I hate selling and buying anymore..

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As a seller, I don't mind if a buyer makes a reasonable offer, as long as my ad doesn't specify a firm price.
 
I always try to price parts/cars fair, or what I consider fair and at a price they will sell at. What few parts I sell, I care less if anyone buys them. Might need them next week.
Cars I price maybe $500 higher for the guy that is dead set on haggling on a car he figures is well worth the ask price. I always have a few more cars that I need and especially as I get old and wore out.
I have 2 I want to sell and in middle of the dreaded bonded title BS! Soon to be listed, but Tx. is a pickup/GM state and buyers are usually 500-1000 mi. away. How man thosand times have we all heard,"wish you were closer"> "I'm broke, my dog died". Good part is I like all my cars!!
 
You guys would hate my Father. First rule in his negotiating book is to not care if he doesn't get the deal, there's always another one down the road. He'll see something he want's/likes, call, get a feel and make an offer, low... the work until he get some middle ground. He's one that normally can't NOT get a deal. Even if he's not getting an actual deal, he needs to "feel" like he is. There are rare occasions when he simply needs something and doesn't want to haggle but that's part of who he is. Someone here called it the art of the conversation or something. That's his thing, but on the buyers end.

On the flip side, I've been on the receiving end of the "What's your bottom dollar" and like someone else, my response was pretty close to "what's your top dollar". These are the people who say sill crap like "I can get those for "X" all day long"... my response, well hell, where can I get some more? Crickets...

People assume, or hope that because you're selling, that you're desperate, or pricing high to begin with in order to fall into what you really want after playing the game. The requirement to haggle is into the process, but most people have forgotten there is an art to it and just go for the throat.

I think people who sell using "make an offer" either don't know what they have, or hope YOU don't know what they have and will offer too much. These are the ones to be wary, but sometimes they work out too, on both ends. I made an offer on a box of wrenches a woman at work was selling that was from her father who had passed. She just wanted to be rid of them. I figured I'd get some junkyard tools and maybe some for my boys to start their collections and offered $40 sight unseen, based on her minimal description. Turns out it was a big box of older craftsman wrenches. Felt a bit guilty, told her what she had and offered to double it (still a deal I know) and she refused. She just wanted them gone. I ended up buying some other items which I made better offers for. She really just wanted to know they would be put to use. Once I told her my plans for them, she tried to give my money back and give me the wrenches... No effing way.. lol...

Point is, when the seller and buyer can both walk away and are happy with the deal, things are better all around. That's more likely to happen when people are genuine and honest up front and not trying to screw everyone in sight.

One last thing. Someone put up a small block timing chain cover once which I said I was interested in. I think the price was some number OBO... Based on the fact I could run to the boneyard and get one myself for less than a third of what was being asked, my only addition was to add in time/gas. I love going to look around the salvage yard, so for ME, that's a wash. I offer a little more than half to cover what I think "I" would add to cover "MY" cost. This one convenient though and I also took that into consideration. Might have been the original price was 50 and I offered 30? Anyway, I was surprised how much flack I got when I updated my post of intent and said no longer interested... What the actual ****? Anyway, that's the other thing I can't stand, when other people stick there nose where it doesn't belong and make assumptions about another's motives. If you're interested and in line behind someone when they change their mind, shut up and make your offer or pay the non OBO price, whatever floats your boat.
 
Cuda416 said:
You guys would hate my Father. First rule in his negotiating book is to not care if he doesn't get the deal, there's always another one down the road. He'll see something he want's/likes, call, get a feel and make an offer, low... the work until he get some middle ground. He's one that normally can't NOT get a deal. Even if he's not getting an actual deal, he needs to "feel" like he is. There are rare occasions when he simply needs something and doesn't want to haggle but that's part of who he is. Someone here called it the art of the conversation or something. That's his thing, but on the buyers end.

On the flip side, I've been on the receiving end of the "What's your bottom dollar" and like someone else, my response was pretty close to "what's your top dollar". These are the people who say sill crap like "I can get those for "X" all day long"... my response, well hell, where can I get some more? Crickets...

People assume, or hope that because you're selling, that you're desperate, or pricing high to begin with in order to fall into what you really want after playing the game. The requirement to haggle is into the process, but most people have forgotten there is an art to it and just go for the throat.

I think people who sell using "make an offer" either don't know what they have, or hope YOU don't know what they have and will offer too much. These are the ones to be wary, but sometimes they work out too, on both ends. I made an offer on a box of wrenches a woman at work was selling that was from her father who had passed. She just wanted to be rid of them. I figured I'd get some junkyard tools and maybe some for my boys to start their collections and offered $40 sight unseen, based on her minimal description. Turns out it was a big box of older craftsman wrenches. Felt a bit guilty, told her what she had and offered to double it (still a deal I know) and she refused. She just wanted them gone. I ended up buying some other items which I made better offers for. She really just wanted to know they would be put to use. Once I told her my plans for them, she tried to give my money back and give me the wrenches... No effing way.. lol...

Point is, when the seller and buyer can both walk away and are happy with the deal, things are better all around. That's more likely to happen when people are genuine and honest up front and not trying to screw everyone in sight.

One last thing. Someone put up a small block timing chain cover once which I said I was interested in. I think the price was some number OBO... Based on the fact I could run to the boneyard and get one myself for less than a third of what was being asked, my only addition was to add in time/gas. I love going to look around the salvage yard, so for ME, that's a wash. I offer a little more than half to cover what I think "I" would add to cover "MY" cost. This one convenient though and I also took that into consideration. Might have been the original price was 50 and I offered 30? Anyway, I was surprised how much flack I got when I updated my post of intent and said no longer interested... What the actual ****? Anyway, that's the other thing I can't stand, when other people stick there nose where it doesn't belong and make assumptions about another's motives. If you're interested and in line behind someone when they change their mind, shut up and make your offer or pay the non OBO price, whatever floats your boat.
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Well said! There's a way to respectfully make offers and respectfully decline them if you're the seller.

The last truck I sold, I negotiated with the guy for at least an hour in my driveway. No joke. I didn't mind though, because he was respectful and pretty good at it. I think we were both entertained...in fact he broke character and began laughing at one point.

I had a number in my mind and we whittled the price down to my number. The funny thing is that when he pulled out the cash, he had exactly that amount counted out.
 
I always want the buyers to be happy and I require that I too am satisfied. I go over backwards trying to call any blem I see as I walk around the car as sometimes I don't remember every hiccup when writing the ad and thats why I tell people to CALL and lets talk!
I price my stuff very realistically and probably loss some lookers.
I well remember selling a Duster about 12 years ago. Pretty nice car and a great driver, but a slant. Priced plenty fair. The guy comes to look, and low balls me. I simple asked if he thought the car was overpriced. He said, NO he just did not want to give my price.
He drove up in a real nice high $ pickup and I asked what he did for a living. School principal. To this day, I wish I had kept that damn Duster!!
Back in school, I well remember my *** whipping by the principal!!:lol::BangHead:
 
What it boils down to is not being able to see the forest for the trees. Some people have the inability to see a deal when it's in front of their face. They just have to get it cheaper than what's listed, even if it's WAY cheaper than what they would pay anywhere else.

Emotions rule them. I wish the lowballer would think with a little more logic. Like, "Can I get this part anywhere else for less than this price?" If yes, go get it. If not? Pay the man what he wants!
 
My faith in humanity was restored Saturday afternoon when a buyer came over my place and purchased my smaller Craftsman, top tool box that i put up for sale, on the local Craigslist.
Was here in town with his daughter, from a city a hundred miles away from here.
Prompt, punctual, arrived right on time, as he said he would.
Paid me my price, as he knows what tool box's are going for these days at Lowes, or Harbor Freight.
I feel both of us came out winners.
 
hemi71x said:
Paid me my price, as he knows what tool box's are going for these days at Lowes, or Harbor Freight.
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I'm going to go buy a new Husky box from HD or a General from ChinaFreight when I move. It'll be well worth it in my opinion. I have been dealing with a stack of three Crapsman boxes that have drawers constantly falling out of their slides. I curse every time I have to get into my power tools drawer specifically. Even if I overpay the added convenience to my life will be worth it! Maybe around Father's Day for the sale?
 
go-fish said:
I'm going to go buy a new Husky box from HD or a General from ChinaFreight when I move. It'll be well worth it in my opinion. I have been dealing with a stack of three Crapsman boxes that have drawers constantly falling out of their slides. I curse every time I have to get into my power tools drawer specifically. Even if I overpay the added convenience to my life will be worth it! Maybe around Father's Day for the sale?
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Next stack I buy will likely be a General. I’ve heard surprisingly good things about them from buddies who I know have high standards.
 
Been through this hundreds of times, both as buyer and seller, and I always want both sides to be happy with the price. I hate when the first question is what is the lowest you would take? Followed by the ridiculous low ball offers. I have said to one person who low balled me that I would be happy to up the asking price by a grand, then he upset his offer the same, and we are both happy. He didn't like the idea so I told him not to bother me again.
 
go-fish said:
I'm going to go buy a new Husky box from HD or a General from ChinaFreight when I move. It'll be well worth it in my opinion. I have been dealing with a stack of three Crapsman boxes that have drawers constantly falling out of their slides. I curse every time I have to get into my power tools drawer specifically. Even if I overpay the added convenience to my life will be worth it! Maybe around Father's Day for the sale?
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Those aren't bad boxes. (coming from a 28 year MAC Tools veteran)
 
toolmanmike said:
Those aren't bad boxes. (coming from a 28 year MAC Tools veteran)
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The General? I am seeing lower prices on the Husky boxes at HD They're probably feeling the heat from HF boxes.
 
I purchased a 44 x 22, 8 drawer, top box, early December, at my local Harbor Freight, here in my city.
I'm pretty happy with it in the added space that i now have.
Got it on sale too, at $315.00 from $350.00, so that was a nice bonus.

Tool Box (Phone).jpg
 
At the risk of turning this into a tool box thread, a few years ago someone did a comparison of the US General 72 inch box and I think, the Husky. The USG obliterated the Husky on several fronts.

If I was gonna spend the coin, I'd seriously consider it. I'm not a pro and don't move my tool box every few months/years etc. I don't need a 10k box for my home shop.
 
Someone mentioned offering almost half the asking price

My rule of thumb is to never offer less then 80% of the asking

Anything under that might be considered offensive and you won't reach a compromise anyway

(Just my approach)
 
Dealing with the public is always a hassle. If they know you-they always feel you should give them whatever they want. If they don’t know you they want to beat you down on the price. Either way you are seen as you owe them something. When I first got on this site there were problems with members using their membership to get free parts/money to build and I must say that I got took for quite a bit and had fights/disagreements over these peoples antics. Not to say there are not great people that I would help in a heartbeat! From members using their physical disability to youth and lack of funds to gain parts to later advertise for the sale of the parts. This has been proven time and time again. I appreciate you being a straight up guy and the Spyders you brought me have been put to good use!
 
dealing with people is a total crapshoot..... was selling my fishing boat a few years back. priced it more than reasonable. had craploads of people trying to trade even though the add was Cash Only. had one person, polite showed up when they said they would. looked the boat over Very thoroughly. made me an offer a couple hundred off the asking price. I told him no, and gave it to him for less. just because he showed up, didnt dick me around and was polite the entire time. when he picked it up, he even offered to take me out fishing if I ever wanted to join him. now the morons that came or inquired on the 70 Challenger I was selling.........
 
diymirage said:
Someone mentioned offering almost half the asking price

My rule of thumb is to never offer less then 80% of the asking

Anything under that might be considered offensive and you won't reach a compromise anyway

(Just my approach)
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So long as the seller has a realistic price on whatever item.

I used to offer half as a standard practice, one time I felt we were totally justified on a '72 Fury Grand Coupe. The sellers kid thought the car was gold, I talked to the old man after he left, informed about the market for such cars, and he accepted our offer. I actually felt kind of bad, but I think his kid was comparing the car to a Challenger R/T, or similar.

As I've gotten older, and have a better bank account, I'm more inclined to pay closer to asking prices, but still love the art of haggling.


And the General boxes are the winner vs Huskys.
 
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