FS Question

[jpattersonnh]

So why do folks feel the need to offer a price lower than advertized. Even if the Item is well below wholesale cost currently? It really ticks me off. As does the I'll take it but have no $. I love the I'll take the rifle for XX.00 but you keep the scope and mount on an original matched sniper. Where do these people come from??? I always add extra if I'm selling and you travel up here. I have also found most members to be as honest and upstanding as can be. Met some great folks. I don't understand the attempt to offer lower than, on an already good deal. JP

 

[pmb44]

I hate when you put up an ad with a very reasonable price and then someone send your a PM with a price so low its almost insulting.

 

[Flyer007]

I only haggle when I think the item is priced high.

For example. I didn't haggle on the M& FS .40 I just got from PistolPete.

Reason is that I itemized out what it would have cost me to get the pistol, send it to Burwell for comp trigger and sight work and to buy two extra mags. His price was less then what I could do it for, the pistol only had 200 or so rounds through it so I felt he priced it right and fair. It saved me $$ and more so TIME.

So maybe someone else wouldn't have valued it out the way did and therefore would have tried to haggle.

 

[Franco]

I hate when you put up an ad with a very reasonable price and then someone send your a PM with a price so low its almost insulting.

i have had this happen to me everytime i post something on craigslist,..i write back with an even more insulting email(but in a nice way of course). stand firm , they usually are trying to test how bad you need the money. if you come across confident and are selling at a fair price they will come to thier senses.

 

[Larry Legend]

I see lots of posts selling ammo, specifically .40 FMJ for more expensive than I could buy it in a store. If I can buy target ammo at walmart for $0.26/round, then I am not gonna pay someone on here $0.30+ per round.

 

[rbert0005]

It seems to be the status quo around here.

Another pet peev is guys selling 400 dollar guns for 800 just because it's Mass.

Bob

 

[depicts]

I think there are a lot of people who "troll" the classifieds trying to buy stuff cheap. They make lowball offers, and every once in awhile someone takes them up on it.

You see the same names over and over. Some of them have threads 15 pages long asking to buy the same thing. How many offers do you think they get? How many do you think they buy?

Some regular sellers on here are real good guys. rbert0005 is one of them. He has stuff a lot of times, and I've dealt with him. His stuff is what he says it is, and he's a square shooter.

Some people will always be in just for themselves. Meanwhile, this forum is made up of a lot of good men and women who are trying to be fair and honest. You just have to figure out who is who.

EDIT: On the other hand, there are people here selling junk. They ask $99 for a gun that isn'tworth $25. I want to write them and say... "What the heck are you thinking". But I shut up. I can see why someone who knows what a piece of crap is worth would offer less... if they want it at all.

 

[M1911]

No need to hate. When I troll through the classifieds and see items offered at prices I think are way too high, I just chuckle and move on. I do the same when I see offers to buy at a ridiculously low price.

 

[appraiser]

I will counter offer if I see the asking price is above what my research says the item is worth. Most of the time we are close to begin with.

I bought a Beretta 9000 a couple of weeks ago, the asking was a tad high, I countered and the gentleman held his price (we were 25 bucks apart) but offered to toss in some .40 ammo to sweeten the deal. The .40 ammo was worth more to me than the 25 bucks so it was SOLD AMERICAN!

Most of the time I find the stuff want is reasonably priced and I just peel off C notes to get them. If the price is above what I feel it is worth by more than a few bucks, I pass on it without contacting the seller.

 

[TonyDedo]

I don't get why people get so up in arms when you make an offer that's below asking price. All you have to do is say "no," or "my price is firm." They're making an offer to buy something you're selling, not insulting your mother. This isn't Sear's; most people are willing negotiate.

And a LOT of people have unreasonable expectations as to how much they can sell their items for. If it's been up on the forum for two weeks, it's probably priced too high.

 

[jpattersonnh]

I don't get why people get so up in arms when you make an offer that's below asking price. All you have to do is say "no," or "my price is firm." They're making an offer to buy something you're selling, not insulting your mother. This isn't Sear's; most people are willing negotiate.

And a LOT of people have unreasonable expectations as to how much they can sell their items for. If it's been up on the forum for two weeks, it's probably priced too high.

So If I post a sell price $25.00 under wholesale on a NEW firearm and I recieve an offer $25.00 under that, I should not feel insulted? I was offered $ less for a sniper, rifle only. Keep the matching base and rings w/ scope. The individual suggested I "try" to sell the scope and base for a $50.00 hit. I'd rather burn it. I give ammo away, offer extra mags on sales on rifles for real short cash. I'm tired of games. Yes you want it, or No you don't. I owe you nothing!!! I can wait another 15 years and double the price. It will sit in a safe or I may decide I really need it. JP

 

[Rob Boudrie]

People expect deals from private sales. $25 below wholesale isn't a huge deal, particularly among people well connected enough that they are already paying wholesale. If someone buys wholesale, they deal with a known vendor (no logistical difficulties), and they get their pick of the exact model, and can buy it at any time, not just when a private seller has a single unit. Sell a single unit in a particular configuration "new used" (i.e., unshot but not new from the distributor merchandise) and you can't expect to do as well as a wholesaler who regularly makes the entire product line available.

It's no more appropriate for a seller to be insulted by a lowball offer than for a prospective buyer to be insulted by a high price tag. It's business, not a comment about your mother's lineage.

 

[ScottS]

So If I post a sell price $25.00 under wholesale on a NEW firearm and I recieve an offer $25.00 under that, I should not feel insulted? I was offered $ less for a sniper, rifle only. Keep the matching base and rings w/ scope. The individual suggested I "try" to sell the scope and base for a $50.00 hit. I'd rather burn it. I give ammo away, offer extra mags on sales on rifles for real short cash. I'm tired of games. Yes you want it, or No you don't. I owe you nothing!!! I can wait another 15 years and double the price. It will sit in a safe or I may decide I really need it. JP

No, you shouldn't be insulted. As hard as it is for some people to realize, it's just business. The correct answer is "No, thanks" (or just no response) and that's the end of it. Likewise, when I see outrageously high prices, I'm not "insulted" that this guy is asking $.85/round for surplus .308 when the going rate is around $.50. I just shrug and move on. Every single day I see stuff for sale and say, "Wow, that's way too high." and every single day a bunch of that stuff sells. What seems outrageous to me may be well within someone else's acceptable range. If the price is too high, the item will not sell. If the item sells, then by definition, the price is not too high.

Honest to God, sometimes I think people have no idea of how things work in a free market economy. I laugh every time I see a seller add "I paid $xxx.xx for it," or "I am just looking to get my money back." Try that with your house in a down market. Something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay. The market determines the price. What you paid for it is totally irrelevant. It may be more, less, or the same as, the current market price. I certainly wouldn't expect to say to a seller, "Well, you only paid $19/battle pack for that .308, so I should only pay you the same price."

Now, having said all that, I'm not a big fan of the guy who, when you're selling a complete rifle with 'scope and 5 magazines, asks if you'd consider just screwing off the flash hider and one of the magazine followers and selling them separately. I mean, what's that all about?

 

[TonyDedo]

So If I post a sell price $25.00 under wholesale on a NEW firearm and I recieve an offer $25.00 under that, I should not feel insulted? I was offered $ less for a sniper, rifle only. Keep the matching base and rings w/ scope. The individual suggested I "try" to sell the scope and base for a $50.00 hit. I'd rather burn it. I give ammo away, offer extra mags on sales on rifles for real short cash. I'm tired of games. Yes you want it, or No you don't. I owe you nothing!!! I can wait another 15 years and double the price. It will sit in a safe or I may decide I really need it. JP

First of all, "new" means NOTHING to me if you're not a dealer. You wanna talk about something I'm sick of, it's every other firearm on forums across the internet being advertised as "new, unfired." I don't believe that for a minute, and I'm not going to pay new or near-new prices for a gun coming from an unknown individual. If I'm going to buy a gun new it's worth the extra $25 to buy it from a established dealer located close to me who I can go to if there is a problem, rather than drive all over creation to buy a gun from someone I don't know and will probably never be able to get in touch with again.

Rob is right, when people buy guns from the classified section, they expect deals. They also expect to be able to negotiate, haggle, and they expect sellers who actually WANT to sell whatever it is they're selling to be flexible enough to make it happen.

If you're tired of games, then bring your guns down to the nearest gun shop and put them on consignment. Otherwise, this is the reality of selling through classified ads.

 

[type911]

What I hate is Dealers that want 18-20% consignment. Especially when there is hardly any merchandise on the shelves. Or how dealers offer below trade in value for a piece that is in great condition? I think it goes both ways for the most part. The easiest thing to do, is to just say no.

 

[jpattersonnh]

If you're tired of games, then bring your guns down to the nearest gun shop and put them on consignment. Otherwise, this is the reality of selling through classified ads.

You must be an individual in a socialist State or new to the game! Try to make a deal on gunboards. If I was to sell on consignment at Rileys it would be $200.00 over my price. I always say, I owe you nothing. I don't know you, have no History w/ you. The $ stated is the sell value. I think that is fair. If you doubt what I am stating, come and see! Be my/ everyones big brother. You better be good! I'm 47 and been at it for 20+ years. I"ll keep 'em, no sweat off my ass. JP

 

[ScottS]

You wanna talk about something I'm sick of, it's every other firearm on forums across the internet being advertised as "new, unfired."

The one I love is "RARE!"

 

[TonyDedo]

I fail to see how I’m the socialist. I’m saying that this is the way the open market works – either deal with it, or go sell your stuff somewhere else.

You say you owe me nothing, and I say that I owe you nothing – you can set your price at whatever “sell value” you want, but I’m sure as hell not going to pay it if I don’t think it’s reasonable. And if your gun isn’t selling and people are making offers below what you’re asking, then it probably isn’t reasonable – I don’t need to see it to know that. Like ScottS said, value is only what someone is willing to pay for it.

 

[KMS]

What pisses me off is when I post FREE stuff on craigslist I get half a dozen replies they want it...I choose the first one...say its thiers come get it..and they never show up.[sad2]

 

[rbert0005]

When I pit up a gun for sale I ask a more than fair price. When I say it is in UNFIRED condition, it IS.

When someone offers a LOWBALL offer it is insulting to me and speaks volumes about the person who made the offer.

Remind me not to bend over in front of one of those people. When someone offers an item for a fair price I don't believe it is required to try to lowball him.
It's BS.

It makes me think of the person who is behind someone who drops a twenty while standing in line somewhere and putting his foot on it instead of telling the person who dropped it.

Bob

 

[Supermoto]

You people take buying and selling too personally. Not everyone agrees on the value of a product. Don't take it as a personal insult if I don't think what you are selling is worth the price

what you think is a fair price, may not be what others think is fair

case in point. $700 for a M&P, trigger jobs and sights add no value to the gun for me. But for others it does, so the sale way made to someone that sees the value.

 

[djs764]

You must be an individual in a socialist State or new to the game! Try to make a deal on gunboards. If I was to sell on consignment at Rileys it would be $200.00 over my price. I always say, I owe you nothing. I don't know you, have no History w/ you. The $ stated is the sell value. I think that is fair. If you doubt what I am stating, come and see! Be my/ everyones big brother. You better be good! I'm 47 and been at it for 20+ years. I"ll keep 'em, no sweat off my ass. JP

When you go to buy a new vehicle do you pay sticker price or do you haggle with them ? It never hurts to make an offer below what someone is asking, if you don't like it don't respond. To you it may be an offensive offer but to the other party it may be all they can afford and are looking for a seller who may be hard up for cash.

When I'm selling something, anything, I always ask more than I'm willing to take because people like to haggle with you and then they think they got a better deal by beating you down a few bucks when in reality it's what I wanted in the first place...Everyone's happy then

 

[Geoff C]

Pretty much the entire world outside of the United States revolves around bartering. If you goto Asia and pay what somebody is asking for something, you just got screwed.

Not sure why you would get so upset about somebody making a lowball offer. Its usually just an entry point for bartering. They go low, you go high, meet in the middle. If you are firm, let them know and have a nice day.

 

[drgrant]

So why do folks feel the need to offer a price lower than advertized. Even if the Item is well below wholesale cost currently? It really ticks me off. As does the I'll take it but have no $. I love the I'll take the rifle for XX.00 but you keep the scope and mount on an original matched sniper. Where do these people come from??? I always add extra if I'm selling and you travel up here. I have also found most members to be as honest and upstanding as can be. Met some great folks. I don't understand the attempt to offer lower than, on an already good deal. JP

Human nature. If you want to stop it, just state "Price is XXX Firm. Any and all lowball offers will be rejected/ignored." Anyone serious about buying your item will not
be put off by that, they'll still buy it. I know because I've basically done it before several times, and had no trouble moving whatever I posted that way.

-Mike

 

[drgrant]

When you go to buy a new vehicle do you pay sticker price or do you haggle with them ?

I don't think cars are a really good point of comparison for anything WRT price negotiation- as there is often a lot of fluff built into the price of a new car, especially.... and everyone knows it, and the dealers love playing games with it. A car is not a loaf of bread, or a box of ammo.

ETA: I'm not suggesting that haggling is right or wrong, per se, just that in some circumstances its practically expected and in other circumstances, you can offend a thin skinned seller of the merchandise, or if they're not so thin skinned, they'll just laugh at you instead, which is what they should do instead of getting upset.

When I'm selling something, anything, I always ask more than I'm willing to take because people like to haggle with you and then they think they got a better deal by beating you down a few bucks when in reality it's what I wanted in the first place...Everyone's happy then

I don't- because I don't like haggling so I don't force other people to do it, either, if I can avoid it. It's also partially because I just skip ads with stuff that I think is
overpriced altogether, unless the item is "special" or "rare" (and most arent) I just skip it. By overpricing a gun (or whatever) you're basically blowing off a whole
segment of buyers that don't want to play games. If you price something at or near fair market value, it'll sell. If it doesn't move, you crank the price down until it does.

-Mike

 

[RI_John]

I love reading the classifieds and seeing an item being bumped for the same price for the 100th straight week! I always wonder if it's a cyborg with an infinite lifetime selling it, or just an eternal optimist, like the guy that stands in the middle of the street in front of the stadium on Superbowl Sunday with a sign saying "Free tickets wanted!"

 

[ScottS]

When I pit up a gun for sale I ask a more than fair price. When I say it is in UNFIRED condition, it IS.

When someone offers a LOWBALL offer it is insulting to me and speaks volumes about the person who made the offer.

Bob

Another guy who doesn't understand the free market. A price isn't "fair" because you say it is. One man's lowball is another man's "fair" price. It's just business, and if you and some random seller disagree on what a "fair" price is, why is that insulting? It just means there is a difference of opinion on the value, and no sale.

"Gosh. That guy doesn't agree with me on what consitutes a fair price. He'll probably steal from me, too". WTF?

 

[abomb60]

It seems to be the status quo around here.

Another pet peev is guys selling 400 dollar guns for 800 just because it's Mass.

Bob

Unfortunately that is all about supply & demand. If you want it bad enough you'll pay for it ... just like anything else that's rare or collectible. Not to say i'm cool with it but it's just they way it is.

 

[USMA-82]

If an item is priced too high, it's because one of three situations exists:

1) I (the buyer) don't know the actual market value
2) The seller doesn't know the actual market value
3) The seller knows the value, but is trying to make a killing

For situation 1 and 2, a little bartering and conversation doesn't hurt. Either side might find out something they didn't know about the item, and adjust their view of its worth.

For situation 3 - well, you can usually tell by the attitude where he's coming from.

I don't feel insulted when someone offers a lower price - I just tell them no thanks. If they don't want to discuss why I think the price is correct, that's OK. Ignorant people are still allowed to buy things elsewhere.....

*

 

[depicts]

If an item is priced too high, it's because one of three situations exists:

1) I (the buyer) don't know the actual market value
2) The seller doesn't know the actual market value
3) The seller knows the value, but is trying to make a killing

For situation 1 and 2, a little bartering and conversation doesn't hurt. Either side might find out something they didn't know about the item, and adjust their view of its worth.

For situation 3 - well, you can usually tell by the attitude where he's coming from.

I don't feel insulted when someone offers a lower price - I just tell them no thanks. If they don't want to discuss why I think the price is correct, that's OK. Ignorant people are still allowed to buy things elsewhere.....

*

And case 4, the buyer KNOWS the value but wants to steal the gun cheap.

Doesn't matter. Just say no.