conversation: User (Leight_Weight): "I was visiting my brother about three hours from home this weekend. Saw a car listing I was interested in, went and looked at it, drove and looked great, so I went and got cash from the bank and bought it. This was at about 11:30 am. They closed at noon because it's Saturday. I headed home and made it 64 miles before the transmission went out and left me sit on the side of the highway. I had it towed back to the car lot because I was a heck of a lot closer to there than home, and then my wife took me the rest of the way (she was following me in our minivan with our kids.) \n\nMy question is, what are my odds on a refund on this thing? I signed a document saying it was being sold as is, but this is a private dealer and has the guys name on the sign. I guess I'm hoping he has some integrity and cuts me a break considering I didn't even get to drive the thing for an hour. I also took all this money out of my savings so I'll be pretty bummed if it's just a complete loss. A transmission is completely out of the question to replace on this car. \n\nThoughts? I probably won't hear from this guy until Monday so I have to stew about it until then.\n\nEdit: I live I Indiana if that matters.\n\nEdit 2: Guy just called me and the first thing out of his mouth was that he was refunding my money. Said he was sorry and not a crook about 15 times. Guess there really are some good people left in the world.\n\nFinal edit: Just got home with my refund as it was a 5 hour round trip. Guy was extremely apologetic and even told me he wasn't legally obligated to do anything but he thought it was the right thing to do. He said he would have sold that car to a family member and was shocked that it happened. To all of you who were telling me to buy him a bottle of something, I am already out a few hundred dollars for the tow bill, not to mention I filled the tank to the brim before it broke. I lost a decent chunk too. Guy said he's not going to scrap it, he has too much money into it now so he's just going to replace yhe the transmission. (it had 4 new tires, a new battery and two front wheel bearings just finished) I told him if he can find me something else I will make the drive again to give him business. He has my trust now for sure. Also it's against the rules to say the name of the place according to the sub rules. Thanks everyone for your advice and comments. Take care."
  Self: "Car lots source cars - often from from Auctions, make sure they drive OK, fix cosmetic issues and resell them. The service they provide is selection and convenience not mechanical expertise. It is highly unlikely they had any idea you would have this issue.\n\nThey may refund your money just to protect their reputation.\n"
  KeithCarter4897 (KeithCarter4897): "This! The way he described the call from the dealer saying "I'm not a crook" about a dozen times, it really sounded like protecting his reputation was worth the price of a car to him. \n\nThose guys are the best ones to buy cars from. They're too scared to screw you over."
  GhostriderFlyBy (GhostriderFlyBy): "Or they just want to do a good job and be a good part of the community. Not everyone lives their life operating out of fear. "
  