When Sam Dhinsda was looking for a good used car, a one-year old Mazda 3 at Signature Mazda in Richmond caught his eye.

While he noticed some bumper scratches-- "I could see [the scratches] before...buying this car,"-- he managed to negotiate $500 off the price, and a transfer of the extended warranty to 2014 that was purchased by the former owner.

Dhinsda says when he was ready to sign the papers the salesman told him a spare set of keys and remote -- which come with the car when bought brand new -- hadn't been found.

Dhinsda says the salesman told him, "Maybe it's with the manager, maybe it's with the detail guy, maybe the previous owner did not give it to us," he said.

Dhinsda signed the deal and left it with the salesman to locate the spare set of keys. Days later the salesman told him the bad news. The keys couldn't be located but for $250, less a discount of 15 per cent, Dhinsda could buy a spare key and remote.

Dhinsda believed since the vehicle came with two sets of keys and two remotes just one year ago, he should get two sets and shouldn't have to pay for a replacement.

"It's like a brand new car [with] only 11,000 kilometers on it so I'm expecting those things should be there," he said. The contract he signed doesn't specify the number of keys and remotes that are to be included.

CTV's Chris Olsen went back to the dealership to see if Signature Mazda would have a change of heart. The manager wouldn't speak on camera but during the visit offered to give Sam a key and remote as a gesture of goodwill.

The manager told Olsen on your Side the dealership lost money on the deal and that he believed Dhinsda had been properly informed about the situation before signing the papers.

Chris Olsen asked the Vehicle Sales Authority if a consumer might reasonably expect a dealer to sell a nearly new used car with what came with the car originally.

"If it came from the manufacturer with two keys to be given to the customer that should be a reasonable expectation, however, there is no law requiring it," Ian Christman, deputy registrar of the VSA, said.

Christman said that province-wide, the VSA gets about five complaints like Dhinsda's every couple of months.

Sam now has his two sets of keys and spare remote - at no charge.

According to Olsen, there's a lesson in it for the rest of us: When in doubt, get it in writing.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen