The negativity your both going to generate will in the end benefit the brick and mortar dude who has established his permanency with the basement shop which I'm assuming is zoned commercial. In addition to being better established than you are currently, I'm guessing he provides repairs and service service as well that of sales.
Squabbling over craigslist listings who wrote what is juvenile on both your parts, I would abandon CL entirely then go to work on a constructive advertising campaign. print flyers and
business cards to hand out.
Flyers can be put under wiper blades save on fuel and leg work go to the shopping malls, and any other places where people and vehicles gather.
Wear a goofy hat that stands out and becomes your personal trademark, any time I run into a biker wearing colours I may not know the dudes name but his colours speak volumes about the dude..
And this is why trademarks work, It's a well known fact in the advertising world that people have the attention span of a gnat you want to get your message across quickly - keep the content on your
business card minimal were depending on the goofy hat trademark to leave a lasting impression.
Good ;luck.
Went back and read your starting post again when I discovered you made a rather informal introduction over the telephone, Was there any particular reason you choose the telephone over a face to face.
Any stranger cold calling me on the phone would have received the same reception from me as your competitor gave you.
Below is my goofy hat,you have to admit it leaves a lasting impression.

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