bargaining

Hey all,

I have another question that you guys most likely will help me and most likely will, what's a good rate for giving the auto companiea, etc, for the pay load.

Example: in my case, I would like to start this scrapping hobby of mine into more of a part time job, so I plan on going to different auto repair shops and computer repair shops around town. I'm assuming that they just won't give me there scrap, just knowing that there's a decent amount of money. And my question is, what woukd be a decent percentage?

You need to pay them at least slightly more then they are getting now
and do it with better service then they are getting now

I have been know to pay a little too much the first time to get my foot in the door

Just a quick question does anyone ever use haggling when dealing with a customer to try and negotiate a better deal?
Does haggling work or will it just piss the customers off and make them not want to do business with you?

I know it pisses me off when a customer haggles :) That's just me though.

The other day, I have something for sale for $1800..restaurant equipment. I set up a time for this person to come and check it out..he offers $500. I don't want to play that game, so I said we are done here and I walked him to the door.

Oh, and a couple weeks ago I had this meat slicer for sale for $500. I talk to this guy opening a deli about 30 minutes away. He wants the slicer, but he's really busy with opening the place. He asked if I could bring it to him, and I said I don't normally do that because I've always had problems bringing things to people without them paying first. He said don't worry about it--and this was the last time I will do this. I get there, and he says "So, you wanted $200 for this, right? And then starts talking about he needs an automatic one for cheaper insurance premiums..he knows exactly what I was bringing and how much it cost. I pick it up and walk out the door. He thought since he got me all the way there that he could talk me down on it. He followed me back to my car and he got all the way up to $475 when I slammed my door shut and drove off. I was so angry I wouldn't have sold it to him for $600.

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Originally Posted by ryanw

I know it pisses me off when a customer haggles :) That's just me though.

The other day, I have something for sale for $1800..restaurant equipment. I set up a time for this person to come and check it out..he offers $500. I don't want to play that game, so I said we are done here and I walked him to the door.

Oh, and a couple weeks ago I had this meat slicer for sale for $500. I talk to this guy opening a deli about 30 minutes away. He wants the slicer, but he's really busy with opening the place. He asked if I could bring it to him, and I said I don't normally do that because I've always had problems bringing things to people without them paying first. He said don't worry about it--and this was the last time I will do this. I get there, and he says "So, you wanted $200 for this, right? And then starts talking about he needs an automatic one for cheaper insurance premiums..he knows exactly what I was bringing and how much it cost. I pick it up and walk out the door. He thought since he got me all the way there that he could talk me down on it. He followed me back to my car and he got all the way up to $475 when I slammed my door shut and drove off. I was so angry I wouldn't have sold it to him for $600.

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Lowballers are a near constant source of irritation for me. Most recent being a forklift I have for sale. I have it listed for $8,995. He calls about it. He *HAD* to have seen the price because it's right by the phone number, but maybe he glossed over it, who knows. So we play phone tag for a day or two until we finally catch up. He asks what the price is. I tell him. He says he can't do that. So I said make an offer.


$2,000

*sigh*

Really? Just go away.

Too many time wasters and deadbeats so I rarely deliver, but if I do, they have to view/pay first.

Negotiating/Haggling is just part of the game...Some people are just plain insulting though. Or they negotiate a price and then say they will pick the item up next week...these people usually drop off the face of the earth and you never hear from them again.

Sure I'm guilty of low balling too, but I will first explain what I do so they have a better understanding of my profit margin...then make an offer.

If you are not negating for EVERYTHING, including asking is there a special today or is there a sale today ect....you are just leaving money on the table. In just about every other culture except the US, you are viewed as an IDIOT if you don't negotiate or at least try to. Now there is a fine line between pissing someone off and negotiating.....if I come to buy something you are selling on Craigslist..of COURSE I will try to haggle price. I also let people know most of the time if I am reselling...where they understand I have to make money too.

There's a time for bargaining and a time for not. There's just some times to either take it, or leave it.
To ask someone to deliver and then try to haggle is NOT such a time. I know you were ticked, and had every right to be, but you were also $25 from your goal, you might have told him he was also $25 from his, and he could take it or leave it

I guess my point is...yeah he did deliver it (I don't deliver, they have to come to me to buy)....BUT you lost a $500 sale over a 5% discount....you always price items where there is bargaining room (Sales 101)....and 5% off is NOTHING...especially since you already drove there...just sayin'.

I have been in sales for over 20 years...never have let a deal walk for 5%....

I see what you two are saying, but he still wasn't going to get it. I had discounted all of the remaining restaurant equipment I had, and was moving it out before sending the rest to auction. Sure there was still room to move, but this deal wasn't going to make or break me. He needed one of these badly, as in *that day* badly, and at a good price. He let it go.

This was actually a nice hobart that I use at home. It's back at home now. Sliced up some homemade pastrami a few days ago, and it tasted goooood :)

Well if you plan on paying I wouldn't come right out and say it. there is a possible chance that they just need to get rid of the clutter and don't care about money.
I have approached all the auto shops around but found that they already had a guy and he was paying fair for there scrap. no sense working for pennies to beat the other guy although
Computer shops around me were hit and miss some of them scrapped their own and some have piles of stuff just waiting until they need more room (my favorite) and some wanted to sell knowing rough scrap values. I will barter if i feel a deal is not fair to both party's but try not to lowball people or cutthroats especially in this small town word gets around fast so you better be fair to people.
Burning bridges is not advised. so many times i have let things go a little cheap only to have the favor returned 5 fold.

I'm fine with haggling. I expect it. I also haggle. But asking me to come off the asking price by 7 grand is ludicrous.


Then again, if I could somehow be paid for every time a person said they were headed over with cash, I wouldn't have to sell anything.

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Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Then again, if I could somehow be paid for every time a person said they were headed over with cash, I wouldn't have to sell anything.

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You have to love Craigs

Yea..I'm of the same mind set, I don't mind haggling..but do it without insulting me. Just as you'd expect me to do if I was buying an you were selling.

Haggling is fine, insulting isn't.

Sirscrapalot - Recycle, reuse, win.

*Ryan i understand how you felt. Have done just that in the past(passed on a deal). What i have learned however, is that BIDNESS(business) means getting that paper! Turn off your emotions and GET PAID. you let ur emotions/pride actually COST you money (gas,time,no sale). Aside from being illegal or unethical....make the sale. "principles" don't pay the rent/mortgage...benjamins do :-)

Haggling. Is just part of the business personally I love it and it can pay off often.

To low ball is standard for resellers and the I'm slicker than you buyers. This is not cool and cl is 90 % full of these people. Then they high ball the resell lol. This is across markets so sellers beware of buyers that can't see or read . They just.......what's your final price ? (And the post said : firm ! Or cash only ) will you take ?