How do I reach a missed connection?
March 6, 2011 5:03 PM Subscribe
Had a missed connection today. Should I post it to craigslist or maybe yelp?
Today I was at the carwash and a guy who was also getting his car washed struck up a conversation with me. It was silly (he was complimenting me on my car, and kept talking about mini coopers). but it was clear that he just kept wanting to chat and was trying to keep the conversation going. My car was finished within a few minutes and I said "have a great day, good chatting with you!" The minute I pulled out of the car wash I thought to myself "damn, he was really nice, I would really like to chat with him again, but I'll never see him again, nor do I know his name!" Immediately I kicked myself. It's not like I think he might be my soulmate or anything like that (that's just silly), but he was really nice and I'd like to talk to him again. What should I do?
I know people post to craigslist missed connections, but it seems like a longshot that he would check that. Would it be strange to write a yelp review of the carwash and put a little note in there to him? The car wash is fantastic, so I'd likely write a review anyway, and it seems like people actually do read yelp. Is there a better way to reach him? Should I just drop it?
Today I was at the carwash and a guy who was also getting his car washed struck up a conversation with me. It was silly (he was complimenting me on my car, and kept talking about mini coopers). but it was clear that he just kept wanting to chat and was trying to keep the conversation going. My car was finished within a few minutes and I said "have a great day, good chatting with you!" The minute I pulled out of the car wash I thought to myself "damn, he was really nice, I would really like to chat with him again, but I'll never see him again, nor do I know his name!" Immediately I kicked myself. It's not like I think he might be my soulmate or anything like that (that's just silly), but he was really nice and I'd like to talk to him again. What should I do?
I know people post to craigslist missed connections, but it seems like a longshot that he would check that. Would it be strange to write a yelp review of the carwash and put a little note in there to him? The car wash is fantastic, so I'd likely write a review anyway, and it seems like people actually do read yelp. Is there a better way to reach him? Should I just drop it?
Does the carwash have a bulletin board in the waiting area?
posted by CathyG at 5:15 PM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by CathyG at 5:15 PM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Both?
posted by pakoothefakoo at 5:15 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by pakoothefakoo at 5:15 PM on March 6, 2011
Use Craigslist. That's not what Yelp is for-- and if he already goes to that carwash, why would he check it out on Yelp? I've posted a few CL missed connections and never actually reconnected, but it feels better than doing nothing.
posted by oinopaponton at 5:15 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by oinopaponton at 5:15 PM on March 6, 2011
Sorry, my answer came off somewhat snarky, wasn't my intention. I say increase your chances and post on both sites, won't hurt.
posted by pakoothefakoo at 5:17 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by pakoothefakoo at 5:17 PM on March 6, 2011
Go back to the car wash next week, same day, same time and keep an eye out for him. He might do the same thing hoping to see you again.
posted by Kangaroo at 5:18 PM on March 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Kangaroo at 5:18 PM on March 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
Definetely go back if next week if you can. Meanwhile, I'd still post on Craigslist - certainly couldn't hurt to try...
posted by photo guy at 5:26 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by photo guy at 5:26 PM on March 6, 2011
Best answer: If he's thinking the same thing, he might check missed connections for that reason.
posted by J. Wilson at 5:30 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by J. Wilson at 5:30 PM on March 6, 2011
I say go back if you really really want to meet him again.
Post on CL, too, sure....but some people don't use CL (I mean, I don't...I can't be the only one, right?....RIGHT?)
posted by sprezzy at 5:39 PM on March 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Post on CL, too, sure....but some people don't use CL (I mean, I don't...I can't be the only one, right?....RIGHT?)
posted by sprezzy at 5:39 PM on March 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Nth-ing yes to Craigslist, and going back at the same time next week for another car wash. I posted a missed connection on CL once, got an email from the guy, and ended up going on several dates with him. He and I turned out to be a terrible match, but I like to let people know that missed connections does occasionally work to get people in touch.
posted by vytae at 5:48 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by vytae at 5:48 PM on March 6, 2011
I posted a missed connection on Craigslist once. I had a response, from the right woman, in about 3 hours. And it wasn't even someone I talked to but someone I merely spied while shopping. She didn't even see me.
posted by dobbs at 6:09 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by dobbs at 6:09 PM on March 6, 2011
Maybe the guy in question doesn't read CL's missed connections, but if you're lucky he has a friend (or a friend-of-a-friend) who does.
If you can describe him in a way that his friend would recognize, they will get the message to him. It's worth a try.
posted by gmarceau at 6:09 PM on March 6, 2011
If you can describe him in a way that his friend would recognize, they will get the message to him. It's worth a try.
posted by gmarceau at 6:09 PM on March 6, 2011
Do you have any idea if he's a regular at that carwash? You could ask the employees there about his schedule, if any (ie: every week, every other week). They can probably recognize who you're talking about if you include the model and colour of the car. If you're shy about asking around, just invent a reason why ("He was interested in buying my car" sounds plausible).
Also, if he feels the same way, he might go back in a week or two at about the same time on the same day of the week, hoping you're on a schedule, so you could try going to get your car washed in a week or two at the same time and place.
posted by Simon Barclay at 6:39 PM on March 6, 2011
Also, if he feels the same way, he might go back in a week or two at about the same time on the same day of the week, hoping you're on a schedule, so you could try going to get your car washed in a week or two at the same time and place.
posted by Simon Barclay at 6:39 PM on March 6, 2011
I'd check if the carwash had closed-circuit TV surveillance and see if I can get a read of his registration plates and then ask a cop buddy to run them for me, but then maybe I've been working in criminal law for too long to realise that that would be kinda creepy.
posted by tim_in_oz at 10:23 PM on March 6, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by tim_in_oz at 10:23 PM on March 6, 2011 [5 favorites]
Nthing the fuck Craigslist, go back to the car wash.
Life is profoundly too fucking short.
posted by Sphinx at 10:25 PM on March 6, 2011
Life is profoundly too fucking short.
posted by Sphinx at 10:25 PM on March 6, 2011
You can do both. The Craigslist thing will take very little time, and then you can wash your car every week there. The worst thing that will happen is you'll have a very clean car.
posted by Jilder at 5:44 AM on March 7, 2011
posted by Jilder at 5:44 AM on March 7, 2011
You've marked a best answer already, but I'll just add that missed connections does work for some people.
I used it once to re-meet someone in my own apartment building. I didn't even describe the girl very well - just the situation "fire alarm, waiting outside, you blah blah, me blah", and one of her coworkers saw it and asked her about it. The connection was, indeed, missed, as nothing beyond a coffee date came of it, but you never know.
I was sure it didn't work until I tried it. There's lot of nay said on the internets about missed connections, but it's not totally pointless to try.
posted by ydant at 5:46 AM on March 7, 2011
I used it once to re-meet someone in my own apartment building. I didn't even describe the girl very well - just the situation "fire alarm, waiting outside, you blah blah, me blah", and one of her coworkers saw it and asked her about it. The connection was, indeed, missed, as nothing beyond a coffee date came of it, but you never know.
I was sure it didn't work until I tried it. There's lot of nay said on the internets about missed connections, but it's not totally pointless to try.
posted by ydant at 5:46 AM on March 7, 2011
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posted by k8t at 5:11 PM on March 6, 2011 [1 favorite]