Warren's comment in the $100k thread reminded me of this issue I have.

So I've been debating selling off some stuff around my house that I've purchased replacements for like patio furniture dining room furniture, cables, computer components, etc. I haven't been able to bring myself to actually post ads because I'm dreading dealing with people who want to haggle over the prices. A while back I posted a TON of stuff online like virtually every kind of cable, connector, and adapter under the sun for computers, A/V, etc, and a ton of computer upgrade cards (PCI, AGP, PCIe) and memory. There was lots more stuff as well, but you get the point.

Basically a crap load of things that I didn't want, but wanted to get a couple bucks for. I had a guy come by and pick up an HDMI cable, a DVI cable, 2 standard electronic power cables, a 10' USB extension cable, and a wireless optical mouse. I said "just give me 10 bucks" and he kept staring and squinting at the items on the table like they were going to provide him insight into how to handle the situation. He then said, I'll give you $8.

$8?!?

I felt like asking him to just leave because he was a huge pain in my ass, and shouldn't have pushed his luck. Instead I said, "come on, you literally have somewhere between $50 and $100 worth of cables, plus a wireless mouse."

His response: "I only brought $8"

I was so not in the mood to deal with him any longer so I said "yeah, whatever."

He put the money on the table, stuck his score into a plastic bag and went to leave, but then turned and asked me if I had AA batteries for the mouse.

In this same batch of sales I had a guy and his a-class wife literally say they were going to leave empty-handed and drive the 20+ mins to where their house was without buying, if I wouldn't take $5 off the $25 price for a virtually brand new 32" TV. On his way out of my house he dented the end of my kitchen counter, and put a small hole in the wall in the front hall with the TV, after telling me he didn't need help carrying it out, despite my offer.

Another guy came by to pick up a Canon Portable Inkjet printer, with ink cartidges installed, and another black and color cartridge still in their packages. I charged him $10, and he was happy, but needed a USB A-B cable for it, so I sold him one for $1. He haggled me down to $.75 on it.


Why are the people buying off of Craigslist and the other classified sites SO FREAKING CHEAP??!? When did posting something for sale on there indicate you were willing to haggle over the most ridiculous amounts of money?

 

^ I forgot to mention, the guy who bought the printer called me daily for a week or so requesting help installing the printer and the drivers that I'd emailed him a link to on Canon's site.

 

Next time you post something on Craigslist, figure out what you want to charge, then add 50%. Then you'll enjoy haggling, because you'll know that when they think they've won, you'll have won.

 

meh.
its craigslist. A lot of random people make their living there.

myself, i am hesitant of buying stuff there.

 

That's what I do with all my clients of certain ethnicities: figure out how much I'm going to get ground down and tack it on the front end of the proposal.

 

We, the brown Middle Easterners, are the worst...

 

^ Definitely certain cultures that embrace the art of negotiation

 

thats why you never invite these people to your home. always meet them at a supermarket parking lot or something. even better, put some cheap ass clothes with holes in it so you seem so desperate that they feel bad for you.

 

When I sell something on craigslist, I always settle on a price over email or phone before they come over. I like quick transactions. They come, give me cash, I give them product, they leave.

 

Definitely good policy.

With the small cheap stuff that I was selling it didn't make sense to agree on a price since I wanted people to take whatever they wanted when they arrived.

I did actually sell my old big screen tv that originally came from a membon here (radtech, i think) and we agreed to a price before the guy arrive. $250 for a 43" rear projection widescreen, and the guy showed up with his buddy to help move it. I plugged it in, hooked up a DVD to show it worked well, and then he handed me the money - $180. I told him it wasn't enough and he said "No no, $180, it's good."

I told him no, we'd agreed to a price when he called, and that it would be fine, and he kept trying to roll the TV out. He said "I only brought $180 so"

I had to tell the guy to drive a block away to the 7-11 bank machine, and bring back the whole $250, which was a very good deal for the TV compared to others at the time. After humming and hawing he brought me the rest of the money and then wanted me to supply him rope or straps to secure the TV in his sister's handicap wheelchair accessible drop-floor mini van.