Craigslist reply - Helpful advice or smarta$$?

[rgr33]

I get a kick out of the back and forth banter between you two. I can see a scenario where a friendship could develop here. Where else are you going to find two guys that care so much about the value of a fireplace ornament?
And now, gosh darn it, I find myself curious about the price it sells for!

 

[dieselcrawler]

I agree, the OP is now obligated to let us know the outcome of all aspects of the issues discussed.

 

[polkwrangler]

it seems everyone wants a steal of a price no one on there wants to pay a fair price for something...I have a 56 inch circular sawblade on craigslist right now for 150.00 I get texts will you take 50.00 everyone thinks your needing money when you sell things in craigslist

 

[Industrial Toys]

You have to have a sense of humor and patience to sell in this type of media.

In Canada we have CR but Also kijiji.

People contact you, beat you up on price, and then you never hear from them again. It's all good fun!

I have met some very nice people this way.

But in general, unless you have something truly special, it's almost always about price in the end.

 

[2ndhalf]

My old HS Biology teacher "Bucky Bob" was also an antique dealer. He always said.. when people say something is worth X I always tell them it is worth whatever you can get out of it!

Some logic there... sucker born every minute !

 

[sd455dan]

The debate goes on. He replied to my reply:
"I can see your not a gambling man, as stated , your word is not proof or provenance. The reason model a痴 are worth more is because there are so few left, unlike your fire place surround, which can be bought on any given day in and around New Orleans and surrounding areas for the prices I stated. Not a dealer or haggler at all, just saw an outrageous price on my way through the listings and figured I壇 inquire. Don't want to buy it, sell it or argue about it. I am however a gambling man and I知 betting you値l be building a fireplace soon. Do you want odds?!!"

It was late at night but I had to at least give a quick reply back:
"I would be willing to bet that there are more Model As in the New Orleans area than there are fireplace surrounds of this make and model. I know many antique car owners with Model As but have never seen a surround like this one before. Maybe it is a one of a kind and I do have a rare photo of it in the dining room of the Willswood Plantation.

PS Maybe you could give me an idea about the nicest looking artificial fireplace to put behind this surround when I lose."

Well since you have a photo - I would say it proves it's age and history,
Since the guy that inquired said it wasn't worth the asking price due to it being a common item maybe he can provide a link to an identical item available for less money (your fire place surround, which can be bought on any given day in and around New Orleans and surrounding areas for the prices I stated) Really? send some actual examples please.
Craigslist troll...

 

[comancheflight]

Think I'll just go ahead and give you $500 then sell it.

Back to your wife for $650

 

[California]

Nothing wrong with making a lowball offer if it's simple and polite.

Sometimes people just need to get rid of stuff because they're leaving a rental or something, and for them 'gone' is more important than price. Or perhaps liquidating an estate (BTDT, I should have just donated 99% of the stuff and been done far sooner), messy divorce, whatever. Price isn't the most important thing 100% of the time.

My second small Yanmar was first listed on CL at $4500 (a fair price, I was considering it) then the third day it was only $3500. I rushed down and made a cash deposit. When I got to the bank and came back Monday I realized I could have lowballed him badly and he would have taken it. (I paid his asking price). He told me as a small specialty contractor, his work truck was broken and he needed to sell his toy tractor (as the wife described it) to buy a new transmission for his truck and get back to work. He was spooked, I'm sure if anyone else had called first with a lower cash offer he would have taken it.

And the other small Yanmar I sold, after I found this preferable one - I thought I listed it at a fair price, got nothing but nonsense offers for months. A year later I decided to try again, same result. Finally lowered price below what I thought it was worth but even then only two offers. I sold it to the local offer just to get back my shop space. I still don't understand why it went so much below the other comparables on CL, perhaps those dropped off CL because sellers actually took the lowball offers.

Likewise at the flea market, final hour: " are you really going to pack that thing up and take it home just to come back next week and try to sell it for the same (low) price I'm ready to pay right now? (waving a $10 bill)" This doesn't always work but it does sometimes.

It's the wild west out there on Craigslist, nothing is certain.

 

[tallyho8]

Think I'll just go ahead and give you $500 then sell it.

Back to your wife for $650

Noooooooooooooooooo!

 

[CobyRupert]

Who's right? Who's wrong?

Let the market be the judge.
(The market WILL be the judge. However you don't have to abide. If it's worth $500 to you, then definitely don't sell it for $75. That is, if it's worth more to you the seller than it is to a buyer, you should (and will) keep it.)