Equipment buying negotiation strategies, haggling stories sellers, etc.

[Hay Dude]

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.

 

[Rustyiron]

Would you be talking about that Takeuchi excavator that you were looking at?
The decision of yea or neigh for me is based on my (usually a long time) researched opinion of prices and value and how I'd feel walking away empty handed over $1000 (or whatever) because often I'll have a "I should have" or the opposite look back at my decision.
I'm sure that you and I have plenty of experience and this is a difficult question. As long as it's not a impulse purchase relying on your "gut" is usually all you can do.

 

[Quaffer]

Last week I bought a tractor implement advertised on Craigslist. It was already low priced, asking $500 for something worth probably $800.

I said: "that's a very good price, but I think it's against the law to pay asking price for something advertised on Craigslist!"

He laughed, and said: "you mean you would pay me more?" Then after a pause, he said: "what would you offer?"

I bought it for $400.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I don't really do a lot of negotiating. But I do a lot of research before a major purchase.
I'm looking to upgrade my 40' equipment trailer and recently found two on FB marketplace. Both were the same year and model. The first one was a bit rusted, and I hesitated, and he sold it to someone else.
The second looked good and I was able to get him to go down $1000 on the price, but something didn't feel right about the seller. He had the trailer listed under several different FB accounts, and the picture of the 'bill of sale' he sent me had some errors on it. So I passed on that deal.

I'm still looking...

 

[bigtiller]

FOR SALE $250

"I like it, but I don't like it that much."
"But I would do $200 if you help load it into my truck."

 

[dodge man]

There is a “want” for me and a “need”. Obviously a need I am willing to pay more because I need it now. A want I am willing to wait and get a deal, for example a box blade for something like $300 but I waited several years to get one.

Another example, a log splitter, I had one but wanted a better one. I found a used one nearby, a good price so I bought it on the spot. He told me he wanted $800 or $900 for it. Needless to say I gave him $800.

When it’s a “need” I agree with doing your research. For example what’s your used truck really worth. The last truck we bought they kept coming up with a lower Kelly Blue Book value then I had on my phone. My wife finally figure out they had the wrong year for our trade in, due to a typo of course. Yeah right! That saved us $500 when we started to get up and leave.

 

[1 Old Man]

" when we started to get up and leave."

This works wonders at car dealerships.

 

[Quaffer]

The accepted practice for negotiating in street fairs in Tijuana is to discuss price, say no, and start walking. Then the vendor starts throwing out lower and lower prices as you walk farther away.

When he stops, you turn around and say: "I'll take it!"

Outside of that, I've found that taking a little time, developing a little rapport, or finding something you have in common, is helpful when negotiating with a stranger. It helps break down the newness of meeting someone and sometimes leads to a concession that otherwise might not have happened.

 

[Rustyiron]

This works wonders at car dealerships.

I did that last summer on a 2 year old f 150, over a thousand bucks with a check in my pocket.
They let me walk out and I did. The next very similar truck I found I was holding to my $40k limit and they couldn't believe that I was willing to walk away over the pretty small difference (don't remember the exact amount) but I do like round numbers.
That truck is in my shed now and it's our economy car. 400 hp and 22-24 mpg, it beats my Tacoma and the honeys 4 runner for mpg by a fair bit.
So for me, it only works half the time.

 

[caver]

When selling I might be willing to knock a few dollars off and accept your offer. If you are late that ends after after being more than 5 minutes late. I had a guy who seemed legit. He shows up an hour and a half late. When he was a half hour late he decides to call me and say he's running late. The first thing that pops into my head is this cat wouldn't last a week in the military.