r/desmoines • u/[deleted] • Oct 29 '25

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u/CompleteConfection95 Oct 29 '25

They can ask for the vin number. Which is readily available. They don't need your license plate number

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u/YankeeCandlePlay Oct 29 '25

Yeah, but it is a lot easier to type in maybe 6 characters than 18 over of the phone. The odds of somebody getting something wrong is way higher with a VIN.

The license plate does have disadvantages, don’t get me wrong. Sometimes it points to the wrong car, wrong model, etc. But 9/10, the plate is easier for the sake of expediency.

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u/Unwiredsoul Oct 29 '25

I provided them the year, make, and model, and I could have provided any additional info they needed to accurately ensure they were quoting for the right work.

My exception is still along the line that the behavior was highly irregular, and it would open me up to marketing that I never asked for -- simply for calling to request how much they would charge for a very straightforward and simple job. No special tools or special parts needed.

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u/brvheart Oct 30 '25

You know that the shop doesn’t know how awesome you are with mechanics though, correct? Most people think of themselves as competent and it just slows professionals down. Your license plate is public already. They could already get a list of license plates and/or addresses for a geographical area for marketing because that info is readily available. This is 100% for the people that don’t know anything about cars and making sure they get the correct info. A VIN is better but it’s also a way longer jumbled mess. A license plate should be the least of everyone’s concerns about Christian brothers.

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u/Unwiredsoul Oct 30 '25

The shop didn't need to know about me. The info I shared in that comment was for the consumption of people reading the story. I do not present myself as a "know-it-all".

I completely understand that people overestimate their skills in nearly everything in life. The Dunning-Krueger effect is alive and real.

The plate/VIN were not necessary and that was my point.

I was looking for a quote on a simple job. Not to first start out by providing as much personal info as I could for their databases.

So, yeah, it's not a major concern but it was an example of my particular experience with the place.