It''s a funny world we live in....

[Italiahaircolor]

So, Mark and I bit the bullet, found a great deal, and bought all new SS appliances...

Only problem is: we still have perfectly working white ones...so, we decided to sell them using a fairly popular public board...

I posted our fridge, gas range, dishwasher (all under 5 years old) and the over the range microwave (which is still brand new and used literally twice to melt butter--we don't microwave much, btw) for $700.00/firm...I included pictures...and was extremely specific when it came to the details about the day they will available, messurements and the fact that we know this is a good pice...

I've received such stupid offers...some guy offerd me 300.00 for the whole package (dumb)...another guy said what is the "best" he can offer me under $700.00 (I told him $699.99). I've had more people waste my time in the last two days than I can ever remember.

I am so tempted to just donate them and get them far, far away from me...but my DH says they are in *such* good shape he'd like to at least make some money on them...ugh.

Anyone had anything like this happen? Or do I just attracted this type of stuff?

 

[decodelighted]

Its psychology at work ... no matter HOW "good" a deal is, people always want to think they are getting an even BETTER deal. To counter that, always ask for more than what you actually want -- to give people room to barter & FEEL like they''ve gotten the better of you.

Been working at flea markets and, uh, rock trading salt shacks since the beginning of time.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 1/7/2009 11:24:29 AM
Author: decodelighted
Its psychology at work ... no matter HOW ''good'' a deal is, people always want to think they are getting an even BETTER deal. To counter that, always ask for more than what you actually want -- to give people room to barter & FEEL like they''ve gotten the better of you.

Been working at flea markets and, uh, rock trading salt shacks since the beginning of time.

I should have asked for more...you''re right...

 

[Dee*Jay]

Ha! Welcome to my life as a real estate agent!

(Seriously, I sympathize totally.)

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Yes, so much so! We had a riding lawn mower worth $1200 up for sale on CL and TONS of people offered $600. Not only would we get those low offers, we'd also be given SOB STORIES, such as "I'm so broke and am desperate for the lawn mower you have for sale." "Life is tough on me right now, can you give me a deal?" GRRR! Drove me nuts. We decided to sell the mower when my dh JUST got a job after being unemployed for a few months and we were broke too. Well, not exactly broke, but come on, 1/2 of our asking price. FINALLY after lowering the price, we sold the mower for $850.

IMO, CL (if this is the website you're using) attracts crazy people. One time I had an item up for $20 (that was BRAND NEW and worth over $120) and the woman wanted me to MEET her 1 hour south of where I live. For $20!!! I ended up giving the item to the thrift store.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 1/7/2009 11:35:19 AM
Author: MC
Yes, so much so! We had a riding lawn mower worth $1200 up for sale on CL and TONS of people offered $600. Not only would we get those low offers, we''d also be given SOB STORIES, such as ''I''m so broke and am desperate for the lawn mower you have for sale.'' ''Life is tough on me right now, can you give me a deal?'' GRRR! Drove me nuts. We decided to sell the mower when my dh JUST got a job after being unemployed for a few months and we were broke too. Well, not exactly broke, but come on, 1/2 of our asking price. FINALLY after lowering the price, we sold the mower for $850.

IMO, CL (if this is the website you''re using) attracts crazy people. One time I had an item up for $20 (that was BRAND NEW and worth over $120) and the woman wanted me to MEET her 1 hour south of where I live. For $20!!! I ended up giving the item to the thrift store.

LOL! Had that happen too. I told her it was a pick up only situation, LOL.

I always list things for at least 1/4 more than I actually want. People wheel and deal until the cows come home!!!

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 1/7/2009 11:27:40 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 1/7/2009 11:24:29 AM
Author: decodelighted
Its psychology at work ... no matter HOW 'good' a deal is, people always want to think they are getting an even BETTER deal. To counter that, always ask for more than what you actually want -- to give people room to barter & FEEL like they've gotten the better of you.

Been working at flea markets and, uh, rock trading salt shacks since the beginning of time.

I should have asked for more...you're right...

FWIW it's a widespread problem right now ... this "70% off, world's on sale" mania. There's an article on Yahoo's main page right now about how the crisis sales retailers are doing this season to try to survive are going to affect our overall mentality about what is or isn't a "good deal" for YEARS to come. Sobering thought since it kinda means economic recovery might be even further away ...

ETA: Here's one version of the AP's story on it.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Yeah, welcome to the world of selling stuff on CL. People can be the most incredible flakes, and so many of the responses are just profoundly obnoxious or obviously completely out of line. I guess that''s the "price" we all pay for using such an otherwise useful "free" service...

 

[cara]

Don''t post for a while, and then repost but with separate prices for each item and then your ''deal'' price on the whole package. Also helps to take a bit of a tone at the end and specify Cash only/Pick-up Only/No lowball offers, please.

While $700 for the package is more convenient for you, its a bit of a chunk of change for many people. Ignore all the crappy, rude lowball offers, these people are just playin'' and wasting your time!

Or find somewhere to donate them to (as it would be a real shame to have them sit in a landfill.) Sometimes it is just not worth it.

 

[MustangGal]

I recently sold my old car on CL, and made sure I listed a price with room to negotiate. I had a few horrible offers, and then the only guy that actually came and looked at it paid the asking price in cash! So I ended up getting more for it than expected.

I would either remove the original listing and put a new one up with a higher price, try listing them seperatly, or maybe look into a used appliance store and see if they''ll purchase them.

 

[BlueSki231]

Yes, I''ve sold a set of couches on CL.

Lots of weirdos replying..

One no-show (said he was going to come and buy them but never did)

and then finally a sane person replied and gave me my asking price, and was really gracious for the good deal. Really only took about a couple weeks to get rid of the couches.

Just sick it out.. you will find someone who will give you your asking price. $700 sounds like an AWESOME deal for that set.

 

[Steel]

Hmm,

So Italia, I see your best offer to date is $300. So how about this; I will do you a deal. You take $305 AND ship fully insured to Ireland and you have yourself a deal. BTW, would you take a cheque? (What is your return policy...guarantee...after sales service?)

 

[steph72276]

Yeah, those boards are pretty much like virtual yard sale and people always want to bargain with you just to see if you will take less. I sold my son''s crib and got some really silly offers, but stuck with my price and sold it the next day. If it is at a good price, you will sell them, but you might have to muddle through the ridiculous offers before then.