Chapter 18: Out of Stocks
Word of Timothy’s dealership spread faster than he imagined. The Fortuner sale had lit the spark, and now curious buyers began streaming into Tondo to see what this so-called "Flawless Auto Resale" was really about.
The black Fortuner that had rolled out under Roland’s hands carried with it an unspoken endorsement: flawless. By the following week, Timothy was no longer dealing with just curious messages on Facebook Marketplace—he was fielding serious inquiries, each one punctuated by, "Can I bring my mechanic?"
He welcomed it.
The first to arrive was a corporate driver scouting for a shuttle van on behalf of his employer. They wanted the Hyundai Starex.
The man showed up with a clipboard, flanked by a grizzled mechanic who carried not just a scanner tool but a full inspection kit. Timothy led them to the white pearl van gleaming under the scaffolding.
The mechanic circled the vehicle with slow, deliberate steps. He crawled underneath with a flashlight, checked the radiator, tested the A/C, even sniffed the vents. Then he ran the scanner.
Minutes later, he emerged from the driver’s seat with wide eyes.
"This unit feels like it rolled off the line yesterday," he said flatly. "No hidden faults. Even the belts are fresh."
The driver turned to Timothy. "What’s your asking price again?"
"₱650,000," Timothy answered calmly.
The driver didn’t even haggle. "We’ll take it."
An hour later, the van drove off the lot, now bound for a company fleet. Timothy tucked away the payment, another mountain of crisp bills swelling his drawer.
Two days later, a young man in his twenties arrived with his father. They were looking for a first car, and the crimson red Honda Civic caught their eye immediately.
The father, cautious, insisted on a full inspection. The mechanic they brought opened every panel, pulled back the carpeting, and scanned the system twice. He even took oil samples on a rag, shaking his head in disbelief.
"This car was supposedly flood-damaged?" the father asked suspiciously.
Timothy nodded, his tone steady. "Yes. Fully refurbished to original condition. Honest mileage kept."
The test drive sealed it. The Civic purred down the road, smooth acceleration and responsive handling making the son grin ear to ear. When they returned, the father whispered to his son, then extended his hand.
"₱760,000. Cash."
Timothy nodded. Deal. Another flawless transaction.
By the weekend, an entire family arrived—husband, wife, two kids—looking for something dependable. They had been eyeing the 2013 Honda CR-V.
The father’s mechanic worked silently, scanning and checking until he finally looked up, stunned.
"No issues. This is as clean as it gets."
The wife climbed into the passenger seat, feeling the upholstery. "It smells new," she whispered. The kids cheered in the back, pretending to claim seats.
When the family returned from the test drive, the husband’s face was already set. "₱930,000," he said, "and we’ll take it today."
Timothy shook his hand, another million sliding into his ledger.
The Innova sold almost too easily. Word had spread among middle-class families that a 2017 model was available in Tondo for a fraction of dealership prices.
Three families came to view it on the same day. One mechanic after another plugged in scanners, checked suspension, brakes, electronics, all whispering the same thing: "No faults."
The beige metallic MPV looked showroom-new, and the competition between families turned tense. Finally, one father raised his voice: "₱1,050,000, and I’ll pay now."
The others stepped back, defeated. The Innova rolled out that afternoon.
By now, Flawless Auto Resale’s reputation was cementing itself. Buyers came not just from within Manila but from nearby provinces, curious how a dealership in the backstreets of Tondo was offering cars that felt untouched by time.
The silver Mitsubishi Montero Sport went to a businessman from Cavite.
His mechanic admitted during inspection, "I can’t find a single trace of flood damage. Not even in the wiring." The businessman paid ₱1.1 million without hesitation.
And then came the crown jewel: the 2016 BMW 318i.
The buyer, a sharply dressed entrepreneur, arrived with a specialist mechanic who brought high-end diagnostic tools. They combed over the sedan for nearly an hour, running every check possible.
Finally, the specialist exhaled. "This is the cleanest second-hand BMW I’ve ever seen."
The entrepreneur smirked. "₱1.6 million. Take it or leave it."
Timothy nodded, pulse racing. He had expected a drawn-out negotiation, but the deal closed swiftly. Watching the Alpine White BMW glide out of his lot felt surreal—like watching his dream drive away and leave behind a fortune in its place.
By the end of two weeks, Timothy’s once-empty lot was nearly bare again. One by one, the cars had left, replaced by heavy envelopes stacked neatly in his desk drawer and digits swelling in his BDO account.
Projected: ₱7.7 million.
Reality: nearly the same.
Standing at the gate one evening, he looked at the empty scaffolding, the scent of rubber and diesel still lingering faintly in the air. Beyond the walls, neighbors whispered about how junk cars kept rolling in and spotless units kept rolling out.
Timothy didn’t care. Let them wonder. He had built the foundation. The real empire was only beginning.
He turned back to his office, notebook in hand.
"Time to restock," he muttered.