A car seller waited while a stranger’s mechanic went over his 2021 Mazda CX-5. The inspection came back clean, and then the buyer dropped a surprise: he would not buy it without the 100K service.
The seller, who posts as @greggotcars, was not happy. “Why would you hide that information to the end?” he asks the buyer on camera.
What followed is a short lesson in manners, timing and what a used-car deal really costs both sides.
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“You Made Me Wait Here While You Guys Did The Inspection”
The seller’s complaint begins with time. He says the buyer told him he was coming but never mentioned that the inspection would run 30 or 40 minutes.
In his telling, the buyer also said that if everything checked out, he would buy the car. The mechanic said everything was good.
By the end, the seller says, he had spent about an hour of his day on the process. “I pretty much went an hour out of my time dealing with this,” he says.
The Mechanic Said The Car Was Fine, Then Came The 100K Service Twist
That is when the buyer raised the issue of the 100,000-mile service. The seller says the buyer told him he would not buy the car if that service had not been done.
The seller points out what the inspection had already shown. “Right now it’s not misfiring, there’s no codes,” he says. “He just showed you.”
He understands that a service like this involves taking out the spark plugs, but he argues that nothing on the car showed a problem. The way he sees it, a clean inspection should have settled the matter.
“I Think It’s Very Selfish, More Than Rude”
The seller does not hold back on his opinion. “I think it’s very selfish, more than rude,” he says, “because you didn’t care about my time or anyone else’s time.”
His argument is simple. The buyer could have said at the start that he would not buy the car unless the 100,000-mile service had been done, and everyone could have saved an hour.
Instead, he says, the buyer had the mechanic confirm the car was perfect, and only then added the condition. “Don’t you see that as a little selfish? Or inconsiderate even?” he asks.
The Ride To The Train Station
The conversation ends politely, with the seller offering to drop the buyer at the train station. It is a small gesture that keeps the moment civil.
His parting advice is memorable. “I think next time when you look at a car, the way you do it, you should do it backwards,” he says, meaning the requirement should come up first.
The buyer says thank you, and the seller says take care. Then the seller turns back to the camera to explain how he sees it.
“Now I Know Why This Is His Fifth Car He’s Inspecting”
The seller says he believes the buyer was counting on a discount. In his view, the buyer would ask about the 100,000-mile service at the end, and if it had not been done, he would assume the seller would lower the price because of all the time already invested.
“That’s not gonna happen,” the seller says. “I was standing firm.”
He insists the car is in excellent shape. “The car is mint, car is perfect,” he says, and he expects it to go to someone who is grateful to have a fully serviced car that needs nothing. Then comes his closing line: “Now I know why this is his fifth car he’s inspecting.”
Both Sides Of The Used Car Inspection Dance
Stories like this one have two sides, and it helps to understand both. A seller is giving up time, and an hour on a weekday can feel like a lot when you have a car to sell.
A buyer, on the other hand, is about to spend thousands of dollars and has every right to want the car checked. A pre-purchase inspection is one of the smartest habits in car shopping, and most experts recommend it.
The friction comes from timing and expectations. The seller wanted to know the requirement up front, and the buyer, by the seller’s account, kept it until the end.
How To Be A Fair Buyer
If you are shopping for a used car, share your conditions early. Tell the seller by message or phone if you expect a mechanic’s inspection, how long it will take, and whether you need service records.
Ask for the maintenance history before you travel. If a major service interval matters to you, such as a big mileage milestone, ask whether it has been done, so neither of you wastes an afternoon.
Be honest about your intentions. If a price is the real issue, say so, and negotiate openly rather than hoping a long inspection will wear the seller down.
How To Be A Smart Seller
Sellers can help themselves, too. Gather your service records, receipts and manuals in a folder before the first buyer arrives, so questions about maintenance can be answered in minutes.
Think about doing the major services before you list the car. A fully serviced car is easier to sell, and it may support a higher asking price.
Finally, set the ground rules in the listing. A short note about inspection times, who pays for them and what you will not negotiate saves everyone trouble.
The seller in this video kept his cool, gave the buyer a ride and held his price. Whether you agree with him or not, the lesson stands: clear expectations make a better deal for everyone.
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