I imagine the reason the manufacturer leaves him on read (if this manufacturer exists, he even contacted them, and he's not lying, which being Nick... real possibility) is because he strikes me as the kind of 'customer' who wastes your time not knowing what the fuck they want, will harp on about how to do your job even tough it is clear to all and sundry they are a useless loser, and worst of all, will never actually put $3.50 on the table to show they are serious about wanting to get shit done.
These are the kinds of people who will actively cost your business money, either by wasting staff time or, God forbid, going full retard when you manufacture something, failed to read their mind on what the fuck they wanted and then become a legal nightmare. I bet he has used "tHe CuStoMeR iS AlWays RiGhT" at least 10 times in communication with them too.
Nick, take the hint and learn to read social cues, they don't want anything to do with you, you're not a customer, you're an annoying pest.