What ever happened to the art of haggling?

[saturnv7890]

Nothing happened to the art of haggling, but your typical Craigslist customer is not an artist. I've gotten used to the fact that a large fraction of them are working on trading a cell phone for a Porsche. It can be annoying. May I suggest trolling the most annoying ones occasionally? It's a great stress reliever.

I troll the ones that are "out at sea" and need to paypal you the cash and have their pickup agent come take it.

I had one guy so pissed after about an hour or two of asking dumb questions, he finally gave up on trying to scam me. It killed some time at work and maybe discouraged him a little!

[5ickride]

whenever I set a price on CL etc I tend to exercize "psychological pricing"

meaning, you can ask a "higher price" by utilizing lower numbers in which apeases the buyers mindset that these lower numbers represent a "good deal"

check it out...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing

I sort of already knew this, but havent actually applied it. Might have to try it soon and see.

[saturnv7890]

whenever I set a price on CL etc I tend to exercize "psychological pricing"



meaning, you can ask a "higher price" by utilizing lower numbers in which apeases the buyers mindset that these lower numbers represent a "good deal"



check it out...



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing

Interesting thing is the trends seem to be changing from "$4.99" to "$5" now and people think they're getting a deal again, because it's a simpler price. That and everyone's wised up the .99 trick.

A good example of the "$5" is in the store 5 below, and I'm sure others. It's all blantantly simple pricing and people go crazy

[frankenbeemer]

I figure this is an example of the trade your-cell-phone-for-a-Porsche phenomenon. This guy wanted to trade an air rifle for a pressure washer I was selling. This was about two weeks ago.

I have a really nice air rifle to trade for the pressure washer.

Air Rifle:
- .177 Caliber
- Shoots 1250+fps
- 4x32mm Scope
- Suppressor
- Ambidextrous
- Recoil Pad
- Light Weight

It is in Perfect Condition. Please let me know if your interested or not. Thanks.


Does it have a name or is it some cheap Chinese knock-off?

Its a Gamo. Its a very good brand.

Not bad, but I have an RWS 45 in 177 and a Theoben in 25, I don't think the Gamo would meet my expectations.

If you still have your pressure washer call me at 864xxxxxxx.

Grainger (high prices, I know) has the pressure washer at $589. It's still over $400 at the big box hardware stores. I figured $265 was fair as it looks and runs like new. The gamo is probably (being generous) $250-$300 new. I get a lot of these offers.

[saturnv7890]

Recoil pad on a bb gun?

[chance]

Generally I agree, but haggling was something that didnt come to me naturally. I have been working on it since owning the e30 (year and a half now).

I am generally patient enough to wait till I see the item I want at a price I find acceptable. Most of the time I negotiate in person if I am going to negotiate, but if the item is far away and is more than I want to pay, I will either pass, or after a few messages back and forth, I will let them know how far of a drive it is for me, and negotiate the price to something I am willing to pay. I almost never lowball someone, unless the item is not as described when I see it in person.

[saturnv7890]

I've never understood why lowballing is such a bad thing, all a seller has to do is say no!

I'd rather get a few lowballs to say no to than nothing at all for weeks at a time

[SmokeE30]

I bring the asking price in cash and negotiate in person. As a seller I refuse to give somebody the option of negotiating the price on a car if they are unwilling to come look at it first. I find that's the best way to do it, CL is full of flakes why bother haggling through email when the person can't show up anyway. When I buy stuff I ask questions about the item to see if I want to commit to grabbing a wad of cash and taking a drive to see it, but I give everything a good once over before I even mention price. People are a lot more receptive to offers when there's cash in hand, I know I am

[matthugie]

whenever I set a price on CL etc I tend to exercize "psychological pricing"

meaning, you can ask a "higher price" by utilizing lower numbers in which apeases the buyers mindset that these lower numbers represent a "good deal"

check it out...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing

That article is partially right at best and definitely dated. As someone who is a pricing professional (and has been for the better part of a decade), consumers are already conditioned to the $0.99 thing. As evidence, I suggest you go to Wal-Mart and look at their pricing. They've already taken it a step farther, and everything now ends in an 8. Anchoring does have its place in behavioral economics, but in this respect it's a bit antiquated.

[george graves]

Chris Andrson has 2 great books the interwebs and selling. "Free" and "The Long Tail" - both very interesting.

When it comes to cars, I can usually guess what is the lowest price they will take. When someone lists something at $3800, they want $3500. You can usually spot their padding in the list price.

whoever states a price first loses.

Very true! Also, if you're doing a deal that is mufti-fasciated, don't agree to any one thing until all the different parts have been discussed. I learned that lesson the hard way.

[z31maniac]

I said I get offered less but I never said I accepted less :D

I've made the mistake of giving my lowest price a few times in the past but now I just tell people to make an offer, or I say the asking price is my lowest price.

I typically price stuff, shipping included, that I know will not ensure haggling. I ask market price and move on.

Apparently some people like wasting their time over trying to get a few extra bucks. :)

[Exodus_2pt0]

Waiting patiently for more money is not a waste, unless the item for sale cost you money to keep. I don't have to take time out of my day to keep this thing, and it makes taking the trash to the end of my 1/2 mile driveway less of a chore.

So why should I accept a low ball offer again? Keeping the item has value to me, as it is not a drain and provides joy. I can ride it and will, until someone who appreciates what it is and wants it, comes up with fair market value.

[z31maniac]

I didn't say lowball, I said market value.

For instance I just sold the brakes/suspension off the Miata track for $1450 shipped. They sold in about 4 hours.

Could I have waited weeks and potentially received another $100? $150? Yeah, but now the money is already in my money market account and I'm about to ship the parts.

It's just all in what your priorities are. Dealing with tire kickers and broke-ass baggy pants is not something I enjoy.

[LEANE30]

Agreed fully with premise of thread. The art is dead. I enjoy it, but hate it when idiots waste my time. Best experience selling on CL was an old tool box, asked 125 wanted at least 100. In the posting I stated "serious inquiries only, (Had all specs and data listed), cash only, no trades. not to be rude but if you call me and try to lowball your offer, I will hang up the phone on you. Pick up in person only. Do not waste my time and I will do my best not to waste your time. If this ad is still posted, the box is still for sale."

Not a single reply for 5 weeks, then a guy called and asked me if I would take 100, he could meet me that weekend, and deal was done. I was able to forget about it until the call, agreed and scheduled the time.

As a buyer, I use the psychological digit values "anchoring" as stated above. If haggling for a car, I will make two offers below a flat thousand value then make a show about grudgingly going up to the flat thousand number when I'd actually be willing to go a couple hundred higher yet, but often enough they take it thinking the sale is lost, happy to have gotten that thousand threshold.

I'm the type that likes garage sales for the interaction, and it's most effective to lowball people when in person, you can tell when someone is firm in their offer by the body language and eye contact. Lowball someone and hold their eye contact till they are uncomfortable and break their look first. If they haven't rejected by the time they break eye contact you've got them on the ropes.

Wise grandpa, get them to state their price first

[mccor023]

http://youtu.be/G401CC5Rep8

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