Re: Insulting Craigs List offers
Don't take it personally, but negotiations are part of the landscape, even if the negotiations amount to selling at the asking price. As a buyer, I want to know if I can get it cheaper or not. The only way to know that is to ask. I recently bought a gun through a classified ad. It was priced right, and the picture looked great. It was a 2 hour drive for me to see it, so I asked, would you be able to take $250 less (almost a third off the asking price and $550 below book price without the scope) before I made the 2 hour drive. She said she didn't think so, but as we talked about life and other things, she liked my philosophy and said, forget it, she didn't need to talk to her husband, and yes, I could have it at that price! I made the trip, it was everything I wanted and then some, so I bought it at my price. I would have paid more, but all I did was ask and then compliment her on how good the gun looked in the picture, how I would be using for an out-west hunting trip, etc.
There are all kinds of stories I could give where I have gotten something for 1/3 - 1/2 the asking price, even though the asking price was fair, just because I asked. So, will I ask? Yes! Will I do it in a polite way and not try to antagonize the seller? Yes. Might I buy it if you don't come down to my price or close to it? Maybe. It depends on how much I want it, what my budget is, the condition, and the value. So asking is all I do. The ball is in your court next as to how I proceed. But I might be a buyer at YOUR price, so handle me gently if you want to sell it ... something like, "Well, I think you have to see this to really appreciate the value. I would like you to come and take a look and then we can discuss numbers. As of now, I am seeing it and you are not, so let's get on even footing before making any offers. Just know that I think I priced it at a very fair and reasonable price and am not really looking to negotiate down."
