Equipment buying negotiation strategies, haggling stories sellers, etc.

[Yanmar J]

I lived on both sides of the fence. As I buyer, I found that a show of cash in hand is a bit of an eye catcher. Something about the sight of cash is really a teaser. No matter how much it is, just the sight of the green, triggers something in the brain.
As a seller, you have to realize that there are a lot of people out there that don't really want the item but just like to haggle. These people are just a waste of time but sometimes you can just sell them something they really don't want or need. That's if you have the time to waste on them. I usually catch someone looking at something and will go up and offer to sell it to them at a lower price. Then they will counter that offer with what they are willing to pay.
As a seller, if the person looks like they are interested in something but are short on cash, like young people just starting out I will sell I at my rock-bottom price sometimes even at a lost.
Remembering what it was like. These people will always come back to you latter on to buy more, because you treated the fairly

 

[AndrewT]

I am a bit like Yanmar, usually if I find a screaming deal on something, usually a tool or piece of equipment, if it's in good condition and what I need I just hand over asking price, as 9/10 times they have already undervalued it. If they look like they are broke, and or desperate often I pay them $50-$100 more for "holding it" for me. Occasionally I've told them what they should have been asking if the price is really low, and split the difference.

If it's way overpriced but something i want, or it's closer than the cheaper equivalent, I'll find 2-3 comparables, and send the links to the seller. That way the haggle is done before too much time is wasted by either party. Often I'll adjust the price based on what I can earn working in the shop, instead of driving a longer distance for the cheaper one, and that seems to keep both parties happy.

 

[VirtualTractor]

Most of us have been there. We are buying equipment from a seller. We want the best price possible.
Interested in hearing some of your best negotiating tactics from a buyers perspective and your favorite buying conquests.
I have my own set of tactics, but would be interested in reading yours.

Always love these posts..."I'm not gonna tell you what I would do, but I wanna know what you would do..."

Why not tell us your tricks first?

As a buyer and seller of stuff over the years, I can tell you that if something is listed at a fair price, I just take it. I don't want to risk the chance of losing something I've been looking for over a few bucks.

I can also tell you that if you're offering me significantly lower than I'm asking, ie low balling, don't waste your time, or mine. I price my items fairly and reasonably. It's not my problem you only have $XXXX to spend or you're coming from X hours away. I'm not a charity.

Life isn't about getting stuff for as cheap as you can, it's about treating each other with respect and dignity.

 

[WinterDeere]

I never understood haggling over price. When I list equipment for sale, I usually just list it at half the price of new, figuring the buyer will come up with what they think it's actually worth after they see it. And when the buyer arrives and asks me, I always just say, "offer me a fair price for what you think it's worth." In every case I can remember, they offer more than I'd have suggested or accepted, and we both walk away happy.

Wasting my time to haggle over a few hundred dollars on an item I don't need or want anymore, is not how I want to spend my time. Likewise on the buying end, if I need the thing, I'm not going to let a difference of a few dollars stand between me and getting it. My time is worth more than that.

 

[VirtualTractor]

I also get annoyed with people who send me offers like "$X CASH!!"

Like really? Cash? You think I accept something other than cash??!? Because you put CASH!! at the end, that's supposed to make your low ball offer more appealing?

 

[Snobdds]

I never go into a deal with a strategy. It's all on the fly thinking and sensing out angles.

I listen to what they have to say about it. I first and foremost get whether or not they have an emotional connection to it. If they do, going to low too quick puts them in a corner. In this situation, I go as long as possible before commiting to a price. I just let them talk and then I tell them, maybe it's not the right time to sell it. If they come back with a definitive yes it is, then I will go in with a low, but fair price. If they stop and think about if now is the right time to buy, I will not even give a price. I will just say I don't want to have something so dear to them. Most of the time they will then see it's now or never to sell and if they insist, they seem to be more open to a fair deal.

I always hold out for as long as possible to give a price, and I'm prepared to walk away without giving a price. This screws with them and usually they will call back wanting to know what my price is.

If the price seems fair, I don't negotiate, I just pay it. I try then to get some benefits like service or some other sweetner on the side.

 

[tradosaurus]

I really don't like haggling especially for cars or tractors.
My last tractor purchase was easy. I had a 20% NHCA discount.
My Tesla was easier. 20 minutes on the internet and car and loan were secured.

 

[sunandsand]

Old Arabic saying - when buying a camel, look at the seller as well as at the camel. Have your BS detector turned up all the way, whether you are the buyer or the seller.

Unreasonable demands terminate all negotiations. So do untruths. Lotsa varmints out there . . .

Here's a good one - I'm selling some land near my home. Guy shows up from (some place), interested in buying here. We are five whole minutes into the conversation, and I ask him why he wants to move from (some place). "D*nm place is overrun with (and he uses the N word)." I've known him five minutes.

Asked myself "Do I want this guy for a neighbor?" "Well we aren't quite ready to sell, but I'll keep your contact information on file and I'll let you know."

I'll be letting him know shortly after I have the Dairy Queen franchise in Hell.

Best Regards,
Mike/Florida

 

[Hay Dude]

Always love these posts..."I'm not gonna tell you what I would do, but I wanna know what you would do..."

So if someone gives out their way of haggling in post #1 they come off as a self aggrandizing know-it-all, telling everyone how to do it.
If I sit back and listen to everyone else's way of doing it, you're offended because of.....why????
I'm confused why listening to others ways of doing things offends you????

Why not tell us your tricks first?

Because I enjoy listening and learning, not blathering about how I'd do it.

As a buyer and seller of stuff over the years, I can tell you that if something is listed at a fair price, I just take it.

What if it's not a fair price? Then do you just pay it because "life is short"?

I don't want to risk the chance of losing something I've been looking for over a few bucks. also tell you that if you're offering me significantly lower than I'm asking, ie low balling, don't waste your time, or mine. I price my items fairly and reasonably. It's not my problem you only have $XXXX to spend or you're coming from X hours away. I'm not a charity.

Life isn't about getting stuff for as cheap as you can, it's about treating each other with respect and dignity.

Got it. I'll try to be more virtuous, like you

As a buyer and seller of stuff over the years, I can tell you that if something is listed at a fair price, I just take it.

What if it's not a fair price? Then what do you do? Just pay it because "life isn't about getting stuff as cheap as you can"?

I don't want to risk the chance of losing something I've been looking for over a few bucks.

Maybe you are more well off than I am? Me? I look at buying something as cheaply as I can. I've been selling myself and my services for cheap for 30+ years. Nobody ever says to me "your price is too cheap, here's another $500 bucks just because I went to VirtualTractors school of generosity" lol

I can also tell you that if you're offering me significantly lower than I'm asking, ie low balling, don't waste your time, or mine. I price my items fairly and reasonably.

You'd be in a minority there. I find most people ask more that their item is worth and most items sell for less than asking price. You want to pay asking price for everything, knock yourself out. I've been a self employed business owner for decades and seem to do well NOT paying asking price. And to be fair, I also don't expect to get my asking price for items I sell, either.

It's not my problem you only have $XXXX to spend or you're coming from X hours away. I'm not a charity.

I'm not either. At least we agree on that. You seem to be riding both sides of the fence. The seller and the buyer.

Life isn't about getting stuff for as cheap as you can, it's about treating each other with respect and dignity.

Did I advocate otherwise? Look I don't know who you are, but you come off with quite an accusatory tone towards some of us in this thread. I don't see anyone here conducting themselves in a rude or disrespectful way to any seller who treats them the same way.
It's a dog eat dog world, and while I agree with treating each other with respect and dignity, I'm not paying asking price for anything that's not priced properly. Fair asking? Yes. Above fair? Nope, we're negotiating

 

[Hay Dude]

I am keeping an eye on several items for sale at once on any given day. I'd bet 8 times out of 10, they sell for less than original asking price.

Long ago, I was given a barn to clean out. Owner said "I want the barn cleaned and in return for your work, you can keep/sell anything you want". I was pretty broke, so I took the deal.
I sold many $20-$100 items over the ensuing weeks. One item I sold was an old hand saw. At the time, I had no idea they could have value. A lot of value. I had a buyer call and ask me if it had a certain shape to the saw handle. It did. He asked me to hold the saw and he would be there in a few hours. Noticed he came from a long distance just for an old saw. We made the transaction. As he was getting in his car I asked him about the shape of the handle and was it something collectible? He grinned and said "oh yeah" and left very quickly. l don't know what it was worth, but must have been a lot more than what I asked. Lol
Sometimes "you get took".