The initial pictures (albeit fuzzy) did lead one to believe this was a cream puff that was stored indoors. Now it sounds like the OP has had time to go look at it (or at least investigate it further), and unfortunately, it sounds like it was stored outside. That doesn't "kill" a tractor per se, but it does ding the value some.
The OP also said he was interested, but that while the price tag was a bit high, he didn't want to insult the guy by low balling him. Sounds good. Nice guy. Again, this issue of "Not Insulting" the seller was something the OP brought up on his own. Now, without knowing more about the communication that has already occurred between OP and seller, there may be some key phrases that have passed between them that we are not privy to. Such as the seller may have said the magic word "Firm". Or he may have said "No low ballers or tire kickers". He may have also said "Must sell" or "Moving out of state, can't take with". These would be key bits of information that would aid the seller in knowing how to proceed.
We don't have any of that info to go on.
But here is a turn key package that a guy could buy all at one time, and save a Ton of time in searching up loose individual attachments. Other posters have also said it looked like a pretty nice package and wasn't a bad price. Also sounds like some of the attachments are not needed by the potential buyer. Ok. That's also fine. I don't think the asking price is out of line for what you're getting, but none of us has actually seen the equipment in question first hand. Nothing wrong with making a counter offer. There's a heck of a difference between making a "counter offer" and making a "low ball offer".
If after seeing it, I personally thought the asking price was way off the mark, I would be more inclined to just walk away. I have done this frequently myself. If my idea of it's value was somewhat close to the seller's idea of it's value, I'd probably float them an offer (depending on feedback already received from seller-see above examples). But we each have an idea on what something's "value" is. If that number is too far apart from the other guy's number, I usually don't think it's worth my time to mess around with it any longer, and it's time to walk. But an item's True Value is only what you can get someone else to pay for that item at the time of sale.
And I don't think I disagree with you as much as you think there Project King. When I was looking at tractors, they were either destroyed or almost (or sometimes higher) than brand new price. I ended up buying new. I didn't have time to diddle around and wait for that one magical deal on a used cream puff that folks were giving away. Maybe it happens other places, but doesn't seem to happen around here. So I bought new. BUT. What I DIDN'T DO, was call or stop by each of these guys selling their used tractors at (in my opinion) too high a price and berate them, brow beat them, and insult them with a trash low ball offer. I just put my hands in my pockets and walked away. And drove right down to a local dealer and bought a new tractor, for many of the same reasons you listed. Warranty, great financing terms, etc, etc.
Maybe you (Project King) should go visit the seller in person? Offer him 2 sheckles and a half eaten cheese sandwich for his tractor. See how he reacts. Maybe he'll laugh and clap you on the shoulder and say "Nice one". Maybe he'll tie the long hair on your head to the short hairs on your hind end and roll you out to your car. Would be interesting to see. I don't give a dry fart in a wind storm either way.
Good luck to the OP anyway, in which ever direction he goes.
