But he dropped the price already from $650 to $600, the buyer agreed to that price, so it's not a case of being poor, whoa is me.
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My New Zero Tolerance Craigslist Attitude.
- Thread starter FingerDub
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But he dropped the price already from $650 to $600, the buyer agreed to that price, so it's not a case of being poor, whoa is me.
First off to everybody that responded, I read through the entire thread so far. I want to make it clear then I'm usually the honorable one getting f***** over, and that I was in no way angry in the least about giving it to him for $600 instead of $650.
After reading I do admit that there was better ways to handle it, but that doesn't necessarily mean I wasn't in my rights to do what I did. I would have been more apt to give the guy an additional discount if he had just said things are really tight for me and would you take x amount instead. But it came along with an implied threat and that was enough to piss me off. I'm not happy that I sent the guy home after your driving so far. I would most certainly be pissed myself, but then again I wouldn't try to alter the deal I already agreed on.
So why did it feel good? It felt good to stand up for myself, and it felt good to not be manipulated. Again, I'm normally the nice one being taken advantage of. I suppose I had just had enough.
Even if I just said in response, "Go ahead then and turn around." and nothing else, I would still have the lingering stench and in retrospect, I would have felt bad if I had sold it to him, strictly because I would have felt bad allowing myself to deal with such a character.
After reading I do admit that there was better ways to handle it, but that doesn't necessarily mean I wasn't in my rights to do what I did. I would have been more apt to give the guy an additional discount if he had just said things are really tight for me and would you take x amount instead. But it came along with an implied threat and that was enough to piss me off. I'm not happy that I sent the guy home after your driving so far. I would most certainly be pissed myself, but then again I wouldn't try to alter the deal I already agreed on.
So why did it feel good? It felt good to stand up for myself, and it felt good to not be manipulated. Again, I'm normally the nice one being taken advantage of. I suppose I had just had enough.
Even if I just said in response, "Go ahead then and turn around." and nothing else, I would still have the lingering stench and in retrospect, I would have felt bad if I had sold it to him, strictly because I would have felt bad allowing myself to deal with such a character.
I can't imagine anyone would have a problem with this stance. I don't expect to show up and just pick something up, or vice versa. Buyer should absolutely be encouraged to check it out first. And if something is not as advertised, negotiation is expected.
I once accidentally priced an item (Leslie Cabinet) too low and the first guy who responded told me I would be flooded with buyers at that price and if I'd hold it until he got there he'd give me $200 more than my asking price. Was a great transaction where we were both very happy with the deal. I've bought/sold a lot on CL and only had a very few bad experiences - most have been excellent.
Reading the OP, it's not clear that any price was firmly agreed upon. OP screwed up quoting a lower price than he intended (his fault). The buyer could certainly believe that was the starting selling price. Asking whether another $50 off is possible is not out of line, certainly not low balling. All the OP has to do is say "no." I hope the OP never sells that bass.
It's negotiable, but the flip side of the buyer trying to get a lower price is that the seller can decide not to sell. We can't have an agreed upon price and then the buyer gets to retract that and lower the price, but if the seller says, "Ok, no sale" then they're not honorable or whatever. Two way street and if someone says $50 less or I'm turning around, "turn around" is absolutely a valid response.
I had a great CL experience just today.
I bought a guitar on Reverb. Brand wide blow out at 50% off. They went fast. I thought about returning it, but threw it up on CL, figuring if I sold it, I wouldn't have to eat shipping both ways. First response, stuck a deal. Easy peasy. I'm out a total of $8 to try the guitar and buyer got a better deal (by the same $8) than he could've anywhere else, assuming he could find one still for sale.
Gawd knows I can be an @sshole at times. But I try not to lead with that. If I'm selling and someone else has money, I need them more than they need me.
I bought a guitar on Reverb. Brand wide blow out at 50% off. They went fast. I thought about returning it, but threw it up on CL, figuring if I sold it, I wouldn't have to eat shipping both ways. First response, stuck a deal. Easy peasy. I'm out a total of $8 to try the guitar and buyer got a better deal (by the same $8) than he could've anywhere else, assuming he could find one still for sale.
Gawd knows I can be an @sshole at times. But I try not to lead with that. If I'm selling and someone else has money, I need them more than they need me.
The buyer said "$550 or I'm turning around". He set his terms there and it was unacceptable to the seller, the deal was over. This really isn't complicated.
Price was agreed upon before the drive. Op agreed to hold onto the item and not sell it to anyone else. Pretty nice if you ask me.
It is CL, remember? Anything can happen. But ethically, for the seller to suddenly decide not to sell even after the price has been met, is a bit hinky. But again, it’s CL.
I had to look this up...
... I refused to do so at first, but reached an agreement, with myself.
Probably because getting a rush out of negotiating a better deal is a personality trait that not everyone has. You obviously have it. I don't. I have no interest in hidden prices. Something has a specific value that you personally place on it, and I'm either willing or unwilling to pay it. It's like the cable company telling you they can lower your bill when you finally call to cancel because it's too expensive. Ok, then why the hell were you charging me more? Why does your product not have a specific price?
Man...imagine if a new employer negotiated your salary like that? Hypothetically, obviously because we have laws in place to prevent this, but imagine you accepted a job for a specific amount and then you show up on your first day, and they say "Unfortunately, we only have about 90% of what we offered you, will you still take the job?" You would promptly tell them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
Being forced into a negotiation situation by someone who may as well be a shark when you just want to get rid of some old stuff is beyond just being a minor annoyance. When I sell something, I lay my cards on the table. I have X item and I'm selling it for Y amount. Y amount is the value that I've placed on the item and I'm pricing it firm. That's the transaction I'm interested. If you agree on that price and then at the last minute try to suck me into a negotiation, I don't have any patience for you.
Every Craigslist thread on every forum I've ever read has confirmed one fact for me- some people are just not suited for buying and selling used things on open platforms, most notably the people posting the most.
Depends on what you consider big...
... are we talking Dolly Parton, or Jennifer Aniston?
I've re-read the OP multiple times. It's not at all clear that the price of $600 was mutually agreed upon. Just saying. Read.It.Again.For.Yourself Don't add anything, don't assume anything. It was appointment to look at it, and possibly buy it. That's what I get.
The agreed price was thrown out with the counter offer. Why is it ethically right for the buyer to demand lower but if the seller said, "$650" when the buyer showed up, that would be wrong. It's a two way street and the seller said, "No thanks" after the buyer tried to change the terms. The buyer still has his money, the seller still has his bass. No harm, no foul.
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