Was this guy a little anal?

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Glenguy

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Last week I went to an auto wrecking yard to find some side mirrors for my cuda. I saw an old Valiant with the mirrors I needed, but I wanted to check under the hood to see what was under it. The hood was very hard to open, so I simply took a large flat screwdriver to see if I could get the latch to move. The owner comes along on his quad and tells me that he doesn't like customers prying on things, which I understand, but I wasn't reefing on anything, and I was being gentle about it.

Today I went back to the place to pick up the mirrors from that car, but I also went around with a camera taking pics of all the cars with huge muscle engines, as I found it quite fascinating. When the owner found that I was taking pics, He got up in arms about that, telling me that there are too many people you can't trust and that he rather I didn't take pics. He was being cool about it, but he also made me feel like a criminal instead of a customer, which I don't appreciate. Is all that reasonable? Am I not understanding something?

I think from now on if I go back there, I'll ask for whatever I need and stay out of his yard.
 
It’s his business and to respect it, ask first before taking pictures or prying open hoods.

He may have had past experience that shapes his perspective that you aren’t aware of. He may also know that if word gets out that he has old muscle engines in cars in his yard, that thieves will come.

Or maybe it’s something else he thinks might happen that you don’t realize.

Point is to talk, ask and respect whatever he decides is best for his business and his livelihood.

Just like you would want.
 
It's his stuff and his property. His prerogative to think you might be a thief, too.
 
It’s his business and to respect it, ask first before taking pictures or prying open hoods.

He may have had past experience that shapes his perspective that you aren’t aware of. He may also know that if word gets out that he has old muscle engines in cars in his yard, that thieves will come.

Or maybe it’s something else he thinks might happen that you don’t realize.

Point is to talk, ask and respect whatever he decides is best for his business and his livelihood.

Just like you would want.

You're right. I should have asked first. He has a cool place with a lot of stuff I can't find where I live. Maybe from now on when I go to his yard, I'll leave the camera at home and leave the tools in the car, and make that clear to him.
 
ask for permission before the camera comes out... I understand his view, he's probably lost a lot to thieves.
 
Then maybe he should do what other auto wreckers do; have a strict "No Customers In The Yard" rule" if he's worried about thieves.
Don’t just put it on him. You are equally responsible to establish a good working relationship.

Talk to the man and establish that relationship before doing more.

It’s only fair.
 
Then maybe he should do what other auto wreckers do; have a strict "No Customers In The Yard" rule" if he's worried about thieves.

He can do whatever he wants on his property, whether you like it or not. It's his sandbox.
 
He can do whatever he wants on his property, whether you like it or not. It's his sandbox.

I KNOW it's his sand box, and like I said, If he's worried about thieves, then SHOULD HE NOT HAVE A NO CUSTOMER'S IN THE YARD RULE???? Do I not have a valid point?
 
I KNOW it's his sand box, and like I said, If he's worried about thieves, then SHOULD HE NOT HAVE A NO CUSTOMER'S IN THE YARD RULE???? Do I not have a valid point?

Probably not as far as he's concerned.
 
There are a number of 'private yards' and that may be what his essentialy is. These yards do not let just anyone come in like a regular 'u-pull it'. Some don't do any business at all with the general public. Some keep it all very private. A wide range of business models for the yards that do have older stuff.
 
I can completely understand the yard owner's point of view.

Even if he isn't worried about theft, no photography is a valid point.

I have what some people would consider a salvage yard here and I've had a number of fabo members here and rule number one is NO PHOTOGRAPHY.

I am not worried about theft because I have methods to catch fence jumpers in the middle of the night and i have caught one whom regretted he ever jumped the fence but that's another story.

Either way, with the internet these days, I don't need to see my yard on the internet, i know what my junk looks like, as well as that yard owner knows what his yard looks like and doesn't need help documenting it.

His property and cars, only his right to photograph. AFTER you pay for your parts then you have the right to take them HOME and do a glamour shots session with your parts and post away, no problem.
 
Anus.jpg
 
I always try to make a good impression through conversation, and always ask first if I can bring tools. I recently found a yard with somewhere around 3000 cars, including a great many 60s and 70s and earlier of all makes. I would love to spend a few days wandering around, just to see what he has. He knows very well what he's got, been in business since the early 80's, but seems reasonable in his pricing. He has A, B, C, and E bodies, most have been picked pretty clean, but there are still some good parts to be found. He encourages pictures, it makes it easier for him to see what you are inquiring about and give a price. I would really like to find more yards like that, reminds me of several that I frequented in my youth.
 
Where’s this yard in Alberta? I’m surprised one still exists as they were few and far between when I was living there.....
 
Barnyard etiquette rule 2.

Do not pet the animals without first asking permission to do so. Especially do not pet the face of the horse unless told you may do so.
 
Don’t just put it on him. You are equally responsible to establish a good working relationship.

Talk to the man and establish that relationship before doing more.

It’s only fair.

Not exactly the same as this guy with that yard but if I invite you into my barn to see some of my Mopar stuff or horses or other things I do not expect you to leave and tell everybody and their brother what you just seen in my barn.

I may have six 426s sitting there on pallets an my two Superbirds on jack stands. That's my private stuff an is not for everybody to be viewing or talking about.
 
Barnyard etiquette rule 2.

Do not pet the animals without first asking permission to do so. Especially do not pet the face of the horse unless told you may do so.
The junkyard I used to go to this old hippy man owned he was so cool. Unfortunately he passed away 2 years ago and everything he had got auctioned and crushed. ( mostly a bodies) but anyway he had this massive rott weiler the first time I ever went there this dog stood at the door of my truck I wouldn't get out lol. He never barked or growled just stared at me. Well Buddy (the old hippy) came out of his trailer and said come on out he wont bite. The whole time this dog follows me around I wouldn't make eye contact or pet him lol finally buddy says that dog ain't gonna leave you alone till you play with him. So I got on one knee and petted him and played with him he licked me in the face a few times and went on his way lol every time I went back after that, that dog would run up to my truck waiting to be played with. Buddy was a cool dude I hated to hear if his passing. I got alot of my parts from him including the 77 charger that my 360 came out of. I sold the charger but kept the 360 all these years
 
Ok, I admit that I FK'ed up with the camera thing. I guess I should have known better, especially at my age. I just hope that this doesn't deem me as a total wretch in the eyes of my fellow forumites. I'll smooth it over with the auto wrecker guy, because I love his place, and I want to do more business with him. From now on I'll keep the tools and the camera out of wrecking yards unless given permission, and hopefully this can be a lesson to other forumites.
 
Ok, I admit that I FK'ed up with the camera thing. I guess I should have known better, especially at my age. I just hop that this doesn't deem me as a total wretch in the eyes of my fellow forumites. I'll smooth it over with the auto wrecker guy, because I live his place, and I want to do more business with him.

Just go back and be cool. Just remember it's his world and his rules. What is it Patrick Swayze kept sayin in Roadhouse? Be nice! LOL
 
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