A car saleswoman at an Audi dealership in California says she gave away a carton of fresh eggs to get a customer to sign a deal. The eggs, according to the worker, had been given to her by a coworker earlier that same morning.
The claim came from a TikTok user going by @dponce96, who posted a photo on TikTok asking others in the auto sales industry about the strangest thing they had ever thrown in to seal a deal. In the text overlay of the clip, she revealed her own answer: “I had to throw in the fresh eggs my coworker gave me this morning to close my car deal.”
In the caption, @dponce96 asked whether her experience was unusual or common practice, writing, “Am I crazy for this? Or is this common?” The video drew a wide range of responses from people on both sides of the car-buying process. Several commenters said they had managed to negotiate extras that went well beyond what most buyers expect to ask for.
Car buyers share the wildest perks they scored during dealership negotiations
One commenter said their father negotiated free oil changes for the long haul: “My dad negotiated free oil changes for life.” Another said their dealership went to unusual lengths to get them into a vehicle: “My dealership wanted a sale so bad they came and picked me up from work in the car I was interested in.” Not every dealership encounter goes that smoothly, though one man walked into a Toyota dealership ready to buy, but said a salesman’s words made him turn around and leave.
One buyer said they left with more than just a car: “Got 1k gas card, and the computer mouse of the salesman. Thought it was cool.” A salesperson in the comments said they had also made an unconventional offer from their side of the table: “I told my client I’d take $500 off the car if they’d bring me their homemade soppressata.”
Another commenter said their father’s offhand joke at the dealership nearly turned into an actual meal delivery: “When my dad was negotiating for my car he made a joke about needing a steak dinner and that salesman immediately opened door dash and was ready to get it delivered that second.” Dealership interactions do not always end in a purchase, as in one case, a man with no plans to buy a car made a request that left the salesman at a loss.
According to Consumer Reports, buyers are generally advised to focus on the full cost of a vehicle rather than just the monthly payment. Once a price is set, negotiations can then move to trade-in value and financing terms.
The Federal Trade Commission advises customers to look carefully at any optional add-ons a dealership may offer, as these can raise the total cost of the purchase and are often negotiable. Those add-ons typically include service contracts, maintenance plans, protection products, and accessories, according to the FTC.
