Car shopping can be particularly stressful for women. With dealerships largely staffed by men, there’s a pervasive belief that car salespeople may be less than honest, especially when they perceive an opportunity to exploit someone’s age, gender, or financial situation.
Creepy Car Salesman
A woman shared an uncomfortable experience with a car salesman in a viral video that has garnered over 5.2 million views. In the clip, content creator Em (@rockerfoo13) reveals that a salesman at Metro Honda in Montclair, California, made repeated advances and tried to leverage his authority to pressure her into going on a date.
Em narrates her experience, stating, “I went to the Honda dealership to buy a car, and the sales manager refused to sell me one because I wouldn’t go out with him, then marked up the price by an additional $10,000 when we confronted him.” At one point, the salesman is heard telling her in Spanish that he would be at the dealership until 10 p.m., but doesn’t want to keep her long—only to add that the deal is contingent on her agreeing to a date.
At another moment in the video, the same or another salesman insists that after her purchase, she needs to take him out on a date, to which Em responds, “I don’t think the date is included.” The salesman cheekily retorts that it’s “part of the entrance fee.” When Em expresses discomfort, he refuses to show her the car pricing and paperwork.
A friend of Em’s then interjects, highlighting that it’s not a joke and expressing their discomfort with the situation, especially since car buying involves sensitive personal information and finances. The salesman dismisses their concerns, claiming he was merely joking and asks them to “relax.”
In a follow-up video, Em clarifies that his advances were entirely unwelcome. She asserts, “I was friendly but not flirting. I recorded because I felt uncomfortable and wanted to document the experience.” She emphasizes that her polite demeanor is often misinterpreted as romantic interest, a common issue many women face.
Gender Bias in Car Dealerships
Em’s experience isn’t unique. Research indicates longstanding gender discrimination in car sales. A notable study from the 90s highlighted how white men typically secured better prices than women and people of color. Furthermore, recent findings revealed that women often encounter less favorable treatment from dealers, including worse pricing and delays in acknowledgment during the shopping process.
