Buying a car is rarely a pleasant experience. It’s a high-stakes dance of negotiation, hidden fees, and the lingering fear that you’re being taken for a ride. But for one savvy shopper, a routine purchase turned into a multi-year saga of deceit, legal action, and some of the most dedicated malicious compliance the internet has ever seen.
After flying across state lines for a car that miraculously “disappeared” upon his arrival, this buyer didn’t just get mad, he got even. What started as a small claims lawsuit for travel expenses spiraled into a one-man war against the dealership’s online reputation, forcing them to spend tens of thousands of dollars just to stay afloat.
A Redditor shared this epic tale of consumer revenge:
This is the kind of petty revenge that feels almost mythical. The sheer dedication required to manually tank a business’s rating over several years is staggering. While the morality of creating fake accounts is debatable, the emotional satisfaction is undeniable.
The dealership gambled that this out-of-state buyer would just eat the loss and disappear. Instead, they challenged him to leave a bad review, and he accepted that challenge a thousand times over.
It’s a stark reminder that in the digital age, a single disgruntled customer can wield disproportionate power if they have enough time and spite. The fact that the dealership is now hemorrhaging money to bribe customers for positive reviews is the cherry on top of this chaotic sundae.
Expert Opinion: The Cost of Bad Business
The “bait and switch” tactic is as old as commerce itself, but it is illegal under federal and state consumer protection laws. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explicitly prohibits advertising goods that the seller has no intention of selling in order to sell other, more expensive items. By taking a deposit and signing a contract for a specific VIN, the dealership likely crossed a significant legal line.
According to Consumer Reports, bait-and-switch schemes are a common complaint, often relying on the customer’s sunk cost fallacy, the idea that since you’re already at the lot, you might as well buy something. However, forcing a customer to fly in creates tangible damages, which is why the small claims suit was successful.
Reputation management expert Andy Beal notes that online reviews are the lifeblood of local businesses. A drop in star rating can lead to a significant decrease in revenue. A study by Harvard Business School found that a one-star increase in Yelp rating leads to a 5-9% increase in revenue.
Conversely, a tanking rating can be catastrophic. The dealership’s desperate attempt to buy 5-star reviews is a clear sign they are feeling the financial pinch of their damaged reputation. By effectively “taxing” the dealership $50 for every fake positive review they need to buy to offset his negative ones, the OP has created a unique financial penalty for their unethical behavior.
The Community Weighs In
Redditors were equal parts impressed and horrified by the scale of the revenge.
Some offered tips on how to make the reviews stick, pointing out the flaws in the OP’s strategy.
Others were furious on the OP’s behalf regarding the contract breach.
And one user shared a win for the little guy involving corporate intervention.
Final Thoughts
This story serves as a brutal warning to businesses: you never know who you are dealing with. The dealership treated a customer like a disposable wallet, assuming he would just go away. Instead, they created a dedicated nemesis who has cost them thousands of dollars and years of stress. While we can’t condone review bombing, it’s hard not to smirk at the karmic balance sheet in this specific case.
Have you ever been the victim of a bait-and-switch? How far would you go to get even?
