Scotty Dive
Platinum Member
I look at things this way. The seller has a reason to sell. Needs money, needs the space, doesn't need it anymore. The buyer wants or needs. Now as a buyer, its my money and no one looks out for my money better than me. I look at it as my personal responsibility to make my dollars go as far as possible for my family. The truth is that when you go to buy something you know what its worth and you know what you want or can pay. If this is a one time negotiation then its all up to the seller and buyer to work out a deal. If this is a repeat customer than that is a different negotiation - this one has to be fair and equitable in the fact that both parties have to feel they got a fair deal so they can continue to do business in the future.
I buy and sell a lot. when I buy....and I take the trip to see something....you know I have the money in my pocket to make the deal. If the goods are not what they seem than I have the choice to walk away. I know have my time and fuel invested and I do assign a value to that. I am not saying I low ball, but if the ad is old, or the product needs work, or I have the equipment to haul it or the knowledge to repair or source parts...I use that to negotiate - you should too if you know how to weld or have a trailer that will haul what you are buying...not everyone does or can.. By placing an ad to sell something you open yourself to offers wether you say firm or not. And whose to say what a low ball offer is? 10% or 50% off - You have no idea when you make an offer - sure the lower the offer the more chance it may upset someone, but this is business and between strangers. My job is to get it at the best price....the sellers job is to.......maybe get the most money, or maybe get it off his property. The point is - you do not know what their motivating factor is. I have sold items at less than their value but thats because I needed them gone. That was more important to me than getting top dollar.
When I low ball and the seller says no....I have never felt that I got screwed and upset the person to the point the OP got. I do believe to open dialog and be very freindly. People like freindly conversational people and price is adjusted accordingly because of that personal connection. When someone low balls me.....I just say No...or tell them my lowest acceptable price. And if you are the first one to come for it and I am recieivng calls on the ad while we are talking - I tend not to adjust price at all.
Like Michael said in the Godfather - "Its not personal, its business" between strangers who will never see each other again. Keep an open mind while either sellingor buying and the deal gets done 95% of the time.
I buy and sell a lot. when I buy....and I take the trip to see something....you know I have the money in my pocket to make the deal. If the goods are not what they seem than I have the choice to walk away. I know have my time and fuel invested and I do assign a value to that. I am not saying I low ball, but if the ad is old, or the product needs work, or I have the equipment to haul it or the knowledge to repair or source parts...I use that to negotiate - you should too if you know how to weld or have a trailer that will haul what you are buying...not everyone does or can.. By placing an ad to sell something you open yourself to offers wether you say firm or not. And whose to say what a low ball offer is? 10% or 50% off - You have no idea when you make an offer - sure the lower the offer the more chance it may upset someone, but this is business and between strangers. My job is to get it at the best price....the sellers job is to.......maybe get the most money, or maybe get it off his property. The point is - you do not know what their motivating factor is. I have sold items at less than their value but thats because I needed them gone. That was more important to me than getting top dollar.
When I low ball and the seller says no....I have never felt that I got screwed and upset the person to the point the OP got. I do believe to open dialog and be very freindly. People like freindly conversational people and price is adjusted accordingly because of that personal connection. When someone low balls me.....I just say No...or tell them my lowest acceptable price. And if you are the first one to come for it and I am recieivng calls on the ad while we are talking - I tend not to adjust price at all.
Like Michael said in the Godfather - "Its not personal, its business" between strangers who will never see each other again. Keep an open mind while either sellingor buying and the deal gets done 95% of the time.
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