Racial profiling remains a serious issue, impacting countless people in everyday situations—including something as simple as shopping for a car. A TikTok user, @ta.mia.a, recently shared her frustrating experience at a BMW dealership where a salesman refused to let her test drive a car, despite her being prepared to pay cash for it. Instead of backing down, she decided to take her business elsewhere—and her response quickly went viral.
Her video, which has over a million views, struck a chord with many people who have faced similar treatment. The text overlay read:
"POV: I was gonna buy this car with cash today, but the salesman was being rude."
Denied a test drive for no clear reason
In the TikTok video, Tamiaa shows the interior of the BMW she was interested in purchasing—a sleek, luxury car with touchscreen controls, leather seats, and multiple driving modes. She was clearly excited about the car but revealed her disappointment soon after.
Tamiaa posted her story of profiling at a major car dealership. TikTok | @ta.mia.a
"I'm not gonna buy from here 'cause the [salesman] was being rude as f**k," she said.
What pushed her to this decision? The dealership refused to let her test drive the car unless she completed an application—something she didn’t see anyone else being asked to do.
"You can't take it on a test drive if you're not doing the application."
Suspicious of this unnecessary hurdle, she chose not to go through with the purchase. Even though she had the money ready, she refused to give her business to someone who treated her with disrespect.
Social media backs her decision
People in the comments section of her video were quick to call out the salesman’s behavior, with many suspecting racial profiling.
@purrlianna commented, "They definitely let you test drive without an application unless it's new and they have low inventory. He was profiling you, most definitely."
@yera_rb shared a similar experience, writing, "This happened to me at Toyota like your loss."
Another user, @northernchill12, related to Tamiaa’s reaction, saying:
"A rude salesperson will talk me out of buying every time."
Many people praised Tamiaa for refusing to reward poor service and bias with her business.
A larger pattern of discrimination
Unfortunately, racial profiling in customer service isn’t new. Similar stories have made headlines, like the case of two Black women accused of shoplifting at a TJ Maxx without evidence. A police officer confronted them, demanding proof of purchase and even attempting to search their car. When they stood their ground and recorded the encounter, it became clear how easily baseless accusations can escalate.
These experiences highlight why many Black consumers often feel scrutinized or mistreated in retail and sales settings. But as Tamiaa’s story shows, one powerful response is to take your money elsewhere—because respect should never be optional.
If you want to follow more of her content, check out @ta.mia.a on TikTok.
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Representative photo by Kenny Eliason | 
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