"make me an offer" (vent)

[jasper60103]

I know lot of folks like to use this tactic for getting multiple offers, but
it's getting to be irritating to me.

Case in point. I saw an old evinrude on craigslist with the usual story... setup 5 years, don't know what condition is. So to me this is a junk motor or non-runner. I don't really care what you call it.
Ad says "make me an offer". So, I correspond with the owner via email, discussing other motors he has, year and shaft length, etc. They all been sitting up in a barn for years.
Anyway, after all that I say "does $25 sound reasonable", since it could take $200-300, labor and frustration to get it going again. I would go as high as $50, but that's about it. I read about so many problems that get noticed after the deal is done, I can't see risking more.

Anywho, after my generous $25 offer, I never heard back, so I guess I insulted him. This has happened to me multiple times. I guess I'm a cheapskate, but it would be so much easier if you stated your price up front or $100/or best offer, etc.
Sorry, just had to vent.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

I think that most of the people who sell stuff on CL expect a lot more for a motor that "used to" run great. To them, it's in as good condition as when it ran. Just as bad are the ones that have a specific problem--let's say water pump--so they only delete the cost of THAT repair as if that brings it up to running condition.
I have a saying about all outboards: if it's not making a noise, it doesn't run.

 

[Wildman_fab]

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

...They all used to run great at some point.
thats what I tell people.
That being said I have a (mismatched) par of old 'rude 200's that I would love for somebody to low ball me on just to get them out of the yard

 

[wbeaton]

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

...They all used to run great at some point.
thats what I tell people.
That being said I have a (mismatched) par of old 'rude 200's that I would love for somebody to low ball me on just to get them out of the yard

I see 50's Johnson/Evinrudes on the buy & sell website asking $200-300 that even state they need a tune-up.

Whenever I would sell a kicker in the $300-400 range I'd also put a line about excepting partial trades for other non-running outboards. People always thought I'd take their broken outboards as a straight trade.

 

[freeisforme]

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

I can't imagine ever selling any outboard for $50 whole. If I have a motor that's not fixable, or just not worth much, I usually strip it down as parts and sell off the parts one by one on eBay. Broken down, even the worst engine has valuable parts. What's left goes to the junk yard for scrap.

For the most part, I've bought probably 100 or so motors over the years for either parts or repair.
Say for example if I have a Johnson 50 which needs a power tilt and trim unit, and maybe a lower unit, finding a $200 blown up motor of the same type is well worth it if it gives me what I need to fix my motor. Then the rest gets parted out and sold.
I just went through this for an Evinrude 40hp which needed a tilt assist ram, the dealer wanted $1500+ for the ram, I bought a non running motor that was missing parts to get a good tilt ram for $150, then parted out the rest of it online. I sold the block alone for more than I paid for the motor. The lower unit, condition unknown other than it was missing it's skeg and it did shift into forward and reverse still sold for $195. The well worn prop sold for $15, the hood sold for $44, anyway, you see what I mean.

I got tired of trying to get anything for parts motors, unless it's seized and broke in two or been on fire it's got to be worth $200-300, otherwise, its getting parted out.

I agree that most people selling an outboard have no clue as to how bad off it is after it's sat for 20 years, maybe more. Just because it ran ok for grandpop, don't make it a good running motor. Just the same, I've gotten some really nice motors in the under $100 range over the years. It's the one's for sale in the $800 range you have to watch out for. Buy a motor for under $400 and if its a viable motor without major repair and you've done good. Some of the best motors I've had were bought as junk.
I generally determine the value of a motor by starting with a compression test, if that's ok, I'll continue, then look at the lower and mid sections, if it's pitted and salt eaten, it's parts, but if all looks decent and its complete, it has a pretty good chance of being a running motor.
I also pretty much assume that every motor I see needs a water pump, no matter if it pumps water or not. There's no telling how old the impeller is or what it's been through.

 

[lowkee]

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

I'm rather partial to the line "ONLY REASONABLE OFFERS!!" .. yet no indication as to what that person considers reasonable. Sometimes i reply with a lowball offer just to **** them off, thinking yet another jerk has ignored their oh so clearly stated instructions. Heck, if they want to be snappy, I'll poke em with a stick

 

[Vert1go]

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

I suppose you should ask yourself what you would sell a used outboard like that for.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

I suppose you should ask yourself what you would sell a used outboard like that for.

again, junk motor (or unknown condition) = $50 tops in my book.

 

[JustJason]

Re: "make me an offer" (vent)

I had an eska 5hp on CL for 100 bucks/BO for a month and didn't get 1 hit.

I threw it in the trash.

It ran pretty good to for what it was.

If your ever going to buy a used motor consider it junk unless the owner can run it in a tank for you.