Comments on: How Much Can You Save by Negotiating on Craigslist? http://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist A personal finance blog teaching you how to live debt free and use credit wisely. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:18:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Maryhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-52870 Mary Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:59:35 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-52870 Sorry, but you don't buy off craigslist without knowing the "value" of what it is you are buying - that man knew full well what he was getting. I owned a children's resale shop and that is where he picked up the item. I'm in the business of "reselling" and I always put "price firm" in my listing. I ask a fair price and I HATE haggling with buyers...unless I'm in the mood for it! My view is - this isn't India, folks, and you aren't buying a clay pot from me, so if I'm asking $45 FIRM, either accept it or look elsewhere. To try to knock down the price by a full 1/3 once you are there to pickup is RUDE, no excuse for it in my book. Sorry, but you don’t buy off craigslist without knowing the “value” of what it is you are buying – that man knew full well what he was getting. I owned a children’s resale shop and that is where he picked up the item. I’m in the business of “reselling” and I always put “price firm” in my listing. I ask a fair price and I HATE haggling with buyers…unless I’m in the mood for it!

My view is – this isn’t India, folks, and you aren’t buying a clay pot from me, so if I’m asking $45 FIRM, either accept it or look elsewhere. To try to knock down the price by a full 1/3 once you are there to pickup is RUDE, no excuse for it in my book.

]]> By: Kevinhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-52009 Kevin Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:02:04 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-52009 I think to avoid people trying to talk you down off of a really good deal you just need to put "price firm!" either in the title or description. Personally if I see something like that then I wouldn't dare try to negotiate it. As you mentioned that would be rude. You run into all types on CL just as in life. He might not have known they were priced at 25% of retail. Who knows. I think to avoid people trying to talk you down off of a really good deal you just need to put “price firm!” either in the title or description. Personally if I see something like that then I wouldn’t dare try to negotiate it. As you mentioned that would be rude.

You run into all types on CL just as in life. He might not have known they were priced at 25% of retail. Who knows.

]]> By: Maryhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-51788 Mary Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:22:37 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-51788 I have to say, I'm with Jenna on this. I put up a set of Revereware pots and pans on CL and asked just $45 for them. These were nice pans with a retail price of 4 times what I was asking. There was a lot of email interest in them but I contacted the first person first (I think that's only fair) and waited 2 days for him to come get them, only to have him offer me $30 when he arrived. I told him the price was $45 firm, that I had plenty of other interested parties and that it was RUDE of him to try to get a better price when my asking price was more than fair. He pulled a $100 bill out of his pocket and then wanted me to come up with the change. I sent him next door to Rite Aid to break his hundred, LOL. More recently, I went to test-drive a minivan off CL. It was priced at Kelly bluebook and not a stupendous deal but I needed wheels as I was starting a new job the following Monday and my car had been totaled by someone who turned left in front of me. I arrived with my dad, we drove it, and decided it was do-able. We got back and told the couple we could have a cashier's check from my credit union for them first thing the next morning (the CU had already closed for the day) and then hemmed and hawed and then said, well...we have someone coming to look at it Sunday (it was Thursday evening) and we need to give them first shot at it as they are out of work, need a car, blah blah blah. Um, then why did you have me come look at it before them? Duh. My dad just shook his head and we walked away - they told me they'd call me Sunday if the other person didn't want it but I told them I'd have something by then, even if just off a used car lot. There is a lot of room for improvement in etiquette on CL, that is for sure! I have to say, I’m with Jenna on this. I put up a set of Revereware pots and pans on CL and asked just $45 for them. These were nice pans with a retail price of 4 times what I was asking. There was a lot of email interest in them but I contacted the first person first (I think that’s only fair) and waited 2 days for him to come get them, only to have him offer me $30 when he arrived. I told him the price was $45 firm, that I had plenty of other interested parties and that it was RUDE of him to try to get a better price when my asking price was more than fair. He pulled a $100 bill out of his pocket and then wanted me to come up with the change. I sent him next door to Rite Aid to break his hundred, LOL.

More recently, I went to test-drive a minivan off CL. It was priced at Kelly bluebook and not a stupendous deal but I needed wheels as I was starting a new job the following Monday and my car had been totaled by someone who turned left in front of me. I arrived with my dad, we drove it, and decided it was do-able. We got back and told the couple we could have a cashier’s check from my credit union for them first thing the next morning (the CU had already closed for the day) and then hemmed and hawed and then said, well…we have someone coming to look at it Sunday (it was Thursday evening) and we need to give them first shot at it as they are out of work, need a car, blah blah blah.

Um, then why did you have me come look at it before them? Duh. My dad just shook his head and we walked away – they told me they’d call me Sunday if the other person didn’t want it but I told them I’d have something by then, even if just off a used car lot.

There is a lot of room for improvement in etiquette on CL, that is for sure!

]]> By: Kevinhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-46722 Kevin Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:32:16 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-46722 I think that is the difference. Some people don't price their items fair. And some sellers are motivated because they are moving or need the cash. I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to negotiate it. If they say no, that's fine. But if they say yes... I think that is the difference. Some people don’t price their items fair. And some sellers are motivated because they are moving or need the cash. I don’t think there is anything wrong with trying to negotiate it. If they say no, that’s fine. But if they say yes…

]]> By: Kevinhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-46721 Kevin Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:30:10 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-46721 That's awesome. I think you have to weigh negotiating in person heavily though. For me it would depend on how far away the item is from you -- I wouldn't want to drive 20 minutes to haggle over a $5 price difference only to walk away. That's a lot of driving for nothing. But I can also see how it could be very effective! That’s awesome. I think you have to weigh negotiating in person heavily though. For me it would depend on how far away the item is from you — I wouldn’t want to drive 20 minutes to haggle over a $5 price difference only to walk away. That’s a lot of driving for nothing.

But I can also see how it could be very effective!

]]> By: Kevinhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-46718 Kevin Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:19:33 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-46718 That's a good idea on the email name. I hadn't thought of that -- I assumed each posting would have a different anonymous email address. You do have to be wary of stolen items. Not sure what else you can do about it... there isn't a public database to put serial numbers into or anything like that. Just a risk, I guess? What do you think? That’s a good idea on the email name. I hadn’t thought of that — I assumed each posting would have a different anonymous email address.

You do have to be wary of stolen items. Not sure what else you can do about it… there isn’t a public database to put serial numbers into or anything like that. Just a risk, I guess? What do you think?

]]> By: Friday Linkfest: Savvy Shopping Editionhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-45765 Friday Linkfest: Savvy Shopping Edition Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:02:19 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-45765 [...] How Much Can You Save by Negotiating on Craigslist? – No Debt Plan [...] [...] How Much Can You Save by Negotiating on Craigslist? – No Debt Plan [...]

]]> By: Jennahttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-45299 Jenna Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:06:14 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-45299 I sell a great many items on craigslist and I never allow negotiations. I price my items very fair. If you don't want them for a fair value price I will just keep them. I sell a great many items on craigslist and I never allow negotiations.
I price my items very fair. If you don’t want them for a fair value price I will just keep them.

]]> By: Debhttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-44837 Deb Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:02:06 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-44837 When we must make a purchase, CL is our first choice. We've yet to pay asking price, we've always found sellers to be open to a reasonable offer. Just some of our purchases: a second hand camping trailer for $400 off asking; a really spiffy '79 Toyota pick up truck for just $360 ($240 off of his asking price); a gorgeous vintage American made tractor with trailer, mower, rototiller, and scoop - all for just $450 ($200 off asking - the mower deck alone was worth what we paid for all); a brand new cast iron Aspen wood stove - valued at $1,400, for just $250 (down $100 from the original asking of $350). Seriously - when you make your call about the item, don't discuss the price on the phone. Bring cash with you, and negotiate there on the spot if you decide you want the item. Trust me, the lure of cash in hand, and getting rid of an unwanted item, is often enough motive to consider a reasonable offer! You may haggle a bit, but be patient and nice, and the end result will usually be a win-win for all parties. When we must make a purchase, CL is our first choice. We’ve yet to pay asking price, we’ve always found sellers to be open to a reasonable offer.

Just some of our purchases: a second hand camping trailer for $400 off asking; a really spiffy ’79 Toyota pick up truck for just $360 ($240 off of his asking price); a gorgeous vintage American made tractor with trailer, mower, rototiller, and scoop – all for just $450 ($200 off asking – the mower deck alone was worth what we paid for all); a brand new cast iron Aspen wood stove – valued at $1,400, for just $250 (down $100 from the original asking of $350).

Seriously – when you make your call about the item, don’t discuss the price on the phone. Bring cash with you, and negotiate there on the spot if you decide you want the item. Trust me, the lure of cash in hand, and getting rid of an unwanted item, is often enough motive to consider a reasonable offer! You may haggle a bit, but be patient and nice, and the end result will usually be a win-win for all parties.

]]> By: Weekly Round-Up: Packing It Uphttp://www.nodebtplan.net/2009/10/30/how-much-can-you-save-by-negotiating-on-craigslist/#comment-44701 Weekly Round-Up: Packing It Up Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:13:01 +0000 http://www.nodebtplan.net/?p=3967#comment-44701 [...] How Much Can You Save By Negotiating On Craigslist? [...] [...] How Much Can You Save By Negotiating On Craigslist? [...]

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