(craigslist) posting in automotive services

way2fastalon · 02-23-2010

so a few days ago i posted up an ad on craigslist and i know i have poor grammar and spelling but i don't like be attacked like this i posted basic jobs what i could do or would do if it came up .. I know craigs-list has some bad apple's on there i have alldata, anyone who has that can work or fix just about anything as long as diagnosis follows true.

one person or business sent me this email . from
Craigsredflag@aol.com

I have been reading these postings for years and every time I find one from some back yard mechanic, it makes me ill that you people write adds to get business. You cant even write an ad with good grammer.

What offends me more is your taking money away from my business potential and cause a lot of troubles for people when you work on cars.
You toss out a list of prices to suck these people into your garage game.
I read your ad and you cant do half the repairs you claim. It was obvious when you ask them to tell you what is wrong, that you dont know what your doing.
I dont know who you are or what your about. But I have a printed out copy of your listing and I am going to fax it too the state attorney generals office along with the state tax office. Lets see what they have to say about advertising when your not a registered business.

You should either quit posting here or get a license to operate a business.

I bet your not even insured? What are you going to do when you mistakenly mess up some Hondas timing and you wreck an engine? Put yourself in that customers place and think about what they would feel like.

Do you have any technical support to support your services? I bet you dont.

i have a obd1 and 2 reader and a $ 700.00 in tools if i dont have the tool i can borrow it from my friends dad or some one elce

ill post my add up tomorrow (all im saying is what the hell )

Constant_Project21 · 02-23-2010

Some people have a good amount of time on their hands, jesus. This guy must have gotten screwed royally at one point to go as far as turning people in (which I doubt he will, and if he does, then holy crap haha). Not like people just post up ads looking to screw people, know plenty of people who do it just to make a little side money, and are good mechanics.

Oh and if the guy wants to get nit-picky on the grammar, he's no grammar professor himself lol.

**LingLing** · 02-23-2010

Look below...Stupid internet

**LingLing** · 02-23-2010

What an asshat. Don't worry about him....

But on the other side I can see where he's coming from. Times are tough in the automotive industry. He's gotta put food on the table, and that's most likely his only source of income. And the fact that people are offering comparable (In some cases) service to what he's offering but at a huge discounted rate directly affects the amount of work orders he's getting.

With that said. Don't worry about this tool. He's not going to report you to anyone (I hope).

Chim55117 · 02-23-2010

Misspelled words with corrections are in red. Yes, I am a English/Grammar nerd. Don't hate, appreciate!

I have been reading these postings for years, and every time I find one from some back yard mechanic, (sentence fragment) it makes me ill that you people people like you write adds ads
to get business. You cant can't or can noteven write an ad with good good works, but proper would be more correct in this context grammer.

What offends me more is your you are or you'retaking money away from my business potential and cause a lot of troubles for people when you work on cars.
You toss out a list of prices to suck these people into your garage game.
I read your ad and you cant can't do half the repairs you claim. It was obvious when you ask asked them to tell you what is wrong, that you dont didn't know what your you were doing.
I dont don't or do notknow who you are , or what your you're or you areabout. But I have a printed out copy of your listing and I am going to fax it too to the state attorney generals office, along with the state tax office. Lets Let'ssee what they have to say about advertising when your you're or you arenot a registered business.

You should either quit posting here ,or get a license to operate a business.

I bet your you are or you'renot even insured? This statement makes no sense, it should be a statement, not a question What are you going to do when you mistakenly mess up some Hondas Honda's or Hondas' timing and you wreck an engine? Put yourself in that customers customer'splace and think about what replace what with howthey would feel likeremove like.

Do you have any technical support to support your services? I bet you dont don't.

i have a obd1 and 2 reader and a $ 700.00 in tools if i dont have the tool i can borrow it from my friends dad or some one elce

ill post my add up tomorrow (all im saying is what the hell )

Now you can point out his "good" grammar to him. That is all.

- Stephen

4g63tcrazy · 02-23-2010

Who cares? People these days are fucked up.. If I got a email like that I would laugh and thank the guy for the good laugh. The fact that he even took the time to do any of that is just hilarious.

Constant_Project21 · 02-23-2010

Also forgot to add, that he couldn't even spell grammar. Mr. Paulson wouldn't approve that's for sure, Stephen haha.

way2fastalon · 02-23-2010

so i edited it last night. i don't know if it is better or worse

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ws...612001136.html

awd-drifter · 02-23-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4g63tcrazy

Who cares? People these days are fucked up.. If I got a email like that I would laugh and thank the guy for the good laugh. The fact that he even took the time to do any of that is just hilarious.

agreed. I wonder if that guy was just bored or just wasting his time. He himself failed at spelling. lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by way2fastalon

so i edited it last night. i don't know if it is better or worse

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ws...612001136.html

It's alot cleaner but I'd suggest capitalizing "I"...but it is just a craigslist ad. Other than that, it's clean and very easy to read. Maybe you might even get a call from me

tpunx99GSX · 02-23-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by way2fastalon

so i edited it last night. i don't know if it is better or worse

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ws...612001136.html

Are your shift keys broken? Capitalization Capitalization CAPITALIZATION!!!

tpunx99GSX · 02-23-2010

Also the ad still has a crap load of grammatical errors and misspellings. If you want to be trusted with someones car, you should really make a professional looking ad. And be very wary of putting actual prices on the Ad. As it will lock you in on that price regardless of additional labor needed.
As shitty as the guy sounded, he did have a very good point and was more giving you a heads up. Doing labor for friends or for referenced people is fine, but when you open yourself to anyone with a vehicle you are really asking for trouble. Your intentions are good, but if you fuck something up, you will be majorly screwed and end up being stuck with a bill for a new parts, and possibly a lawsuit.
Tom

C3L1CA · 02-23-2010

A for effort but no offense, but that ad is pretty horrible.

I'd put more time into and try and make it sound a little better.

TkrPerformance · 02-23-2010

Make it sound better.

I do a lot of side work on cars but I don't post it anywere. I just do it for people I know and people on the board for a great price. I would never put a Cl ad for side jobs it opens you up to a bunch of crap to work on that should not be on the road and they will buy the cheapest parts out there.

Mabe Craig can add a lot to this he has a ton of back yard mech's that come into his store. Some are good and some are just hacks.

**goodhart** · 02-23-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by way2fastalon

hi im a 25 yr old full-time collage student

That line right there would scare me away from you touching any car of mine worth more than $50.

twack · 02-23-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodhart

That line right there would scare me away from you touching any car of mine worth more than $50.

that and the fact that you said you "dont have alot of time because of school" would scare me because how are you going to set aside 2 or 3 days to do work on a car and its A LOT, 2 words.

way2fastalon · 02-23-2010

ok ill change some things ..

RichardBBY · 02-23-2010

Quote:

Also the ad still has a crap load of grammatical errors and misspellings. If you want to be trusted with someones car, you should really make a professional looking ad. And be very wary of putting actual prices on the Ad. As it will lock you in on that price regardless of additional labor needed.
As shitty as the guy sounded, he did have a very good point and was more giving you a heads up. Doing labor for friends or for referenced people is fine, but when you open yourself to anyone with a vehicle you are really asking for trouble. Your intentions are good, but if you fuck something up, you will be majorly screwed and end up being stuck with a bill for a new parts, and possibly a lawsuit.
Tom

+1

This is pretty much what I was going to say, but I probably wouldn't have said it as well.

slowbubblecar · 02-23-2010

As far as pricing goes, I would say something along the lines of the standard rate being $25/hr. Instead of posting an amount for certain jobs, I would tell them to send you an email for a quote on larget jobs.

way2fastalon · 02-23-2010

i have taken all that in to consideration and changed it

thanks guys

twack · 02-23-2010

something else to think about is $25 an hour might scare people. i know that shops can be 80+ but i just feel uncomfortable letting someone i dont know who wants to work on my car, and thinks their time is only worth 25 i would at least do 40 but thats me

o and just so you know the guy who wrote that email is a douche and really has no reason to go out and attack you like that, at least you asked us for criticism