I miss the days when people knew how to haggle

[39martind18]

The last thing I haggled on was the '79 Vibrolux Reverb I bought from a local pawnshop about a year ago. I spotted the amp in question against a back wall and started to inspect it. It was priced at $320, which really got my attention, good and bad. I got my guitar, plugged the amp in- it lit up but no sound, checked the speaker leads, all good. At this point, I went to the counter and offered 250 for it, since it didn't function. They hemmed and hawed around for a little bit, then I mentioned I'd have to sink at least 4-500 in it to bring it up to snuff, citing the need for new power caps, possible new speakers and any other unforseen problems. They bit, and now, about 250 + another 400 later, I have a very well reconditioned Silverface VR for less than $700. The key to successful negotiation is to know what you want to pay, have good info to back your position, and be reasonable in your expectations if you are going to lowball. I would have paid the price asked, but with my approach, I got bit better of a really outstanding deal. Do I haggle, yes I do!

 

[Milspec]

Personally, I do not haggle. I make the offer that I feel is fair, if not accepted, I move on. I just don't care for the whole dance.

When I made the mistake of trying to buy a rug in Afghanistan from a street vendor, I was nearly killed for not haggling. I asked what the price was, he told me, I agreed. You would think that would be a good transaction, but not only did that vendor get mad, but all the other vendors around him ganged up on me for not haggling over the price. I finally low-balled the guy, he countered, I countered, and he accepted....for less than what I was going to pay him originally.

The whole thing reminded me of the negotiations in the movie "Horrible Bosses" with MF Jones....why go through all that?

 

[getbent]

I don't enjoy the 'sport' of haggling. but, I can appreciate either A) good natured back and forth for fun on an item that doesn't matter (like at a garage sale or something) or B) where I see an ad for something on CL and the ask price is not what I would want to pay for the item (the value isn't there at that price) so, I will send a note, compliment the item, express interest in the item at a price I think is really the 'right' price based on how I think the market would value the piece.

I also look at how long the item has been for sale etc. I wanted a Peloton last year and saw that like dogs, everyone got one during the 'thing' and now everyone wanted rid of them. I saw a gazillion ads for them almost all at the same price, then I narrowed my search to items that had been up at least 3 weeks and by people I could reasonably suspect never used the peloton.

Then I wrote the three I singled out the same note offering considerably less than their asking price (about 40% off.) About 2 hours went by an I got a response from a guy in San Carlos who said, 'Sweet, I just want it gone!'

I've been looking at a D18 that has a small crack. I haven't seen the guitar in person yet, but several friends here have told me not to be too concerned about it. I offered the seller the price that I think I could get for it if I had to sell it (less than he is asking) his ad has been up 30 days.

Our correspondence has been without any heat. He wants to see if he gets full price and I rooted him on and said, 'Keep your ad up, if, at the end, you still have the guitar, know you have a buyer at the price I offered and he said, if I still have it, I will sell it to you.' Maybe he will and maybe he won't, right? He may not need the money. The peloton guy absolutely did not need the money and did not give a crapola what he got for it, he advertised it at the 'going rate' so that it would appear like the others and be trusted.

The martin guy may not need money either, but he may have a 'principle' to it and it can sit in the closet for awhile longer rather than feel like I got a 'deal'.

Cars? Houses? Big Stuff? I've mostly been happy, but I have found each time it is a little bit different.

 

[Piggy Stu]

Had a bike for sale for ages, fair price. Dummy asks me if I am able to move on price, so I said I was owner not agent and could choose any figure

He replies to say I will never sell it with my attitude

Sold it 2 days later to a bike trader for over 90 % of asking

Some people go into a deal looking to vanquish a foe and coward out when you remain calm and firm. I prefer people who say things like 'I think it is worth x' or 'I am prepared to pay Y', and we both part agreeable even if no deal

 

[Dukex]

Yes, I know when to haggle and how to haggle. I've saved thousands$.

 

[ChicknPickn]

No you don't.

I seen what ya did there.

 

[Milspec]

I'd say, "Sounds good. Here's my address for you to send $1234 cash. Once received, I'll ship out the next day."

At that point, *crickets*

I actually did a crazy deal like that a few years ago for a Lindy Fralin VVT combo.

The guy lived 4 States away and we spoke about the deal for an hour on the phone, but he was an older gent who refused to move money electronically and I wasn't about to fly 4 States away to pick it up. One of the skills you develop working law enforcement is the ability to tell if somebody is lying during an interview, and this guy came across very honest.

So, really wanting that amp, I knew one of us would have to trust the other and make a leap of faith. I chose to do it and told him that I would send a check, when it cleared, he would ship the amp. We exchanged addresses and hung up the phone.

I mailed the check that day....he called me the same day from UPS with the tracking number and said it was on the way. We both chose to trust the other and the deal went without a hitch. A Fralin Combo in mint condition, less than 6 months old (sold for health reasons) for $1,000...he even paid the shipping which I split with him later.

 

[Colo Springs E]

I actually did a crazy deal like that a few years ago for a Lindy Fralin VVT combo.

The guy lived 4 States away and we spoke about the deal for an hour on the phone, but he was an older gent who refused to move money electronically and I wasn't about to fly 4 States away to pick it up. One of the skills you develop working law enforcement is the ability to tell if somebody is lying during an interview, and this guy came across very honest.

So, really wanting that amp, I knew one of us would have to trust the other and make a leap of faith. I chose to do it and told him that I would send a check, when it cleared, he would ship the amp. We exchanged addresses and hung up the phone.

I mailed the check that day....he called me the same day from UPS with the tracking number and said it was on the way. We both chose to trust the other and the deal went without a hitch. A Fralin Combo in mint condition, less than 6 months old (sold for health reasons) for $1,000...he even paid the shipping which I split with him later.

I've done that as well a couple times. No issues.

 

[burntfrijoles]

I make one offer. If there’s a counter that is to my liking then I accept. If not then I move on. I know what I’m willing to pay or how much something is worth to me.
I know by the counter if the seller is reasonable.

 

[telemaster03]

Every price is negotiable. If I’m buying I’m trying to pay the least, if I’m selling I’m trying to get the most. Every purchase/sale is unique and I’m operating without that knowledge…desperation sale or someone trying to make a profit on a piece they don’t want or they think a little too highly of?

if I ask what you’ll take and you tell me make an offer and then don’t respond to the offer, then that is completely on you.…even if you just scold me for offering too low. See above. Could be your price is ridiculous and half is realistic, I know I sure have run into those types of sellers.

Haggling ticks me off sometimes but it’s part of the deal. That’s part of why every price guide I’ve ever seen has a high and low range and not a fixed amount. Use the pricing guide on Reverb or check Guitar Center pricing, they are usually pretty close and at least give you a reasonable baseline on the true value. VG’s annual price guide is good for older/vintage gear.

 

[Mjark]

I used to negotiate for a living but I wouldn’t do so when buying or selling a guitar.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I generally always ask up front if the item is a firm price or negotiable. If they tell me it's some negotible I generally respond something like..."your (whatever gear) may be worth more than you're asking but right now I can give $XXX.00.

That tends not to irritate them rather than just low balling them from the get go so much that they won't deal with you at all.

On the flip side if somebody lowballs me without a little tact I will sometimes just counter with a higher price than I posted it.

 

[telemnemonics]

The attitudes of people seem more and more amazing in terms of how easily many folks are offended.
Like seller is offended by any offer below asking price.
Buyer is offended by sellers who refuse to haggle/ negotiate/ consider offers/ respond when given an offer etc.

I bought and sold stuff in NYC where I dealt with many ethnic groups.
Ethnicity makes no difference at the level of DNA but culturally it does make a difference.
I will skip naming ethnic groups!
Some folks insult your goods you arebtrying to sell, and I found that insulting until I saw them (like dealers in shops) treat everyone the same way, and when between members of the same ethnic group.
OK so that is just their way.

Some will offer the price they are willing to pay, maybe 10-15% below asking.
Others will offer half the asking price expecting to go back and forth until a middle numer is found that both parties are happy with.
If the buyer offers their highest, there is no more negotiating, and the seller may not know they were done.

I think a waste of emotion is in feeling that if a potential buyer would love to buy your object for $1000 when tou want $2000, them telling you that is a personal attack.
Just say sorry, I cannot go that low but thanks for asking.
Maybe they go rustle up more money since you were at least nice about saying no?

It also helps I think to be familiar wih the situation.
Like GC cannot take offers until a pice sits I think 60 days.
Even then, the amount they can more is controlled by corporate.
No point getting offended.
Their offers can seem offensive too, but just say OK nope cant sell for that little. They will not be offended.

 

[telemnemonics]

I actually did a crazy deal like that a few years ago for a Lindy Fralin VVT combo.

The guy lived 4 States away and we spoke about the deal for an hour on the phone, but he was an older gent who refused to move money electronically and I wasn't about to fly 4 States away to pick it up. One of the skills you develop working law enforcement is the ability to tell if somebody is lying during an interview, and this guy came across very honest.

So, really wanting that amp, I knew one of us would have to trust the other and make a leap of faith. I chose to do it and told him that I would send a check, when it cleared, he would ship the amp. We exchanged addresses and hung up the phone.

I mailed the check that day....he called me the same day from UPS with the tracking number and said it was on the way. We both chose to trust the other and the deal went without a hitch. A Fralin Combo in mint condition, less than 6 months old (sold for health reasons) for $1,000...he even paid the shipping which I split with him later.

I went to look at a car that had been for sale a couple of weeks and the price had dropped.
Two visits, and on the second visit I looked at the dealer service records then pulled out a stack of $100s and offered $1900 to his $2100 asking which was down from I think $2600.
Mentioned it needed tires and rear brakes.
His mouth dropped open and he stammered NOW?
Guess he had gotten lots of idiots doing idiot stuff, IDK but he countered my $1900 offer with $1850!
He and his wife were oddly delighted, as if I was soooo nice!
I was happy to pay the $1900 but they were happy to end the ordeal of showing it to whatever humanoids had been there prior.

 

[Informal]

I don't... My cheap ass Father, passed on a few 60's Strats and Les Pauls at a Flea Market in Phoenix, that were in the $150-$200 range in the late 70's (shopping for my first guitar) because he couldn't cut 50% off the asking price.

My first guitar was a $30ish Guyatone, that SRV wouldn't have been able to fret a note on.

My old man should have known better, His dad dropped over $1200 on a brand new Fender Steel and tweed amp, in the late 50's.

I should really stop busting his balls about this.... He gave me his Fender pedal steel a few years ago, and gave me his amp when he got me the Guyatone.... and I promptly ripped the tweed off it, and painted it black lol.
In retrospect, I didn't deserve any better than that POS Guyatone... It's a wonder I stuck with guitar though, the thing was basically unplayable.

 

[johnny k]

I never liked haggling. I have a fixed price in my head. If you're close to that, I'll buy it. If I do make an offer and it is rejected, I walk away.

I don't lowball. I research the market. I took econ 101. I don't need to "win" or squeeze the last nickle out. I'm happy with someone making a reasonable profit. I'm not playing a game.

same here. Puts me ill at ease.

 

[1293]

If you're willing to haggle, you're asking more than you want. I don't understand trying to squeeze money out of someone. It seems dishonest. I would much rather make someone happy with a good deal than make more money.

 

[KokoTele]

If you're willing to haggle, you're asking more than you want. I don't understand trying to squeeze money out of someone. It seems dishonest. I would much rather make someone happy with a good deal than make more money.

I think you misunderstand how this works. In markets where it's common for people to offer prices lower than the asking price, pricing an item above the anticipated selling price creates some flexibility in making a deal. It's not about trying to squeeze money out of someone, particularly not if your asking price is in a reasonable range to begin with.

 

[SASouth]

I’m one that doesn’t mind haggling. I’m actually pretty good at it. What I won’t do though is negotiate against myself.

I post my asking price, if you don’t want to pay that, make a reasonable offer. Don’t start off by asking me what my best price is. Why would you expect me to haggle against myself? I usually tell them that I can’t be both seller and the buyer and to make an offer.

I see that tactic as just laziness on the part of the buyer and it tells me you are not really serious about buying.

 

[KokoTele]

Another example of someone unclear on the concept...

Guitar was priced at $2500 about the same as recent sales, and about 10% above my floor:

Buyer: I'll give you $1700

Me: That's far too low. I'd make a deal right now at $2400.

Buyer: It's still too expensive for me. $1800.

Me: I'm getting a fair amount of interest and I think it was already priced fairly, and it hasn't been on the market long. I'm not ready to move that far on the price. I'd do $2300.

Buyer: I really want it, and we're not that far apart. Can't you meet me halfway?

Me: You're close to 30% below what I'd sell it for. Halfway to far too low is still far too low.

I sold it a few days later to someone who offered full price.