"I will buy it for 50% of the price because I have CASH!!!"

NickInMesa · #1 08-16-2009, 11:09 PM

What is it with those idiots who answer ads on Craig's?

Because they have the cash, I mean cold hard cash, green and everything, right their in their hand, I am supposed to give them the "you're ready to actually pay for the item" discount?

I am glad you have cash on hand, moron, and I don't mind you haggling, it's part of the whole deal, but 50%? And then you refuse to even meet half way (financially speaking of course?)

Sweet lord, I hate idiots.

J-Building · #2 08-16-2009, 11:45 PM

Never had this problem. My area is full of affluent Whites and Asians. ^_^ Then there's Pomona. But I'll leave that for you to research. ;D

T-Bird · #3 08-16-2009, 11:45 PM

Hi.

Having bought, sold, traded and swapped all kinds of stuff for a long time now I feel Your pain.

For every "decent" trading partner, there has to be at least 10 with imaginary quick $$ glasses on.

A friend of mine likes to say: "It's not a true man who doesn't offer half the price". My reply has always been that if someone (or he) triess that with me, that's the end of our trading relationship. For good, no less.

If I'm not willing to pay about 75% of the asking price, I won't even make an offer.

Offering less would insult the sellers intelligence in my humble opinion. Goes both ways too.

True, some sellers are morons too, but who says that You have to buy from them?

And my experience when dealing with stuff is mainly extremely rare or one off items, so if You want them, you have to pay what ever is asked, OR come up with interesting enough trade/swap.

Regards
Sam

Disappear · #4 08-17-2009, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird

For every "decent" trading partner, there has to be at least 10 with imaginary quick $$ glasses on.

I never knew Warwick made glasses :O

Jim Campbell · #5 08-17-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickInMesa

What is it with those idiots who answer ads on Craig's?

Because they have the cash, I mean cold hard cash, green and everything, right their in their hand, I am supposed to give them the "you're ready to actually pay for the item" discount?

I am glad you have cash on hand, moron, and I don't mind you haggling, it's part of the whole deal, but 50%? And then you refuse to even meet half way (financially speaking of course?)

Sweet lord, I hate idiots.

get used to it.......when times get hard a lot of people start selling to make the bills and to the speculator that's go time...........i know a lot of 'em and the way they view your prized j bass is as a commodity,no more no less,and the only question is what will it sell for..

..they have no desire to own things for any other reason than selling at a profit..and usually will never go over their predetermined ,usually lowball offer..........for every 10 guys that say no one will say yes and the profit is worth it........and they have enough money to wait

soulless,mercenary,greedy,whatever....ok,but idiots.......nah

agreatheight · #6 08-17-2009, 08:12 AM

A lot of people who list stuff in Craigslist (rather than say Ebay) need to sell stuff FAST so those who are ready to pay immediately sometimes get great deals. You certainly can sell stuff for fair prices on CL, but you need to be patient and sift through those looking for steals. If you don't like it, I'd suggest not selling on Craigslist. The only stuff I sell on CL are cabs I don't feel like shipping because of the weight / cost.

Godbody · #7 08-17-2009, 08:22 AM

I've been selling a good bit of extraneous gear on CL lately, and I've always gotten my listed price, and sold every item within ten days. Maybe I'm selling things too cheap, but I've still at least gotten my money back out of everything, and occasionally turned a profit.

Maybe I benefit from good old fashioned Midwest honesty.

PSPookie · #8 08-17-2009, 09:22 AM

but . . . but . . . thet've got CASH

My first offer on CL purchases is usually just to allow the seller to bask in the presence of my awesomness for 10 minutes

blockinlay · #9 08-17-2009, 09:42 AM

There's a guy in Philadelphia named Rob R that offers half, and, "cash tonight with pickup", then sends the same message from three different e-mails. Another guy also that offers tattoo trades conatantly. After a while of that, I added their e-mail addresses to my blocked address folder, along with the other pests that have twenty questions. I've gotten a few good deals though by asking if the price is firm. Everybody's different. Some people list items high with the intention of haggling, and others list it at what they want.

RustyAxe · #10 08-17-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agreatheight

A lot of people who list stuff in Craigslist (rather than say Ebay) need to sell stuff FAST so those who are ready to pay immediately sometimes get great deals.

Huh? When I list something on CL I'm not offering any 90 day financing. The assumption is cash on the barrel head. Someone who tells me, as one ijit did yesterday, "I need to save up for it, can you hold it?" is likely to hear "Sure, I'll hold it until someone with cash comes along, maybe that'll be you ... maybe not".

denhou1974 · #11 08-17-2009, 11:24 AM

When I sell something I list the item for what I think it's worth. On numerous occasions I've had people show up and try to knock $10 off the price. Why do they do this? Just to feel like they accomplished something? They knew the price before meeting with me. I even had one guy call and say "why is the price 'firm'? If you won't knock the price down then I don't want it". The item was mint condition and was already priced fairly.

FWIW - I don't take anything other than cash so the CL idiots are out of luck.

SlingBass4 · #12 08-17-2009, 11:35 AM

When posting on eBay, Craigslist (or even here) - expect that some folks are going to assume you're in dire straits and would like to take advantage of the situation. We all like a good deal, but I'm respectful that anyone is deserving to make a fair buck. I'm currently listing some gear as FS/FT, and *I* don't have to sell it - I'm in an "acquire" mode for a couple items. It just keeps things smoother around the house when the musical related inventory is maintained at respectful level

Jim Nazium · #13 08-17-2009, 11:47 AM

My pet peeve is the people who ask me "What's the lowest you'll sell it for?" This usually comes after spending 1/2 an hour on the phone describing every detail. If I was willing to accept a lower price to get a quick sale, why wouldn't I have just listed the lower price? You think I'm going to knock 10% or 20% off my asking price when you haven't even made me an offer? Take a hike.

Metal Mitch · #14 08-17-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blockinlay

Some people list items high with the intention of haggling

Exactly. Even when times are good, buyers look at a price and expect it to be marked up for haggling. So you might as well add 20% to your firm price. When you come down to your normal price, the buyer thinks he did well and is happier...

NickInMesa · #15 08-17-2009, 03:26 PM

Well, I know about posting higher and leaving "room" for bargaining. I have seldom sold something at price, people bargain it down 90% of the time.

I just sold a Crate Power Block at $100 here to some guy from the site, he showed up, it was a cash deal and the price was right.

Likewise, I always bargain everything down. No issue with that. Once in a while I was told this was firm and the price was right and I actually bought it at that price, like my Peavey Foundation.

Now, when he said the absolutely mint T-40 with hard case was $150, I did not say "man you could sell it for at least twice as much", I just pretended to wince and say hmmm ok I will take it for the same price (I eventually flipped it).

Stumbo · #16 08-17-2009, 11:13 PM

"I will buy it for 50% of the price because I have CASH!!!"

It's here on TB as well: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=550273

TheSuzie · #17 08-18-2009, 03:33 AM

Depends on the situation, I guess. I see a lot of things on Craigslist at crazy prices 2 to 4 times what they are worth. If someone uses the the word "firm", I won't insult them or waste both our time. I will either pay the price if I think it is worth it or move on. If someone specifies OBO, they are obviously asking for offers. If a seller does not specify, I figure it is a crapshoot. If I see something hanging around and they have not specified firm, I may feel them out about the price.

On an inexpensive item that I truly need (like the DSL modem I am using now) it isn't worth it to screw around. I am just happy to get it for 1/3 the retail price and smile as I hand over the cash.

It is true that lots of people are unloading stuff to make the rent or at the beginning or end of a semester. At the end of the school year in some cities there are sometimes great deals on student level double basses from students who have no way to move the huge instrument across the country. The buyers have the sellers over a barrel but they would still likely get less if they sold to a local dealer.

I don't know why people get insulted over this stuff. If someone treats you with disrespect or actually wastes a lot of time, sure. Still, if someone just makes a quick offer or sends one or two emails, I don't see why it is such a big deal to just say "no thanks" and then forget about them.

YMMV
Peace,
S

cnltb · #18 08-18-2009, 03:54 AM

That's no problem.
When I've met these people in the past I just said "No" and forgot about it.
No stress at all.

Zooberwerx · #19 08-18-2009, 04:28 AM

As a potential buyer, I always ask "what's your best price?". Sometimes I get a discount, sometimes I don't. Really has no bearing if its something I really want.

BTW, I also ask all the local retailes if they offer an AARP discount. You'd be surprised!

Riis

71Rick · #20 08-18-2009, 07:13 AM

If my CL prices truly are firm, I simply ad to the listing "bargaining/haggling emails will be ignored", and then I stick to my word. And if someone didn't try to start haggling until we met for the transaction, then I pack up and leave immediately. To me, meeting in person is an implication of the acceptance of the price, especially since I am accurate and honest in my item descriptions.

The one time I inflated my price to leave room for negotiation, I actually sold it for the asking price! (it was my old car) ..... Maybe I should start doing this more often.

Bottom line, don't let it stress you out if it bothers you, just ignore them.