I always wondered if that sort of thing ever happened at dealerships.

Yup. Lots of "brand new cars" have already been to the body shop before they're sold.

Hope you don't catch too much sh*t from your cow-orkers about it.

Actually, before I got there, they'd pretty much concluded that most of them were walking out if I was fired. Occasionally it's endearing the way they feel the constant need to protect me.