Walking away from a car deal usually ends the sales pitch. One shopper says it led to a text to his girlfriend that targeted him instead.
In a Reddit post, the shopper described a failed bid to buy a Honda HR-V. He shared a screenshot of a message he says the salesman sent a few hours after they left.
The couple had spent about an hour trying to agree on a price, the poster wrote. When neither side budged, they walked out without the car.
What followed was more than a request to come back and talk numbers. The sender apologized for the failed deal, then blamed the boyfriend for getting in the way of a sale.
A Personal Pitch
Imagine negotiating so hard the salesman texts your girl separately
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u/Same_Guarantee_3195 in
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The screenshot shows a sender identifying himself as a Honda salesman, with parts of the opening line covered. His message begins with an apology, then turns to the person who came shopping with her.
“It looks like the guy that you with isn’t gonna help you buy a car,” the message reads. “All he does is make it harder for you to purchase a vehicle.”
Further down, the sender argues that the offer was below what the dealer had paid for the car. He adds that the store would not turn down an offer high enough to make the sale, then mentions how much she liked the HR-V.
The message ends, “I’m sorry God bless you and good luck.” The screenshot does not establish the sender’s identity or the dealership’s costs, and the visible dealership name is partly covered.
About That Price
During the talks, the salesman would not go below an out-the-door price about $3,000 above the listing price, the poster wrote. He recalled the salesman telling them, “We need to make our money too.”
That gap alone does not show a $3,000 dealer markup. An out-the-door price includes taxes and fees, while the listing price may describe the vehicle price before those charges.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends getting that full price in writing before visiting a dealership or discussing financing. A written total helps buyers compare offers and spot added charges; the supplied post includes no itemized quote showing how this dealer reached its figure.
Another Stop
In an update, the shopper said they went to a Toyota dealership later that night and bought a Corolla Cross. He described that store as more professional and said it met their requested price.
The Toyota cost more than the Honda they had considered, he added, but their out-the-door total matched the Toyota’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price. His update closed with a short report on his girlfriend’s new ride: “She’s really happy!”