eBay/Craigslist wow- ****** out there

[LT1Pat]

What surprises me are the people that are surprised by buyer and seller negotiations and low balling. Craigslist is like a poker game to a lot of people and finding a good deal is like a drug for most.

A few weeks ago I found a brand new 2008 NOS RB2584 Land Pride rear blade for $600. I emailed him and offered $400 and they rejected it stating that they are $1000+ new. I responded politely and stated that I would still be interested before winter (it's barely spring) if he changed his mind. He responded about a week later and said I can have it if I want it so I went and picked it up today.

Saying NO is free so no reason to be offended

 

[Travelover]

I've got a bunch of dead ash trees on my property and and whenever one blows down or gets cut down I cut it into fireplace length logs and haul it to my driveway. I then post a free firewood ad on CL, with the stipulation that if you take any, you take all. Ash is pretty nice burning wood, yet I am amazed at the number of people that want to show up and cherry pick the very best pieces, or just not return for a second load, or beg me to hold it, then no further communication.

You'd think people would appreciate free, but it seems to bring out the worst in people.

 

[ultrarunner]

You'd think people would appreciate free, but it seems to bring out the worst in people.

Just like someone I know that advertised free puppies on Craigslist... not a single taker.

I told her to put in $75 and all were gone in a week.

Almost everyone "Bargained" her down.

 

[two_bit_score]

An old car dealer friend of mine would tell about looking at cars for sale and making his offer (these were usually cars people called him to look at for an offer) and the seller would say 'no, but I'll call you if I don't sell it'.

He would usually, politely, tell them not to call him later and expect the same price. Explained that he was there now, ready to buy and next week or next month the same price may not be good because markets change quickly.

A lot of people would go ahead and sell on the spot.

.

 

[ultrarunner]

An old car dealer friend of mine would tell about looking at cars for sale and making his offer (these were usually cars people called him to look at for an offer) and the seller would say 'no, but I'll call you if I don't sell it'.

He would usually, politely, tell them not to call him later and expect the same price. Explained that he was there now, ready to buy and next week or next month the same price may not be good because markets change quickly.

A lot of people would go ahead and sell on the spot.

.

Excellent point.

Years ago I would set up deals for others and not even realize it.

I would make my offer... car, homes, equipment and the sellers would sell to the next person that offered a few dollars more...

Spent a lot of time negotiating on the purchase of a home from an Estate.

The home had been vacant for sometime with a leaking roof.

I did all my due diligence, had all my hard numbers on what it would cost and what the home needed to make things right... spent many visits with the Executor explaining the property condition and had several reports to support my findings.

The daughter of the Executor told someone she worked with about the home and said her father was ready to sell it because it was deteriorating and he didn't want to have it another winter.

The co-worker told her father who drove by and called the Executor without ever going inside that he would beat my offer by $1000 if they could open Escrow immediately...

Weeks of time and effort spent setting up the deal for someone else...

Learned my lesson... now I get the property under contract subject to inspections... no sense spending time and money just to have another party come in.

 

[two_bit_score]

Yeah, there might be times when I might want to tell a seller "call me", but not normally. If I made a trip to look at something and wanted to buy it but couldn't get an agreement usually I'm moving on to something else.

On RE it's a contract or nothing.

Another thing I've used is to just ask the seller "could you take $XX?" if they say anything negative I just say, "I understand, thanks" and let it go.

.

 

[ultrarunner]

When I bought my Samurai it was at a garage and parked for awhile... dove by and saw it in the corner everyday.

I stop and ask about it and learn it has a bad transmission... the owner gave it to the garage owner as payment for other work.

He asks if I want to buy it... I said maybe and he hits me with a price and I ask if that is with the transmission fixed...

I told him I only have so much cash and he tells me to get it and come back and he would sell it as-is... I did and the last $13 was in change... he said that I was telling him straight when I said this is all I had and he gave me back my $13 in change and told me not to worry about it.

Pulled the trans and found a single bad bearing... cost about $60 for the bearing kit at the wholesale house... buttoned it up and it's been great... also slipped in a new clutch disk since I had it apart.

Never hurts to ask... all they can say is no.

 

[DavesTractor]

While we all have different methods, there is a certain unwritten code of ethics between those that buy and sell often. The code is violated occasionally, but not too often. CL has introduced a bunch of rookies to buying and selling, and they have no clue. It changes things a lot, and we cannot expect the same "honor among thieves" with these folks. Honestly, they just don't know, it is new to them and often intimidating. It's a new world now with CL. You have to expect some surprises. It seems disrespectful, but is often just plain buying/selling ignorance.

People that get all upset by an offer, even a rediculous offer, aren't good sellers. That being said, our "code" says to not ask for an item to be held or otherwise obligate a seller if you are going to make a low offer. Our "code" also says that if a seller says FIRM, then you politely ask him if he would entertain an offer, but you do not make one unless they ask. Our "code" says that if you make an offer and it is accepted, you own it....you don't think about it, and you don't then make a lower offer. Our "code" says that if the item is silly cheap already, you don't take advantage of the person by offering even less. Our "code" says if you accept an offer and arrange for it to be picked up, you stand by that offer...no taking a little more from someone else and using the agreed upon offer as a safety net. "Code" says you don't denigrate an item disingenuously just to buy it cheaper, but it is OK to say "I will be a buyer at this price", or "I am only willing to pay this amount". "Code" says if you make an offer, you have the cash. We could go on and on. I bet for the most part the frequent buyers and sellers would agree on most of what I might list as our "code" if I wrote a book on it, not that I mean to say I am qualified to write such a book.

I guy recently offered me a silly amount for a tractor. Way below cost. An hour later we had his check in the drawer and were setting up delivery. Obviously had I got all insulted we would not have sold the tractor.

As to the censorship regarding language used in this thread, I think the mods were right to clean it up, even though it was surely not more than just coarse language. It's a slippery slope once you allow a little crude stuff. Better to just nip it right away. Just my opinion.

 

[MistyBlue]

I also had a buyer tell me he could buy a new tractor, same as mine, from a dealership for less. :laughing:

I was going to sell the New Holland last year and put it on CL. I was definitely expecting lowball offers and ridiculous claims. I wasn't expecting as many insults as I received though, LOL!

I'm going to keep it now, so am actually glad most of the potential buyers were a little crazy. One was *really* nuts though and called again a couple months ago to ask, "Did you ever sell that tractor you had overpriced last year?" When I replied no he said, "I told you it was priced too high. Are you ready to be realistic now?" When I told him I had decided to keep it the poor dear lost his mind and yelled at me. :confused2: Said I had 'no business' keeping my own tractor when I had a second tractor.

I do have to say though that it was very hard to price that tractor last year. I looked up the same tractor online for sale (same year, model, attachments, etc) and the prices were all over the place. I'm not very tractor savvy and had tough time pricing something that was selling all over the country from $10k to $20k. Pricing a tractor is tough.

 

[MasseyWV]

CL has introduced a bunch of rookies to buying and selling, and they have no clue. It changes things a lot, and we cannot expect the same "honor among thieves" with these folks. Honestly, they just don't know, it is new to them and often intimidating. It's a new world now with CL. You have to expect some surprises. It seems disrespectful, but is often just plain buying/selling ignorance.

Ignorance is no excuse, at least not for most buyers (and many sellers) on Craigslist. In my experience, most of them are downright stupid.