits. My friend said the guy seemed a little intense/stressed and was obsessed with doing quality work on schedule. He stays very busy, cranking out one job at a time as promised. His prices are competitive, so he makes money by moving volume and not screwing up. It’s an admirable way to do business, but maybe it’s taking its toll on the guy.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Probably, he was just super busy and forgot where he wrote the time down (or threw out the scrap of paper, or...) and meant to confirm by text while saving face. Then he interpreted your text as having an entitled tone and was nervous to work with you.

But, his answer back sounded unprofessional to me, and that would scare me off from working with him. (If he doesn't have time to be nice to customers, does he really have time to do right by the car?)

All in all, him thinking you're a difficult customer and you thinking he's a weird service provider is probably not the best way to start a business relationship. Is there another shop that is a reasonable alternative?

 

[kdonnel]

Sounds like someone who would not enjoy a customer service person telling a joke.

 

[slo]

I like to text socially, but I do not like to text for business.

If I was told I needed to text information, then I would take my business elsewhere. This may seem harsh, but IMO (and I was a retail manager, a retail owner and now manage a doctor’s office) if someone can’t take the time to speak to me over the phone or in person, then my business isn’t important and therefore I can’t take the time to spend my money there.

If I did decide to do business there, and I was reprimanded over my text tone, them I’d tell them to “shove it” and take my business elsewhere. There is no way, and I mean…no way, that I would patronize a business that reprimanded me when I did nothing wrong. Heck.,,if I had that thin of a skin during my 36 years of working with the public I’d be a wreck. Working with the public means you deal with all different personality types and you literally gotta deal with it.

Crappy customer service is a huge pet peeve of mine. I know I’m more critical than others, since I spent so many years making sure my employees were trained to give the best customer service possible.

 

[Babs Johnson]

He’s a nut job. Go elsewhere.

 

[fly girl]

I honestly don't understand how your text came off as hostile. I guess if you are nitpicking in hindsight you could have said, "per our previous phone call, Friday at 2pm." Seriously though, who expects to walk on eggshells with a business transaction? You weren't in all caps. You were just merely stating that you guys already decided on Friday at 2pm. I don't get it.

I give him credit for apologizing, and if you have good references and his work is done immaculately, I guess I would give him a try. But no doubt until the work is done I would be second guessing if I am making the right choice. I hope you will be happy with his work. Keep us posted how it turns out.

 

[Cadiewampus]

I definitely wouldn't take him my car. He just showed you so many huge red flags. I feel like you're just asking for trouble if you take him your car. At the very least he is unprofessional and probably not mentally stsble. Stay far away.

Seriously? "Not mentally stable"?

 

[Mysterian]

That was really strange. Even if he were stressed, that was unprofessional for him to act that way over that text. He didn't even call for clarification, he just decided you were rude and issued the kibosh.

Unless he has a glowing string of positive reviews, I would be hesitant to leave my car with him. Hopefully not the type of guy to be vindictive and keep your car longer than necessary over a text.

 

[leebee]

Too much drama and "thin skin" for me- very unprofessional. You made an appointment, sent needed information, confirmed the appointment- and he went off the deep end. How much time and energy have you had to invest just to set up an appointment? What happens when there's a change in schedule, something doesn't get done properly, etc.? I wouldn't have time for this.

 

[fly girl]

I can see how he would take offense to what you said. But unless he is swimming in business, I think it was a little odd that he went to "no soup for you."

Not being snarky, I honestly want to understand why that text could come off as offensive. He was simply stating they discussed it and it was Friday at 2pm. I don't get why that is rude or hostile? He was stating what had transpired on the earlier phone call.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I like to text socially, but I do not like to text for business.

If I was told I needed to text information, then I would take my business elsewhere. This may seem harsh, but IMO (and I was a retail manager, a retail owner and now manage a doctor’s office) if someone can’t take the time to speak to me over the phone or in person, then my business isn’t important and therefore I can’t take the time to spend my money there.

If I did decide to do business there, and I was reprimanded over my text tone, them I’d tell them to “shove it” and take my business elsewhere. There is no way, and I mean…no way, that I would patronize a business that reprimanded me when I did nothing wrong. Heck.,,if I had that thin of a skin during my 36 years of working with the public I’d be a wreck. Working with the public means you deal with all different personality types and you literally gotta deal with it.

Crappy customer service is a huge pet peeve of mine. I know I’m more critical than others, since I spent so many years making sure my employees were trained to give the best customer service possible.

You probably will have a harder time finding places these days that don't communicate via text but you can depending on the entity say your preference.

Even insurance agents for years have been getting up on texting. Most of the time it has nothing to do with you being not viewed as an important potential or current client but rather the evolving desires OF the client. Tell you the truth if I could handle things via text rather than be on hold forever and a day or be switched from one person to the next to the next before somebody finally gets it right I'd take that any day.

This is one of those things where people misinterpret the changing ways of communication.

As far as crappy service lordy I think most of us can say on the phone has had a slew of decades worth of crappy customer service so the method of communication has zero to do with that.

 

[Gracedis1]

He sounds really overwhelmed and needs an assistant to handle communication with clients. He probably has more work than he can handle and should focus on the car work and let someone else handle scheduling.

 

[spewey]

If the "Soup Nazi" reference fits, it means he's an eccentric genius, one of the best mechanics in the world who also happens to charge less than almost anyone else.

I dunno. A good, reliable mechanic who you can trust is a pretty, pretty good find. If he is indeed that, and is high-strung, and even difficult, it would explain why he's still in business, and apparently very popular.

 

[JLTraveling]

All in all, him thinking you're a difficult customer and you thinking he's a weird service provider is probably not the best way to start a business relationship. Is there another shop that is a reasonable alternative?

This. I see nothing on earth wrong with the text. But beyond that, these two just got off on the wrong foot, and it's hard to come back from that. I'd go elsewhere for service.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not being snarky, I honestly want to understand why that text could come off as offensive. He was simply stating they discussed it and it was Friday at 2pm. I don't get why that is rude or hostile? He was stating what had transpired on the earlier phone call.

It comes down to the inflection you read the text. If you read "as we discussed" picturing the sender as doing an eye roll and an exasperated sigh, it sounds like the receiver is being called an idiot.

It's not like we've never had examples on the Dis where people took what's posted out of context. You can't read inflection/emotion in the written word. We've probably all been guilty (I know I have) of reading something that just isn't "there".

I don't understand the concern over the guy's stability/mental health. What do people think will happen?

 

[fly girl]

It comes down to the inflection you read the text. If you read "as we discussed" picturing the sender as doing an eye roll and an exasperated sigh, it sounds like the receiver is being called an idiot.

It's not like we've never had examples on the Dis where people took what's posted out of context. You can't read inflection/emotion in the written word. We've probably all been guilty (I know I have) of reading something that just isn't "there".

I don't understand the concern over the guy's stability/mental health. What do people think will happen?

Fair enough. We are all guilty of reading things with inflection that was unintentional. As it was business transaction, I feel it was a business answer that didn't warrant the reaction it received. But, like you said, we all take things differently.

Honestly, my first and silly thought was straight to the Seinfeld episode where Tony took Jerry's car. LOL Yeah, that is a tad extreme but I felt his shaky voice and conversation after the text was over the top. Might as well go all out!

 

[DisneyHardin]

Sounds like he was having a bad day. If he is known for doing good work, I wouldn't let it bother me and I'd still use him.

 

[tvguy]

If the "Soup Nazi" reference fits, it means he's an eccentric genius, one of the best mechanics in the world who also happens to charge less than almost anyone else.

I dunno. A good, reliable mechanic who you can trust is a pretty, pretty good find. If he is indeed that, and is high-strung, and even difficult, it would explain why he's still in business, and apparently very popular.

That isn't uncommon in almost any service industry. Sometimes the best person for the job at hand, may not have the best "bedside manner" for lack of a better term. He's a mechanic, not your therapist.

 

[spewey]

That isn't uncommon in almost any service industry. Sometimes the best person for the job at hand, may not have the best "bedside manner" for lack of a better term. He's a mechanic, not your therapist.

I've always thought this makes sense. If someone's business is successful, and they're a bit of a jerk, or treat their customers somewhat poorly, it probably means they're so good at what they do that people put up with them. The flip side is sometimes someone isn't particularly good at providing their service, but they're so darn nice they still get business.

I often think about this in terms of doctors. Both my wife and I had nearly identical experiences (for two different issues, not the same docs) wherein we saw a doctor that was super welcoming, patient and supportive, but didn't resolve or correctly diagnose the problem. In both cases the second doctor we eventually saw was abrupt, standoffish, and cold, even rude, but boy did they know what they were doing, and took care of things.

I've thought about that so often that it's almost like I want the rude doctor. I mean, if I have to have surgery or something else serious, give me the jerk who's a wiz with the knife. I don't care how nice they are at all.

 

[brockash]

It comes down to the inflection you read the text. If you read "as we discussed" picturing the sender as doing an eye roll and an exasperated sigh, it sounds like the receiver is being called an idiot.

It's not like we've never had examples on the Dis where people took what's posted out of context. You can't read inflection/emotion in the written word. We've probably all been guilty (I know I have) of reading something that just isn't "there".

I don't understand the concern over the guy's stability/mental health. What do people think will happen?

Because even if he chose to read the text as it making him sound like an idiot; you don't respond as a business or professional the way he did. Him behaving that way either means he's a huge jerk or is at the very least mentally weak...he had basically an outburst on a potential client...that behavior is not that of a stable person.