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Author Topic: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself  (Read 1333 times)

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Offline Matthew

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Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
« on: February 09, 2020, 10:48:02 AM »
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  • There are two ways to purchase a used item.

    1. Pay the asking price. No awkwardness or boldness required; you're completely "nice", "going with the flow", low stress, etc.  Obviously the easiest route, but you also pay 100% of the asking price.

    2. Haggle with the seller. This requires a bit of boldness, confidence, negotiating skill, mental effort, and in general: a bit of trouble. But you stand to gain a few $$$ by going this route, as the item will cost you less than it would have.

    AND THEN THERE IS MY PET PEEVE:

    3. Those who want "the best of both worlds" -- the convenience and ease of "single price" no-haggling like in #1, but with the lower price of #2. They ask ME to make an offer on my own product -- basically to haggle with myself. They expect me to jew myself down on their behalf.

    When I list something for "$100 or best offer" that means I'm open to offers -- but you have to put yourself forward and make an offer. You have to risk a "no", risk offending me, etc. That's the price of any "discount" off my asking price.

    I mean, if you're asking ME for a price, I already came up with one! It's called the asking price. I already think that price is fair, or I wouldn't be asking it. That's the only price I personally will give to a potential customer. If they want to haggle, THEY must haggle. That's their job. Or, they can always pay the asking price like 50% of people do.


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    Offline ByzCat3000

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #1 on: February 09, 2020, 04:07:31 PM »
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  • There are two ways to purchase a used item.

    1. Pay the asking price. No awkwardness or boldness required; you're completely "nice", "going with the flow", low stress, etc.  Obviously the easiest route, but you also pay 100% of the asking price.

    2. Haggle with the seller. This requires a bit of boldness, confidence, negotiating skill, mental effort, and in general: a bit of trouble. But you stand to gain a few $$$ by going this route, as the item will cost you less than it would have.

    AND THEN THERE IS MY PET PEEVE:

    3. Those who want "the best of both worlds" -- the convenience and ease of "single price" no-haggling like in #1, but with the lower price of #2. They ask ME to make an offer on my own product -- basically to haggle with myself. They expect me to jew myself down on their behalf.

    When I list something for "$100 or best offer" that means I'm open to offers -- but you have to put yourself forward and make an offer. You have to risk a "no", risk offending me, etc. That's the price of any "discount" off my asking price.

    I mean, if you're asking ME for a price, I already came up with one! It's called the asking price. I already think that price is fair, or I wouldn't be asking it. That's the only price I personally will give to a potential customer. If they want to haggle, THEY must haggle. That's their job. Or, they can always pay the asking price like 50% of people do.
    "What's the lowest price you'd take"  :laugh1:


    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #2 on: February 09, 2020, 04:15:40 PM »
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  • "What's the lowest price you'd take"  :laugh1:
    Exactly.
    They don't want to put in the effort to discover my lowest price... they want it handed to them on a silver platter.
    I always whack the ball right back into their court. I invite them to make an offer -- but they have to "man up" and do it themselves.
    Want to say "thank you"? 
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    Offline TKGS

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #3 on: February 09, 2020, 06:35:26 PM »
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  • The best reply is, "I'm asking $100.00, but for you, $150.00."

    Offline poche

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #4 on: February 10, 2020, 02:14:10 AM »
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  • If you don't want to haggle then don't. 


    Offline Merry

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #5 on: February 10, 2020, 11:31:29 AM »
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  •  :facepalm:
    If any one saith that true and natural water is not of necessity for baptism, and on that account wrests to some sort of metaphor those words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost...,"  Let Him Be Anathama.  -COUNCIL OF TRENT Sess VII Canon II “On Baptism"

    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #6 on: Yesterday at 10:45:56 PM »
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  • I just got someone else trying to do this. Wanting me to haggle with myself, thinking that I have the "inside track" on how low I would accept. They want me to use that "influence" and come back with a better price for them. Give me a break!

    I'm trying to sell my Mac Mini (M2, 16 GB RAM, 256 SSD, excellent condition) so I can buy a laptop, which I need much more than the Mac. My specific model/configuration is selling for around $400 on eBay, so I priced mine $375 on Facebook Marketplace.

    Some people want champagne PCs on a beer budget.
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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #7 on: Yesterday at 10:54:48 PM »
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  • I've never understood this "or best offer" business.  To me, it's like saying "I don't really expect to get $100 for this item, but I'll entertain offers below $100, just how low I will go, I'm not saying".  Seems to me that it should just go without saying, that haggling back and forth will happen.  Unless it's an auction-type sale (as on eBay), certainly nobody is going to offer more than $100.


    Offline Seraphina

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #8 on: Yesterday at 11:27:35 PM »
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  • Someone asks you to haggle with yourself doesn’t know how to haggle. Pay the full price or look elsewhere for the product. Most Americans and Canadians do not know how to haggle and when it is appropriate, when not. 
    My most “successful” haggle was back in the early 1990’s for a side view mirror on my car. I looked it up with the dealership who’d fix it that same day, for the price of $195.99. NO  WAY!
    On advice of a work colleague, I went what was called The Little Third World, a ten block expanse of junk yards and sketchy “outlets” in behind Shea Stadium (now Citifield, home of the Mets) in NY. I got the first place down to $100 almost immediately. I stopped at every junkyard and salvage place. It took me about an hour, but I got my new knock-off side view mirror for $15, and the fellow installed it on the spot!  
    Funny to know now the Little Third World is history, the space filled with name brand retailers, restaurants, an internationally known big box store, and pricey condos!  

    Offline FarmerWife

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #9 on: Today at 12:18:51 PM »
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  • I sold a fair amount on FB Marketplace and have gotten low-ballers. I've had a few people haggle in person but I say the price is firm. It does depend how desperate you want to sell something. Like I would look at how much it costs new, halve it, and maybe lower it. Or check similar listings. But if I'm desperate to sell it quickly, I'll price it lower. I also try to be more self-conscience about my spending. It's a pain to sell things on the used market especially with hyperinflation.

    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #10 on: Today at 12:43:27 PM »
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  • I've never understood this "or best offer" business.  To me, it's like saying "I don't really expect to get $100 for this item, but I'll entertain offers below $100, just how low I will go, I'm not saying".  Seems to me that it should just go without saying, that haggling back and forth will happen.  Unless it's an auction-type sale (as on eBay), certainly nobody is going to offer more than $100.

    Just to clarify: I'm not complaining about haggling, or even low-ballers in this particular case. 
    I'm complaining about people who literally want you to haggle with yourself. They don't want to go through the "hassle" of haggling for a lower price; they want you to go back-and-forth with YOURSELF until you settle on some lower price.

    I mean, if you ask me "what's your price for this" or "what's a fair price for this" -- just look at my asking price! I've already answered that question. If you want it cheaper than that, I'm sorry but you're going to have to go out on a limb and ask.
    Want to say "thank you"? 
    You can send me a gift from my Amazon wishlist!
    https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25M2B8RERL1UO

    My accounts (Paypal, Venmo) have been (((shut down))) PM me for how to donate and keep the forum going.


    Offline Everlast22

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #11 on: Today at 12:48:03 PM »
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  • I sold a fair amount on FB Marketplace and have gotten low-ballers. I've had a few people haggle in person but I say the price is firm. It does depend how desperate you want to sell something. Like I would look at how much it costs new, halve it, and maybe lower it. Or check similar listings. But if I'm desperate to sell it quickly, I'll price it lower. I also try to be more self-conscience about my spending. It's a pain to sell things on the used market especially with hyperinflation.
    I've sold/bought probably 75-90 items in my FB marketplace spaces. I have not had one bad interaction with haggling in person. I get all that out of the way in the messaging.  I've had a few people say "no" when something was, lets say, 100 bucks and I said 80 bucks (thinking I could meet at 90) and not then going any further. 

    I usually just pay asking price, but if something is not worth what they are asking even at a lower price, I'm going to see if they will go lower.

    One reason I feel I've had success on Marketplace is because I don't sell clothes... :laugh1: That kind of stuff would frustrate me. People coming over, trying stuff on and then not taking it? nah.

    Offline FarmerWife

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #12 on: Today at 12:54:05 PM »
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  • I've had three filipinos ask me "What's your best price" or "what's your lowest price" and that just annoyed me. I think it's what they do. I didn't even put OBO in my listing price. I just say the price is firm to get them to go away. 

    Offline jen51

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #13 on: Today at 01:31:51 PM »
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  • “What’s your lowest price” really trips my trigger as well. Out of principle I will never entertain it. I might tell them that my price is available on the listing, or reiterate my price and tell them if they have something else in mind they can shoot me an offer. Let them haggle with themselves lol. :laugh1:
    Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.
    ~James 1:27

    Offline Everlast22

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    Re: Pet Peeve - people asking me to haggle with myself
    « Reply #14 on: Today at 01:45:38 PM »
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  • When selling, I usually accept a lower offer. I start just above fair. But, I'm not on to screw anyone over, just make a few bucks and get something to someone for cheap who needs it.