Every now and again we like to remind our readers to think before they post or upload, something a Massachusetts car dealership wish they did right about now.
In a bizarre story that begins with a simple pizza delivery, F+R Auto Sales have found themselves on the business end of a pretty nasty online bandwagon that seems to have gone very much in reverse, considering it was them that tried to start it.
The bill for the pizzas came to $42, according to local reports. The staff at F+R Auto Sales handed the delivery man two twenties and two fives, totalling $50. It seems that given the fact the staff gave the delivery man a whole extra bill (only 1 of the five bills would have been enough to cover the charge) the delivery man justifiably assumed the extra $7 was a tip.
After leaving the area, it appears the staff at F+R Auto Sales were not happy about not being given their change, thus immediately complained to the manager of the pizza store via phone, demanding their $7 be returned.
The delivery man returned the $7, where the staff didn’t seem too keen on his actions. After a heated discussion where the delivery man attempts to explain [to apparently deaf ears] that he was given a whole extra bill, he leaves to a chorus of some pretty hostile language. One man even seemed adamant on getting the delivery man fired, exclaiming “Get the owner and the manager on the phone…. I want him fired”
The incident would have probably ended there, if it wasn’t for the Internet and a pretty unwise decision to upload the surveillance camera footage online showing the entire ordeal. F+R Autosales uploaded the footage, presumably in an attempt to discredit or humiliate the delivery driver.
But it seems the Internet weren’t having any of it. Instead of siding with the Autosales team, it was the pizza guy that garnered the support. F+R Autosales removed the video but it was too late. It was copied and shared elsewhere, and now has gone viral.
And it isn’t pretty.
We generally don’t recommend getting involved with these sorts of online bandwagons or tongue lashings, but it’s led to F+R getting a rather unsympathetic backlash. At the time of writing their website is unreachable, their Facebook page has been removed (by them, we imagine) and their Twitter feed is getting a bashing too. Also their Yelp rating has been demolished, with dozens of negative 1 star reviews getting posted every few minutes (most of which are a little too x-rated to post here) and a Google search of their company is bringing up less than stellar stories.
And all because of a video they themselves uploaded (you can see it below).
It brings back some classic online adages – once you post it onto the Internet, it’s there to stay, and remember to think before you post… No, really think.
Content you upload into cyberspace can have some pretty real offline consequences, especially for a business. Eventually this whole incident will be admitted into the cyberspace archives of the past and forgotten, and F+R Autosales will be left to see what remains to salvage from their hard-worked brand which will undoubtedly be left in complete tatters thanks to the Internet.
Have you posted something online and regretted it later? Or know someone who has? Let us know below.