"You should dress nicer driving an expensive car like that. You look like a slob."

[hummus]

No judgement, but I am surprised by the number of folks whose first reaction to this is to think of "what I would say to win this encounter." I am seeing a different story here.

My inner Walter Mitty says this is a compliment. I realize the "slob" and "drug dealer" commentary color the whole conversation, but I suspect all of us can name someone who uses this type of hyperbole--without any malice--somewhere in our circles of friends and acquaintances. Without being there and reading body language, facial expressions, and tone, it's very hard to get picture the whole experience.

If E.G. was serious about how your appearance, who cares? His day is probably going worse than yours. I say take the compliment, wish him well, and continue enjoying the car on your own terms.

Edit: Just checking back in to say I think you handled it with great class. Good job.

 

[Gargamel]

Here's the TL;DR version if you don't want to read the whole thing:

Old guy insinuates I'm a drug dealer at the gas station and tells me to dress better when I go to fill up the Stinger today.

For the long version, read on.

Yeah, that happened today. I was at Costco getting gas, and admittedly I look like the unabomber doing yard work today. (because I was doing yard work all morning and hadn't planned to shower until after). Ripped jeans, grungy shirt, crazy hair, and several days' facial scruff. Needed some stuff from Lowe's to repair a busted sprinkler, and while on the way I noticed I was low on gas, so detoured over to fill up.

Our local Costco is always busy this time of the year, particularly in the mornings when the old people are topping off the 4 gallons of fuel a week they use driving from the trailer park to costco to load up on fireball and merlot, and then over to the church for bingo. Line for the pumps is 4 or 5 deep on every one, so I'm just sitting there with the windows down listening to some music and enjoying the weather.

As I pull up and start pumping my gas, this elderly couple in front of me are looking at me and the car and having a conversation at the car window. I just nod and figure they're lost or need help and are going to come ask me for some kind of help (happens quite often at that costco)

Elderly guy finishes pumping his gas (in like 2 minutes) and then walks over to me. I figure he's gonna say something about the car or ask for help, so I put on my polite face. Was absolutely not expecting the conversation that followed.

EG: "Hey, nice car. What do you do that you can afford that nice a car?" (I can't quite place his accent, but it's evident that English is not his native tongue)

Me: "... I'm sorry, what?"

EG: "You're dressed like a lawn care guy, but you're driving this fancy sports car. You some kind of drug dealer?"

Me: "Um. No. Thanks, but just like I'm sure you did before you retired, I work my ass off for what I have."

EG: "Well, you should dress nicer driving an expensive car like that. You look like a slob"

Me:"..." (pause) "I'll keep that in mind."

With that he shook his head, turned around, and went back to his car. I should note he was well dressed. Nice Sunday suit, well tailored. Wife didn't get out of the car but I'd presume she was also gussied up for church. Driving a newer Lexus RX350. Hopped in, waved out the window (at me maybe?) and took off.

What the actual f**k? This is why I will never understand humanity. Guess I need to remember to clean myself up more before I go out in public in my bad-ass ride from now on.

Im regulary drive around in sweat pants and a tee.

lol I meant no grown man should be wearing sandals, no matter what hi-tech gimmicks you want to give them. Less of people's feet is always a good thing...

Thats why i wear socks in demz sandals.

 

[cncBilly]

Here's the TL;DR version if you don't want to read the whole thing:

Old guy insinuates I'm a drug dealer at the gas station and tells me to dress better when I go to fill up the Stinger today.

For the long version, read on.

Yeah, that happened today. I was at Costco getting gas, and admittedly I look like the unabomber doing yard work today. (because I was doing yard work all morning and hadn't planned to shower until after). Ripped jeans, grungy shirt, crazy hair, and several days' facial scruff. Needed some stuff from Lowe's to repair a busted sprinkler, and while on the way I noticed I was low on gas, so detoured over to fill up.

Our local Costco is always busy this time of the year, particularly in the mornings when the old people are topping off the 4 gallons of fuel a week they use driving from the trailer park to costco to load up on fireball and merlot, and then over to the church for bingo. Line for the pumps is 4 or 5 deep on every one, so I'm just sitting there with the windows down listening to some music and enjoying the weather.

As I pull up and start pumping my gas, this elderly couple in front of me are looking at me and the car and having a conversation at the car window. I just nod and figure they're lost or need help and are going to come ask me for some kind of help (happens quite often at that costco)

Elderly guy finishes pumping his gas (in like 2 minutes) and then walks over to me. I figure he's gonna say something about the car or ask for help, so I put on my polite face. Was absolutely not expecting the conversation that followed.

EG: "Hey, nice car. What do you do that you can afford that nice a car?" (I can't quite place his accent, but it's evident that English is not his native tongue)

Me: "... I'm sorry, what?"

EG: "You're dressed like a lawn care guy, but you're driving this fancy sports car. You some kind of drug dealer?"

Me: "Um. No. Thanks, but just like I'm sure you did before you retired, I work my ass off for what I have."

EG: "Well, you should dress nicer driving an expensive car like that. You look like a slob"

Me:"..." (pause) "I'll keep that in mind."

With that he shook his head, turned around, and went back to his car. I should note he was well dressed. Nice Sunday suit, well tailored. Wife didn't get out of the car but I'd presume she was also gussied up for church. Driving a newer Lexus RX350. Hopped in, waved out the window (at me maybe?) and took off.

What the actual f**k? This is why I will never understand humanity. Guess I need to remember to clean myself up more before I go out in public in my bad-ass ride from now on.

That's funny. Wife and I purposely dressed down when we were looking for the new car. We had interesting reactions at various dealers. At toyota and mecedes no one approached us after about 20 minutes in each store.

 

[Aarvix]

Maybe he was hoping you were a drug dealer so he could score a J for his glaucoma.

 

[Fatalifeaten]

lol I meant no grown man should be wearing sandals, no matter what hi-tech gimmicks you want to give them. Less of people's feet is always a good thing...

Desert life, baby. Keeping cool is far more important than being fashionable. Plus, I'm out hiking and in water a lot during nice weather, so all terrain shoes are helpful.

 

[BlaydeX15]

Khaki shorts, flip flops (Thongs, for all my Aussie friends), and printed tees all day long!

Although I did spend 3-4 months wearing holey shoes before I bothered getting new ones. Thought it was kinda funny hopping out of my 'luxury sports sedan' in shoes with holes big enough to run a river through.

Priorities, right? I'll drop $60 on a game without a second thought, but $60-100 on shoes? No way! These ones will last a few more months before the top separates from the bottom.

 

[Fatalifeaten]

Hard to believe someone could say that to you but totally hilarious.

Nah, we get a lot of winter visitors starting this time of year, and they're by and large entitled self-righteous pricks. They proclaim that they're doing us a favor bringing their money here in the winter (they're not, we don't have a tourism based economy) and feel like they've earned the right to do/say whatever they want. While I couldn't specifically place the accent, this guy reminded me a lot of the people I met in central Europe when I traveled there. If they felt comfortable giving an opinion, they wouldn't hesitate whether they knew you or not.

 

[Fatalifeaten]

Thats why i wear socks in demz sandals.

HERESY! BURN THE HERETIC!

 

[CKeeler]

Khaki shorts, flip flops (Thongs, for all my Aussie friends), and printed tees all day long!

I like the way this guy thinks!

 

[Fatalifeaten]

Well, I did buy these over the weekend. Sometimes I DO wear real shoes.

 

[Devin]

My post included an ad, so I deleted it. Not sure how that happened.

 

[TwiceStung]

Here's the TL;DR version if you don't want to read the whole thing:

Old guy insinuates I'm a drug dealer at the gas station and tells me to dress better when I go to fill up the Stinger today.

For the long version, read on.

Yeah, that happened today. I was at Costco getting gas, and admittedly I look like the unabomber doing yard work today. (because I was doing yard work all morning and hadn't planned to shower until after). Ripped jeans, grungy shirt, crazy hair, and several days' facial scruff. Needed some stuff from Lowe's to repair a busted sprinkler, and while on the way I noticed I was low on gas, so detoured over to fill up.

Our local Costco is always busy this time of the year, particularly in the mornings when the old people are topping off the 4 gallons of fuel a week they use driving from the trailer park to costco to load up on fireball and merlot, and then over to the church for bingo. Line for the pumps is 4 or 5 deep on every one, so I'm just sitting there with the windows down listening to some music and enjoying the weather.

As I pull up and start pumping my gas, this elderly couple in front of me are looking at me and the car and having a conversation at the car window. I just nod and figure they're lost or need help and are going to come ask me for some kind of help (happens quite often at that costco)

Elderly guy finishes pumping his gas (in like 2 minutes) and then walks over to me. I figure he's gonna say something about the car or ask for help, so I put on my polite face. Was absolutely not expecting the conversation that followed.

EG: "Hey, nice car. What do you do that you can afford that nice a car?" (I can't quite place his accent, but it's evident that English is not his native tongue)

Me: "... I'm sorry, what?"

EG: "You're dressed like a lawn care guy, but you're driving this fancy sports car. You some kind of drug dealer?"

Me: "Um. No. Thanks, but just like I'm sure you did before you retired, I work my ass off for what I have."

EG: "Well, you should dress nicer driving an expensive car like that. You look like a slob"

Me:"..." (pause) "I'll keep that in mind."

With that he shook his head, turned around, and went back to his car. I should note he was well dressed. Nice Sunday suit, well tailored. Wife didn't get out of the car but I'd presume she was also gussied up for church. Driving a newer Lexus RX350. Hopped in, waved out the window (at me maybe?) and took off.

What the actual f**k? This is why I will never understand humanity. Guess I need to remember to clean myself up more before I go out in public in my bad-ass ride from now on.

On weekends (mostly) I drive nekked. Try to scare the geezers back south!

 

[Kamauxx]

The funniest thing about this is that someone thinks a Kia Stinger is so expensive that it warrants a certain type of wardrobe.

I guess Kia K900 owners should only wear Armani tuxedos.

 

[eljay]

@Fatalifeaten, hilarious story, thanks for sharing. First I've heard that a Costco run is a dress-up occasion.

Not that his asshattery had any relationship to his age (think of all the cool "old" gents here on the forum). I'm guessing his long-suffering wife told him to keep to himself and was sitting there rolling her eyes and thinking, "Why is he like this? One of these days he's gonna get shot!" A jerk is a jerk, regardless of age. (And I'm sure "old" means a much lower age to you than to me, .) The only snarky remark I've gotten was from a guy probably 20 years my junior, wearing a dress shirt and tie, who couldn't believe the Stinger was mine because, as he defensively told me after seeing the mock-horrified dirty look I shot him, he thought I'd be more likely to drive a Cadillac (and no, I wasn't overly-bedecked in tacky jewelry, so I'm guessing he meant my age).

@MerlintheMad, you asked how people like this live with themselves. Answer: They don't; that's why they feel compelled to share their discontent with the rest of us, giving us funny stories to share at their expense.

@Flameangel, I'd never heard "more front than Myer." Love it! Love learning new slang.

 

[FokalPoint]

The funny thing is I’ve started dressing nicer when I go out because of the car lol

 

[Legendsk]

In a land where every living (non-human) thing is trying to kill you - most by just looking at you, temperature would be the least of my reasons for wearing shoes. Boots. Heavy boots. Tall, heavy boots. With hobnails if they are still available?

 

[Ruturaj]

Weird thing man. Usually I don't dress nicely too. You just have to act weird enough that people don't talk to you at all.

Only time I dress nicely is when I am looking/interviewing/meeting for a new job. Other time who gives a f?

 

[P22Tyler]

Here's the TL;DR version if you don't want to read the whole thing:

Old guy insinuates I'm a drug dealer at the gas station and tells me to dress better when I go to fill up the Stinger today.

For the long version, read on.

Yeah, that happened today. I was at Costco getting gas, and admittedly I look like the unabomber doing yard work today. (because I was doing yard work all morning and hadn't planned to shower until after). Ripped jeans, grungy shirt, crazy hair, and several days' facial scruff. Needed some stuff from Lowe's to repair a busted sprinkler, and while on the way I noticed I was low on gas, so detoured over to fill up.

Our local Costco is always busy this time of the year, particularly in the mornings when the old people are topping off the 4 gallons of fuel a week they use driving from the trailer park to costco to load up on fireball and merlot, and then over to the church for bingo. Line for the pumps is 4 or 5 deep on every one, so I'm just sitting there with the windows down listening to some music and enjoying the weather.

As I pull up and start pumping my gas, this elderly couple in front of me are looking at me and the car and having a conversation at the car window. I just nod and figure they're lost or need help and are going to come ask me for some kind of help (happens quite often at that costco)

Elderly guy finishes pumping his gas (in like 2 minutes) and then walks over to me. I figure he's gonna say something about the car or ask for help, so I put on my polite face. Was absolutely not expecting the conversation that followed.

EG: "Hey, nice car. What do you do that you can afford that nice a car?" (I can't quite place his accent, but it's evident that English is not his native tongue)

Me: "... I'm sorry, what?"

EG: "You're dressed like a lawn care guy, but you're driving this fancy sports car. You some kind of drug dealer?"

Me: "Um. No. Thanks, but just like I'm sure you did before you retired, I work my ass off for what I have."

EG: "Well, you should dress nicer driving an expensive car like that. You look like a slob"

Me:"..." (pause) "I'll keep that in mind."

With that he shook his head, turned around, and went back to his car. I should note he was well dressed. Nice Sunday suit, well tailored. Wife didn't get out of the car but I'd presume she was also gussied up for church. Driving a newer Lexus RX350. Hopped in, waved out the window (at me maybe?) and took off.

What the actual f**k? This is why I will never understand humanity. Guess I need to remember to clean myself up more before I go out in public in my bad-ass ride from now on.

When I'm not being forced to wear pants for work, I wear shorts year round. Doesn't matter the weather, I hate pants. I also tend to wear basketball or athletic shorts of some type and just a T-shirt, so I guess I wouldn't have met his standards either. Oh well, I'll try to continue enjoying my Stinger in spite of this.

Either way, you handled this well, either through shock or self control. I wouldn't have been so kind.

I only wish I could buy some fireball at my local Costco....

 

[Flameangel]

@Flameangel, I'd never heard "more front than Myer." Love it! Love learning new slang.

Back here " Myer " is one of Australia's largest department stores and synonymous with " style and fashion ", can be expensive and there's one in every major city here. Because they are well known and the department stores are big with big front windows, the expression I used became a catch cry.

 

[Ozstung]

[U

@Flameangel, I'd never heard "more front than Myer." Love it! Love learning new slang.

Myer is a big chain of department stores down here.