I love Craig's List (Part IV)

[zinfamous]

Depends on how far the person is travelling and overall feeling I get from the person. For example, I'm travelling to Wichita this weekend, health permitting, and I want to check out a couple jetskis along the way. I know what the seller needs to get out of them because I asked. He understands why--because I'm making a 3 hour one way trip.

so you know what someone needs to get out of the sell--and you figure you might as well offer much less than they need?

You fail to see how your attempts at being honest and generous in these interactions is, in fact, being quite the opposite.

 

[MotionMan]

Depends on how far the person is travelling and overall feeling I get from the person. For example, I'm travelling to Wichita this weekend, health permitting, and I want to check out a couple jetskis along the way. I know what the seller needs to get out of them because I asked. He understands why--because I'm making a 3 hour one way trip.

You seem to be qualifying your position.

When you are the seller, and someone asks you for your "bottom dollar", do you always readily give it, without consideration for being "pressed" or how far the person is traveling?

MotionMan

 

[slag]

Yes. If asked, I will give it. I know what I need out of an item and do have a bottom dollar figure I want.

 

[MotionMan]

Yes. If asked, I will give it. I know what I need out of an item and do have a bottom dollar figure I want.

Please let me know when you have anything Apple for sale.



MotionMan

 

[slag]

so you know what someone needs to get out of the sell--and you figure you might as well offer much less than they need?

You fail to see how your attempts at being honest and generous in these interactions is, in fact, being quite the opposite.

I don't follow you. He told me what he wants for the items. I've not offered less. There's nothing dishonest or disingenous about that. Where did I say I would offer less than what he was asking? I asked him his bottom dollar, he gave it, I am going to pay it providing I decide I want the skis.

Now, if he didn't want to give his bottom dollar, I'd throw out a lower price than what I think they are worth to see if he bites.. He'd counter, we'd talk a bit.. etc. Asking for a bottom dollar is an immediate attempt to bypass dickering and getting to the point. Kind of like testing out of a college class.

 

[slag]

Please let me know when you have anything Apple for sale.



MotionMan

I don't. Sold my last apple item (ipad 3 with retina display) in a parking lot at work. I was satisfied with what I got, the buyer was happy with the condition and price, it was win/win.

 

[EliteRetard]

I sold a car, clean title, no accidents, in mint condition, with 45k miles on it, for $1,850.

Then I spent $15k on another car.

Was a very sad day.

 

[holden j caufield]

If my "bottom dollar" is below your "top dollar", then I have left money on the table by selling to you at my "bottom dollar". Also, if i do give my "bottom dollar", I run the risk of the buyer trying to negotiate even lower and, though I gave my bottom dollar, I still do not get the sale - talk about a waste of time.

Basically, I don't give out my "bottom dollar" because it does not benefit me in any way.

Now, if a seller is desperate, dumb or impatient, that might work on them.

MotionMan

I have to agree, people who ask what's your bottom dollar are usually lazy lowball douchebags. They ask that then go I only have your bottom dollar - x dollars. When people ask that, you should ask what's the absolute most you will pay. I bought some brand new stuff on amazon, with receipt (I'm too lazy to return things). Advertised it for 10% less (and they save tax) and I still get lowballs. If you don't need the money someone eventually buys it, turns out I needed the space more, a nice lady came by with the asking price and I gave her some other stuff for free because she wan't a lowballer.

 

[zinfamous]

I don't follow you. He told me what he wants for the items. I've not offered less. There's nothing dishonest or disingenous about that. Where did I say I would offer less than what he was asking? I asked him his bottom dollar, he gave it, I am going to pay it providing I decide I want the skis.

Now, if he didn't want to give his bottom dollar, I'd throw out a lower price than what I think they are worth to see if he bites.. He'd counter, we'd talk a bit.. etc. Asking for a bottom dollar is an immediate attempt to bypass dickering and getting to the point. Kind of like testing out of a college class.

This is where you said it:

My top dollar is your bottom dollar. Tell me yours and we'll negotiate down from there

Not in that specific instance, but you started this whole thing by claiming that you will only negotiate down from what people claim they need.

It's universally considered scummy. If not of itself scummy, it really defies logic to agree with your strategy, yet refuse to offer your top price that you are willing to spend.

You're like the perfect EBay buyer, it seems to me.

 

[slag]

This is where you said it:



Not in that specific instance, but you started this whole thing by claiming that you will only negotiate down from what people claim they need.

It's universally considered scummy. If not of itself scummy, it really defies logic to agree with your strategy, yet refuse to offer your top price that you are willing to spend.

You're like the perfect EBay buyer, it seems to me.

I was being facetious to an obvious attempt from MotionMan to try to be "funny"... Or didn't you notice the smiley at the end?
Of course I won't offer my top price. That's not how negotiating works. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here having to discuss this with you guys.

I started this whole thing??? I did? No. I simply said I ask people their bottom dollar on an item. I did not claim to negotiate down from people's bottom dollar. In fact, if you go back and fact check, you'll see I repeatedly said that if I don't like their bottom dollar on an item, I'll walk and let them worry about selling it to someone else. I've said that several times but conveniently you don't seem to see that.

 

[zinfamous]

I was being facetious to an obvious attempt from MotionMan to try to be "funny".
Of course I won't offer my top price. That's not how negotiating works. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here having to discuss this with you guys.

and yet your demanding the seller's lowest price is how negotiating works?

 

[MotionMan]

I was being facetious to an obvious attempt from MotionMan to try to be "funny"...

The fact that you thought I was trying to be funny in that post is disturbing.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

Lol. Good luck @ 2nd gen for $190

FYI, I sold it for $180 tonight.

MotionMan

 

[Ichinisan]

FYI, I sold it for $180 tonight.

MotionMan

I wouldn't pay that much for a brand-new never-used iPad 2 in sealed box. I just wouldn't.

I'd feel dirty selling it for that price because it would feel like I'm ripping-off a person for being slightly ignorant.

That's the 2011 model with the A5 processor and a very low DPI display (1024x768 @ 10").

 

[MotionMan]

I wouldn't pay that much for a brand-new never-used iPad 2 in sealed box. I just wouldn't.

I'd feel dirty selling it for that price because it would feel like I'm ripping-off a person for being slightly ignorant.

That's the 2011 model with the A5 processor and a very low DPI display (1024x768 @ 10").

Seems like $180 is on the low end in LA (and nearby).

MotionMan

 

[Spineshank]

I list stuff at what the going rate is and people still try to low ball me or ask what my bottom dollar is. I just tell em whatever I have it listed as. Now, if they offer me something, I usually bite.

 

[MotionMan]

I list stuff at what the going rate is and people still try to low ball me or ask what my bottom dollar is. I just tell em whatever I have it listed as. Now, if they offer me something, I usually bite.

Pretty much this. Asking what my "bottom dollar" is, or low-balling, ends the conversation before it has even started. Making an offer that is at least in the ballpark gets the conversation going and will usually result in a sale.

That being said, I sometimes do what I call a "modified lowball". For example, if there is an item that I want that is listed for $200, but I get in my head that I only want to pay $100 for one, I will find one that has been listed for a number of days and send the following message:

"I see that your item has been listed for a few days. If you get to the point where you are willing to sell it for $100, please contact me. Thank you."

I am patient and selective as to what types of items and which ads I try this on. It works about 20% of the time, which is much higher than I thought when I came up with the idea.

MotionMan

 

[Ichinisan]

Seems like $180 is on the low end in LA (and nearby).

MotionMan

Yeah. It's actually not that bad now that I think of it.

In my head, I think of $180/$190 as "almost $200." It can still run the latest OS (iOS 8). Only 512MB RAM and 1024x768 with an A5...so web browsing is a pain. While I wouldn't personally pay $200 for that model, even new, I guess it's not a terrible deal for someone that doesn't want any more than that. It's still waaay better than those worthless $100 Android tablets ignorant people keep buying. The things just don't even work. It's criminal that stores keep selling those (looking at you, Big Lots).

A thought: A lot of these are used for POS terminals that were specifically designed for iPad 2. That's part of the reason it continued to sell so well and Apple waited so long to discontinue the model. I'd hate to buy a new POS station to support a newer iPad that's far more expensive with fancy features that would be completely wasted (802.11ac, retina display, awesome camera, etc).

I'm betting there's a continued need for second-hand iPad 2 devices as people need to replace them in special-use scenarios where a newer iPad just isn't appropriate.