In 2023, my 2004 Lexus SC 430 was totaled following a storm. Since then I had been searching for a…read morecomparable replacement. When searching dealerships online I came upon High Tide Auto in Pt. Orange,Fla. listing a 2008 SC 430 . the car looked good and was an upgrade from my previous vehicle which was what I was hoping for. The price was reasonable and the car near enough to me so I wouldn't have to pay transport cost living in Georgia. I sent an "availability inquiry" and received a response on 1/27/24, from Salesperson Annie who confirmed that the car was available. I informed her that there would be NO TRADE involved but a CASH transaction. I informed her that I lived in Georgia and was waiting on Insurance monies to arrive in no less than ten days. At that time I would arrive to complete a TEST DRIVE with cash in hand. She gave me her personal cell # if I had ANY questions until then. During those ten days she answered my questions...sent me videos of the car to answer questions not visible from the online pics. We worked out total price of the car and she text me a buyer sheet outlining price tag & taxes including how close my bank was to their dealership to obtain a bank check to complete the purchase. Estimating the arrival of my Insurance Check I tentatively scheduled my arrival and test drive for 2/12/24. I told Annie I would contact her to confirm my 2/12/24, arrival on 2/9/24. The Insurance check came in on 2/8/24, and that morning I immediately contacted Annie confirming our appointment for 2/12/24, along with the sales numbers we had discussed. Everything was a "GO". My last conversation with Annie was at 10:13am, when I asked her to take a pic of the inside of the cars trunk. She said she would run outside and text me the pic. For the 13 days we talked Annie was always prompt in her responses. This time she wasn't. The next time she communicated was 3:47pm... apologizing for SELLING the car to a guy "who just walked up as she was taking a pic of the trunk". I was STUNNED...I went back and checked MY TEXTS to see if MY FRIEND ANNIE had sent me a REQUEST to send money...$500 or $1000 to HOLD the car...DID I MISS IT?...THERE WAS NOTHING...NOWHERE did MY FRIEND ANNIE say HER BOSS MADE HER DO IT...NOTHING...NOWHERE did MY FRIEND ANNIE say that she had been in negotiation with me for THIRTEEN DAYS with an APPOINTMENT set for 2/12/24. to COMPLETE a TEST DRIVE & PURCHASE...NOTHING...I felt that MY FRIEND ANNIE would have at least told the guy...Look, I gave MY WORD to this guy...The APPOINTMENT has been CONFIRMED...IF my guy doesn't buy the car on 2/12/24, let me get your info and I'll contact you and the car is yours...NONE OF THAT APPARENTLY WAS SAID by MY FRIEND ANNIE...HER WORD and MY WASTED TIME meant NOTHING...I told her on OUR 1st telephone conversation that I had other potential car choices in GA. and SC...THEY'RE GONE because I went with her...ANNIE, probably according to USED CAR DEALERSHIP RULES did nothing legally wrong...but are there now NO SUCH THING as ETHICAL BEHAVIOR??...I started not to respond to ANNIE'S "apology" which ONLY should be made in the event of an "ACCIDENT"...THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT...She SOLD the car with her EYES WIDE OPEN...I sent her a text on 2/9/24 @ 12:50am, because I was too FRUSTRATED to sleep outlining how I felt...She NEEDED to know IF it MATTERED to her or NOT...I retired as a CHIEF PAROLE OFFICER in GA in 2010 after serving over 30 YEARS...the 2004 SC was MY RETIREMENT GIFT to MYSELF...It being totaled in 2023...HURT...Finding that 2008, in FLA was a MIRACLE to me. During my career I should've gotten used to people "saying one thing and doing another"...what ANNIE did HURT...I guess since 2010, I've gotten SOFT. To me your staff REPRESENTS your company. I never spoke to ANYONE else @ HIGH TIDE AUTO but ANNIE. HIGH TIDE AUTO could be a good company but from my experience I couldn't GRADE them ANY LOWER...YELP didn't provide a "0" STARS option...TODAY WAS THE DAY I WAS TO PICK-UP MY REPLACEMENT RETIREMENT GIFT to MYSELF...