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.
