After a July oil change at Rusty Eck Ford in Wichita, Larry Martin Jr. learned that an oil-change sticker affixed to his truck contained the N-word. The dealership says a former employee inserted the slur, has been fired, and an investigation is underway. Rusty Eck Ford is offering to replace affected stickers while the victim and his daughter call the act humiliating and hateful. Online critics have demanded accountability and some urged legal action.
Wichita Man Finds Racial Slur On Dealership’s Oil-Change Sticker; Company Fires Employee, Launches Probe
Screenshot via KAKE News/Youtube
A Wichita man says he discovered a racial slur printed on an oil-change reminder sticker placed on his truck after routine service at Rusty Eck Ford. The dealership told the customer the offensive wording was added by a former employee, has fired that person and is investigating the matter.
What happened: Larry Martin Jr. took his truck to Rusty Eck Ford in July for a standard oil change. Weeks later, a company representative contacted him to report that an oil-change sticker issued by the dealership included a derogatory term. When Martin inspected the sticker on his windshield, he found the N-word printed after a message that read, "Thank you, come again!"
"It carries a lot of weight, and every time I get in my truck, this is what I'm thinking. It doesn't go away. I feel belittled," Martin told local station KAKE.
The dealership said the offensive wording was added by a now-former employee and that it has begun replacing affected stickers. In a written statement, Rusty Eck Ford said it was "trying to take corrective action to replace the oil change stickers," that the act was the work of one individual, and that the behavior does not reflect the company's values.
Martin's daughter, Kelsey, shared a screenshot of the dealership's message on Facebook and criticized the company's response as insufficient. "This wasn't just a careless mistake; it is a hateful act that happened right under their management's nose," she wrote, asking how an official printing system could be used to distribute hate speech to customers.
Online reaction was swift and angry. Many Facebook users questioned the dealership's workplace culture and urged Martin to seek legal counsel. Rusty Eck Ford said it does not tolerate discriminatory conduct, has fired the employee responsible and is conducting an internal investigation. The dealership has offered to replace any affected stickers and review procedures to prevent recurrence.
Broader context: The incident joins a string of retail and service-industry controversies over racist materials and actions, drawing attention to how hate speech can be introduced into official consumer communications. It remains unclear how many customers received the offensive stickers.
Current status: The dealership says the responsible worker has been terminated and that corrective steps are under way. Customers who believe they received affected stickers have been asked to report them so replacements and remedies can be provided.
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