best post for thread summary goes to PJ
If you want to run for next years election, your level headedness alone wins my vote.
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My New Zero Tolerance Craigslist Attitude.
- Thread starter FingerDub
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If you want to run for next years election, your level headedness alone wins my vote.
I usually agree with you on just about everything. Here I'm only agreeing halfway. I think it's reasonable to infer that the buyer's intent with his "haha, I'm about to turn around" remark was to further jerk the seller around by implying that he was about to walk away from the deal they had agreed to without an additional discount. This would have annoyed me, as a seller, and depending on my mood, and the number of other inquiries I had, I might have felt inclined to call off the sale at that point.
You don't seem to see the inferred intent to walk away from the deal there, so, on that, we disagree.
But I agree with you that, once the buyer was told the price was firm and he agreed that he would pay the originally agreed to price, it probably would have been the right move to just say, OK, come get it. I say probably because another reasonable expectation, based on current information, would be that the guy shows up and tries to find some reason to lowball, anyway. This is Craigslist, not a real estate transaction. Experiences being what they are, it's not unreasonable for the seller to expect to be jerked around more by this buyer.
All in all, I see both sides, and I think it's kind of an interesting object lesson in perspective to read everyone's various reactions and interpretations of what happened here. This is something that we can all apply to our next experiences with this sort of thing, if we want to.
I see it this way, until there has been an exchange of goods or services, it's my property and I'll do as I damn well please with it. I'll engage in a voluntary exchange with whomever I want or don't want for that matter. If someone seems shady or is a jerk or I just change my mind so be it. I don't owe you anything (maybe some gas money in this case, maybe) and I really don't care about your sensitive feelings. But don't get me wrong, I do try to honor agreements and with a few extenuated circumstances, I always have.
With that said, you do have to have a little thicker skin in this game. I personally would have just responded with a no. He then would make the choice at that point to turn around or come out and get it.
Some Craigslist deals, I try and do at the Police station. While I don't try and bring trouble to my home, my home is probably the last place you want to try and bring trouble to, So I'm not scared when it comes to that. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but I'm sure everyone will get over it.
With that said, you do have to have a little thicker skin in this game. I personally would have just responded with a no. He then would make the choice at that point to turn around or come out and get it.
Some Craigslist deals, I try and do at the Police station. While I don't try and bring trouble to my home, my home is probably the last place you want to try and bring trouble to, So I'm not scared when it comes to that. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but I'm sure everyone will get over it.
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The buyer had gas. He drove for 1 hour thinking to himself: “Why am I buying another bass? I don’t need another bass.” So the seller helped him a little and everything worked out. Probably saved the guy’s marriage.
Thanks! I'll make my announcement public next month. Vote for me! Basses for all!
svtb15
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- Mar 22, 2004
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- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
ZERO Tolerance is CODE for . " I don't have the guts or intellect to handle individual scenarios without upsetting someone. So I will just make a blanket judgement "
i'll share my last craigslist experience which was a great one.
I saw an ad for an Ampeg 810 AND carvin bx1500 for $400. I messaged the seller asking if it was $400 total for both and they responded yes. I would have been there that afternoon, but it was about an hour and half away from where i live, without traffic. I drug my feet trying to find a good day to get out there. A week goes by and they message me asking if i'm still interested because they had interest from other buyers and they feel since we had first correspondence they'd at least give me the courtesy of letting me know if i didn't commit, they would sell it. Well, i set a solid date with them and hurried up there.
Amp and cab were exactly as described. I felt like i was stealing it for $400, even with the drive. I happily paid them and the seller thanked me for not trying to haggle the price, like other possible buyers. I thought to myself, "how can you try to haggle a price like this???"
I've been more than satisfied with the amp since buying it. Best buy of my musician career by far.
I saw an ad for an Ampeg 810 AND carvin bx1500 for $400. I messaged the seller asking if it was $400 total for both and they responded yes. I would have been there that afternoon, but it was about an hour and half away from where i live, without traffic. I drug my feet trying to find a good day to get out there. A week goes by and they message me asking if i'm still interested because they had interest from other buyers and they feel since we had first correspondence they'd at least give me the courtesy of letting me know if i didn't commit, they would sell it. Well, i set a solid date with them and hurried up there.
Amp and cab were exactly as described. I felt like i was stealing it for $400, even with the drive. I happily paid them and the seller thanked me for not trying to haggle the price, like other possible buyers. I thought to myself, "how can you try to haggle a price like this???"
I've been more than satisfied with the amp since buying it. Best buy of my musician career by far.
The “higher” price was already a concession, not a permanent entitlement. The “buyer” only wanted to go back to the old deal he rejected because he was getting cut out on the deal for being greedy and backing out of his agreement.
The initial price wasn’t “make me a bunch of counter offers and hassle me until I feel obligated”, it was here’s the price, my mistake so I’ll honor it. Done. Done!
“Buyer” rejected that offer and got butthurt when there wasn’t any more negotiation room. Once something is rejected it’s rejected there are no takebacks and you’re on the hook again.
The moral of the story is don’t offend the person you’re trying to talk down or you lose. You must have missed the part that he already didn’t want to sell for $600.
Why would this guy want to meet up to get $50 less than he wanted when the guy is already backing out on his agreement? Do you really think this would have been the end of it when the “buyer” arrived? I don’t.
I’d have personally been tempted to make it $650 but the “buyer” wouldn’t pay that without a fuss so forget him. A reasonable, easy to do business with buyer will be along momentarily.
I’m surprised to hear you’re so in favor of buyers backing out of their agreements, and then expecting them to be available again at their leisure. Do you do this often?
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I cannot believe people are siding with the buyer over a TB member here. Fact is the buyer broke the agreement first when he said $550 or turning around. The seller had every right to consider there was no longer any agreed upon deal.
Second, the buyer broke civility first with profanity.
Seller was probably thinking the buyer would likely try for an even lower price than $550 due to nitpicking the description once he arrived. Probably right.
Third, once the buyer realized he broke his word, he should have apologized right on the spot to the seller, rather than demanding the originally agreed upon price he broke.
This one is plain as day. Buyer was at fault. Next time, buyer agrees on a price, he needs to keep his word without demanding a lower price in a threaten method later.
Second, the buyer broke civility first with profanity.
Seller was probably thinking the buyer would likely try for an even lower price than $550 due to nitpicking the description once he arrived. Probably right.
Third, once the buyer realized he broke his word, he should have apologized right on the spot to the seller, rather than demanding the originally agreed upon price he broke.
This one is plain as day. Buyer was at fault. Next time, buyer agrees on a price, he needs to keep his word without demanding a lower price in a threaten method later.
With all this drama any mojo this bass might have had is gone forever.
First, whether the price was incorrectly posted or not, it was posted at $600, and for enough time to get interest from multiple parties. If I go in to a store and they have something priced at $600 and I go to buy it, if they come back and say no I mismarked it that’s a lost sale. And I don’t think I’ve ever run In to that at a store, especially over just over 8%.
Second, since when is haggling not a part of independent used merchandise sales?! A goofy “hey will you do less? Ha ha” is a perfectly valid and not impolite effort to haggle. My favorite music equipment store has been running very successfully on this principle for decades. It’s basically a flea market for gear, haggling is expected, and I honestly think the few times I spotted an already sweet deal and didn’t even try to work the price down they were a little disappointed. That’s used gear, price isn’t final until money changes hands. A simple “sorry man, $600 is my bottom price” is perfectly fine, but one shouldn’t get mad at a buyer for trying to get a used bass for less than the listed price.
Second, since when is haggling not a part of independent used merchandise sales?! A goofy “hey will you do less? Ha ha” is a perfectly valid and not impolite effort to haggle. My favorite music equipment store has been running very successfully on this principle for decades. It’s basically a flea market for gear, haggling is expected, and I honestly think the few times I spotted an already sweet deal and didn’t even try to work the price down they were a little disappointed. That’s used gear, price isn’t final until money changes hands. A simple “sorry man, $600 is my bottom price” is perfectly fine, but one shouldn’t get mad at a buyer for trying to get a used bass for less than the listed price.
- Jun 6, 2012
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I would have said "I'll take all of it. Here's your ten cents."I was once at a flea market and there was a table there with a big sign that said "everything here, 10 cents." Someone browsing picked up an item and said to the person, "would you take a nickel for this?" I exploded in laughter. Some people just can't help themselves.
When the price has been agreed upon, and the buyer is on his way to make the purchase. Unless there are undisclosed problems that the buyer can point to when the item is in hand, an agreement is an agreement.
Agree. The OP is getting slammed mostly because he handled the situation in a brash and somewhat immature way.
What if this is turned around? The seller calls the buyer who is driving to meet him, and suggests the agreed selling price be increased $50, HA HA. Buyer says no and seller backs down to the original price. Buyer tells the seller the sale is off. Seller cusses out buyer. How does that sit? Who's the dick now?
In both cases, if the price is established, have some integrity and follow through unless there really is a problem with the bass (not the case here that we know of).
Haggling is part of a transaction and it had already happened.
Then the buyer tried to haggle AGAIN, threatening to leave the seller hanging after waiting. So he said I know we agreed BUT...
Rejected offer, buyers fault. If he hadn’t already agreed, then he wouldn’t be backing out he would still be haggling. Totally different.
My $.02 - If you are playing the CL game at all you are losing.
Since eBay came on the scene, by spending a little extra time to register, take good photos, write good descriptions and be prepared to ship your market expands from driving a local radius to the whole world. In most cases, with a smaller market comes lesser demand. This means selling more slowly or selling for less money.
In the past I have taken advantage of this as a buyer and gotten killer deals. But each and every time (and there were a few) I was dealing with wackos. So I stopped using CL close to 10 years ago and I will never use it again.
Selling online (here on TB or on any number of paid sites) is a much better way to go. You don't waste an afternoon on a flake, you don't deal with nonsense such as the OP was subjected to, and if you are no paid ahead of time, you don't part with the bass.
I honestly don't know why anyone would use CL in this day and age to sell gear, other than gear that is not able to ship or easily shipped.
Since eBay came on the scene, by spending a little extra time to register, take good photos, write good descriptions and be prepared to ship your market expands from driving a local radius to the whole world. In most cases, with a smaller market comes lesser demand. This means selling more slowly or selling for less money.
In the past I have taken advantage of this as a buyer and gotten killer deals. But each and every time (and there were a few) I was dealing with wackos. So I stopped using CL close to 10 years ago and I will never use it again.
Selling online (here on TB or on any number of paid sites) is a much better way to go. You don't waste an afternoon on a flake, you don't deal with nonsense such as the OP was subjected to, and if you are no paid ahead of time, you don't part with the bass.
I honestly don't know why anyone would use CL in this day and age to sell gear, other than gear that is not able to ship or easily shipped.
I guess the guy who said "it never hurts to ask" hadn't run into the likes of you.
Since you insist on debating me, I'll bite. Your analysis, while lengthy, misses the point and is inaccurate. It didn't even refute my position of "I disagree" and ends with an ad hominem attack, the hallmark of a lousy argument.
The BUYER tried to renegotiate and eventually agreed to the higher price. Not the classiest move, but whatever. The SELLER got butthurt at the audacity. He could have either stuck to his price or agreed to the lower one. Instead of either of those he backed out to punish this wildly Craigslist shopper who was en route to the deal. And then announced how it felt good to be a dick. Sounds like someone we all would want to interact with.
It doesn't matter what would have stopped when, or if the sane thing would have happened when they met. The same thing HAS happened to me and the choice I have made, many times, is to say "Sorry but this is my price. Let me know if you change your mind." Done. What OP chose was petulent.
And no, I don't do this. But I also don't go around buying crap on Craigslist. If I do, I know what kind of interactions to expect and don't go throwing tantrums like a knucklehead.
I hope that resolves our discussion. To sum up, I'll restate: I disagree.
Glad you found something that made you feel "DAMN GOOD" - We should all be so lucky.
I get the same feeling when I'm stage thumping my Glaub and the band is in full-on groove mode.
But, different strokes I suppose
I get the same feeling when I'm stage thumping my Glaub and the band is in full-on groove mode.
But, different strokes I suppose
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