'My Car Had So Many Issues': Woman Buys Car From Carvana Vending Machine. Then She Tests Their 7-Day Warranty

Before she'd even picked up the Mercedes SUV from a giant automotive vending machine, a Fort Worth-area woman was already planning for what might go wrong. In a TikTok video posted before taking delivery of a vehicle she'd purchased through Carvana, she told viewers she intended to put the company's seven-day return policy to the test.

There was palpable doubt and anxiety in the video from TikToker Lindsey (@past.perfect.treasures) before she went to get the keys for her SUV, which appears to be a 2016-era Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. If there were any problems at all detected in an inspection she’d scheduled at a local Mercedes dealership, she was planning on leaning hard into Carvana’s return policy.

"I've seen mixed reviews about Carvana," she said in the video that’s been viewed more than 3,500 times. "They've had really good reviews; then they've had really bad reviews."

‘Came Back Great!’

Viewers learned the verdict on the vehicle a few days later in a follow-up video where Lindsey was beaming with satisfaction. Turns out, all her worries and worst-case planning may have been unneeded.

"Everything came back great," she said, with the video’s caption poking fun at her pre-pickup worrying: “POV: You buy a Mercedes from Carvana and spend the entire 7-day return period stressing about it."

According to Lindsey, technicians found no major mechanical concerns during the inspection. The engine and transmission checked out, the tires appeared nearly new, and routine maintenance items were current. She also said service records indicated the previous owner had consistently brought the vehicle to a Mercedes dealership for scheduled maintenance.

"Whoever had it before me was taking really good care of it," she said.

The positive report stood in sharp contrast to the uncertainty she expressed before taking delivery. It also sparked a discussion among viewers who had been through the Carvana process themselves.

Several commenters reported positive experiences with the online retailer, including one who said she was still happily driving a vehicle purchased through the platform.

"I bought a car from Carvana and I LOVEEE her," one commenter wrote. "Have no issues. Still have manufacturer warranty."

Lindsey replied that she had heard plenty of stories going both directions before placing her order.

"I heard it was a hit or miss with them!" she wrote. "But we are the lucky ones."

She added that the buying process itself had been surprisingly straightforward: "Honestly the process with them was so EASY! I enjoyed purchasing from them."

The conversation also turned toward one of the realities of luxury-car ownership. Several viewers warned Lindsey that routine Mercedes maintenance can become expensive once the honeymoon period wears off.

"The service B on a Benz is no joke," one commenter wrote, referring to the manufacturer's major scheduled maintenance interval.

"Hahaha don't scare me, I just got her!" Lindsey replied. "At least I have a year to emotionally prepare."

Another exchange came from a viewer who wanted to know exactly how Lindsey verified the vehicle's condition during Carvana's seven-day return window. Lindsey said she scheduled a pre-purchase inspection through a Mercedes dealership, receiving an initial estimate of roughly $450 before ultimately paying closer to $260.

For buyers trying to decide whether an online purchase is worth the risk, that inspection may have been the most important part of the entire process. Rather than relying solely on Carvana's listing or her own impressions behind the wheel, Lindsey paid for an independent evaluation and received the reassurance she was looking for before the return period expired.

Why The 7-Day Window Matters

From the outside, it looks like Lindsey’s purchase experience was a textbook case of how Carvana wants buyers to use its return policy. The retailer encourages buyers to treat the first week as a test period, with seven days to decide whether a vehicle meets their expectations.

The policy also allows up to 400 miles of driving during that week after pickup before excess-mileage charges kick in. Buyers who decide to keep the vehicle are then covered by a limited warranty lasting 100 days or 4,189 miles.

The policy exists largely to address persistent trust issues in online vehicle sales, since online buyers often commit to a purchase before they've had an opportunity to spend meaningful time with the vehicle. Carvana executives have previously said the return policy helps reduce the perceived risk of trying a different way to buy a car.

In March 2023, Carvana vice president of strategy Christina Keiser said the company's seven-day return policy produces a "single-digit return rate," with less than 10% of purchases being returned.

The lesson in Lindsey's experience may be less about Carvana itself and more about what she did immediately after receiving the Mercedes. Rather than assuming everything was fine, she spent a few hundred dollars on an independent inspection while she still had leverage and the option to walk away if she wasn’t happy.

Motor1 reached out to Lindsey via direct message and comment on the clip. We’ll update this if they respond.