Just to warn you all in advance.... This will be a rant thread.


I have been selling a lot of used car parts recently. Something I did as a side job back in the late 90's early 2000's.

Between forums and Craigslist, the art of negotiating has been lost. Now not saying people have been rude. They just don't seem to remember the mechanics of negotiating.

I say: $xxx, OBO
Them: What is the lowest you will take?
I reply: I am asking $xxx, please feel free to make me an offer

Often I get no reply.

What is the lowest I will take? Can I reply "What is the highest you would pay?" ?!?

I remember the days when the price was never the price unless it was firm.

Make a low ball offer. Maybe I will take it. Maybe I will counter in the middle. But by making no offer, you have wasted both of our time.


Ok, end rant...

 

Yes.

I'm a little peevish about two things:

1. People who low-ball "firm" listings. PAY ATTENTION

2. People who complain about, "S/he is asking too much at, '$x, OBO." PAY ATTENTION: "OBO" means make an offer. . . The seller has the right to extract as much money as possible, and the buyer has the right to (try and) pay as little as possible.

You sir, are not alone in your ire.

 

"Was has happened to the lost art of negotiating?"

Um . . . it's been lost?

 

Gee and my pet peeve is sellers who ask too much and expect us to come in with an offer.

If it's not priced properly don't expect much action or offers because through Craigslist, etc. we have too many options and don't need to bother with you.

What ticks me off are the automatic robo 1/2 price offers on everything. Because of this I don't even accept emails on anything I list.

 

When I was selling my AP1, which was paid for so I was in no hurry to sell, I got 1 offer asking how low I'd be willing to go.
I wish I had thought of that to reply to them because I didn't mind if they balked at my response.

 

Zing!

I've bought and sold more than my fair share of stuff on CL in the past few years, and it gets frustrating. I thankfully haven't had the OP's situation happen to me.

As a seller, I don't see the point in giving the lowest I would ever go, as I'm selling my old stuff to make money. I have no incentive to give it to anybody for my bare minimum. If I list it cheap, I want it gone fast, i think people should realize that.

On the same token as a buyer, it never hurts to ask, the worst the seller can say is no. That's how I bought my beater truck - it was listed for $1400, I asked if they'd take a grand. I was prepared to pay the full $1400 if necessary, but hell, if they said yes or even met in the middle, that's money saved by me. They said yes, I saved $400. It never hurts to ask, the worst they can say is no.

 

Yep, nowadays people will simply go with what's the lowest you will go, and then they want to do a yes or no decision on that.

in situation like that, my replies are usually: "my asking price is the lowest I would go"

I learn my lesson not to waste my time with people like that.

 

Them: What is the lowest you will take?
Me, I can't negotiate both side of the sale. I am asking $x.xx want is your offer?

 

Spend some time in Asia or South America (Mexico too) and you will get it back real fast!

 

Do you take payments?


I'll trade you 2 cases of tater tots for those wheels, bro.