Always Negotiate on the Price?

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

For those who buy used tools at the pawn shop, flea market, or Craigslist, do you always negotiate, no matter the price? For me, if the price seems more than fair, I won't. At the pawn shop, I'll pick out a box of tools, and if the guy behind the counter says what I'm thinking, I say deal. Sometimes, he even comes under what I'm thinking. Before I go to the counter, I'll usually pick out a couple tools where, if I need to negotiate on the price, I'll take those out to get my price.

 

[arkangel06]

if I need to negotiate on the price, I'll take those out to get my price.

Thats a good Idea I never thought of that ill have to try it!

 

[Hiball]

It really depends on how far the Seller is off on Price, also on how much stuff i buy from him. If its one of my Regular shops ill wont negotiate on every purchase, For a successful relationship to work you have to let the other guy think he is winning from time to time. If you go into his house lowballing the guy every trip you will quickly wear out your welcome and it will cost you in the long run.

 

[cowboy73]

No I don't always negotiate on the price but I try to find more than one thing I'd be interested in and buy a few things. Usually the seller will knock some off the price. And there's always using the wife as a bargaining tool. Pick up the item, act like you want it, but aren't real sure. Put it back down and stand there looking at the item. Then the wife will say something like " Go ahead and buy it." Then you say "I'd like to, but I dunno". And the wife says, "Do you want to buy it?" And then the seller will usually knock a little off to cinch the deal.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, usually, I negotiate. Ask him to take less, throw in one more or whatever will make it worth it for me.

No, not always. Again, as suggested above, it will hurt in the long run if they hate to see you come in.

Maybe, decide before getting to the counter what it is worth to you.

Always, ask the seller what is the least he'll take for it/all of it. In a negotiation, the one who puts the first price out there is showing his hand first.

thnx, jack vines

 

[iandh]

Yes, usually, I negotiate. Ask him to take less, throw in one more or whatever will make it worth it for me.

No, not always. Again, as suggested above, it will hurt in the long run if they hate to see you come in.

Maybe, decide before getting to the counter what it is worth to you.

Always, ask the seller what is the least he'll take for it/all of it. In a negotiation, the one who puts the first price out there is showing his hand first.

thnx, jack vines

Very true. Also, if buying somewhere that the prices are not posted, one might mysteriously be quoted higher prices than everyone else, to offset the inevitable negotion that is to follow.


I only haggle if the item is something I don't really want that badly, unless it's for the right price. If it's something that I really want/need, and the price is reasonable, I'll usually just go for it.

 

[Mickey O]

If the price is good, I'll pay what they're asking. Sometimes when I see something on craig's list I like and think it's priced to high I'll send them an email making an offer, I don't try to tell them it's cheaper here or there or any other BS, or that I'm ready to buy today, etc. I just make an offer, if we agree on a price I buy. I try not to do all the things that people do that aggravate me when I sell something.

Sometimes when I'm selling something I put the price, say it's $50 for a toolbox, and say FIRM, not a penny less, if you come out with $49.99 and you ain't leaving with it. I had one guy that came out on something I had a firm price on it and he decided he wasn't going to pay it and kept trying to talk me down. I told him I was going inside and closing the garage door and if he doesn't leave he's going to meet my dog, he left (I think he didn't have enough money).

Recently I had quite a bit of Craftsman stuff on craig's list and people kept asking for discounts for buying multiple tools, I told them I'd give them the same discount Sears does when you purchase several tools from them.

 

[hammergodthor]

At a Pawn Shop, sometimes I'll negotiate. I almost always know what they want before I go to the counter. If not, I add the items I have together to get a total before going to the counter, ready to put a few back if they want too much.

For Craigslist, I don't negotiate. If I'm there to look at all, it already sounds like a pretty good deal, and most sellers won't go down anyway. If its a really good deal, they already have 4 or more other people emailing/calling wanting it. For crazy ridiculous deals on Craigslist around here, you have about 15 minutes after its posted before its gone. It's also really hard for me to convince myself to negotiate when you already know its a great deal, you want it (have been looking for one for a while now) and know you'll kick yourself (and pay much more elsewhere) if you don't buy it.

 

[moparmuscle88]

i negotiate sometimes, but like everyone else has been saying, not all the time, because if he thinks hes not getting all he can, after a while he wont want to work with you.

but the pawnshops aroud here, they guys know me and the guy i work with and we pay cash money, and dont ask for a receipt, and they like that becaus all of that money goes right in their pocket

i even have one pawnshop that will call me when he gets in stuff he knows i like

 

[bonneyman]

Treat others how you want to be treated.
I went to buy some parts, and the guy behind the counter said so much, and I said fine. He let out a huge sigh and said thanks for not bickering about the price. (Guess he had just a few too many hagglers that day!)
I have a price in my head when I walk up to the counter. If they are close, I take it. If it's a little over, I might haggle - if I really want it, AND, if I'm a regular there. Most, if not all, of the time they give me a discount. I usually don't haggle if I'm new to a place - don't want to get grouped with all the complainers right off the bat.
I want people to see me walk in the door, and get a smile on their face (cause I'm a nice guy to deal with) rather than run and hide (because I'm a complainer).

 

[lwlobo]

I'd say half and half or so. Depends on where, what, how much, and how often I see that type of item. I don't know if it helps, but often I pretend to be interested in a few things that I don't really want to disguise my interest in the one thing I really do want. I've found if I show a lot interest in just one thing, they price it high and don't budge much.

 

[jwitt]

It depends. If the price is fair and close to what I have in my head, I'll pay it. If I do dicker I don't throw out low ball prices. I don't like when people do that to me.
Last week there was a yong lady setting up at the Flea Market, putting some tools on the table. I picked up two SK ratchets and asked how much? She said 10.00 each. It was a little more then I wanted to pay but I hung onto them anyway. I looked in a tool box on the table and picked up 1/4" Snap-on ratchet. I asked "How much for all three? She said 15.00.........gotta love it.

 

[rsanter]

if the price is at or below what I was thinking I would offer, I pay it

if the price is close then I will offer lower price.

if their price is not even close, I say "thanks anyway" and walk away

bob

 

[Wrenchette]

Oftentimes, I don't even have to. I guess it's just my charm.

 

[Bolster]

I agree, if the price is what you want, don't haggle.

Recently, when I've been selling tools, and people start to haggle, I just decide I'd rather keep the item. If I'm giving it at a price I KNOW is a good price, a haggler will find himself with no sale, el pronto.

I assume others do the same.

 

[Mickey O]

Oftentimes, I don't even have to. I guess it's just my charm.

Unbutton an extra button? For shame.

 

[Wrenchette]

Unbutton an extra button? For shame.

I wouldn't resort to that.

 

[crewchief888]

Unbutton an extra button? For shame.

i tried that once...

the guy almost passed out

i dont have much luck at the pawn shops, they dont want to haggle over prices. maybe thats why the same stuff sits there for months without being sold.
i do haggle at swap meets and flea mkts. if the price is $12 i offer $10, sometimes i get the deal, sometimes i walk away empty handed.
tried it yesterday on a couple items, 3/8 dr 6" proto ext, a channellock 3/8 dr ratchet, and a holesaw drive arbor, i walked away emptyhanded. went bak a while later and asked if he'd take $10 , his price was firm at $12 "cuz that extension is a long one" told him to keep it, and walked away again

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

tried it yesterday on a couple items, 3/8 dr 6" proto ext, a channellock 3/8 dr ratchet, and a holesaw drive arbor, i walked away emptyhanded. went bak a while later and asked if he'd take $10 , his price was firm at $12 "cuz that extension is a long one" told him to keep it, and walked away again

That's funny!

 

[selohssa]

there's always using the wife as a bargaining tool. the seller will usually knock a little off to cinch the deal.

OH MY, OH MY, OH MY. My wife got very mad when I tried that one.

 

[heelsroll]

I won't always counter, but I won't ever accept immediately. I'll think, or hem-and-haw, or say, well, it's more than I'd like but I'm not going to nickel-and-dime you or whatever might be appropriate to the environment.

The only exception is if they're obviously throwing me a deal -- yesterday got 6 US wrenches for $2 at a pawn after I fixed the drawers on an old Craftsman friction-slide box they had on the floor. Stuffed full of tools but you couldn't open 3 of the drawers to see them. So the guy, who knew me as a regular, gave me a good price and I quickly and thankfully accepted.

You do find people who won't negotiate, and i don't hold it against them. If they need my money, they'll take it, if not, fair enough. The winner in any negotiation is the one who can walk away. THAT's how you get your price, or you don't, but if you NEED to buy or sell, then you're the one in trouble.

FWIW.
j