My New Zero Tolerance Craigslist Attitude.

[blue4]

We're just trying for 30 pages. Takes alot of filler to reach that.

 

[FingerDub]

I guess it all depends on how you’re interpreting things. I think your interpretation is a bit if a stretch no matter how adept the mental gymnastics needed to reach that conclusion. The deal was done. The buyer was ready to proceed at the agreed upon price he had with the seller. The buyer did not reneg. He did not say “$550 or I turn around.” He said (1) to forget what he just said, (2) was almost there,(c) would pay $600 as agreed. So please don’t try to rewrite the words that were was actually said or change the reality of the actual situation.

Arguing the buyer might be a problem after the fact is pure conjecture. Maybe he may or may not end up being one. But you’d have little to go on either way from what’s been shared. So that’s a rush to judgement leading to that preemptive strike I mentioned in my earlier post. One that’s faux justified after the fact (i.e. “the buyer might be an issue”) than based on anything that actually happened is appears likely to happen. This is something I see people doing all the time. And one big reason contracts gave gotten so fat along with the paychecks of the attorneys drafting them. It’s one thing to be reasonably prudent. It’s another thing to walk around like the world is out to get you and you’re perpetually under seige.

Getting away from all that, if something as trivial as tossing in another number at the last minute (either as a bit of banter or a negotiating tactic) is enough to put a person into a tailspin and call off a done sale, I really think said person needs to lighten up a lot -or- be a lit less less prickly. Because a jive move like that is behaving like a diva.

Especially since all conjecture getting tossed about over this particular incident is just that - conjecture. Confined to the facts that were definitely known in the first post (which I’m basing my entire opinion on) the decision to abort was entirely the seller’s. And the only real purpose it accomplishes is to punish the buyer for saying something the seller didn’t like. Facts are: what the buyer said had no bearing on the actual sale terms ($600); or the dollar amount ($600) of the transaction that was about to take place. Any drama was entirely of the seller’s making.

If an acquaintance says something to you that you don’t appreciate, you probably have some justification in feeling annoyed. But there’s nothing in anything as minor as that to justify doing something totally spiteful to that person. That’s just basic morality and exercising some rational discretion before acting.

Or so I think anyway.

And with this post I think I’ve said all I really have to say on the subject. Especially since I’ve had repeatedly keep reiterating the facts as presented. I’m tired if reoeating mysekf. And I’m sure people are getting tired if me doing it. So I’ll rest my case with this post and leave it here. The rest of you please carry on. This thread has been one of the more interesting reads (on several levels) I’ve ever seen here.

My only hope is that our brother @FingerDub didnt take my comments as some sort of personal attack on him personally. I automatically separate an action taken from the person of him or herself. “Weight the act - not the person.” Because I don’t think everything we do is always an accurate reflection of who we really are. A lot of times situations get the better of us and we act out of character. So though I probably sounded critical, I just want to make it clear that any criticism of mine is being directed at a specific action and not the person. I can have a lot of respect for someone (and I do have respect for FingerDub) yet still be able to disagree with one of their actions or opinions. Bottom line: there’s so much more to each of us than just our most recent deeds or thoughts. And I think it’s very important to remember that when giving or receiving opinions.

<40Hz out.>

None taken and Lord knows I'm not perfect, but I try. In this case I let my pride get the better of me and could have made a better decision.

There's been some impressive wisdom imparted in this thread, and I only pray that it will be in the forefront of my mind the next time I'm squeezed that way. I was proud, kind of in the way of good triumphing against evil. But I acted impulsively instead of taking a step back and thinking about it , and this is one of my character defects and crosses to bear. I'll try again tomorrow.

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[SLIV]

We're just trying for 30 pages. Takes alot of filler to reach that.

Doing my part. It takes a village. : )

 

[LBS-bass]

We're just trying for 30 pages. Takes alot of filler to reach that.

Feel free to stop at 25. I think that's fine

 

[Cliff Colton]

Anyone who blows a cork over someone merely asking about a lower price probably isn't cut out for buying and selling used goods.

The buyer was suffering cognitive dissonance because he realized while sitting in traffic that he agreed to a price, then had to pick it up too. So to avoid this from now on, the new rule is: If the buyer is going to haggle or not otherwise commit to purchase, then the buyer travels to the seller. If the buyer agrees to the price and commits to the purchase, then the seller must travel to deliver to the buyer.

This is a general rule so there’s still room for an exchange of expletives if the parties so desire.

 

[xbud]

I've come to the conclusion that this post will help put us to 26 pages......Oh....and he who travels to purchase, shall not haggle till the merch has been inspected to be as described.....Then knock it for having a sticker, or scratches that are unseen by the naked eye......

 

[Cliff Colton]

Here’s the recap: The buyer was gassing for a bass listed for $600 firm by the seller. The buyer sought a discount which was rejected by the seller because as the seller explained, the listing price was intended to be $650 but mistakenly listed for $600. Thus there would be no further discount and the bass price was $600 firm. The buyer agreed to pay $600 for the bass.
The buyer further agreed to pick up the bass at the the seller’s location. While sitting in traffic for the approximately one hour drive, the buyer ruminated about the seller’s purported “mistake” regarding the price listing, and then realized he may have fallen for the oldest trick in the book, i.e., he believed what the seller told him was true and as a result he failed to negotiate.
The buyer felt mortified, humiliated, and embarrassed, and his suffering was compounded by the traffic and unsatisfied g.a.s. So he violated the law which prohibits texting while driving, and sent a text message to the seller seeking to re-open negotiations with a HAHA postscript intended to hide his self loathing and lack of sophistication.
Meanwhile, the seller is waiting and thinking maybe he shouldn’t have sold the bass for less than $650 because if he wants to buy another one he’s going to have to pay $650, and his came with a nice roadrunner gig bag. Then he gets the fateful text filled with self serving excuses, idle threats, and bad faith haha’s. Profanity is exchanged and someone’s mother is mentioned.
Ultimately, the seller re-sells the bass for $650 and the buyer has $600 in his pocket to g.a.s. for something else. To me, this seems like it was a fun adventure and I don’t see a problem here.

 

[Cliff Colton]

The real fault here lies with CraigsList and if one more CL person sells me a bass with a stripped truss rod nut I’m going to file a complaint.

 

[5StringBlues]

Tit for tat.

"The tit-for-tat inability of either side to back away from conflict, for fear of being perceived as weak or as cooperating with the enemy, has been the source of many conflicts throughout history."









More importantly,

 

[trickyric]

I understand. After he was told he would no longer be sold an item at the agreed upon price. I’d be pissed too. Show one person on TB that wouldn’t be.

I'm thinking if the buyer had responded with a "C'mon man, I had to try" that he would have sold it to him at the already discounted prices.
The response of MF'er.....gonna get the door slammed every time

 

[trickyric]

The guy asked, you refused, and he accepted without argument.
Then you ****** him around.

the buyer threatened to turn around and terminate the deal. The OP told him he should do so.
I don't see where the OP was wrong.
Then the buyer came back with "MFer".... not an "I'm sorry, can we still do the original deal?"
At what point is the OP supposed to have done something wrong?
I would have totally shot back a "turn around then" to the guy that is trying to extort me by threatening to terminate an already agreed upon deal too.

 

[petrus61]

We're just trying for 30 pages. Takes alot of filler to reach that.

Doesn’t matter. I’m just going to change my mind and back out at the last minute anyway .

 

[MordBass]

Doesn’t matter. I’m just going to change my mind and back out at the last minute anyway .

You sound like my tinder dates.

 

[RockinJohnny]

Haggling is inevitable. It's some kind of ego thing to try to pay you less than you ask, even if your price is completely reasonable. The best advice I have received about selling something is to decide for yourself the absolute minimum you will take and then add some padding to the price so that you have some room to give the buyer a "price break." And then, never go below your absolute minimum.

 

[Joe Boom]

You over reacted. He made one push, you said no and he acquiesced. You then blew up the deal.
Grow up.

 

[picker1974]

Well, I might be in the minority, and I usually am, but that was a dick move. Nothing wrong with haggling because that is the game. If you can’t play the game don’t cry and don’t post on craigslist.
My pet peeve with craigslist is people who say they’re going to show up and they don’t. You sit around all day waiting for them and not a call or anything.
Yeah the thing that gets me is when I have cash in hand and I am even willing to pay their asking price and I never can get in touch with the seller. This happens all too often.

 

[ChrisWright]

Uh ok.

It’s not uncommon for buyers to try and get get things for cheaper. Telling him no was perfectly fine. But the telling him to turn around and go **** himself? Seems to me that you were the *** in this exchange, not him.

Sure hope that never happen to you when you go to buy something.

Yeah. That was very douchey.

 

[gln1955]

So real question here, slightly off the OP.

A guy texts me 2 day ago..do you still have the item?
I was late responding. But “yes”...no response from him.

Next day I text again....he says he will come on way home from work. Never shows up.

If he were to respond today, day three, do I say I don’t want to sell to him?

How babdly do you need to sell this item?

For me, someone no shows and doesn't call with a legit reason right away, I'm done with them.

 

[InhumanResource]

the buyer threatened to turn around and terminate the deal. The OP told him he should do so.
I don't see where the OP was wrong.
Then the buyer came back with "MFer".... not an "I'm sorry, can we still do the original deal?"
At what point is the OP supposed to have done something wrong?
I would have totally shot back a "turn around then" to the guy that is trying to extort me by threatening to terminate an already agreed upon deal too.

Calling the buyer's bluff and saying "ok turn around" (in other words, no) is different from "I refuse to deal with you because you even asked. I am insulted and triggered." That's where OP went wrong.

 

[bigtone23]

I don't feel the OP was in the wrong. It was a semi complicated situation that didn't work out. Buyer got called out. It's haggling like poker. Big deal.

I have done similar a couple times with my CL transactions with people who just don't know how to haggle fairly and respectfully. I'll put in details from one transaction to clarify.
Posted a firm price ($175-bass cab), which is below market price ($200-225) as I want it to sell sooner than later, buyer still shoots a quasi reasonable offer via email ($150). I accept and we set a meeting time based on his schedule (2pm). Buyer shows up late (2:40) and spends an inordinate amount of time (15 minutes) testing out the (accurately described) item--which now is wasting my time as I have errands to run on my day off. When asked if the buyer want's to take the item home, he then shoots a low ball offer ($100), strictly just to do so and used 'driving through traffic' as the excuse. Knowing he drove from 10 minutes away, I decline the very poor counter offer and ask the buyer to leave since we can't close on our previously agreed fair price. In this case, the buyer backtracked and gave me his original offer. A couple other times the buyers were shell shocked that I just didn't cave like the Wal-mart returns counter they took me for.