‘BEAT ME IN A FOOTRACE:' Car Salesman Offers Unconventional Deal on New Car. Would You Do It?
Fleet-footed car shoppers in eastern Texas may be wise to make a trip to the Wiesner of Huntsville dealership, where car salesman Adam Vance (
@av.at.wiesner
) is offering $100 off any of the models on the lot to anyone who beats him in a footrace. The dealership sells
General Motors
,
Chevrolet
, and
Buick
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Vance issued the challenge in a
TikTok
this spring. The post is captioned, 'No gimmicks, no games, just a footrace for $100 off.'
The TikTok has been viewed more than 148,000 times so far.
Vance, a 19-year-old junior at Sam Houston State University and former high school athlete, says the idea came from a simple place: Wanting to make car buying feel a little less like a chore.
'It's supposed to be fun,' Vance told
Motor1
over the phone. 'If you're thinking about buying a new car, that should be exciting, not stressful.'
'People hear 'car dealership' and tense up. I wanted to break the ice a little,' he added. 'I'm just a regular guy trying to make it. I've got two roommates, and I drive a 300,000-mile truck. I'm not out here to scam anyone.'
Ready to Run
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The rules of the race are pretty flexible: beat Vance in a 40-yard race across the lot and get $100.
Vance says he's open to longer or shorter distances depending on the customer's energy or sense of humor.
He's done two official races so far, he says. There have been other willing opponents, but sometimes scheduling and logistics have gotten in the way.
Vance recalled that one customer pulled up when he was mid-sale with another client and honked at him from across the lot, yelling, 'You ready for that race?'
'I told him, 'If you'll work with another salesperson while I finish up, I'll race you when I'm done,'' Vance said. 'I meant it.'
Winning While Selling
So far, Vance says he remains undefeated. He played 6A varsity football, ran cross country, and wrestled in high school.
But prospective racers/customers shouldn't feel discouraged.
'I'm not trying to humiliate anyone,' he said. 'If you show up ready to run, I'll honor it. Win or lose, we'll both probably be out of breath.'
The lighthearted stunt has given Vance a modest dose of internet fame.
He insists his offer is about reshaping the experience as much as it's about getting him some attention and new leads.
'There are too many dealers out there who treat people like numbers,' he said. 'If I can make one person smile, or make the process a little more human, that's a win even if I have to sprint for it.'
People largely appreciate Vance's approach to sales, though some pointed out that any winner's purse wouldn't reduce the cost of a typical GM vehicle by even half of a percentage point.
'100 dollars isn't doing anything; this man just like racing,' one wrote.
Another gave Vance kudos for his attitude, writing, 'God forbid someone makes car buying a little more fun.'
Yet another appeared ready to get in the starting blocks. 'Let's lock it in,' they said. 'These legs haven't ran since track 5 years ago.'
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