One particular phrase I had learned through my online research stood out.
Same-day pickup.
Essentially, it meant retrieving a car currently in stock directly from a nearby warehouse.
For someone like me, who needed a car to drive around in for the time being, it was an incredibly tempting option.
Of course, it wasn’t without its drawbacks.
Primarily, if the desired car wasn’t in stock, same-day pickup would be impossible.
Yet, such a drawback held little significance for me.
After all, I was here to acquire a temporary vehicle to use before buying an imported car, not to purchase my dream car.
“I’d like one available for same-day pickup… just any car, please.”
Upon hearing my request, the dealer seated before me began to stare, her expression subtly bewildered.
“Pardon?”
‘Had I misunderstood something?’
‘Perhaps what I’d just said was akin to taking off one’s shoes before boarding an airplane?’
A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and I lowered my head.
‘I probably should have called ahead and scheduled a brief consultation before coming.’
“…Do you have a specific model in mind?”
As I kept my gaze averted, head still bowed, the dealer spread a car catalog open before me, which had been standing by her side.
She was smiling again, as if her earlier bewilderment had never occurred.
‘It must not have been a completely outlandish request, then.’
I inwardly exhaled a sigh of relief.
In any case,
‘A specific model, you say?’
I hadn’t actually considered any particular model.
‘I just want something I can drive today.’
“If you don’t have a preference, would you like to consider a compact car? Many first-time car buyers opt for a compact. Our model, in particular, is more compact than those from other companies, so customers often say it’s easy to park. Additionally, it comes with a blind-spot warning system as a standard option, so many people order it without adding separate parking options. That’s why we recommend this car most frequently as a first vehicle. This is the model I just mentioned; it was our best-seller last year…”
The dealer suddenly launched into a rapid-fire explanation.
Frankly, I understood nothing she was saying.
‘All I needed was something I could drive today.’
“Um… is this model available for same-day pickup?”
At my words, the dealer, with her striking brown bob, paused her speech and began to ponder something.
Then, cautiously,
“Customer, if you don’t mind my asking, could you tell me why you’re specifically looking for a model available for same-day pickup? Knowing the reason would help us find the perfect match among our same-day pickup options that truly meets your needs.”
‘This is getting quite complicated.’
‘Wasn’t buying a car supposed to be as simple as saying, ‘I’ll take this one,’ and then they’d say, ‘Yes, that will be X amount,’ and that’s it?’
When I’d searched online, most of the complicated procedures seemed to apply only to tedious methods like installment plans or leasing.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t seen many articles specifically about same-day pickup.
‘True, who would buy a car and expect to drive it off the lot immediately?’
Such buyers usually had some urgent circumstance driving their decision.
In any case, a reason?
‘How could I explain it naturally and move past this?’
As I pondered, the dealer’s gently smiling face caught my eye.
‘This is too much trouble. I’ll just give a vague answer.’
“I just… urgently need a car to drive starting today.”
“Do you primarily travel long distances? If it’s for major events or performances, we do have compact models with ample storage space, but those aren’t available for same-day pickup; you’d have to wait about a week…”
‘This is exhausting.’
Every time I said one thing, ten different answers came back at me.
Wishing to conclude this as quickly as possible, I politely interjected,
“No, thank you… Could you please just show me cars available for same-day pickup…? From the compact car range, specifically…”
At my words, the dealer finally closed her mouth and nodded.
It seemed she, too, sensed my growing impatience.
“Understood. Let’s see… this model is available for pickup today, but the logistics warehouse is a bit far from here, so you’d likely receive it around evening. And for this other model, we have one remaining due to a canceled order; you could get it immediately around lunchtime today, though it would be difficult to change the options or color.”
This was welcome news indeed.
If I could pick it up around lunchtime, it would make things much more convenient.
While receiving it in the evening wouldn’t be an issue, that other car was simply too hideous.
Even with my substantial wealth, I had no desire to spend over ten million won on something so unsightly.
I somehow understood why it remained in stock.
And so, my first car was decided.
****
“How would you like to process the payment?”
“Ah, I’ll do a bank transfer.”
I still had neither a credit card nor a debit card.
‘I heard you can make them from home these days without visiting a bank; perhaps I should create one when I get back tonight.’
“A transfer… you mean a bank transfer?”
“Oh… is that not possible?”
‘Could one not purchase a car via bank transfer?’
It would feel somewhat unfair if I couldn’t buy it despite having the money.
Fortunately, however,
“No, no, it’s perfectly possible. I’ll help you process a full cash payment.”
After following her through several payment procedures, I was finally liberated.
“If the paperwork processes quickly, you should be able to pick up the car around lunchtime. You’ll certainly have it by 3 PM at the latest, so feel free to rest a bit before returning.”
The dealer’s expression and demeanor seemed noticeably friendlier than before.
‘Indeed, if I were in her shoes, seeing someone walk in wearing a tracksuit and instantly buying a compact car with a lump sum, I’d probably have some strange thoughts myself.’
Well, I suppose whatever she thought was probably not far from the truth.
Still, a little awkwardness remained awkward.
“Alternatively, while you wait, you could browse other models or take a test drive…”
“Ah… no, thank you. Just call me when it’s ready.”
I quickly made my escape before she could detain me further.
‘I feel utterly drained.’
‘It’s as if my energy has been completely sapped.’
“If buying a single car is this exhausting… how am I ever going to find a house?”
The rest of my schedule suddenly felt daunting.
****
I stopped by a nearby cafe for a moment.
It was a dual purpose visit: to wait until my car was ready for pickup and to use a Gifticon (TL Note: A mobile gift certificate, popular in Korea, that can be exchanged for products or services at specific stores.) I had received earlier.
Literally killing two birds with one stone.
It was just a common brand-name cafe, yet it was bustling with people.
And this was even on a weekday morning.
‘Is it always this crowded in the morning?’
Come to think of it, only a few days prior, I too had been buying coffee on my way to work.
Though the cafe I used to frequent wasn’t nearly this busy.
Then again, with so many proper companies around here, perhaps it was only natural.
“Yes, Team Leader. The team members are bringing up the coffee now. Yes, understood.”
As I stood at the very end of the long queue, waiting my turn, a busy office worker carrying a stack of coffees rushed past me.
Four cups of coffee.
They weren’t iced Americanos; judging by the lattes, that team leader must prefer lattes.
Seeing that, I was suddenly reminded of a morning when I had bought a coffee for myself, only for that Team Leader Bastard to spout nonsense like, “Are you the only one with a mouth?” forcing me to buy coffee for the entire staff with my own money.
Because of him, I always used to finish my coffee outside the office every morning before going in.
My mood instantly soured.
‘Wasn’t that Team Leader Bastard truly insane?’
‘I should have cursed him out more fiercely.’
‘Something like, ‘Are you so broke you have to mooch coffee off your employees?”
‘Enough. I don’t want to get involved with him anymore.’
I let out a short sigh inwardly and pulled out the Gifticon saved on my phone.
‘Here I am, with enough money to buy this entire cafe, yet I’m pulling out a coupon.’
A wry chuckle escaped me.
‘They say even chaebols (TL Note: A large family-owned business conglomerate in South Korea.) lick the yogurt lid clean. Perhaps this is a similar sentiment?’
“Excuse me…”
As I stood there, chuckling to myself and lost in thought, someone suddenly spoke to me from beside me.
Startled, I turned my head.
“Yes… yes?”
Where I turned, there was a man who looked like an office worker.
Judging by his unassuming black trousers and white shirt, he was undoubtedly a salaryman.
“I truly don’t say this to just anyone…”
Ah.
Perhaps because I am a man, I could all too easily guess what would come next.
“You’re just so beautiful… could I get your Inbyeol (TL Note: A colloquial Korean term for Instagram, often used to avoid direct mention of the brand name.) ID?”
‘Do people ask for SNS IDs these days?’
‘The world feels a bit different. When I was younger, it was always phone numbers.’
No, that wasn’t the important thing.
I didn’t know how to respond.
‘What did women usually say…?’
Oh, ‘I don’t carry my phone…’
‘Who in the world makes such an excuse?’
There was a time when I, too, thought people only said that as a joke.
Regardless,
‘Couldn’t I just say something similar, like I don’t have an SNS account?’
Which was actually true.
“Ah… I’m sorry. I don’t use Inbyeol, so I don’t have an account.”
At my words, his expression stiffened slightly.
Seeing that look, I felt a little bad, but there was nothing to be done.
I was a man on the inside.
A man older than him, in fact.
However, he was a man who refused to give up.
Composing his expression once more, he then extended his phone.
“Then, could I at least get your number…?”
I understood his desire to win love, but his target was sorely mistaken.
“I’m truly sorry…”
Having been rejected so curtly twice, he awkwardly nodded, then practically fled the cafe.
As I exhaled a sigh of relief, I suddenly realized that everyone around me was staring.
Embarrassed, I closed my eyes.
With my eyes shut, I could distinctly feel the heat rising in my face.
“May I take your order?”
As I stood there with my eyes closed, the employee’s voice came from in front of me.
Having no choice, I lowered my head and walked over to order.
“I’ll… use this Gifticon.”
I had originally intended to drink my coffee inside.
But after receiving my coffee, I, too, hastily escaped outside.
