A family in Georgia was left stunned after an elderly relative, who lives with dementia, ended up purchasing a brand-new $80,000 truck and drove it home alone.
The ordeal has raised questions about how the sale happened and whether proper safeguards were in place.
How the Sale Unfolded
According to the family, the incident began when a salesperson from Carl Black GMC in Kennesaw visited the man’s home in Hiram, about 40 minutes away from the dealership.
The man was persuaded to trade in his 2017 Nissan Frontier for $11,000, WSB-TV reported.
After completing that part of the deal, the salesperson took the man back to the dealership. On November 12, the man purchased a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali for a total of $80,126.
Shockingly, he then drove the vehicle home without any assistance or supervision.
Family Reacts With Disbelief
Jamie Faulkner, the man’s stepdaughter, described the moment they saw the new truck parked in the driveway.
“He was in no condition to be negotiating the sale,” she said.
“He rarely drives because of his dementia.”
Faulkner also noted that while her stepfather, a former GMC employee, would occasionally browse vehicles, he never discussed purchases anywhere near this price range.
Doorbell camera footage reportedly shows the salesman arriving at the home to take him to the dealership.
Attempts to Reverse the Sale
Once the family realized what had happened, they immediately contacted the dealership to return the truck.
Unfortunately, the Nissan he had traded in had already been sold, and the GMC truck was later sent to another location.
“It makes us all angry that somebody has taken advantage of an elderly person,” Faulkner said.
Dealership Responds
The dealership’s attorney told WSB-TV that the man “did not appear to be impaired in any way, or lacking the capacity to purchase a motor vehicle” during the visit.
The attorney confirmed that the man drove the truck off the lot alone.
After discussions, the dealership agreed to buy back the new truck.
Paperwork was signed, and the family was told they would receive a refund check once the vehicle’s title was returned.
By December 20, the dealership informed the man that the check was ready for pickup.
Dispute Remains
Despite the resolution, Faulkner is unhappy with how the dealership handled the situation.
She says the refund does not account for the value of the Nissan that was traded in.
“I would like his money back. I would like to make him whole.
That’s what the dealership should do, make him whole,” she said.
The family was also told the salesperson involved was fired, though his name reportedly still appears on the company’s website.
Community Questions Safeguards
This incident has sparked wider concern about how dealerships handle sales involving elderly or vulnerable customers.
Families and consumer advocates alike are questioning what checks are in place to prevent similar situations from happening again.
The Daily Mail reached out to Carl Black GMC of Kennesaw for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
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