Sounds like karma gonna take care of this one all on its own.
Sounds like karma gonna take care of this one all on its own.
Couple things stood out right away. Used appliance store in a basement? Have fun with those stairs
I have to agree with Cummins- I hated moving computers into a basement. Getting a washing machine down there once is a struggle. For a business, that's about the last place I'd put an appliance shop!
More than Scrap Value Shipment Tips: http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...tml#post242349
When does he have time to run his business if he is spending all his free time stalking your CL ad's? lol, I say you have no worries for long!
Scrapper, Scrap Yard Worker, Horse farm worker, Cooler Puller and just plain ''tired''
As others stated get a lawyer.Going to meet him will not turn out well.Because you view him as the enemy already stay away from him.
if any thing post your craigslists adds at irregular times from normal make him chase you more and do more work on his part out posting you .
I also think a confrontation is a bad idea, both for you and them. Too many ways it can be spun to make you look like the evil one. Personally, I would continue the Craig's List ad, with the knowledge that it will likely be less productive than in the past. I would also expand your ads into Facebook. If you "don't do Facebook", then start. There are a lot of local groups and people go there all the time looking for advice on who to call. It is a great free advertising medium. The only caveat there is to be respectful of the people and the group rules. Beyond that, fliers and cards work well but do be aware that in some locations, as has been mentioned, there are laws against placing them on cars. Lots of businesses will let you place them on bulletin boards or windows and some will even let you leave a stack.
Have Fun,
Harold
I hate rules, but I love junk.
I am very possessive of my vehicles and I do not like strangers touching them so I would never put ads under windshield wipers for that same reason.
Alloy2- he did not yet have a store when I called him.
I invited him to my storage yard so he could see what I was doing.
I even offered free coffee and donuts if he wanted to stop by.
Having read this thread and given it my consideration the following is my theory about the "competitor". He is not exactly in direct completion with you.
More importantly he will likely treat his customers with the same disregard and disrespect he has treated you. If he hires employees he will also not treat them well. In the end I would expect him to fail in a short time unless his rich Daddy is backing him(I've seen this happen).
I think you have gotten great advise, there may well be good reasons not to follow it but my opinion supports the majority of the advise: Forget any direct action with/against this guy, Refine and/or redirect your business.
You will prosper and benefit not expending energy on this guy. 73, Mike
"Profit begins when you buy NOT when you sell." {quote passed down to me from a wise man}
Now go beat the copper out of something, Miked
OP; you call the basement guy a competitor but it sounds like you are a supplier to your current 40 mile customer. A "wholesaler", so to speak. And you offered to supply the basement guy with inventory also? Inventory that he could re-sell at a profit? Why would he turn down the opportunity? Do you compete with him for retail sales? Or are you competing with him for the available used appliances? I'm having a hard time getting my head around this. What am I missing here?
Focus on making your own business more efficient, concentrate on your existing customer base, increase your ability to service new customers, expand into those new markets, invest some of the new profits back into your company, add equipment, tooling, training and certifications to your company. Take care of your company and business, in time you will see this so called "competition" as just another event that you dealt with in growing your business.
I see competitors a little different, they make me stronger and if they are at my level, we become trade associates with common goals and interest. In reality, in business you need to be competitive, requiring "fair" competition and making us all competitors. Sorry, I think you have to re-think the "basement" competitor, but I would spend the energy on your own business.
Alloy2- what relevance does a picture of my ex sister in law have to do with my posting?
Diesel1-I have been doing this for 6 years including advertising on cl.
I am competing with him for the supply of appliances-the big difference is I collect them and re sell to a store out of town-I do not repair, resell to the public or pay people for the appliances.
This sock puppet came along a month and a half ago, sent me a nasty email and this stuff has been going on since.
He apparently thinks he's the new sheriff in town.
There are a few others in town in the appliance business that DON'T act like barn apes.
I just fail to see why someone that is new thinks they can push people around and act like this.
Not to HiJack the subject but Apple Cider Vinegar works wonders at catching those pesky little Fruit Flies. Just a little in the bottom of a small glass will catch a good many of those little pests the first night.
Now. Back to the Subject of Ruthless Business Practices.
Go back to jail, martha!
And take your "helpful hints" with you!
Now the idiot competitor turned foolishness up a notch. He posted on craigslist that "They" (posing as a private customer) gave me a stove which I posted the next day for sale on CL without a phone number-called me a rodeo clown too. I NEVER sell appliances on craigslist-they go into my back yard and when I get 10 or more the appliance store 30 miles north of me picks them up from my house. I do occasionally give away working units to needy people but I never sell them due to liability issues.
I know its the competitor because the map on their posting is the same place their store is at. Not too smart on their part. I fired off a warning email reply that my attorney was reviewing a hard copy I made of their post. I advised them to remove the posting immediately and I also notified craigslist about what they did. Any advise what I should do next?
Definitely not from Martha Stewart: "wrestling with a pig is futile because you're going to get dirty and the pig likes it." ANY engagement with that guy is going to get you dirty. The guy feels threatened by you and your business. And you feel threatened by him. You could try to talk to him about co-existing in the same town with one business complementing the other, but you need to lose the antagonistic attitude first. As others have suggested: best to take the high road and find ways to mind your own business. Customers should be able to figure out who the real "clown" is.
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