When deciding to purchase out of town due to the car I was interested in having no used models in my state, I made the decision to purchase from name-brand / reputable dealers only. I purchased a used vehicle which I found through cars.com at Lexus of Madison. The add was listed as a non-smoker, I confirmed it in an email (still have), and followed up via phone. When I arrived in Madison after a 4hr drive (one-way rental) I discovered the vehicle had indeed been smoked in. Having no way back and being assured that it hadn't been smoked in but if it did cleaning would take care of it, I made the mistake of purchasing the vehicle. The smell haunted me every time I entered the car and every person who sat in it with me attested to the presence of the smell. After two professional cleanings and the smell returning each time they did finally agree to buy the car back.
I will give them credit for buying the vehicle back, many dealerships would not have done that. For this they deserved credit indeed. However, the fact remains they took advantage of someone buying online and traveling to get the car, and proceeded to deny at every turn the car had ever been smoked in, when to all outsiders it was laughably obvious. Silly me for being talked into it in the first place.