'I would be FURIOUS': Woman Takes Volkswagen Beetle To Detailer Before Selling. Then The Worker Ruins Her Backseat

A woman decides to get her Volkswagen Beetle detailed before selling it, but encounters a major issue that may impact the sale. A nightmare scenario unfolds as the detailer ruins her backseat days before the car is sold. 

In a two-part TikTok series that has generated over 1.1 million views as of this writing, Mia Koern (@mia.koern) reveals how she went about fixing the backseat that was damaged by the detailer. One viewer weighed in, believing “the cleaner owes you the cost of the new seat.”

“I finally found a great buyer to buy my 2007 Volkswagen Beetle, but when I went to get her deep cleaned, the cleaner scrubbed my back seat so hard that it created that rip whenever it was wet,” Koern begins. 

She showcased the rip in the backseat, and it was no minor tear. It went across the entire lower part of the seat, and it’s clearly noticeable. Koern knows it’s not right to sell the car like this and decides to get it fixed before handing over the keys to the new owner. 

Koern documents her visit to a Corpus Christi junkyard in hopes of finding a replacement backseat. 

“I have a feeling there are a million of these Beetles in the junkyard,” she manifests. 

She walks into Pull-A-Part, where she is given a list of Beetles in the junkyard. She was in disbelief at the concept of being able to pull your own parts from junked cars. 

“Honestly, this is such a cool concept, like, what? It feels like the most efficient junkyard ever,” she shares. 

After walking the entire lot, she found the VW Beetle they had, only to discover that the backseat was not a match. 

“What a mess. It’s a completely different material,” she reveals. 

Defeated by this battle, she still believes she can win the war.

“Not all hope is lost because I have to pass through Austin on my way to drop the car off to its new owner. So, looks like this vehicle is available in a junkyard in Austin,” she says. 

In part 2, Koern makes it to the next junkyard in Austin.

“I am trudging through a junkyard to get this seat together. I just want to say, ladies, you can do hard things. This is ridiculous, but I am doing it, and I am capable, so I’m gonna pull it together,” she says. 

This junkyard has three options for Koern to find a replacement backseat. Her effort is rewarded as the first VW Beetle has the same color and material she needs. Before picking this backseat, she decides to still check out the other two options before committing. 

In the second option, the backseat appears to be another match for the cream interior, but when lifted, it has water damage underneath and a rip at the corner. She then goes to the third option, only to discover that the backseat has already been removed.

“That means that first one is mine,” she shares.

She grabs the first one and heads to the cleaner to vacuum and scrub it down deeply. After cleaning the seat, she successfully installs the replacement backseat. The new owner appreciated the extra effort, and Koern completed the transaction. 

‘Hope That Detailer Is Paying For The New Seat’

Koern truly went on quite an adventure to get this seat replaced due to the detailer's lack of care. Viewers believed that she had better not have paid for that damage. 

“The cleaner owes you the cost of the new seat,” one TikTok commenter shared.

“Hope that detailer is paying for the new seat,” a second commented. 

“Heck yes & a refund bc I spent $99, but I didn’t have enough time to let them try to fix it, so I figured it out myself for $35, I’m about to post the junk yard in Austin. They also hurt my soft top,” Koern replied. 

Other viewers commended the effort put into selling the car in the best possible condition.

“Marsha seemed like she def appreciated your hard work,” one shared. 

“You gotta get gloves if you ever do this again,” a second suggested

“I love pick and pull’s, proud of you for getting it done,” another commented. 

Is Using Junkyards For Used Car Parts The Move?

Car parts can easily add up quickly when replacing or repairing. So, when the backseat of your car gets damaged by a detailer, there are a few options to choose from. Some options include going to an authorized dealership, an upholstery shop, eBay Motors, or a salvage yard to replace the part. 

Going to places like Pick-N-Pull has been a popular option for car parts that are too expensive to source from an auto parts store or are just too old. Going to the junkyard can be quite the experience as you get to search for the parts, and it’s not guaranteed that your part will be there. You might even see a man carrying an entire pickup bed on his back at one. 

While it may appear that the vehicles are worthless in the junkyard, the opposite is often true. Most junk cars will still have OEM parts that can be in great condition and used in another vehicle, according to Pull-A-Part reports. While, yes, the junk car itself isn't a vehicle working properly, there could be car parts within it that are still working properly. 

One major advantage of going to a junkyard is being able to find original car parts instead of having to buy the costly new aftermarket version. This overall saving difference makes the trek through the junkyard worthwhile. Considering junkyards are walking-only, it’s best to wear a hat and other cool clothing options, one expert shared. Walking around scrap metal can easily influence the surrounding temperature and heat. 

When using junkyards, quality can vary drastically, as Koern discovered. Just because you find a replacement part doesn't mean it’ll be one you want. With this, it’s important to remember that the longer car parts sit alone, the more time there is for corrosion and damage to take place. Additional treatment may be needed for interiors, and it may be best to avoid moldy parts. 

While help can be limited by the staff, it’s not entirely the case, Wrench-A-Part reports. Customers won’t be able to use flame cutters or jacks to remove parts, but if someone wants something from under the car, a staff member should be able to assist with the request. Junkyards can have forklifts or jacks that they will use to support the quest for the car part. 

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All in all, junkyards can be an excellent resource when trying to land some savings, but you are going to have to work for them.

Motor1 has contacted Koern via email and TikTok direct message. The post will be updated if she replies.

 

 

 

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