Bikinis Optional, Upcharge and Bullying Guaranteed: My Week at the Hyundai Dealership

I wanted to rant to you about the mistreatment of women in society. Last week, I should’ve started paying rent to the Hyundai dealership in Boston; I was there so much.

Long story short—my Hyundai Tucson’s blinker light stopped working, so I brought it in for repairs. It turns out there was a massive wiring issue in the back, which is not an easy fix and has no long-term solution. What a perfect start to the week! I usually get my car serviced at home in New York, but this time I needed it fixed quickly because my brake light had stopped working as well.

I dropped my car off early in the week. My people-pleasing skills kicked in, and I told the service desk, “No rush! Take your time!” Why was I being overly nice? Sure enough, they took full advantage of my kindness. They pushed my car to the back of the line. I called 12 hours after dropping it off, and they said, “Oh sorry… We’ll get to it tomorrow!”

The next day rolled around. I heard nothing until I called them a few times. They finally responded, “Running super behind, sorry!” Unacceptable. After threatening to sue if they didn’t look at my vehicle, they quickly began work. They diagnosed the car with corroded trailer hitch wires and informed me that it wasn’t a quick fix; it could take a while to rewire. Luckily, there was an easier, shorter-term fix where they could reverse the wiring to factory settings. (Honestly, I don’t understand car lingo.)

After they finished the job, the service tech tried to upcharge me $800 for other repairs that supposedly ‘needed’ to be done on my car. Spoiler alert: they didn’t need to be done. I told him I wasn’t interested no less than seven times, yet he refused to accept my decision.

Eventually, he told me I could pick my car up the next day, which I did. Arriving late afternoon on a Thursday, I drove it back to work. A coworker checked all the lights only to discover that the brake lights didn’t work at all! Absolutely absurd.

I called him immediately. He admitted that the dealership had never finished the job. Miscommunication led to not wiring the correct pieces. This man begged me to bring the car back without telling his manager. He began texting me from his personal cell phone and trying to bully me. He lectured me not to tattle on him and pleaded with me to lie about why I was returning.

When I brought my car back a fourth time, the attitude had changed. He was aggressive, grabbing my arm and yelling at me to “STOP!” It made me feel wildly uncomfortable in the service area, especially with everyone around.

All this hostility stemmed from his fear that someone would catch his mistakes. It was a nightmare of a situation, and I was furious. I knew his behavior stemmed from the fact that I’m a young woman. He didn’t think I would fight back and tried to upcharge me, assuming I was naïve. Apparently, I’m just a woman, right?

This experience forced me to reflect on what it means to be a woman in society. Men often think they can undermine our feelings, putting their own emotions above ours. This was evident in my interaction with the service man. I wasn’t worth an apology for their mistakes, but he felt entitled to avoid any repercussions.

I noticed the stark contrast in expectations. Women are often expected to remain quiet to make men feel comfortable or competent in their roles. This dynamic is incredibly frustrating, and it’s something we need to address collectively.

I will admit I’ve been fortunate. I haven’t faced many situations where I felt undermined. However, last week changed that perception. My sister is well-versed in standing up for herself, while I’ve been passive in the past. Not anymore!

I feel a surge of anger when I think about our society's treatment of women. In 2025, the expectation that women should be seen and not heard is still prevalent. Hard pass. We don't need to abase ourselves to validate men's worth or make them feel capable.

I faced another challenge too when an electric solicitor came to my door. This guy made me uncomfortable, pressing me to switch my electric supplier while complimenting my outfit and asking personal questions, like my age. Why do I instinctively try to appease them? Why do I default to being agreeable?

I didn’t owe him anything! I was in the middle of making dinner. It was time to assert my boundaries.

I’m working on finding my voice with pushy men who think the world revolves around them. It’s crucial to decrease my people-pleasing tendencies and communicate my needs clearly. I don’t subscribe to the “F MEN FOREVER!” mentality. Still, I believe some men need to rethink their behavior and reassess their attitudes toward women.

That being said, I know many wonderful, respectful men in my life—my dad, brother, cousins, and friends. Being surrounded by these positive influences reminds me that not all men are dismissive.

As women, we must continue using our voices. Our needs matter too, and we shouldn't let anyone undermine our worth.

And yes, I wrote them a nasty Google review!

Keeping being your badass selves,

Charty