‘People suck’: Man puts money down on a used car. Then what happened next felt like a scam in slow motion

A Reddit user’s detailed account of a troubled used car purchase involving a 2011 Kia Soul proves how even a routine transaction can deteriorate when communication breaks down.

In the post, the buyer described visiting a used car dealership on a Friday to test-drive the car and negotiate a purchase directly with the owner, who also served as the salesperson. The buyer said he clearly stated he needed the car by the following Wednesday, as he was leaving on a monthlong trip. The owner assured him that the timeline would not be a problem.

That same day, the buyer agreed to a price and put down a $500 deposit. The deal included an oil change and rustproofing. When the buyer asked for a price reduction to help cover the cost of winter tires, the owner declined but offered to sell tires “at cost.” At that point, the remaining steps were a safety inspection, rustproofing, and vehicle licensing.

To rustproof or not to rustproof

Because no work was done over the weekend, the buyer called on Monday to confirm that rustproofing was still included, noting it was not listed on the bill of sale. The owner again confirmed it was part of the deal. Tuesday passed without any updates. On Wednesday morning — the promised pickup day — the owner told the buyer the car was “looking good” for later that day, collected his insurance policy number, and said licensing was the only remaining task.

But when the buyer called the dealership at 5 p.m., another employee answered and said licensing had not come back in time, pushing pickup to Thursday. The next day, after a major snowstorm and still no word from the dealership, the buyer called again. This time, he was told that the person handling the rustproofing had the car locked in his shop and did not come into work, and that the rustproofing had not yet been completed.

Pressed for time, the buyer told staff he did not need rustproofing immediately and just wanted the car. He was instructed to return on Friday to pick it up. When he arrived that afternoon, the owner again cited complications related to rustproofing and claimed it had finally been completed. He asked the buyer to take a seat while he finished something, but then left the dealership and walked across the street into a nearby mall.

“I was like ‘is this guy bailing??’” the buyer wrote, adding, “I’ve also worked in sales jobs where the people are exactly like this – lazy, bad at communication, give customers the run around because theyre trying to do something shady behind the scenes…So even though the people suck, it doesnt necessarily mean the product does.”

An improperly programmed car key

After roughly 15 minutes, another employee explained why the guy left for the mall: the dealership had attempted to reprogram the key, done it incorrectly, and locked themselves out of the car, leaving it unable to start. To compensate, the dealership offered free winter tires — to be installed after the buyer returned from his trip — and an additional oil change, which the buyer said he obtained in writing.

By then, the buyer said his trust in the business was severely shaken. He pointed to inconsistent explanations, poor communication, and the owner avoiding direct interaction. He also bristled when the salesperson asked him to consider leaving a positive online review despite the delays.

Although the dealership has a 4.2-star Google rating from about 270 reviews, the buyer noted multiple one-star reviews accusing it of selling cars that developed serious problems shortly after purchase. Still, he remained conflicted because the Kia Soul — with 172,000 kilometers, one owner, no accidents, and documented maintenance — appeared to be in good condition and priced competitively.

Commenters urged caution. One warned, “Dude, it’s a 15 year old Kia,” calling such vehicles “disposable” and likely overdue for major maintenance. Others said the buyer’s expectations were unrealistic for an older, low-margin car, writing, “It’s a priority to you, not to them.”

Many were less forgiving. “Don’t walk. Run,” one commenter advised, arguing that the seller’s conduct raised too many unanswered questions regardless of how good the car itself seemed.