OT - Strange experience at Costco

fergi

While loading my car at Costco today a young male approached me and offered to fix a deep scratch on my truck using paint less dent repair techniques. I was curious so I ask him to tell me about the process. He said that his grandfather had developed a special cream that had powered dry ice in it. I asked to see this cream and he showed me something that looked like car wax. He said he would apply it to the scratch and in a couple of hours the scratch would be gone. I asked him where he would be in a couple of hours and he said "right here". I told him that he was insulting my intelligence  and he chewed me out for wasting his time and told me I had trust issues. He only wanted $350 for the job. 

Are there really people out there that would fall for such a scam?

bgebrent

You obviously missed out on an incredible opportunity and might even be racist!  They bank on P.T. Barnums mantra of one born every minute.  Pisses me off we have uniformed men and women risking their lives for scum bags like this.  Closing the vent now.

nolaegghead

Normally I'd be surprised that an outrageous con like that would fool a single person.   However, in light of recent events, apparently a large percentage of the populous are total fvcking idiots.  Good for you for not falling for an obvious scam.

Toxarch

I guess there are people who fall for it if he's going around doing it. Find one sucker and you are good for the day. If he thought you had trust issues then you should have told him to trust you to come back and pay him in 3 hours if it worked. 

Once a year there's some different random young male that knocks on the door. First thing they say is that they're not selling anything. Then they go through a long speech about being an inner city youth saved from the gangs and ask what choices they could make to live in house in a neighborhood like mine. Eventually they pull out a notebook from their back pocket and ask me to buy magazine subscriptions. I then point out that they said they aren't selling anything and I'm not buying any magazine subscriptions. They back peddle and try to say subscriptions aren't sales and it helps him earn money. Eventually they get upset and walk off cussing me for wasting their time and for having to walk "all the way down my long a-- driveway" (with a no trespassing sign). Now when they show up, I go ahead and interrupt them and say I'm not buying any magazine subscriptions in their back pocket. They get pissed a lot sooner. 

YukonRon

PDR - paintless dent repair, is done all the time. The process is indeed legit, however, there is no miracle cream involved. It is a process where a small dent, (think hail damage), is straightened out. There are specialists that travel across the country, following hail storms that do this work. The end results are amazing, and these folks subcontract body shops, which provide the most ambitious, a 6 figure income.
The man approaching you with a miracle cream for scratch repair is not a PDR technician, and should have been reported to the police, and the management at Costco.
It is outstanding you sent this con artist down the road. Good Job!

Legume

Man, if my grandpa had left me some fantastic invention, that's EXACTLY how I would market it, in a parking lot one car at a time.  Powdered dry ice, outstanding.

Legume

FWIW, I hate the scammy, parasitic nature of these guys, but I do have a little sick appreciation for their creativity.  The stories get better and better.

Doc_Eggerton

Toxarch said:

I guess there are people who fall for it if he's going around doing it. Find one sucker and you are good for the day. If he thought you had trust issues then you should have told him to trust you to come back and pay him in 3 hours if it worked. 

Once a year there's some different random young male that knocks on the door. First thing they say is that they're not selling anything. Then they go through a long speech about being an inner city youth saved from the gangs and ask what choices they could make to live in house in a neighborhood like mine. Eventually they pull out a notebook from their back pocket and ask me to buy magazine subscriptions. I then point out that they said they aren't selling anything and I'm not buying any magazine subscriptions. They back peddle and try to say subscriptions aren't sales and it helps him earn money. Eventually they get upset and walk off cussing me for wasting their time and for having to walk "all the way down my long a-- driveway" (with a no trespassing sign). Now when they show up, I go ahead and interrupt them and say I'm not buying any magazine subscriptions in their back pocket. They get pissed a lot sooner. 

I miss the days when I was cop.  The look on these types when you produce a badge cheered up the whole rest of the day.

Ozzie_Isaac

Our village requires permits for any type of sales.  I always ask for a permit.  Usually ends any conversations.  Then I call the sheriff.  They usually show up pretty quick.

northGAcock

Ha.....anybody want to buy a watch?

Eggcelsior

Costco is typically on private property, so make sure you report it to management.

stlcharcoal

The ones you really have to be careful of are the ones selling alarm systems, vacuum cleaners, or cleaning supplies.  Lots of time they work their way into your house, they make a mess they can "clean up", and then you can't get rid of them.  The alarm guys are usually burglars that are casing the houses--taking inventory and seeing if there's a system they can disable or not.  I don't live in a subdivision, just heard all of this from folks that do or have read about it in the newspaper after someone fell for the scam.

Acn

stlcharcoal said:

The ones you really have to be careful of are the ones selling alarm systems, vacuum cleaners, or cleaning supplies.  Lots of time they work their way into your house, they make a mess they can "clean up", and then you can't get rid of them.  The alarm guys are usually burglars that are casing the houses--taking inventory and seeing if there's a system they can disable or not.  I don't live in a subdivision, just heard all of this from folks that do or have read about it in the newspaper after someone fell for the scam.

Yup.  Also in the 'Create an Issue they can clean up' range are the people who call from 'Windows Support' telling you all about the issues you have on your computer.

westernbbq

It puzzles me that with our economy as 'strong' as it is reported to be that there is so much hustling, scamming and panhandling going on.  Maybe the hustling happens when times are good because people have money or the hustling happens when times are tough because these people cant find a job....

A few months ago a panhandler tried to guilt me into helping his family, in the spirit of the season...well, i asked him if he had change for a $20. He said he did and said, " i thought so" and walked off....

stlcharcoal

Acn said:

stlcharcoal said:

The ones you really have to be careful of are the ones selling alarm systems, vacuum cleaners, or cleaning supplies.  Lots of time they work their way into your house, they make a mess they can "clean up", and then you can't get rid of them.  The alarm guys are usually burglars that are casing the houses--taking inventory and seeing if there's a system they can disable or not.  I don't live in a subdivision, just heard all of this from folks that do or have read about it in the newspaper after someone fell for the scam.

Yup.  Also in the 'Create an Issue they can clean up' range are the people who call from 'Windows Support' telling you all about the issues you have on your computer.

When I worked on the ambulance, we'd get calls from "this is your copier guy from HQ (or the home office)" calls all the time.  I didn't have anything else to do, so I'd screw with them on the phone as long as possible.

I tell them how glad I was they called that we needed a ton of toner and drums.  They would apologize and say, "well you know how it is down here at HQ.....blah, blah".  Then they would ask for the copier make/model so I'd put them on hold for a minute, then make up a 20-something digit number; they'd tell me that was probably the serial number and ask for the model number.  On hold for another few minutes and another made up number.  Then really confused they'd ask for the make/brand, so I'd put them on hold for another minute and tell them it was a "Fukuetron" or something crude.  Most would hang up, others would start cussing at me, and then some would tell me how they were "going upstairs to take to my boss".  Fun times--I miss that.

I respect people if they have a job, but when they're calling an EMS helicopter base on an emergency line then trying to fool you into thinking they work for you......game on.  Otherwise, as soon as I hear the delay or other voices in the background I hang just up.  Google Voice makes it really easy to block numbers for repeat offenders.

blind99

Anyone ever bought from a scammer?  I did.  I bought speakers from a white van speaker guy.  He wanted 3 or 400 for the pair.  He loaded them into my car and I handed him cash.  Gave him $200, he said HEY! that's not what I said!  Big surprise, he let me take them anyhow.  they were beautiful, but didn't sound very good.  I sold them for $200.

SmyrnaGA

I simply say, "You need to talk to HR for that.  Please wait while I transfer you..."  They hang up pretty quickly after that.

And if I'm approached in a parking lot, I look around (to make sure it's not part of a team), listen and nod my head a few times.  When they stop talking and ask me a question, I answer in a Chinese accent, "No English." And smile.  Once they get rude, I leave.

JohnInCarolina

Reminds me of how we had a couple of young guys come through our neighborhood recently, trying to scam us with some other kind of "miracle".  It was two guys dressed in white shirts and black pants, carrying backpacks and riding bicycles.  They even had ties on!  

nolaegghead

"This fine miracle will only cost you 10% of everything you earn!!!  There's no cheaper way to save!  Your soul, I mean"

JohnInCarolina

nolaegghead said:

"This fine miracle will only cost you 10% of everything you earn!!!  There's no cheaper way to save!  Your soul, I mean"

It's like you were there!  They didn't get you, did they?  

nolaegghead

Naw.  I don't fall for that scam.

nolaegghead

See it all the time.  Actually, sometimes they leave with serious doubts.

nolaegghead

...about what they're selling (scamming). 

caliking

JohnInCarolina said:

Reminds me of how we had a couple of young guys come through our neighborhood recently, trying to scam us with some other kind of "miracle".  It was two guys dressed in white shirts and black pants, carrying backpacks and riding bicycles.  They even had ties on!  

My response to that kind of sales pitch (ever since the first person who tried to convert me in college) has been a deadpan look, straight in the eye - "I'm a heathen." and then close the door.

nolaegghead

Aren't those guys the "white panthers"?

HeavyG

JohnInCarolina said:

nolaegghead said:

"This fine miracle will only cost you 10% of everything you earn!!!  There's no cheaper way to save!  Your soul, I mean"

It's like you were there!  They didn't get you, did they?  

When they show up at my door I always be sure to ask if I can browse thru their special lingerie catalog.

JohnInCarolina

HeavyG said:

JohnInCarolina said:

nolaegghead said:

"This fine miracle will only cost you 10% of everything you earn!!!  There's no cheaper way to save!  Your soul, I mean"

It's like you were there!  They didn't get you, did they?  

When they show up at my door I always be sure to ask if I can browse thru their special lingerie catalog.

You sure they have one of those?  Funny they didn't mention it to me.  They certainly don't look like doods who've ever seen women's underwear.  Like, in their entire lives.  

gerhardk

They look like Mormon Missionaries,  very polite but persistent.  I don't like being rude to polite people but when they don't get the message sometimes you do what you have to do.

Gerhard

Mosca

There actually is a product that you can use to repair scratches, I've used it and it works perfectly. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but if you have ever done any car detailing, if you've used a rotary buffer, you can deal with this. The whole process takes between 60-90 minutes. (They claim less than an hour, and if you are doing several a day you will definitely get there. But if you are doing a scratch every couple years, take your time and do it right.)

https://scratchwizard.net/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv5gTgA3OpM

Ladeback69

stlcharcoal said:

The ones you really have to be careful of are the ones selling alarm systems, vacuum cleaners, or cleaning supplies.  Lots of time they work their way into your house, they make a mess they can "clean up", and then you can't get rid of them.  The alarm guys are usually burglars that are casing the houses--taking inventory and seeing if there's a system they can disable or not.  I don't live in a subdivision, just heard all of this from folks that do or have read about it in the newspaper after someone fell for the scam.

I laugh at them when they come to the door and just passed my alarm system sign in the front yard.  I say, didn't you see the sign.  the other ones are the lawn guys trying to sell you weed and feed service contracts.  I just say I already have someone doing it and they say how much and give up when they can't beat it.  

I would have asked if he had approval from Costco to be doing what he was doing.  He would have probably took off quick.

fishlessman

nolaegghead said:

See it all the time.  Actually, sometimes they leave with serious doubts.

i cant get these people into my house calling the dog Damien works wonders just before inviting them in