Man Goes to the Dealership for a Tune-Up. Then a Salesman Offers Him a Trade-In

"96 Months Car Payment Is Crazy."

Photo by: Unsplash.com

By: Stacy Fernandez

Aug 23, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

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When you take your car in for service, you expect an oil change—not a sales pitch.

But that’s exactly what happened to this content creator, whose routine dealership visit turned into an unexpected battle of wills with a car salesman.

Customer Calls Out Car Salesman’s Sketchy Offer

In a trending video, content creator Job Charles (@podwithjc) shared how a car salesman roped him into a conversation he didn’t want to have.

In the video, Charles said that he went into the car dealership for a standard tune-up. While he was waiting for his service to be completed, a salesperson approached him. He pointed out that Charles’ car was nearly paid off and asked if he’d like to consider a trade-in.

“No, I’m good,” Charles told him. But this one thing roped him in: a complimentary snack.

“My dumb self said yes, because I was hungry, I’ll be honest,” he shared.

That’s when the sales pitch started.

The sales guy told Charles he could get him the lowest down payment and a 96-month loan—that’s a whole eight years.

“I’m sitting there like, bro, you think I’m a toolbox?” Charles said. He ended up making up a ridiculous lie, claiming his goldfish had died, just to get out of the conversation.

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Before he left, the salesman also suggested he and his friends would “look cool” in the new car, a last-ditch effort to keep Charles interested.

“Whatever y’all do, bro, do not fall for that trade-in crap,” he said. “These dealers will scam you.”

Why a 96-Month Car Loan Is Risky

Long-term auto loans, particularly those stretching to 84 or 96 months, can saddle buyers with years of payments and thousands in interest.

According to a new Edmunds analysis, nearly one in five new-car buyers (19.8%) committed to an 84-month loan in the first quarter of 2025, an all-time high. That’s up from 15.8% in the same period last year and just 13.4% in 2019.

Seven-year loans are becoming more common because cars are increasingly expensive and interest rates remain high. In the first quarter of 2025, the average new-car buyer financed $41,473 at a 7.1% APR, with an average monthly payment of $741. Nearly one in five buyers is paying $1,000 or more for their car loan each month.

While longer terms can reduce monthly payments, they also increase the total cost of the vehicle and can keep borrowers “underwater,” or owing more than the car is worth, for much of the loan.

Trade-ins can add to the problem. If a buyer still owes money on their current car, dealerships often roll that balance into the new loan, leaving the customer deeper in debt.

Consumer advocates advise car owners to be cautious when approached with unsolicited trade-in offers, particularly if their current vehicle is close to being paid off.

“When one in five new-car buyers are taking on seven-year loans, it’s clear how many consumers are still financially stretched. Even with rates holding relatively flat, the continued reliance on extended terms and high monthly payments reveals how challenging car buying remains,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ head of insights.

“And now, with auto tariffs officially taking effect today, there’s a risk that they will add fuel to the fire — triggering a disruption that could push vehicles even further out of reach for many shoppers," she continued.

Commenters React

“Bruh they stay calling my phone with that... like dang why its so hard to take a no?” a person said.

“8 years for a car is crazy work,” another added.

“Lol. They just bug anyone. They always try to get the ppl that don’t know and they’ll fall for it,” a commenter pointed out.

“As a current salesman everything isn’t a scam. He tried to sell you a car like a salesman is supposed to do. He wasn’t right with the 96-month term but we do that because you would be sure how many people that come in for service want to see options for upgrading,” a salesman added.

Motor1 reached out to Charles for comment via TikTok direct message and comment.