Car Dealerships, Wrong Emails, and the Art of Petty Revenge: One Redditor’s Hilarious Saga
Have you ever been haunted by a relentless stream of emails that weren’t even meant for you? Spam is one thing, but what if a legitimate business—say, a car dealership in another state—won’t stop pestering you about someone else’s vehicle? Most people would hit “unsubscribe” or mark as spam. But for one creative Redditor, this digital nuisance became the perfect setup for a yearlong masterclass in petty revenge.
Buckle up, because this is more than just a tale of misdirected emails. It’s a showcase of patience, creativity, and the unstoppable drive (pun intended) to give a little trouble right back to those who can’t be bothered to fix a simple mistake.
When Wrong Emails Go Very, Very Wrong
Our story, as chronicled by u/Larz60 on r/PettyRevenge, begins with a familiar digital headache: repeated, unwanted emails. Only these weren’t just generic spam—they were appointment reminders and service notifications from a car dealership located states away. Clearly, someone had entered the wrong email address for their shiny new car, and Larz60 was stuck with the fallout.
But instead of simply ignoring the problem, Larz60 did what most of us would consider the responsible thing: they tracked down the likely owner’s real email and reached out. No response. Next stop: the dealership itself. Repeated calls and conversations yielded only empty promises to “update the system.” The emails kept rolling in.
That’s when the fun began.
Petty Problems Require Petty Solutions
Frustrated (and probably a little amused), Larz60 took matters into their own hands. If the dealership insisted on treating them like the car’s owner, then owner they would be. Appointment emails were answered with requests to reschedule. Service reminders turned into an endless loop of confusion for the dealership’s staff. For over a year, Larz60 gleefully played along, shifting appointments and even leveraging the dealership’s own online calculators to “sell” the car, arranging for sales reps to call the actual (and, one assumes, increasingly baffled) owner.
And if that wasn’t enough, every time a customer survey arrived, Larz60 always checked the box asking for a callback—ensuring someone at the dealership would be on the hook for yet another round of confusion.
As the OP put it, “This is kind of a two for one petty revenge. One for the owner of the vehicle and one for the car dealership.” Eventually, the emails stopped. Sweet victory.
The Internet Adds Fuel to the Fire
Reddit’s r/PettyRevenge community, known for its collective love of minor vengeance, immediately took to the post. The comments section became a confessional for all manner of misdirected digital woes—and a brainstorming session for ever more creative responses.
u/crash866 shared a similar saga, recounting how someone used their email for high-profile restaurant reservations. The solution? Cancel or reschedule them—proving that petty revenge is a universal language. OP even joked about showing up in person if it had been local, which would have taken things to legendary heights.
“Gotta make it a problem for them,” advised u/CoderJoe1, summing up the philosophy that underpins every petty avenger’s mission. Meanwhile, u/Imguran delivered the perfect pun: “Drive them crazy.” The community was all in.
But the thread also revealed a bigger issue: digital doppelgängers. As u/Nunov_DAbov explained, sharing a common name and simple email address can mean inheriting a lifetime supply of other people’s emails—ranging from car appointments to yacht refurbishments (yes, really). Their solution? Play along and see how far the confusion goes. When the yacht dealer offered a quote, Nunov replied, “I thought they were giving me a lowball estimate and expected to pay more for better quality.” Sometimes, the best revenge is just leaning in.
Others, like u/StunGod, have tried the “official” route—calling dealerships, filling out surveys, even leaving scathing reviews—only to be met with more spam and even more surveys. As u/AprilB916 chimed in, “Chevrolet does not update their customer information ever. Obnoxious BS.” For some, the only solution is the nuclear option: block and report.
Why Petty Revenge Feels So Good
There’s something deeply satisfying about giving a little trouble back to those who can’t be bothered to fix a mistake—especially when you’ve tried to do the right thing first. As u/Ok-Frame4708 pointed out, the “two-for-one” nature of Larz60’s revenge was what made it truly special. Humor and creativity turn a frustrating situation into a hilarious win.
Even those who’d normally just block the emails found themselves admiring the commitment. “You have more patience than I do,” wrote u/JonJackjon. But as the OP cheekily replied, “Then I couldn't post in petty revenge!” Sometimes, the story is worth the hassle.
The Takeaway: Petty, Persistent, and Proud
From bogus car appointments to phantom pizza orders, the internet is full of stories like this—but few are executed with as much flair and persistence as Larz60’s saga. The next time a business refuses to fix a simple error, remember: you have options. You can block, you can complain—or, if you’re feeling inspired, you can go full petty and make them work for their oversight.
What about you? Have you ever taken sweet, petty revenge on a company that wouldn’t leave you alone? Share your stories below—after all, misery (and misdirected emails) loves company!
Original Reddit Post: Car Dealership Contacting me in error.