Uninformed buyers-Rant

My neighbors put their house on the market for $1,600,000, sold for $1,800,000
It is all about the real value.

Walaby wrote:
I don't spend more than a second or two on 'firm, non-negotiable'. To me that implies the seller is likely a jerk about it, and I just move on unless it is a steal at the listed price. Just my take, not saying it applies in all, or even most cases.

In terms of asking questions, even if it's something stated in the ad, I might do that sometimes to break the ice (so to speak), or get a sense of what kind of attitude the seller has. If he's giving me short, snippy type answers to those questions, it just reaffirms he's probably a jerk, and I probably don't want to deal with him. If, on the other hand, he uses that opportunity to talk a little more about the item that's for sale, and expand upon anything that he's said in the ad, well then I think he's probably a reasonable fellow and worth talking in detail about it.

Just how I see it. I might be missing deals of a lifetime by looking at it this way, but if you don't want to talk, or don't want to negotiate, I don't have to waste my time.

Mike

X3

Walaby wrote:
I don't spend more than a second or two on 'firm, non-negotiable'. To me that implies the seller is likely a jerk about it, and I just move on unless it is a steal at the listed price. Just my take, not saying it applies in all, or even most cases.

In terms of asking questions, even if it's something stated in the ad, I might do that sometimes to break the ice (so to speak), or get a sense of what kind of attitude the seller has. If he's giving me short, snippy type answers to those questions, it just reaffirms he's probably a jerk, and I probably don't want to deal with him. If, on the other hand, he uses that opportunity to talk a little more about the item that's for sale, and expand upon anything that he's said in the ad, well then I think he's probably a reasonable fellow and worth talking in detail about it.

Just how I see it. I might be missing deals of a lifetime by looking at it this way, but if you don't want to talk, or don't want to negotiate, I don't have to waste my time.

Mike

Mike,
I agree

I don't spend more than a second or two on 'firm, non-negotiable'. To me that implies the seller is likely a jerk about it, and I just move on unless it is a steal at the listed price. Just my take, not saying it applies in all, or even most cases.

In terms of asking questions, even if it's something stated in the ad, I might do that sometimes to break the ice (so to speak), or get a sense of what kind of attitude the seller has. If he's giving me short, snippy type answers to those questions, it just reaffirms he's probably a jerk, and I probably don't want to deal with him. If, on the other hand, he uses that opportunity to talk a little more about the item that's for sale, and expand upon anything that he's said in the ad, well then I think he's probably a reasonable fellow and worth talking in detail about it.

Just how I see it. I might be missing deals of a lifetime by looking at it this way, but if you don't want to talk, or don't want to negotiate, I don't have to waste my time.

Mike

Bruce Brown wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
Regardless of what YOU think it is worth, it is worth exactly what others are willing to pay. When I see the words like " firm, non negotiable," I simply move on to other adds. Not only do people want to negotiate, but seeing those sorts of words leads me to believe that the seller does not have a grasp on reality.

It also seems many times when it's listed as "firm, non-negotiable" that the owner is more on a fishing expedition and not really all that interested in selling.

Buying and selling is a 2 way transaction.

"Firm, non-negotiable" often means, that is what my loan balance is and that's what I have to have to get out of this, and I know I'm upside down in it!

DutchmenSport wrote:
If I am making a $100,000 purchase, especially from a private source and not a bonafide dealer, you better bet I'm asking questions. I may even ask the same question 3 times! And I will question and requestion everything in the ad also.

I actually do this when buying any type of vehicle, even new cars. I ask questions I already know the answer to just to see if the salesman knows what he's talking about. I want to make sure when I ask questions that I don't know the answer to, that I'm getting reliable answers.

Bruce Brown wrote:

tderonne wrote:
Still trying to sell your Tioga?

Must not be talking about this ad? If folks are responding to that I could see where they'd offer less.

Reduced price!! For sale by private party, 2008 Fleetwood Tioga 31M. $31,000. New house battery; new engine battery, almost new tires all around; two slides; 4000 Onan gas generator; 24 in. ac/dc tv. Located in Beaumont, Ca. Motorhome has 110,000 miles but in excellent condition. It has a Ford V-10 Triton engine. Full records available. Stored under metal canopy.

It does seem like a good asking price though. Maybe you are selling a different one now?

I'm thinking it's not a good price or it would have sold by now.

NADA shows a high book of $39,700 and a low book of $32,900. That does account for the miles, but it's only a $1,700-$2,000 deduct.

IMO most buyers will be scared off by the high miles and not-so-great savings off of book.

There has never been a book, be it NADA, Kelly Blue Book, Black Book or library book that has bought a RV, a car or anything else. For RVs, book values are nothing but an wild arse guess as to depreciation percentage from original MSRP. At least with autos you get auction results and dealer reported sales. Not so with RVs. There just aren't enough sales to develop any actual database.
For me, someone stating they are "firm" on their price means they either have gotten offers below their price, which indicates the actual value is less than they are trying to get or they owe a certain amount and need to clear that balance, regardless of the actual value of the item.
As for people asking questions, that is what you do when you are looking to buy something. If that bothers you, you need to not be in the selling business.

People respond to "advertisements" (ads), not "additions" (adds).

tderonne wrote:
Still trying to sell your Tioga?

Must not be talking about this ad? If folks are responding to that I could see where they'd offer less.

Reduced price!! For sale by private party, 2008 Fleetwood Tioga 31M. $31,000. New house battery; new engine battery, almost new tires all around; two slides; 4000 Onan gas generator; 24 in. ac/dc tv. Located in Beaumont, Ca. Motorhome has 110,000 miles but in excellent condition. It has a Ford V-10 Triton engine. Full records available. Stored under metal canopy.

It does seem like a good asking price though. Maybe you are selling a different one now?

I'm thinking it's not a good price or it would have sold by now.

NADA shows a high book of $39,700 and a low book of $32,900. That does account for the miles, but it's only a $1,700-$2,000 deduct.

IMO most buyers will be scared off by the high miles and not-so-great savings off of book.

dougrainer wrote:
ANYBODY that wants to negotiate price without seeing the product is not to be wasted time with.

Wrong. Bought both my DP and TT from over 2,000 miles away over the phone and emails. After lots of pictures and discussion, we agreed on pricing subject to my final inspection when I arrived.

While we negotiated the pricing long distance, I'm not one to try and get the last nickle out of the seller - I negotiate for a fair price. When we bought the DP the seller thanked me for being fair in the negotiations, that if I'd started after the last nickel he would have broke it off as he hates that part of selling. Since we flew in from Alaska, he spent four hours going over everything with us, put some food and water in the refer and filled the 100 gal tank full and we took off for home.

Both buys worked out great.

Bill