Selling used equipment and nasty/agressive buyers

[HTSS_TR]

Selling on Craigslist is almost the same as selling a house. Seller lists selling price, buyer offers a purchase price, usually lower than asking price, buyer and seller negotiate(counter offer(s)). If both settle on a price then the deal is done, if not wait for a new buyer.

Yes, once in while a buyer agree to seller asking price, but not very often.

 

[AuthorEditor]

By the way, put the shoe on the other foot. How do you treat sellers? Personally, I never contact someone unless I'm serious about the product at the price or close to what they are asking. If someone is listing something that is way overpriced I just don't bother. An old friend gave me a great piece of advice many years ago about purchasing things. Decide what an item is worth to you and be willing to pay it. You will be happier and the seller happier. Sometimes you find things that are overpriced and underpriced, but know what it is worth to you. I'm always surprised when one side or the other gets upset about an offer--I could care less if you offer me 50% of the asking price. I will either reject, or counteroffer, or maybe even say "yes" sometimes if I want to get rid of it. Emotions don't help the sale.

 

[CarbonSteel]

I recently sold the OEM wheels and tires from my Brute Force on C/L. I priced them at $200 which is $25 for the tire and $25 for the wheels (which were polished aluminum). They had less then 75 miles on them when I removed them and installed the aftermarket tires and wheels. They had been stored in plastic bags in a climate controlled environment and were in perfect condition.

I had several people offer $100 or $150 and I ended up editing the ad to add the word "firm" behind the price. I kept turning down offers until a guy north of me asked about them and said no problem on the $200. I drove about 30 miles to meet him in the middle because he seemed to be a nice guy. He was amazed at the condition and wondered why I was selling them so cheap.

Moral of the story is there will be about 7 jerks to 3 good guys on a C/L sale (depending on your area).

 

[HM12460]

I buy/fix/re-sell a lot of outdoor power equipment as a hobby and been selling on e-bay and craigslist for many years now. I prefer to sell on craigslist. I generally price something just a bit higher so a buyer feels like they are "getting a deal" when I agree to a bit less. 2 times in 15 years I told someone they needed to leave right now, and I didn't say it quite that nice. Do not let anyone in your house or garage. They don't need to see what is in there. I have had good results, and try hard to treat people with courtesy and respect. The road goes both ways on that one.

 

[01rangerxl]

As many good Craigslist sales as I have had, stuff like this is why I don't use it much any more. Power equipment is the worst to sell in my experience too.

 

[MolaKule]

Simply remind them of the true definition of, "FIRM PRICE."

Quote:
Do not let anyone in your house or garage. They don't need to see what is in there.


Exactly. Show them only the item to be sold and nothing else.

 

[4wheeldog]

Originally Posted By: andyd
My last 3 mowers and a few sno blowers from Craigslists Free Stuff. All transactions were friendly. Guess I'm just lucky

Dealing with people when listing free stuff is THE WORST!
People interested in free stuff want it delivered, and in perfect condition.

Hard to believe, but you are better off putting a price on it.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

I have about $3000 worth of radio control cars I need to sell in the near future, and eBay and Craigslist threads like this one always make me wonder if it's just easier to keep all of it.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Moral of the story is there will be about 7 jerks to 3 good guys on a C/L sale (depending on your area).

Agree.

There are some good guys, some not so goods and some are just nasty.

As a seller I would never upset with any buyer, regardless of how they try to steal my product(s) (offering pennies for dollar).

I sold some expensive Cognac bottle on Craigslist, from around $400 up to $1,500 a bottle without problem.

Just price anything a little higher so the buyer would think that he got a bargain when I agree to his lower price.

 

[linkbelt]

Originally Posted By: Olas
If you don't like people's tendency to haggle, throw away instead of selling.


A capital idea!

 

[Chris142]

We deal with another shop often. When he brings in say an Ac hose to be made I will tell him $47. He comes to pick it up and only brings $32. After a couple of times messing with this screwball we raised the price on him. Now we tell him $72 and he shows up with $57 which is $10 more than we would have charged.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
We deal with another shop often. When he brings in say an Ac hose to be made I will tell him $47. He comes to pick it up and only brings $32. After a couple of times messing with this screwball we raised the price on him. Now we tell him $72 and he shows up with $57 which is $10 more than we would have charged.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

I've never used Craigslist before a few weeks ago. I bought a really nice set of OEM '14 Accord aluminum wheels and still-good Michelins from a guy in the next county over. I had cash in hand, I was willing to pay full price (but was hoping to get a deal since it was a little high), and I showed up on time after exchanging a few text messages. It went smoothly and I got a break on the price. It was surprising and a nice experience.

But as I said above, I'm not real sure I want to try selling on CL because I don't know if I'll find too many 'normal', rational people like myself to sell my stuff to. People can be weird when trying to feel the other out to see what they can get away with, and can sometimes have some pretty severe personality clashes and arguments. I'm not real good with that. lol

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I will tell him $47. He comes to pick it up and only brings $32.

It's that kind of **** that I would have absolutely no patience for.

 

[sleddriver]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
We deal with another shop often. When he brings in say an Ac hose to be made I will tell him $47. He comes to pick it up and only brings $32. After a couple of times messing with this screwball we raised the price on him. Now we tell him $72 and he shows up with $57 which is $10 more than we would have charged.
I had someone pull this when I sold my old SAAB 900T with 256,000mi on it. He said he was short a few hundred. So I thought for a moment, then removed the Alpine HU, the Alpine power amp, the custom EQ I built and the VIFA free-air subwoofer I installed. I offered him the OEM Clarion unit. This Alpine stuff was made in Japan and high-quality.

So yeah, he got it for a couple hundred less, but he left with no Alpine stereo and wires hanging out of the dash.

I could tell he wasn't expecting this........

 

[Andrew1972]

You got your $350 and rid of your tractor. I'd focus on positive nor negative if you can.

 

[javacontour]

While I like your strategy, I'd be tempted to make up a dummy hose and when he shows up with 25% less, you pull out your saw and cut 25% off the hose and say here is your $32 hose.

But your strategy ultimately makes you more money, so you win!

Originally Posted By: Chris142
We deal with another shop often. When he brings in say an Ac hose to be made I will tell him $47. He comes to pick it up and only brings $32. After a couple of times messing with this screwball we raised the price on him. Now we tell him $72 and he shows up with $57 which is $10 more than we would have charged.

 

[Kira]

Where to begin?
1) I agree with the 3:7 ----good guys to jerks ratio.
==> I really hate the "automatic lowball" emails you get. They're kinda creepy.
2) The few bucks higher to let 'em bargain down is OK too as asinine as it can seem.
==> The 10¢ garage sale item engenders lots of super lowballing.
3) Keep 'em outta your house is 100% smart. Many would eschew selling to strangers altogether.
4) "Deal with selling it or toss it" is also a GREAT notion.
5) Make it CLEAR in the ad that the price is firm.

The good is that the "people thing" is still alive and well. I contacted a man selling the trailer hitch from his dead father's car. We agreed to meet in a parking lot midway between us and it worked perfect.
His $85 price was fair and the article was EXACTLY as described.
I didn't even thing of bargaining.

 

[sir1900]

Try VarageSale.com if it is available in your area.

I like VS because you don't get the kind of flaky buyers sites like CL attracts. Sure -- you'll get the odd lowballer but for the most part, the buying and selling experience is quite good.

 

[3800Series]

It's just one of those thing's. Some people take good care of their items and ask a fair price, others tear their stuff up and ask retail.

You just don't know who's who online.