Weird encounter in a Kroger parking lot (tires)

yakz · 06-27-2011, 06:51 PM

Walking out of a Kroger (a grocery-store chain around here) with my cart, I see this person bent over looking at my rear-driver quarter-panel. I'm like, "oh ****, this person is looking to see if they'd done damage". As I'm approaching (still far away), he circles around and appears to be inspecting the opposite side in the same place. As I walk, he also sort of semi-glances at the front quarters.

When I walk up, he jumps up surprised. This is a grey-haired guy (50s, probably), semi-unkempt hair, well-dressed. The conversation was really awkward because he was in "caught acting strange" mode and I was in "what the **** has this person done to my car?" mode.

He tells me my Pilot Sports just came out (apparently my recently acquired tires are the latest edition). Following is this really awkward exchange where I am loading groceries etc. and we are making small-talk as he retreats.

Are people really that enthusiastic about the latest version of tires? I'm a software developer, so I could understand (I follow small details about advancements in computer hardware and software)... but.. are the latest Pilot Sports that interesting? The dude left in a black Merc coupe that did not look like a poor-person model (but was too far away to see if it was at least an AMG), probably cost 2x a brand-new 370 for the base model, and he said "that's a nice looking CAR" at least 3 times as he walked away from me.

Weirdest encounter so far.

And yet, after the whole thing I wish I had stopped the guy and talked to him about it. It was so ******* shocking though. This is the first car I've owned where people just suddenly interact with you.

onzedge · 06-27-2011, 06:54 PM

The Pilot Super Sports do that to people.

kenchan · 06-27-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

The Pilot Super Sports do that to people.

indeed. I too would be checking out tires if they looked good and are of reputable make and model..

cossie1600 · 06-27-2011, 07:06 PM

Michelin tires are like viagra for the BMW/Mercedes guys....

ProfessorDave · 06-27-2011, 07:10 PM

Blame Kroger's. Any store that turned a pronoun into a verb ("let's go Krogering") inspires this kind of odd behavior.

This type of behavior NEVER happens at Wegmans!

Seriously, I don't get why the guy was nervous. I'd have not problem admitting I was admiring the tires, rims, exhaust, or girlfriend of another car guy. ;-)

onzedge · 06-27-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorDave

Blame Kroger's. Any store that turned a pronoun into a verb ("let's go Krogering") inspires this kind of odd behavior.

This type of behavior NEVER happens at Wegmans!

Seriously, I don't get why the guy was nervous. I'd have not problem admitting I was admiring the tires, rims, exhaust, or girlfriend of another car guy. ;-)

I don't know about that. I was Wegmanning the other day and a perverted deviant was caressing my Michelins. Then the store manager told me to leave or he'd call the cops.

yakz · 06-27-2011, 08:09 PM

Yeah, but the whole thing.. yeah, those tires were (relatively) expensive to me, but this guy gets into a Merc that I couldn't really afford. I feel like maybe I've not recognized an Andretti or something. Who would give a **** about the latest edition of pilot sports enough to inspect them at a grocery store parking lot?

ProfessorDave · 06-27-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

I don't know about that. I was Wegmanning the other day and a perverted deviant was caressing my Michelins. Then the store manager told me to leave or he'd call the cops.

TreeSemdyZee · 06-27-2011, 10:03 PM

I had a guy checking out my tires in front of a Quiznos and it kind of freaked me out. Turns out he worked for a mobile tire installer and was drumming up business.

MightyBobo · 07-03-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorDave

Blame Kroger's. Any store that turned a pronoun into a verb ("let's go Krogering") inspires this kind of odd behavior.

This type of behavior NEVER happens at Wegmans!

Seriously, I don't get why the guy was nervous. I'd have not problem admitting I was admiring the tires, rims, exhaust, or girlfriend of another car guy. ;-)

Oh sir, you just named the best grocery store, EVER. Do you also eat the best hot dogs, ever? Those would be Sahlens, btw

Mike · 07-03-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Oh sir, you just named the best grocery store, EVER. Do you also eat the best hot dogs, ever? Those would be Sahlens, btw

I'm sorry, but Kroger is the best. There is one near my layover hotel in Columbus that has Donato's Pizza inside it at the deli, and a bar with wine and beer happy hour right outside the door in a little fenced in area. A grocery store with a bar beats everything!!!!!

onzedge · 07-03-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

Wegmans is awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Why yes, yes it is. Nice to have been able to grow up with it. And its nice its finally getting to my current neck of the woods

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

I'm sorry, but Kroger is the best. There is one near my layover hotel in Columbus that has Donato's Pizza inside it at the deli, and a bar with wine and beer happy hour right outside the door in a little fenced in area. A grocery store with a bar beats everything!!!!!

Unbelievable. On this forum we have the "which oil is best", "which exhaust is best", "what tires are best", etc., threads. Now, for your reading pleasure, we have the "My grocery store is better than your grocery store" thread.

Too cool.

Everyone knows, however, that no grocery store truly compares to Nugget (a regional store here).

semtex · 07-04-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

Unbelievable. On this forum we have the "which oil is best", "which exhaust is best", "what tires are best", etc., threads. Now, for your reading pleasure, we have the "My grocery store is better than your grocery store" thread.

Too cool.

Everyone knows, however, that no grocery store truly compares to Nugget (a regional store here).

LOL. Z owners are obsessed with having the best of everything. No surprise there!

MightyBobo · 07-04-2011, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

I'm sorry, but Kroger is the best. There is one near my layover hotel in Columbus that has Donato's Pizza inside it at the deli, and a bar with wine and beer happy hour right outside the door in a little fenced in area. A grocery store with a bar beats everything!!!!!

*Yawn* Oh, Im sorry...I couldnt hear you over how awesome Wegmans is. MY BAD.

m4a1mustang · 07-04-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

*Yawn* Oh, Im sorry...I couldnt hear you over how awesome Wegmans is. MY BAD.

I used to live in an area with a Kroger... it simply does not compare to Wegmans. No way no how. It's not possible.

Give me Wegmans or give me DEATH!

06-27-2011, 06:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
yakz Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 28 Drives: 09 370Z PG B+Sport Rep Power: 15	Weird encounter in a Kroger parking lot (tires) Walking out of a Kroger (a grocery-store chain around here) with my cart, I see this person bent over looking at my rear-driver quarter-panel. I'm like, "oh **, this person is looking to see if they'd done damage". As I'm approaching (still far away), he circles around and appears to be inspecting the opposite side in the same place. As I walk, he also sort of semi-glances at the front quarters. When I walk up, he jumps up surprised. This is a grey-haired guy (50s, probably), semi-unkempt hair, well-dressed. The conversation was really awkward because he was in "caught acting strange" mode and I was in "what the has this person done to my car?" mode. He tells me my Pilot Sports just came out (apparently my recently acquired tires are the latest edition). Following is this really awkward exchange where I am loading groceries etc. and we are making small-talk as he retreats. Are people really that enthusiastic about the latest version of tires? I'm a software developer, so I could understand (I follow small details about advancements in computer hardware and software)... but.. are the latest Pilot Sports that interesting? The dude left in a black Merc coupe that did not look like a poor-person model (but was too far away to see if it was at least an AMG), probably cost 2x a brand-new 370 for the base model, and he said "that's a nice looking CAR" at least 3 times as he walked away from me. Weirdest encounter so far. And yet, after the whole thing I wish I had stopped the guy and talked to him about it. It was so ***** shocking though. This is the first car I've owned where people just suddenly interact with you.

06-27-2011, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
onzedge A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Battle Lake MN Age: 64 Posts: 183,964 Drives: 370Z 240Z Rep Power: 2684737	The Pilot Super Sports do that to people. __________________ Koni\|Swift\|Michelin\|Motordyne\|Berk\|RJM Performance\|Gates\|SPL\|Motul\|Technafit\|Ate Super Blue\|Hawk Tommy Kaira\|Momo\|Optima\|Hella\|Hotchkis\|Red Line\|ZSpeed\|Stillen\|B&M\|H&R

06-27-2011, 07:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
ProfessorDave A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scranton, PA Posts: 1,580 Drives: In the fairway Rep Power: 20	Blame Kroger's. Any store that turned a pronoun into a verb ("let's go Krogering") inspires this kind of odd behavior. This type of behavior NEVER happens at Wegmans! Seriously, I don't get why the guy was nervous. I'd have not problem admitting I was admiring the tires, rims, exhaust, or girlfriend of another car guy. ;-) __________________ Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT

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06-27-2011, 07:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
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06-27-2011, 08:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
yakz Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 28 Drives: 09 370Z PG B+Sport Rep Power: 15	Yeah, but the whole thing.. yeah, those tires were (relatively) expensive to me, but this guy gets into a Merc that I couldn't really afford. I feel like maybe I've not recognized an Andretti or something. Who would give a **** about the latest edition of pilot sports enough to inspect them at a grocery store parking lot?

06-27-2011, 10:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 61 Posts: 4,887 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27409	I had a guy checking out my tires in front of a Quiznos and it kind of freaked me out. Turns out he worked for a mobile tire installer and was drumming up business.