My New Zero Tolerance Craigslist Attitude.

[Cliff Colton]

I’m surprised by the number of people who have sided with the buyer here and I don’t think it’s because of foul language or a failure to comply with polite standards customs and practices in the used gear buying market. People are angry with the seller because he held all the cards and didn’t squeeze the guy for another $50.

 

[MynameisMe]

I think if we gin up some more arguments we can make this thread out to 50 pages.

 

[MordBass]

I’m surprised by the number of people who have sided with the buyer here and I don’t think it’s because of foul language or a failure to comply with polite standards customs and practices in the used gear buying market. People are angry with the seller because he held all the cards and didn’t squeeze the guy for another $50.

Same. I feel like if the opposite had happened, they'd have been all over the seller still.

 

[Cliff Colton]

I’m siding with the seller because I’ll be a seller someday. I never have to be a buyer again but I have to be a seller. Most people here too so I don’t understand why they are arguing against their own interests.

 

[BadSanta1281]

A similar thing just happened to me today on a motorcycle helmet I have listed on CL. Had it at $100, guy offered $70, settled on $80. Shortly before we were supposed to meet he texted and said he forgot that he had spent money on lunch and asked if I'd take $66. I thanked him for the offer but said $80 was as low as I'd go. Supposedly he's borrowing a few bucks and paying $80 tomorrow. We'll see if it happens.

My only real point here is that getting upset doesn't do any good. I didn't refuse to sell it to him just because he's making silly offers. Nobody was cussing and nobody got mad. I want the $80 so I can buy some bass-related gear yet to be determined. The helmet doesn't fit me anyway.

Just doing my part to get this thread to 50 pages.

 

[Cliff Colton]

I’m not convinced the seller was mad. He terminated the sale because the price was firm and the buyer kept pushing it. The buyer’s disrespect caused the termination. The seller stood firm on his principles and should be admired for it.

 

[BadSanta1281]

The buyer’s disrespect caused the termination. The seller stood firm on his principles and should be admired for it.

I guess I'm just used to the abuse from selling cars so it doesn't affect me.

 

[Cliff Colton]

I guess I'm just used to the abuse from selling cars so it doesn't affect me.

You know what you would’ve said to get the buyer to pay $50 more. What is it?

 

[BadSanta1281]

You know what you would’ve said to get the buyer to pay $50 more. What is it?

Referring to the OP's bass I would have told the buyer thanks for the offer, but since we agreed on X amount and you offered X minus 50 then I'm going back up to X plus 100. Then I would have just shut up and waited to see his response. But I probably would have accepted the original X amount agreed to when it was all said and done.

Once again I think the big mistake was letting it get him upset and refusing to sell. But that's just my opinion. I rather enjoy the wheeling and dealing negotiations.

 

[Cliff Colton]

Referring to the OP's bass I would have told the buyer thanks for the offer, but since we agreed on X amount and you offered X minus 50 then I'm going back up to X plus 100. Then I would have just shut up and waited to see his response. But I probably would have accepted the original X amount agreed to when it was all said and done.

Once again I think the big mistake was letting it get him upset and refusing to sell. But that's just my opinion. I rather enjoy the wheeling and dealing negotiations.

If the buyer wanted to crack the truss rod just to make sure it works, would you let him?

 

[catcauphonic]

I’m siding with the seller because I’ll be a seller someday. I never have to be a buyer again but I have to be a seller. Most people here too so I don’t understand why they are arguing against their own interests.

What does all this even mean? That...

When you grow up you wanna be a salesman?
You have everything, or you'll not ever buy anything again that negotiations can be made on?? Most people here have to sell what???

+ "Arguing against your own financial interests"
Who did that... The buyer or the seller?

 

[MynameisMe]

Selling on Craigslist is a crapshoot.
I for the most part have not had negative experiences. You really need to set your expectations lower than the price of whatever it is and be willing to negotiate, but also hold your ground when required.
I recently sold some large Rubbermaid trash carts on Craigslist.
I had 7 of them, but 4 of them were out behind my shed in the back dry rotting in the Florida sun.
I started at $ 400.00 for three, but after several weeks I was happy to get $ 200.00 for all three.
You cannot get emotionally attached when selling/ letting go of stuff.
Even after I sold the trash carts to the dude he called me back a month later and told me how they helped him in his business and he thanked me.
I also barter a lot on Craigslist/ FB marketplace.
Of course I am just some random dude on the internet.
YMMV.

 

[BadSanta1281]

If the buyer wanted to crack the truss rod just to make sure it works, would you let him?

I would turn it myself to show him it worked... maybe 1/8 turn counterclockwise.
BTW that's never come up on a guitar I've sold but I've done it as the buyer.

When you grow up you wanna be a salesman?

Many years of being in the car business and I never met a salesperson who dreamed of being a salesperson when they were a kid. Nobody's dream job but it pays the bills.

+ "Arguing against your own financial interests"
Who did that... The buyer or the seller?

+1
Isn't it in the seller's interest to get the item sold?

 

[Bass Viking]

A similar thing just happened to me today on a motorcycle helmet I have listed on CL. Had it at $100, guy offered $70, settled on $80. Shortly before we were supposed to meet he texted and said he forgot that he had spent money on lunch and asked if I'd take $66. I thanked him for the offer but said $80 was as low as I'd go. Supposedly he's borrowing a few bucks and paying $80 tomorrow. We'll see if it happens.

What a lame excuse on his part. You see, there are these things called bank machines...

Glad to hear you held your ground!

 

[catcauphonic]

+1
Isn't it in the seller's interest to get the item sold?

in this case as was pointed out wayearlier in the thread, the seller accidentally misquoted a lower price to the buyer (600 instead of 650) which he was honorable enough to stick to since it was his own error. It wasn't until the buyer again kinda jokingly asked for another 50 off that seller blew a gasket and terminated the deal as the buyer was almost there after a long drive.

I can't help but think (as was also pointed out) that seller's remorse set in subconsciously, knowing that he could get more for it elsewhere, therefore it was the bigger reason he lost his sh!t on the buyer

 

[BadSanta1281]

What a lame excuse on his part. You see, there are these things called bank machines...

Glad to hear you held your ground!

ATM machines only spit out cash if you have it in your account.
That may have been part of the problem.

Gonna meet him later this morning and maybe trade for a guitar he has.

 

[Cliff Colton]

in this case as was pointed out wayearlier in the thread, the seller accidentally misquoted a lower price to the buyer (600 instead of 650) which he was honorable enough to stick to since it was his own error. It wasn't until the buyer again kinda jokingly asked for another 50 off that seller blew a gasket and terminated the deal as the buyer was almost there after a long drive.

I can't help but think (as was also pointed out) that seller's remorse set in subconsciously, knowing that he could get more for it elsewhere, therefore it was the bigger reason he lost his sh!t on the buyer

Facts are not negotiable. You’ve spun the story to support an untenable position.

 

[BadSanta1281]

It wasn't until the buyer again kinda jokingly asked for another 50 off that seller blew a gasket and terminated the deal as the buyer was almost there after a long drive.

It was seller's right to cancel if he wanted to. I would have taken it as an opportunity to start the whole negotiation process over again from $650 or maybe even $700. Toss the ball back to the buyer without getting upset and see what happens.

I just don't think it was worth blowing a gasket over it. Getting mad just gets your blood pressure up and that's not healthy for anyone. When it devolves into a cussing contest it makes both sides look bad.

 

[catcauphonic]

Facts are not negotiable. You’ve spun the story to support an untenable position.

Show me what parts of the story I've spun. You could take the sellers attempt of 'haha I should get another 50off because traffic sux' as a joke or as a re-opening of the negotiations.

And by now this isn't even about which of the buyer or the seller was in the wrong. For me, this is for all the wanna be salesmen types or those that enjoy the 'art of the haggle' saying that it's OK to keep negotiating until the item changes hands. In my book it's not, and I don't want to deal with somebody that is always looking for leverage from the time we make contact, come to a Gentleman's Agreement, but then still thinks it's OK to badger me into a lower price until the item exchanges hands (the only exception to this is if the item is not as described when seen in person.)

Anybody besides me notice how close the word haggle is to the word hassle???

I never met a salesperson who dreamed of being a salesperson when they were a kid. Nobody's dream job but it pays the bills.

Less reason to trust someone in that position. They are strictly money motivated, have likely been through some kind of professional training on ways to get you to say yes, and even throw things in that you don't want or need in order to make you feel like you're getting a better deal, thus getting you to part with more of your money.

We've all heard stories of salesmen bragging to their coworkers about how much they squeezed somebody for as soon as the customer is out the door. They're even competitive about these bragging rights just for sport. And management encourages it, hence awards and bonuses for high numbers.

 

[catcauphonic]

It was seller's right to cancel if he wanted to. I would have taken it as an opportunity to start the whole negotiation process over again from $650 or maybe even $700. Toss the ball back to the buyer without getting upset and see what happens.

I just don't think it was worth blowing a gasket over it. Getting mad just gets your blood pressure up and that's not healthy for anyone. When it devolves into a cussing contest it makes both sides look bad.

Exactly my position on the OP