Incredibly, a Used Car Salesman is cloying, insulting, racist, pushy and presumptive.

[Cartooniverse]

A preface: I bought the car because I badly wanted the car.

Okay. I go searching for a nice used Nissan Quest. It will be my third. I love 'em. I find one listed at a local dealer. Go and look. Out of my price range. The salesman is just so goddamned overly friendly. I don't have ANY use for strangers who call me " bro ". I'm not your "bro". I'm a fucking commission with a pulse to you, asshole.

So. The car is too pricey, but on the way back to my car we walk by a Quest. Older, but primo. With plates, clearly owned by someone inside. He looks at me, asks me to wait. Turns out the current owners are inside at that very moment, trying to turn it in on trade for a new car. Bingo ! I put down a hunnerd dollars, a few days later the deal goes through.

So far, I'm "bro". And I get clapped on the back several times, which I detest.

The day I am to go and buy the car, I get a call. Spoken in the most insultingly stereotypical Asian accent, a voice says, " Hello, this is X-Town Nissan, The car you are waiting for is ready to be picked up, along with some fried rice and pork dish. " I literally said, " Uh, hello??" It was this dick calling me, trying to be amusing. He said, " Oh just kidding around, Mad Dog. " I've now been promoted from Bro to Mad Dog. Am I lucky or what?

I said, " Well, my Asian daughter and I will be coming in to get this car in a few hours, okay BRO ? " Dead silence. Then he laughed and said, " Oh heh, good one. See yo soon Bro. "

I repeat this to my daughter, who is South Korean. We both pack into the wife's car, get dropped off and walk in. The guy sees me, sees daughter, goes completely white. All of a sudden, that Teflon slick façade is shot to shit. Asshole. He comes over and says, " Hey, okay, well the car is ready and this is John, he'll be taking all of your info okay there, Bro? " Couldn't even LOOK at my daughter, who is 15 and eyeing him rather coolly.

I got one more Mad Dog out of him but it was a lame attempt. Seriously considered talking to his manager but what the hell- for all I know his manager is more racist than he is and what is the POINT? I am not going to change this fuckwad's mind set if I DO complain to management.

Lesson to daughter? Rare will she meet a racist whose mind set can be altered through a confrontation. And, confront when it will be of some practical use, unless you are so outraged that you need to confront to maintain some self-respect.

I was offended for myself AND my child, but I chose not to blow it up into a big deal. Perhaps I was wrong there, but I saw no value in it.

I must say, this speck of shit singlehandedly reinforced every bad stereotype of a used car salesman that I've ever heard in my life.

I know that the righteous thing would have been to walk away with my money and tell him in a loud voice for all of the customers to clearly hear just what I thought of his awful racist comments.

Maybe I'm just tired of the fighting in this regard, I don't know. I do know that anything I did would have made zero difference to this prick. -sigh-

Cartooniverse

[hajario]

I recall a thread or two where I thought that you blew a supposed racial slight out of proportion. Now we have this incident where I think that you were way too kind. I wouldn't have thrown a loud tantrum in front of everyone. I would have definitely had a talk with the salesman's manager before I let the deal go through. At the very least, he would have been reprimanded and you could have gotten a better deal on the Nissan.

[Noone Special]

I think you did the right thing by avoiding a direct confrontation with the assholesalesperson.

Now that you've bought the car and driven it off, do the right thing again, call the dealership, demand to speak to the manager, and calmly but politely ask them what they plan to do about....

If their answer is not satisfactory (and I, personally, would be demanding the salesperson's head -- but I'm not you and this is very much your call), I would inform them that you will be taking this matter further -- and follow through on that (BBB? Some other organizations that deal with this sort of stuff? Are they a certified dealership for some make of new car -- maybe contact the manufacturer and inquire if they want to be associated with a dealership behaving this way.... There should be more than one way of hurting them).

You behaved correctly (IMHO). You didn't cut off the nose to spite the face, and got the car on what I assume would have to have been a decent deal. Now don't let them get away with this racism!

[Zsofia]

Yeah, you totally gave that guy a commission. I'd have pitched a real fit. Well, actually I probably wouldn't have been able to make my brain process what I'd actually heard. I'd have decided surely it had been a hallucination, because.... really? I'm glad you brought your daughter in - it's good for kids to see that assholes are generally real cowards.

[black rabbit]

Mayn... Mayn, bro... Bromayn.... Dog! High five!

[monstro]

I'm speechless.

[Cheesesteak]

You behaved correctly (IMHO). You didn't cut off the nose to spite the face, and got the car on what I assume would have to have been a decent deal. Now don't let them get away with this racism!I agree with the first part, no sense harming yourself to "get back" at a guy like this. The second part... I'm not sure it's worth it to go huge lengths to get the guy fired or disciplined.

If the manager/owner is on your side, you won't need to do anything more than mention it to him in a polite phone call. If the manager isn't on your side, all the BBB's in the world aren't going to do a damn thing to even get the salesman a stern talking to.

[smiling bandit]

I don't think he's racist. I think he's so incredibly stupid that he ought to have his brain replaced with a rapid chinchilla. It would improve his intelligence, and then we could see the Chinchilla piloting his body like a robot.

[Fear Itself]

Specifically, where is the racism? The car is made in Asia. Fried rice is an Asian dish. If you bought a Porsche, he might say it comes with bratwurst and sauerkraut, or a Chevy comes with hotdogs and apple pie. I say you over reacted, and taught your daughter to over react as well. Nice going, Bro.

[Cartooniverse]

Ha ! That's funny. Nice baiting; not rising to it. Moving right along.

Not sure the BBB would do anything. However, the racist remark is impossible to prove, as I am the only one who heard it. Yes, Nissan is a Japanese-owned company and if I routinely wiretapped my own phone calls, I'd have the guy. In fact, if I had a tape of it, the CD-ROM would have already been duplicated and sent on to Nissan North America. However, that's illegal in the state of New York. Pity. :)

I really do get unhinged with racism and I am still trying to figure out what to do about this sad speck of feces. I do wonder if the best thing to do would be to ask for a meeting with the Dealership owner, the Manager and this guy and very quietly describe what happened. Tell them that I know he made a commission and that pains me because he is the on the floor face of their dealership, and this was his level of behavior.

As I said in my OP..... what would that really do? Which windmill do I tip at and what does it accomplish?

[AuntiePam]

Fear Itself, no, I don't believe the salesman would have done that. Quite a stretch. Nice try at rationalization though.

When's the last time you heard a racist joke, comment, or accent that was directed at a German? 1945, maybe. Gimme a break.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Write it down, in a letter.
Type it up, as if you were going to send it to the dealership.
If it seems too petty in cold, hard type, junk it.
If it doesn't, re-write it, & send it to Nissan USA's home office. By registered mail. Demand action.

[monstro]

I would let management know. We are talking about an Asian company, and they need to know that they are employing someone who not only gets off on Asian stereotypes, but also shares them with customers.

No, his boss may not care. But the boss's boss (or his/her boss) might.

If you don't think the guy should be fired over this, make the note general so no one is specifically identified. Maybe management will have a meeting with all the staff and give them all a stern talking to. Meanwhile, the jerkwad will be sweating in his boots, wondering if his name was mentioned.

[Boyo Jim]

What was the salesman's race?

[Cat Whisperer]

I think so far you handled it well - it's too bad a creep got your commission, but you sort of have to resign yourself to that happening whenever you go buy a car. :D

He was way over the line for your usual brand of car salesman asshole, though. I'd call his manager and tell him the story just as you've told us, but I wouldn't expect much action. The manager is probably a bigger asshole, and that's why he got promoted. I'm a firm believer in "management sets the tone," too - this guy acts the way he does because that's the norm at this dealership.

You know, we were looking for a used car a couple of years ago, and there were any number of(male) car salesmen who acted like I wasn't there and talked to my husband instead (including the guy who got mad at me because I said his piece of shit Neon or whatever the hell they're calling it now handled and sounded like a piece of shit. Which it did. I guess you're not supposed to say anything honest to these guys.) The occupation really seems to attract the losers.

[Leaper]

Specifically, where is the racism? The car is made in Asia. Fried rice is an Asian dish. If you bought a Porsche, he might say it comes with bratwurst and sauerkraut, or a Chevy comes with hotdogs and apple pie. I say you over reacted, and taught your daughter to over react as well. Nice going, Bro.

I think you missed this part.

Spoken in the most insultingly stereotypical Asian accent...

Think Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's and see if it doesn't sound racist.

[Fear Itself]

I think you missed this part.Somehow I did. That changes everything. I withdraw my snark.

[silenus]

Burn the sucker. Report him to not only his manager but to Corporate as well. Mention legal action. CC to the local BBB and newspaper. Make the little shit sweat a little, at the very least.

[OtakuLoki]

Fear Itself, I'm glad to see you did miss that line. I was really worried you had been taken over by bodysnatchers or something.


Cartooniverse, I'd send a polite note to the dealership's management, and state explicitly that while you wanted the car enough to go through with the deal, you're not going to be eager to use them for maintenance. Whether you'd planned on doing maintenance via the dealership or not, it's the sort of potential financial hit that should get some action, I think. Alas, whether it will is another question altogether.

Overall, I do think you responded as best you could have.

[Monty]

I dont see why you didn't just say, "Excuse me" to the salescritter and then walk to his manager and tell him exactly why you weren't going to be buying a vehicle from his dealership.

[Leaper]

I dont see why you didn't just say, "Excuse me" to the salescritter and then walk to his manager and tell him exactly why you weren't going to be buying a vehicle from his dealership.

Perhaps because, according to the OP, the car was already bought, and the "last straw" occurred over the phone.

Or did you mean at a point before the whole "stereotypical Asian accent" thing?

[Cervaise]

What was the salesman's race?I was going to say "jackass," but I'm starting to wonder if maybe they aren't a different species.

[Cartooniverse]

Fear Itself, I appreciate that.

Boyo Jim, he is white.

Those of you advocating a written response have me on it. I will write out a letter, and let it sit for a day and re-read it, then post it in here. :) THEN, send it in to everyone. I'm good at this shit, i will get real people's names right up the corporate ladder, and send a registered letter to each of them.

To be honest, I had sealed the deal when he called and was so incredibly offensive. It was an hour before I was going in to get the car. Could I have killed the deal? Sure, he only had a deposit.

As I tried to articulate in my OP, NOT buying the vehicle would have cost him nothing. He'd have sold it to someone else immediately and I'd have lost a vehicle that is hard to find at that price. So," voting with my wallet" would have been quite hollow a victory here.

More meaningful will be a written response. featherlou is likely correct- the fish rots from the head. I will not send this letter to the dealership. Instead, to the District Management and to Nissan North America.

The problem here, and it is a problem, is that I have zero proof. Maybe I'm a disgruntled customer with Asian kids who is bitching because he didn't get a better deal and wants to screw with the salesman? Maybe I'm one of those people who loves writing negative letters to companies? Who knows. I will compose and send a letter but I have no idea how it will be taken by the higher-ups.

And, a big step back. My OP Title is a cheap shot at used car salesmen. Well, I am a salesman now for the first time in my adult life. I do other stuff too but I sell. I'm SO painfully aware of how salesmen/women are perceived. Hell, how I perceive them ! This wasn't really meant as a cheap shot at used car salesmen as much as it was a rant about this offensive asshole. He could have been selling me anything and said and done the same things.

[Monty]

I read the OP as getting that call prior to exchange of funds. The offending dude, of course, is tactless. I'm stunned that he's managed to stay there. And I say that in full knowledge that a number of dealerships are desperate for salesman.

[Rhubarb]

Cartooniverse, I think you handled yourself remarkably well in the situation. In hindsight, a quiet word to the salesman the first time he offended you with the fake "bro" banter might've prevented the more outrageous behaviors. Almost any salesman will change his patter if he knows it bothers the mark (obsequiousness, thy name is salesman). A good salesman will realize it isn't working and knock it off without being told. An exceptional one won't try this kind of crap in the first place.

I think the letter writing idea is a good one, but it may not be necessary. From the context of your posts, ISTM that you bought your Quest from a factory dealership. Chances are you will get a survey in the mail asking about your "buying experience". These surveys typically don't go directly to the dealership, but to a regional marketing director or a 3rd party marketing firm. The scores from these surveys are used to reward or punish the dealership. Negative reviews carry a lot of weight.

Of course, even if you do get a chance to express your displeasure in a survey, I'd still have the letter ready to send. But be aware, that salesman WILL get fired over it. If that's not what you want, don't send it, or send it only to the salesman himself. Just my 2¢.

[elelle]

Cartooniverse;
I had to read the OP a coupla times to even suss the offense, not on your part, but because I can't understand the humor in the guy's reasoning for finding it funny to pick up the car with "fried rice and pork dish". It's just stupid. Asian cars have been mainstream for two decades for good reason, they work well. Really, WTF???

My wiseass self, hindysight, would be to say, then, "Heyyyy, you didn't tell me that you offered a free cultural food bonus with every car. Mebbe we oughta re deal now. If I buy a Ford from you, do I get a whole half a hog, dressed, and cole slaw on the side?" (I'm workin' on a Southern model, here, Hon) Or " Well, that's nice, I'm sure my Korean daughter will enjoy the snack you've provided on the way home..."

Nah, that doesn't do it. It just wasn't funny in any respect. The most productive response would be to point blank ask the guy what he meant by that remark, and listen to his explaination. It's a kooky patter to him because his understanding is minimal. The point of having to explain it to you, with your daughter right there, would hammer his shallowness home.

If that moment has passed, send it on to his superiors. That remark is really mind boggling in it's doltishness.

[Sitnam]

This sounds like an episode of The Office, where Michael Scott turns into a car salesmen for a day. Except it's not funny. If you really were offended though, you really shouldn't have bought the car if for no other reason than peace of mind. That's not the only used Nissan Quest around and every time you get in it you'll know that asshole made some money off of you.

[Li'l Pluck]

Okay, I haven't read the entire thread, but I just need say this: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Actually, I shouldn't be that surprised. Many of us know how this whole racism thing works: You look like me, so you must think like me, right? I just KNOW that Bro knows where I'm coming from. Dontcha, Bro? And after we close this deal, we'll head on over to the local pub, grab a few, and kick back. And maybe we'll have some fried rice while some Asian "massage therapist" ('cause aren't they all?) love us long time.

(And I'm glad, Fear Itself, that you reversed your position. When I read your first post, I was like what. The. Fuck? Not just because ...well, for obvious reasons, but also because I was recently reading your posts in another thread (forget which thread, though), and you seemed to be making so much sense there, and then I saw this, and, well, y'know.)

Cartooniverse, I think that, from the get-go, you should've done what Monty suggested. Believe me, I understand how economic pressures can far too often put us in a position where we feel that we have to deal with these assholes, but...well, I guess the other alternative would've been to speak to the manager immediately and ask for another salesperson.

Now that the deal has been done, I would absolutely take the advice offered by silenus and monstro. (Though, with all due respect to silenus, I'm not sure what kind of legal action you could threaten that would be effective.) But, yeah, my first thought was for you to send a letter (and maybe your post here) to the management and to Nissan's corporate offices (and to the corporate offices of whichever brand the dealier is affiliated with, if it's not Nissan). And yep, to the local media, too (though you might want to prepare yourself for a chorus of "Why'd you buy the car, then?")

And I forget who implied that getting the guy fired for this might be too much, but you know what? FUCK THAT SHIT. One of the reasons people like this (talking about all manner of racist, homophobe, sexist, what-have-you) don't learn their goddamn lesson is precisely because people pussy out and say, "Welllll, maybe he shouldn't be fired, but just reprimanded." Hell! No! His behavior was disgusting and incexcusable, and if he's not mature enough to understand what he should and should not say to customers, then he needs a job where he doesn't have to interact with other human beings. Really, it's just that simple. Fuck him.

ETA: Okay, now that I've calmed down a little, if I were the customer, and depending on how deep I felt the offense was, I might settle for telling the offender, in that moment, something like, "Look, dude, that shit ain't cool, and you really need to realize that you never really know who you're talking to." (Remember, I'm Black, but I'm also a Jew (among other things)--which you can't tell by looking at me--so you can imagine what people think they can get away with saying in my presence.) In my mind, though, there are very few situations where this course of action might be all that's required.

So, yeah, dude, I'd say that nailing him to the wall wouldn't be such a bad thing. I hope you'll let us know what happens.

Oh, and I love that you told your daughter and took here along with you. It's a shame that she has to know that people like this exist, but...well, she really has to know. And maybe this'll make the dickhead think twice about doing this kind of stuff in the future. Whether ir does or doesn't, I still second silenus's and monstro's advice.

[Li'l Pluck]

:smack:

Clearly, "dealier" = dealer.

Oy!

Oh, and that should read: "took her along with you."

C'mon, Li'l Pluck--get it together, man!

:smack:

[Li'l Pluck]

Whether ir does or doesn't...

Okay, y'all, that's two days in a row that I've had to do these multiple corrections on my own posts outside of the edit function's timeframe. I don't know what my problem is, but I'll stop. I promise.

:smack: :smack: :smack:

[Cheesesteak]

And I forget who implied that getting the guy fired for this might be too much, but you know what? FUCK THAT SHIT. One of the reasons people like this (talking about all manner of racist, homophobe, sexist, what-have-you) don't learn their goddamn lesson is precisely because people pussy out and say, "Welllll, maybe he shouldn't be fired, but just reprimanded." You may be talking about my post, so I'll clarify. Cartooniverse is probably not going to "get the guy fired" unless the manager/owner of the dealership is on board. If the manager/owner is on board, he's not going to have to write a bunch of letters to the BBB and his local news station, he only needs to talk to the manager about it, once.

If the manager/owner is not on board, there is nobody else to go to. Dealerships are generally independantly owned, the staff is hired/fired by the owner, not by Nissan. You think Nissan is going to dump a dealership who may have been selling their cars for 30 years because one dude who bought a used Quest is pissed about some stupid racist joke?

So, with this in mind, I would not "go to great lengths" to try and get the guy fired, because great lengths are not necessary if the manager agrees, and will not make a difference if the manager doesn't.

[Li'l Pluck]

You may be talking about my post, so I'll clarify. Cartooniverse is probably not going to "get the guy fired" unless the manager/owner of the dealership is on board. If the manager/owner is on board, he's not going to have to write a bunch of letters to the BBB and his local news station, he only needs to talk to the manager about it, once.

If the manager/owner is not on board, there is nobody else to go to. Dealerships are generally independantly owned, the staff is hired/fired by the owner, not by Nissan. You think Nissan is going to dump a dealership who may have been selling their cars for 30 years because one dude who bought a used Quest is pissed about some stupid racist joke?

So, with this in mind, I would not "go to great lengths" to try and get the guy fired, because great lengths are not necessary if the manager agrees, and will not make a difference if the manager doesn't.

I hear ya.

And I think you're right in that complaining won't get the guy fired, especially w/o proof that it happened. And while I don't think that Nissan--or any other automaker--would dump a dealer over what they would likely consider to be an isolated incident, I do like the idea of starting a paper trail. Suppose that it's not an isolated incident, and others write in to complain about the same thing, and then it builds and builds, perhaps even culminating in unfavorable publicity? Which might then spur either Nissan or the dealership to some kind of meaningful action.

Yeah, I know--fat chance, but a guy can dream, right?

And even if nothing comes from Cartooniverse's complaints, at least he can take some kind of satisfaction from knowing that he's done the right thing and complained to the proper authorities. No real victory there, I reckon, but still, might be worth something. (Assuming, of course, that he tells other people in his circle just why, if they're ever in the market for a car, they should not patronize this particuar dealership.)

[silenus]

Yeah, you'll never get any kind of legal action against the poltroon, but the threat of legal action is usually enough to cost people some sleepless nights, and usually prompts more stern action from higher-ups.

[descamisado]

Mayn... Mayn, bro... Bromayn.... Dog! High five!It's dawg. If you're going to be racist, at least read the manual. ;)

[Bobotheoptimist]

What ever happened to FormerMarineGuy? He is/was a car salesman, wasn't he?

[Antinor01]

Fear Itself, no, I don't believe the salesman would have done that. Quite a stretch. Nice try at rationalization though.

When's the last time you heard a racist joke, comment, or accent that was directed at a German? 1945, maybe. Gimme a break.

Quite beside the point, but I heard one about 2 weeks ago directed at a friend of mine. When I pointed out to the person that I am mostly german they directed it at me as well. Just because it isn't overly common doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

[DudleyGarrett]

This sounds like an episode of The Office, where Michael Scott turns into a car salesmen for a day. Except it's not funny. If you really were offended though, you really shouldn't have bought the car if for no other reason than peace of mind. That's not the only used Nissan Quest around and every time you get in it you'll know that asshole made some money off of you.

Michael Scott: "You're pretty exotic looking. Was your dad a GI?"

[Cervaise]

The suggestions to contact the media (instead of the BBB or whatever) make me think that there might be a slightly off-angle way of going about this.

Columnists are always looking for material, for subjects they can babble about for however many column inches they're expected to fill two or three times a week. Rather than making a business- or salesman-specific vendetta about this, what about suggesting to said local columnist a general topic: "Sucking it up to save a buck."

Relate the incident as above, but vagueify the identifying detail about the auto lot, e.g. "a two-generation family-owned operation near the airport," such that anyone who thinks about it knows which one you're talking about even if you don't use the actual name. It'll insulate you, a bit, from accusations of trying to "get" the bad guy, because really the more interesting question is why you did what you did, choosing the dollars over telling the jackass to stick the contract in his ear.

If I were a columnist, I could easily make an entire initial column out of the original incident. I'd then solicit other reader stories, and ride that horse for weeks. I think it would be very interesting to hear a range of stories along the same lines as yours: somebody was offended by some behavior exhibited by the representative of a business, but they chose to swallow their offense rather than risk losing a good deal. In other words, they put a dollar value on their limit of tolerance.

Basically, it'd be a gift from heaven.

And, of course, there's a good chance there would be consequences for the business and/or salesman, even if that "wasn't your intention," nudge nudge.

Something to consider.

[silenus]

Excellent idea, Cervaise!

[ivylass]

Well, depending on how far you want to mess with this, you could always get one of your friends to go in there and try to buy a car. See if the same salesman also talks to him with "Bro" and "Mad Dog," (incredibly unprofessional, IMHO). See if he proceeds from there to insensitive racial comments. If it's allowed, have your friend wear a wire.

[Scarlett67]

As a side note, IME the BBB isn't going to be interested in this at all. They intervene if there is some financial issue (something wrong with the car, not as advertised, wrong financing terms, whatever). As long as you didn't take a hit in the wallet, they don't care if the salesman is a racist. They'll get your money back if you were defrauded, but they won't force him to apologize or get him disciplined or fired for being a dick.

Better to go to corporate.

[Loach]

I think he's so incredibly stupid that he ought to have his brain replaced with a rapid chinchilla.


Won't a slow one work just as well?

[Cartooniverse]

--snip-- I might settle for telling the offender, in that moment, something like, "Look, dude, that shit ain't cool, and you really need to realize that you never really know who you're talking to."


I did ! On the phone I said, I and my Korean daughter will be coming in to get the car in a little while. The only thing you could hear was the hiss on the line. So, the " you never know who you are talking to " freaked him out but good and I suspect he figures he whistled by the graveyard because I didn't walk in and cause a major fucking fuss.

I should have and I'm angry with myself for- as you accurately phrased it- being a pussy and not doing what I should have.

Letters will be written. Names will be taken.

Oh, and don't concern yourself too much with the cycle of typos. We just figured you're still hung over. :D

[Sean Factotum]

What ever happened to FormerMarineGuy? He is/was a car salesman, wasn't he?
I heard he's selling Nissans in X-Town.

Cartoon just my two cents. I understand your outrage, but I think you scared the hell out of this guy when you and your daughter showed up. (Especially if the two of you had the same expression on your faces.) And sending in a calmly worded letter to the sales manager of this dealership won't hurt. But this just may be one of those battles that are better left behind you.

A racist won't change his mind just because his boss says somethng to him. In fact, it'll just push him further out that way. He may keep his mouth shut at work, but with his ilk it just starts (or adds to) that slow burn inside of him.

[Li'l Pluck]

I did ! On the phone I said, I and my Korean daughter will be coming in to get the car in a little while. The only thing you could hear was the hiss on the line. So, the " you never know who you are talking to " freaked him out but good and I suspect he figures he whistled by the graveyard because I didn't walk in and cause a major fucking fuss.

I should have and I'm angry with myself for- as you accurately phrased it- being a pussy and not doing what I should have.

Letters will be written. Names will be taken.

Oh, and don't concern yourself too much with the cycle of typos. We just figured you're still hung over. :D

Look, Ma, I'm a pearl! Just like the ones around your neck that you clutch in fevered and fearful anticipation whenever some unsuspecting busy-body asks me if I'm married, and you're afraid that, in response, I'll offer even the slightest detail of my unrepentent choad-licking ways. (Hey, y'all, I had to go somewhere with the pearl thing!) :D

Anyway, thanks, dude. Oh, yeah, I remember the part of your OP where you got skidmark with the whole Asian daughter thing, and then took her with you (that shit cracked me up). I was just giving an example of what I, myself, have had to do on occasion, in lieu of taking things farther up the food chain.

I should also take this opportunity to clarify (because it's probably not clear to everyone here) that I don't take lightly the notion that someone ought to lose one's job over stuff like this. Like I said, the punishment could vary with the strength of the offence.

For instance, slurs of any kind (that anyone who's been raised in America or has spent a significant amount of time here ought to know is a slur) should be grounds for immediate dismissal. So should any egregious stereotyping. On the other end of the spectrum, perhaps "good" stereotypes (even though I can't abide those, either) would warrant, at the very least, a most aciduous tongue-lashing. The first time it happens. And I do mean "at the very least".

And re my being hung over (smart ass!), a little midrash (Hebrew lesson: it's similar to a story): Some months ago, I read an obit in the paper, and one of the things the widow was quoted as saying was, "Dave sure loved his liquor," and I thought to myself (after craking up, then picking myself up from off the floor), "Bless her heart! That's what I want someone to say about me when I throw off this mortal coil!" And I meant it, too. Still do. :)

[Li'l Pluck]

A racist won't change his mind just because his boss says somethng to him. In fact, it'll just push him further out that way. He may keep his mouth shut at work, but with his ilk it just starts (or adds to) that slow burn inside of him.

Well, yeah, but the point is not to change the asshole's mind. The point is to teach him that it's best to limit shit like that to his circle of similar-minded slack-jawed friends and relatives. Changing his mind would be icing on the cake, no?

[TheBaptiste]

I think you need to take a chill pill. The guy was just being funny and Chinese is different from Korean...they eat cats instead of dogs!

[Monty]

Chinese is different from Korean...they eat cats instead of dogs!
For your information, the illegal (but quite prevalent) "boshintang stew" restaurants here use dogs and cats to make that crud.

[Cat Whisperer]

I think you need to take a chill pill. The guy was just being funny and Chinese is different from Korean...they eat cats instead of dogs!
Let's be concise in our language here; the guy was *trying* to be funny. In a spectacularly inappropriate way for someone who makes his bread-and-butter dealing with the public. I don't think anyone's arguing that he meant it as anything but a joke, but it was a joke not worth making.

[Cartooniverse]

Exactamundo.

As said elsewhere in here, if his mind is bent that way, he needs to keep his bends to himself.

[Operation Ripper]

I wouldn't have literally dragged my daughter into it, whatever course of action I decided on. Why fuck up her day?

[Cartooniverse]

It wasn't an attempt to fuck up her day, trust me. It was much more along the lines of her being in the room when I got the call and my repeating it to her after I got off the phone and both of us nodding and saying, " Oooooh you're going with me/ I'm going with you" kind of thing.

She's 15 1/2, not 6. I give her enough respect to have a sense of self and a sense of how to handle negativity. Rather, she is in the process of learning to handle such and this was a chance to see things unfold in real time and yet have some protection there in the guise of her father. That is opposed to her having to deal with racist shit from jerks like this guy out there in the world with nobody next to her.

I'm not trying to turn this into To Sir With Love meets Durango Street meets Guess Who's Coming To Dinner meets M*A*S*H, okay? It was a thing that happened, she went with me, got an eyeful and earful of this asshole and got to add this to her life experiences.

I didn't do it to teach her a lesson with her kicking and screaming. She was pretty torqued up by what this toad had said and wanted to see his face. I don't think that having some spine is a negative thing.

[Cat Whisperer]

<snip>I'm not trying to turn this into To Sir With Love meets Durango Street meets Guess Who's Coming To Dinner meets M*A*S*H <snip>
But how cool would that be? :D

[gigi]

This sounds like an episode of The Office, where Michael Scott turns into a car salesmen for a day. Except it's not funny. If you really were offended though, you really shouldn't have bought the car if for no other reason than peace of mind. That's not the only used Nissan Quest around and every time you get in it you'll know that asshole made some money off of you.
It reminded me of "Hey, Big Tuna!"

[eleanorigby]

Well, at least he has enough of a conscience to be abashed by the whole thing.

By all means, hang him out to dry, but I do take a small scrap (a very small scrap) of comfort (wrong word, not sure of correct one here) that he was embarassed.

If he's truly an asshole, he shrug and do it again. If he is as socially awkward as he seems to be making such lame attempts at humor, this may focus him on his job.

[Cartooniverse]

Well, at least he has enough of a conscience to be abashed by the whole thing.

By all means, hang him out to dry, but I do take a small scrap (a very small scrap) of comfort (wrong word, not sure of correct one here) that he was embarassed.

If he's truly an asshole, he shrug and do it again. If he is as socially awkward as he seems to be making such lame attempts at humor, this may focus him on his job.

Yanno, I was not inclined to cut The Big Putz any slack but you are correct. He does have a shred of conscience. Perhaps it is like those photos of a twin growing inside someone's chest cavity, with a bizarre and frightening clump of hair, an eyeball, seven teeth and a half a fingertip all in an area the size of a softball.

That is what this guy's conscience is. It's there, but stunted and not of any real use. OTOH, were he totally amoral you are right- he'd have been a jerk and just shrugged.