A Texas man recently went viral after sharing how two different dealerships in the Dallas area allegedly tried to overcharge him by thousands of dollars. Nick, who has nearly 5,000 followers on social media, decided to warn others about what he calls widespread fraud in the car-buying process.
According to Motor1, his bad experience started at Toyota of Richardson, which he called “the worst car-buying experience I’ve ever had.” After leaving that dealership, Nick tried his luck at Grubbs Volvo in Grapevine, Texas, hoping for better treatment.
The staff at Grubbs Volvo were much friendlier at first, but the deal fell apart when they showed him the final price. Nick says they tried to charge him almost $4,000 more than the listed price. “They were a little bit nicer, but they ultimately tried to basically get me to pay almost $4,000 more than what the asking price was,” Nick said in his TikTok video.
How dealerships use pricing tricks to inflate costs
The sales pitch was convincing enough that he signed some papers, but he wisely decided to wait until the next day to pick up the car. That overnight wait turned out to be important. Nick started having doubts and called the dealership the next day to cancel. When he confronted them about the price difference, he broke down the numbers clearly.
“The car you’re trying to sell me is market valued at $27,500, and you’re trying to sell it to me for $29,900 and then up-price it to $33,000,” he explained. That’s a massive increase, and it’s easy to see why he walked away. Nick believes both dealerships were trying to take advantage of him and have probably done the same to other customers.
His video got over two million views, showing how many people related to his story. It also raises an important question about when dealer markups cross the line into scams. Other Toyota buyers have shared frustrations too, including one woman who returned her new Toyota after just 12 months over a missing feature.
Dealerships are legally allowed to charge more than the sticker price, especially when demand is high. These are called “market adjustments,” and they’re legal as long as the higher price is clearly shown to the customer. Optional extras like extended warranties, protection packages, sales tax, and registration fees are also legal. However, things become dishonest when dealerships use hidden fees, refuse to sell at the advertised price unless you pay more, or add costs without your clear approval.
Toyota of Richardson does have thousands of positive Google reviews praising its transparency and professionalism. However, the dealership’s negative ratings often match the exact complaints Nick and other viewers shared. Toyota ownership isn’t always smooth sailing, as another owner discovered when filling up her tank left her shocked at the final price.
If something feels wrong while you’re shopping for a car, follow Nick’s example: ask to sleep on the deal before making a final choice. Never feel rushed to complete a purchase right away. If the numbers don’t make sense, walk away or consider getting an auto fraud attorney if the dealership’s practices seem truly dishonest. You can also file a complaint with federal regulators or your state attorney general.
Published: Jan 28, 2026 04:15 pm