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Meeting up with CL people
- Thread starter free_Bassd
- Start date
pmchenry said:Ah geeze... here we go.
No I'm gonna just delete my comment, in all reality everyone is different, sometimes it's easy to lose sight of that especially when you feel so passionately about certain things.
Live & let live, we don't all have to agree all the time.
You know, I'm surprised you don't see community exchange services. It wouldn't cost that much for a decent sized town to provide a room in a courthouse or other municipal building say once a week at designated hours for the sole purpose of people meeting to make their craigslist sales. Or an already established indoor farmer's market could set aside an area for this purpose. You'd have a public/safe place for both parties along with power to test any electronics. It'd be a nice community service.
All these seem like good ideas! it is also legal to carry a knife with a ~4 1/2 inch blade. but anyway, what about negotiating price. he has given me a price, but I would like to talk him down some. if the starting price is say $300 would it be in bad taste to offer $200? should I tell him my offer before we meet up or wait to talk
about money in person? CL has no set price after all!
about money in person? CL has no set price after all!
If you intend to offer significantly less than requested, then I would tell him that before you meet.
Definitely finalize pricing before you meet, otherwise you could just be wasting each other's time. IMHO, asking for a 33% markdown would be considered lowballing the guy, but that's really up to your personal judgement and what you think is a fair price for what is offered.
free_Bassd said:
You should ALWAYS offer what you believe it to be worth, and what your comfortable paying for said item.
Who cares what they feel about it, do you let their emotions and feelings get involved in other purchases? No? Then this is no different.
They can say no, you can buy elsewhere. There are no rules.
Now if you know damn well your offer is way less than its value, then obviously they'll probably take offense.
I believe the question was around offering less at the time of sale.
IMO, if the quality is as described in the ad or better, stick with the original offer that both parties agreed to. If the quality is less, there is some room to negotiate.
However, don't offer $300 for a bass you know you're only willing to pay $200 for and are hoping that they will follow through because they made the trek. This is in bad taste and are wasting people's time.
Ask your questions up front and confirm in person. Be prepared to walk away, but be mindful not to waste anyone's time.
I would meet the buyer/sellerat the library, community center, city hall, shopping mall, basically anywhere that has cameras everywhere and a lot of people.
This. If you aren't willing to give me what I'm asking then don't bother meeting up with me. Feel free to email me offers, but don't ask to meet me just to say, "Hey man, I'm actually a little short. Could you maybe go..." because I'll just walk away right then and there. Honestly, the fact that this can happen is why I tell people to come to me when we meet up. I'm not driving over an hour just to have that nonsense happen.
A question to the talkbass gun guys: what would you do if Somebody did try to screw you? Shoot them?
Or even worse, what if somebody pulled a gun on you? Would you rather have the bass or a fresh gun shot wound?
I don't have a gun but I have done several deals in gas station parking lots, public parks, even other peoples houses, always as the buyer or trader. Ask all your questions ahead of time. If you're going to talk them down, do so before you meet. Nobody wants you wasting there time. Show up with cash in pocket. Personally I would never invite them to my house, I definitely do not want them knowing where I live in case they are crazy.
Or even worse, what if somebody pulled a gun on you? Would you rather have the bass or a fresh gun shot wound?
I don't have a gun but I have done several deals in gas station parking lots, public parks, even other peoples houses, always as the buyer or trader. Ask all your questions ahead of time. If you're going to talk them down, do so before you meet. Nobody wants you wasting there time. Show up with cash in pocket. Personally I would never invite them to my house, I definitely do not want them knowing where I live in case they are crazy.
Really? We closed that can of worms and you're trying to open it right back up... I'll send you a PM with my answer.
Yeah sorry, some comments were deleted in order to keep from hijacking the thread. Still, I felt compelled to give you an honest answer. PM sent.
For the TB community's benefit: I can't agree with telling anyone who's place of residence you are at for a one-time transaction that you are carrying.
While it may seem smart at first, that person now knows you have a weapon and the first thing they will do after holding you up is search you for it. If you don't tell them you're carrying, and they don't ask, you can hope for a moment of dumb from them where you can deploy your weapon and avoid the hospital or morgue trip. And that's all.
I don't trust "people", that's why I have friends knowing where I will be, how long I plan to be there, and I will text them pre- and post- transaction. If they don't hear anything in a reasonable amount of time they are instructed to call the police.
I don't go for anything other than a screaming deal on CL anyways, so generally the price agreed is the price agreed and that's it.
Peace,
Greg
