Walking away from deals/opportunities

[CoryZ]

What's the point you walk away from a deal rather than buy something?

Lots of deals on GJ and a lot of tools and things change hands through here, ebay, CL, and other methods. A steal is one thing, but sometimes things are reasonable, but not crazy good either. How do you approach this?

I went and looked at an old SO tool chest today (KR-53 family). It was in nice mechanical shape, but the paint was only fair (peeling and chipping). Well used, but not abused. Had a good prior life in a factory.

I almost bought it, but decided that the price was just a touch high considering it could use a repaint. The seller didn't want to go any lower, so I gave it a pass.

I went there with every intention of getting the box, but the paint issues weren't in the CL photos. Plus, I have no place right now to do a restoration / painting project.

The sellers price was in the ballpark. I could have bought it and turned around and sold it on here for the exact same price plus shipping, but I'd lose money after paypal fees.

Plus, I don't think it would pass the SWMBO test as a reasonable deal like my 30yo Kennedy 520 with perfect paint at half the price did.

Anyway, that's my latest one I let go by story. What's yours?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I go into a deal with a max price I'm willing to pay. Obviously I'd like to do better, but I will go up to my max, and anything over I have to walk away. Factored into this max price are condition, scarcity of the item, how badly I need/want the item, etc. It will also be affected whether or not I'm buying the item to keep or resell.

 

[diesel research]

It's all related to my thread on "poor".

I don't even keep track of how many "let one go" deals I have passed up. New or used either one. Happens with new stuff too, when you find out a store only has 1 set of made in USA wrenches left, and you himhaw around for 6 months, and find out they finally sold last week.

 

[greasemonkey44]

had some white guy pull up when i was closing on Friday offering some nice craftsman tools for pennies on the dollar
looked at him and the car.....said no thanks
stuff was stolen, i could have bought and sold it or just used it; but i always pass on that kinda b/s
i pass on stuff alot at pawn shops, either they want more than ill spend; or they wont meet me 1/2 way

 

[Danglerb]

Unless a face to face deal is smokin hot already, I'll make an offer some amount less than the asking price and let the seller decide if it sells or I walk. Other things that will make me walk, size or weight of an item and how far it is to my car. I'm not going to lug even something I want to my car for an average price.

Ebay I decide on a price and pretty much stick to it.

OTOH tonight pretty sure I will go ahead on a set of wrenches I passed on last week when the final purchase page came up showing Calif sales tax, but I might also wait until BF and see if some better price doesn't pop up.

I buy parts for my old cars online via Craigslist or forums where I am never going to see the person, just send them money and wait for stuff to arrive. Generally I trust people, but a few times I have walked from pretty good deals because the seller was goofy (didn't understand how a distance transaction works, how to ship, how to ID parts, hard to get ahold of, acts fishy, thinks I'm too fishy, etc).

 

[treasureseeker]

It comes down to why you are looking to purchase the item. It is only a deal if you need it bad or can resale for reasonable profit. I mainly sell on here at a good discount to pay for deals on other items I need. I tend to avoid selling or buying used tools as I don’t always know what the item should cost or sell for. I have gotten to the point of not even buying new items to resale that are a pain to pack like long pry bars.

 

[poprockcrusher]

How does paint help in the Performance of a tool box ?

 

[larry_g]

At my age free is not always a good deal. I accumulated a lot of great stuff over the years but now I don't want it. Just more to maintain, store, or try to sell. It's like the free tool boxes thread here. Not worth it to me to find a place to store them and I would just pass it along to one of the kids so I did not even think to reply to it. One time in younger years I negociated a dealer to within $11 dollars of what I was willing to pay for a $2000 car. I walked. If it is something crutial to life then you pay whatever. If it is a want then set you max price and stick to it. If you just want to waste time and haggle with someone over the price then keep walking, I don't have the time. I once had a van for sale In the add I said "price $3900, If you want to haggle $4500" Some knothead came along and offered $3700 and I countered with $4300 or something. He finally got to 3900 and I would not sell at that price to him as he wasted my time. To him $4000 was as low as I would go. He got all sorts of mad and stormed off. So lots to think about if a deal is really a deal.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Boiler]

I only buy for myself if I need or want it, and at that point I look for a fair price or better , buy it and move on. I don't spend tons of time looking for a particular item as time is valuable to me. The thrill is not in the hunt for me when it comes to personal purchases

 

[gatewaysysop]

In my experience, for the face to face stuff, CL and the like, I generally follow my eBay bidding rule, one I've often seen repeated here by others: Take a little more than you really want to pay for it. If all the haggling doesn't get you at least to that point, you generally won't feel so bad walking on the deal. Imparts some discipline too, if that's all you got, you can't go overboard (well, unless there's an ATM nearby... )

Of course I make exceptions. For things I just have to have where the price is reasonable from the get-go, I'll try to get less but I usually don't try very hard. A couple times I've just given asking price when it was fair, didn't even argue on the price.

 

[CoryZ]

Hey, lots of great responses so far guys.

I don't buy to resell. It's all either something I need or want.

With ebay, I always come up with a maximum price long before the item comes to bid. I usually set it and forget it and the snipe either works or not. It's very much a you win some you lose some sort of thing.

CL I usually have an idea of what the fair range of pricing is going to be. Crappy small cell phone pictures make it hard to figure out exactly what condition an item's in first and where I have the most trouble/walk away due to price vs condition.

I usually only bother with CL if it's either within a mile or two or too big to ship cheaply. I find better deals easily shipped items on ebay.

 

[rhastings80]

I have to agree with you. A couple of years ago when I first started going to flea markets and swaps meets I was into the hunt and would buy just about anything tool related. Now that I have most of what I need and am running out of space in my small house I have found that in order to purchase something physically rather large I can't unless I get rid of something else at home as there is not physically room for more stuff. Now when I go to the flea market I have become quite picky. Unless something is super cheap and I need it or its a killer deal and in great shape I have to pass. Now slowly I'm getting rid of the no name stuff and upgrading and replacing with better. With a small house and small garage its easy to get overwhelmed with stuff with so many great deals. Maybe some day I can afford a bigger house and a pole barn.... I have also found more often then not when I buy something thinking I will resell it I found out it's more hassle and or not worth as much as I thought. I use to buy stuff that was broken as a project fix it but now I realized I just don't have the time to do that.

At my age free is not always a good deal. I accumulated a lot of great stuff over the years but now I don't want it. Just more to maintain, store, or try to sell. It's like the free tool boxes thread here. Not worth it to me to find a place to store them and I would just pass it along to one of the kids so I did not even think to reply to it. One time in younger years I negociated a dealer to within $11 dollars of what I was willing to pay for a $2000 car. I walked. If it is something crutial to life then you pay whatever. If it is a want then set you max price and stick to it. If you just want to waste time and haggle with someone over the price then keep walking, I don't have the time. I once had a van for sale In the add I said "price $3900, If you want to haggle $4500" Some knothead came along and offered $3700 and I countered with $4300 or something. He finally got to 3900 and I would not sell at that price to him as he wasted my time. To him $4000 was as low as I would go. He got all sorts of mad and stormed off. So lots to think about if a deal is really a deal.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[BHH]

One deal I could not walk away from was buying a Brand new Snap-on KRSC46 that had a tiny cosmetic issue where you could see two welds in the front. Almost looked like it had fallen over flat and pushed the metal in ever so slightly. No paint damage whatsoever.

Brand new the cart is $1750 (Canadian) I got it for $850

Really had no choice but to buy it!

 

[illmatyk]

It all depends if I have money or not. If I really need it or not.

Last time I passed on something was a few months ago I was at Sears. I looked around as I usually do and saw that the stubby gearwrenches were on sale for $30. I looked at it and ended up passing on them. That night I thought about it more and decided to go get them. When I went back it was back up to $80! I ended up buying them last month as it went on sale again for $30.

I look here for some deals but alot of times I get disappointed as I find some stuff I'd like but the seller isn't willing to ship to me( Guam ). I've bought some other stuff of here also( SO hammer, SO screwdiver set, and other stuff ) and greatly appreciate those sellers that were willing to work with me on shipping. When I see a deal on here that I like and its either something I need or just want to see the quality of it because of it COO, as long as the seller is willing to ship to me or if the shipping isn't ridiculous I'd get the item.

 

[gabeancounter]

At my age free is not always a good deal. I accumulated a lot of great stuff over the years but now I don't want it. Just more to maintain, store, or try to sell. It's like the free tool boxes thread here. Not worth it to me to find a place to store them and I would just pass it along to one of the kids so I did not even think to reply to it. One time in younger years I negociated a dealer to within $11 dollars of what I was willing to pay for a $2000 car. I walked. If it is something crutial to life then you pay whatever. If it is a want then set you max price and stick to it. If you just want to waste time and haggle with someone over the price then keep walking, I don't have the time. I once had a van for sale In the add I said "price $3900, If you want to haggle $4500" Some knothead came along and offered $3700 and I countered with $4300 or something. He finally got to 3900 and I would not sell at that price to him as he wasted my time. To him $4000 was as low as I would go. He got all sorts of mad and stormed off. So lots to think about if a deal is really a deal.

lg
no neat sig line

So the guy did not offer your full price right away? Not like he low balled you. I could imagine this took all of 3 min to try and work a deal. He decided it was worth the asking price and then you would not sell it? Sounds like you wasted his time.

 

[kythri]

So the guy did not offer your full price right away? Not like he low balled you. I could imagine this took all of 3 min to try and work a deal. He decided it was worth the asking price and then you would not sell it? Sounds like you wasted his time.

The seller already made it clear that he wasn't interested in haggling, and that haggling would make the item cost more.

This is just like the people who still try to haggle when you state in no uncertain terms that your price is firm, you will not negotiate and you're not interested in trading anything for it, yet, they still try to haggle and trade.

The waste of time was initiated by the illiterate would-be buyer, who deserved what he got.

 

[kythri]

I've had to force myself to walk away from a number of deals, simply because it wasn't anything I absolutely needed or anything that I could see myself using reasonably soon.

I keep seeing deals for drill presses and table saws, both of which I want, but I'm not at a phase in my shop organization where I can do anything but shove it in a corner for months until I can get things re-arranged to make them useful, nor do I have the free time to utilize them over other tools/projects/toys right now.

In order for me to bite on a deal in that scenario, it's got to be a SUPER deal, like that Ridgid drill press that was clearancing for $74.03. I didn't get it , but ultimately, I'm not SUPER disappointed, as I know it would have sat in it's box for a few months, been assembled, and sat unused for a couple more.

 

[bobadame]

I was at a farm auction this weekend. There was a funky little riding lawn mower that would have been an easy restore. It was all there and in reasonable shape. Not something I'd use but just fun too look at '50s streamlined style kind of thing. I stood there looking at it and I decided that I have enough projects to fill the rest of my life. The list is a long one. It's tough to let these go but it's probably for the best.

 

[Jagmandave]

I had to impose the "If something comes in, something has to go out" rule on my wife a few years ago, it's not that she was out of control, but I had to make her see how much of what she was bying we really didn't need, or even want 2 years later. Plus I don't like a lot of clutter, and we were getting to museum quantities!

I don't buy anything now, unless I absolutely have to have it for work, a project or something really important. That means I'm not exactly doing my part these days to support the economy, but then it's not doing anything to support me right now either, since I'm unemployed!

On Craigslist, I list what I'm selling for a fair price, and I find most buyers will pay it, or very close to it. Everyone wants a "deal", but if you've had 9 calls that day on something and they're the first ones to show up, I'm not going to give away money and most folks understand that.

I was selling a nice Ranger pickup once, and I had a guy call and say that he'd be over the next morning at 9 am. Later I got another call, and the second guy also wanted to come the next morning, so I told him 9:30. Well, you can guess what happened, the 9 am guy was late and the 9:30 was early and they got there almost at the same time. The second guy told the first guy he'd give hime $100 to walk away (so he could buy the truck) - I just stood by as these two went back and forth till they got up to $500 at which point I spoke up and said I was going to raise the price of the truck since I obviously had it priced too low! (I didn't, it was just really in clean, nice condition and I was asking all the money for it already). The first guy protested and then paid me my asking price right there in dead presidents and the other guy left. Nothing like letting your customer sell your product to himself!

 

[Al Bundy]

Some people have the philosophy that it isn't a deal if you really don't need it. I always try to keep in mind that just because I don't need it, doesn't mean somebody else doesn't. Yes I tend to spend money, but it's always with purpose. I won't go buy the newest iphone or the latest greatest gadgets. I consider that to be a waste of money. Even my wife makes fun of my 8 year old cell phone, but I can make calls and send text messages just fine.

 

[Flatintoone]

If it's something I want or know that I can resell AND I have cash in hand, then I'll pay up to what I think I should, but no more. Then I walk away. If it's not exactly what I want or in the condition I'd hoped for, I figure it won't make me any happier.
I saw that box advertised as well and didn't pursue it, simply because it was well above my price threshold for something like that, at that distance from my home. I've passed up a lot of Craigslist deals and promising sales just because they weren't that good, or would have created enough inconvenience to neutralize the rush of acquisition.

 

[BFBOB]

I'm an amateur astronomer, as are my parents. I had budgeted $1000 to buy myself a new telescope when it became apparent my dad was in decline. One thing he had always wanted was to stargaze with a large refractor. I couldn't hope to buy anything of quality over about 4", but looked around and found an 8 1/2" f/12.5 objective lens on eBay. I've built several telescopes, and though this would be by far the biggest, I knew I could handle it. The Buy It Now price was $1600, so I thought I had a shot. I was the high bidder at $900, but that didn't make reserve. The seller contacted me and offered it for $1000, shipped. I bit. It arrived in due course and proved to be an excellent lens. I built the scope and Dad and I had several truly excellent viewing sessions before he died.

Now, in all this, I broke ALL the rules. 1: Did the deal outside of eBay. 2: Dealt with an unknown seller. 3: Dealt with an international seller (China). 4: Paid by wire transfer.

That's one bad deal I'll always be thankful I didn't walk away from. Call it karma if you like.

 

[woody 73]

Funny but just this week I passed up a killer deal on a fantastic milwaukee grinder mint in the box,but it needed a few parts and that beast weighed over 12 lbs. I thought to myself the darn thing is to much for my sore hands to be lifting all the time so I declined the offer. I guess sometimes you just walk away and wait for the next deal around the corner.

 

[JMcFly]

Walked away from an older snap on top box, bit tired looking and covered in stickers. But call me a "nazi" and I don't care how good of a deal it is, I am done and walk away.

 

[jvitez]

. I once had a van for sale In the add I said "price $3900, If you want to haggle $4500" Some knothead came along and offered $3700 and I countered with $4300 or something. He finally got to 3900 and I would not sell at that price to him as he wasted my time.

lg
no neat sig line

Damn, but that was funny! I don't think I'd ever be able to do that, but I would have loved to see the look on the doofus's face when he stormed off.

Yeah, all too often I've bought something I know I'll need eventually because I found a great deal, only to have it sit for ages, unused, because wasn't ready for it then. Timing is everything, in more ways than one.

I've gotten to the stage in life where time is more valuable than money. If I want/need something, think the price is reasonable, and have the money, I'll buy it. Like today. I bought a few things from a bricks and mortar tool store at full price because I needed them. No regrets.

 

[CoryZ]

It's funny how the need it right now at full price thing works. Certainly been there and done that--usually as part of a job where I make more money. The other times I can think of are projects gone bad.

 

[bimmer1980]

there have only been a few deals that I have walked away from. Usually it is if the item is going to cost me more hassle and grief than if it did not have it. I am figuring out that once I buy an item it is here to stay... so it had better be in good condition..... I'm finding I have less patience for tools that do not work as they should. There is something satisfying about picking up a piece of equipment or tools that work everytime, all the time.

And is it so frustrating when a tool does not work.... one thing to remember, you forget the purchase price a lot quicker than the grief of a poor tool every time you use it......

 

[muibubbles]

I have this problem. I generally can walk away from a deal but usually it kills me for a few days.

I tend to know the market for my items. and generally i will offer according to that regardless what the asking price is. Like the other member ill present my offer and give the seller the decision if they want the cash for it and get it out of their hair or do they want to hold on to it longer and try making more money. i typically make it so the sell thinks "take a little less and get a guaranteed sale, or hold out and might not sell it at all"

Rarity of the item plays a role
size
distance
Luxury << this is a big one. like a horizontal bandsaw im in the market for. this is a luxury item. Not a lot of people have one, let a lone what one is. i believe its a very small market so my offer is going to be accordingly. (a lot of them on CL dont move)

my last deal i walked away from was this weekend... a south bend bench drill press.. he wanted 30 came down to 25 and i only wanted to pay 20. i was sole paying on the name since it needed some work. missing cover, pulleys had bunch of chips in them, motor level to apply tension was bent and broken, bed was seized, bed had drill marks, surface rust everywhere... (as you can see im still trying to remind myself why i walked away.) i already have a drill press, this would have been a resto project that probably would have sat for months, so it wasnt worth the extra 5.... i hope =/

 

[sberry]

Deal or no deal, I rarely buy something I dont need.

 

[HandyManny]

What's the point you walk away from a deal rather than buy something?

Lots of deals on GJ and a lot of tools and things change hands through here, ebay, CL, and other methods. A steal is one thing, but sometimes things are reasonable, but not crazy good either. How do you approach this?

I went and looked at an old SO tool chest today (KR-53 family). It was in nice mechanical shape, but the paint was only fair (peeling and chipping). Well used, but not abused. Had a good prior life in a factory.

I almost bought it, but decided that the price was just a touch high considering it could use a repaint. The seller didn't want to go any lower, so I gave it a pass.

I went there with every intention of getting the box, but the paint issues weren't in the CL photos. Plus, I have no place right now to do a restoration / painting project.

The sellers price was in the ballpark. I could have bought it and turned around and sold it on here for the exact same price plus shipping, but I'd lose money after paypal fees.

Plus, I don't think it would pass the SWMBO test as a reasonable deal like my 30yo Kennedy 520 with perfect paint at half the price did.

Anyway, that's my latest one I let go by story. What's yours?

Me personally I don't get too touchy/feely about this stuff. If something is worth it to me and I need it then I buy it. If not the I pass. There are a few things I weigh in my head before deciding, but I don't get too philosophical about it. It's just a matter of knowing what you want, how bad you need it and how much it's worth to ya. That's just me. I don't know, maybe I'm just from a different generation and different upbringing, but a lot of guys today are just different than I'm used to.

 

[crewchief888]

I had to impose the "If something comes in, something has to go out" rule on my wife a few years ago, it's not that she was out of control, but I had to make her see how much of what she was bying we really didn't need, or even want 2 years later. Plus I don't like a lot of clutter, and we were getting to museum quantities!
I don't buy anything now, unless I absolutely have to have it for work, a project or something really important.

i stopped checking CL, and ebay for much of anything anymore. 'round here CL is a joke, either it's absolute junk, broken, missing too many parts, or way overpriced.
sometimes all the above.
i'll meander around a flea mkt or swap meet for hours by myself, and maybe spend $5. most of the time i leave empty handed

Yes I tend to spend money, but it's always with purpose. I won't go buy the newest iphone or the latest greatest gadgets. I consider that to be a waste of money. Even my wife makes fun of my 8 year old cell phone, but I can make calls and send text messages just fine.

anything i buy, be it tool related, clothes, or even a cup of coffee in the morning, i have a habit of making it a "justifiable" purchase to myself.
wife gets pissed when i pass up stuff she "thinks" i should buy, needed or not.
i dont own a cell phone, GPS or anything remotely technology related. even this computer she bought for me, old one (10 years old) crashed multiple times, and i never really got it running good again.
she's had 3 laptops, 4 or 5 phones in the same time span.
dont bother me at all.

 

[jpoe]

At my age free is not always a good deal. I accumulated a lot of great stuff over the years but now I don't want it. Just more to maintain, store, or try to sell. It's like the free tool boxes thread here. Not worth it to me to find a place to store them and I would just pass it along to one of the kids so I did not even think to reply to it. One time in younger years I negociated a dealer to within $11 dollars of what I was willing to pay for a $2000 car. I walked. If it is something crutial to life then you pay whatever. If it is a want then set you max price and stick to it. If you just want to waste time and haggle with someone over the price then keep walking, I don't have the time. I once had a van for sale In the add I said "price $3900, If you want to haggle $4500" Some knothead came along and offered $3700 and I countered with $4300 or something. He finally got to 3900 and I would not sell at that price to him as he wasted my time. To him $4000 was as low as I would go. He got all sorts of mad and stormed off. So lots to think about if a deal is really a deal.

lg
no neat sig line

LG, if you come across a metal lathe, or anything related to machining, for a good price, please shoot me a PM. Pickins' are rather slim in Southern Oregon!