Buyer Backs Out After Remote Car Order, Leaving Salesperson with a Two-Hour Wild Goose Chase

A car salesperson recently shared an experience on social media: after two weeks of silence, a customer suddenly called to say they wanted to buy a car. The salesperson immediately drove an hour to retrieve the vehicle, spent another hour delivering it back to the dealership, and even took photos to confirm the car was ready. However, without ever showing up, the customer later accepted a better offer from a competitor via text message and unilaterally canceled the deal. This incident highlights the real challenges of remote car buying—although younger consumers increasingly prefer "blind purchases," only 6% actually complete their purchases entirely online, while 67% still opt for in-person transactions. Most dealers require a deposit to hold a vehicle, but without a written agreement, buyers can back out at any time. "It happens all the time," the salesperson lamented. "And it always hurts."