Found a way to get rid of the Regular Low Ball Armslist People

[JONWILL]

Why get upset about "low balling"? From the buyer's point of view, it never hurts to try. When looking at things at gun shows, I always ask the seller if he can do better than the initial asking price. If he sees that I'm a serious buyer, quite often he will lower his price. On the other hand, the seller can just politely decline if he wants to stick to his price. No hard feelings either way. This is just how the game is played.

I don’t get upset. It’s just the same people every time. Just don’t want them to bother even sending offers that I won’t take anyway

 

[Tallbald]

As to low-ballers, I've never sold a gun on an open ad. But I did sell my small, vintage Kubota tractor. priced very fairly at $2575 with a number of accessories. One fella just responded "1500". . I replied "the actual price is $3650 but I'll come down to $2575 just for you. But don't tell anyone please." Don.

 

[Wisco]

I say “no” a lot, or delete and say nothing.

Sometimes I tell them why. Most of the time I just delete and move on.

I just don’t have much respect for people who feel like they deserve the world’s best deal on everything they buy at another individual’s expense. They don’t want the item as much as they want the “win” of getting it cheap. They’re easy to spot. Easy to dismiss.

 

[BearBrimstone]

I am in the boat that hates haggling. I price my guns at what I am willing to sell them for and that is that. I end all of my ads with something along the lines of "Price is firm. All offers below my asking price will be ignored." Even with that I have never had a problem selling a gun.

 

[AlexanderA]

I am in the boat that hates haggling.

The aversion to haggling is a cultural phenomenon among Americans. In other parts of the world, people enjoy this as a game. I remember one time (in 1963, as an 18-year-old) I was in an antique shop in Casablanca, Morocco. I took a casual interest in a native flintlock musket. (I really didn't want to buy it -- I had no way of taking it with me.) The owner asked how much I was willing to offer. I said nothing. He said he would let me have it for $75. Again I said I didn't want it. He lowered his price to $35, then $10. Finally, in frustration, he said he would let me have it for free. As I left the shop, he followed me into the street, saying he would pay me to take it off his hands! Evidently his pride was hurt because he couldn't make the sale.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I had someone try to catfish me a few years ago. I enjoyed messing with them.

Another tactic is to agree to the deal, get them to drive farther than they like to meet you, and then don't show up. Do that once or twice and I'm guessing they'll never contact you again.

 

[chicharrones]

The aversion to haggling is a cultural phenomenon among Americans. In other parts of the world, people enjoy this as a game. I remember one time (in 1963, as an 18-year-old) I was in an antique shop in Casablanca, Morocco. I took a casual interest in a native flintlock musket. (I really didn't want to buy it -- I had no way of taking it with me.) The owner asked how much I was willing to offer. I said nothing. He said he would let me have it for $75. Again I said I didn't want it. He lowered his price to $35, then $10. Finally, in frustration, he said he would let me have it for free. As I left the shop, he followed me into the street, saying he would pay me to take it off his hands! Evidently his pride was hurt because he couldn't make the sale.

It sounds like the musket seller didn't enjoy that game at all.

 

[buck460XVR]

Human nature to haggle. Some folks just need to feel they got a deal or pulled something over on a seller. Thus why car dealers and gun shops initially over-price their items. Doesn't hurt anything. If someone pays asking price, it's a bonus. If the buyer haggles down to the seller's bottom dollar, it a win/win. Don't want to haggle, do as was suggested, state the price is firm. Still gonna get someone who wants to dicker.......cause what's the harm in asking? Iffin the price comes down it's a bonus. Gonna sell things to the general public, you have to deal with the public. Coming on an internet forum and bragging about using cute little comebacks to discourage lowballers is not elevating anyone or showing superiority. Just ask those who may have been a potential customer that walked away after being belittled.

 

[Elkins45]

I live not too far from US127 and every August they have a big yard sale along it that stretches all the way from Alabama to Ohio. One year my dad came and stayed with me and he wanted to shop the yard sale. He spotted an item he wanted that was priced $10. I had to stand there in the baking hot sun for at least five minutes while he eventually talked the guy down to $8. It's not like he didn't have the $10 to spend--for him it was all part of the sport. I would have happily have pitched in the $2 just to get back in the car but I know I would never have heard the end of it.

Guns, cars and houses: nobody expects to pay the asking price.

 

[OARNGESI]

If it’s too low I’ll just delete it no reply nothing if they want to buy it they’ll pay a fair price if I want to sell it I’ll take a fair price. Also if they are more concerned about a bill of sale than the gun I’ll discontinue contact

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

We had the ultimate low-baller at a garage sale once. She was an authentic haggler from the Old Country. Leather jacket for 25 cents? Outrageous!!! She wouldn't leave until she had us down to a nickel. She stayed for hours wearing down the price of each item to a few cents, drinking 3 or 4 free sodas, collapsing in a chair for a while from sheer exhaustion. We finally figured out we could dump the whole rack of ladies clothes on her for a dollar and go back inside where it was cool. I had sold all my guy stuff hours earlier.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Over 40 years in the sales world, taught me a little bit about human nature. Firm almost never means firm. Any commodity can be and will be open to a negotiation. Most people that put something up for sale, usually do want to move it. They may need the cash, they may actually not like the product, and a slew of other reasons. When I hear someone say "Firm". I actually love it. Most likely he is lousy at negotiations and even prone to giving in. Just because someone low balled your product, so what, that does not mean he might pay more, and in some cases even full boat and in some cases might even pay more than you are asking. So he took the time and he opened a door to buy. Why not listen to him. Just say, I appreciate your offer, but just out of curiosity, "Why do you think the gun should be sold at that price"? Listen to what he says and then YOU SELL your Product. Features and benefits. Sell the sizzle not the steak. Then ask him, are you really interested in this gun. Get him to start saying YES. And then go from there.
I could go on and on. but you should get the drift of what I am talking about. Have some fun with it. SELL IT! Tell why you loved it, how you cared for it, etc. And then close the deal.

When I was a very young lad in the sales world, I had a boss that had a license plate that had three letters ASK. Ask for a date, ask for a discount, ask, ask. You never know, and you will be surprised how many rewards you can get in every day life.
And here is something to remember. "Make the customer feel like he won", Even if it is a mere $10.00 off your "Firm" price.

 

[Deus Machina]

I'm not a haggler. I'm also not a swindler, so I price it at fair or very slightly below.
I get plenty of lowball offers (the beat-up 10-22 for a converted Saiga, or the offer of a Sigma for a S&W 586 + $100, or offers of $200 for that 586) and just delete them. But then I do get the people that understand what things are worth.
I'm also not likely to haggle buying, and respect people more if they know what something's worth and price it accordingly.

 

[Otto]

I had a Colt Delta in 10mm Stainless. Like new, just got tired of it. Put it up for $795. More than fair. Regular people came along.
"I will give you $500 cash today."
.

$500 is more than a pawn shop would have offered you. On the other hand, I sold a $575 Bushmaster AR (used) for $1400 after Sandy Hook. Low balling is a subjective term.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

$500 is more than a pawn shop would have offered you. On the other hand, I sold a $575 Bushmaster AR (used) for $1400 after Sandy Hook. Low balling is a subjective term.

Exactly Otto. The guy calls up and say's he has $500 cash and ready to buy? Great, you have a buyer on your hands. He wants it. He is now in the game. He would be a total wuss if he did not ASK. There are some that would have said yes, made a quick sell and moved on. But the important part would be to simply sell the product to him and then put it back into his court. Even if worse came to worse, you could tell him that at the difference from his low price, and your price is only $250.00. Would he be willing to meet in the middle. And that price would be $625.00.You made the deal, no longer have to spend time on having to listen to more offers, He is happy, you are happy.

** There is a inherent risk when buying a used gun that you cannot see. Just because the owner say's the gun is in great condition does not mean it is. Obviously the owner is NOT in love with the gun, or he would not be selling it. Unless he just wants or needs the cash.
And why not listen to what he wants to trade. Yes, maybe some will be unworthy, but some might actually be a gem that for some reason he just does not like etc. You never know, until you ask.

 

[chicharrones]

Over 40 years in the sales world, taught me a little bit about human nature. Firm almost never means firm. Any commodity can be and will be open to a negotiation. Most people that put something up for sale, usually do want to move it. They may need the cash, they may actually not like the product, and a slew of other reasons. When I hear someone say "Firm". I actually love it. Most likely he is lousy at negotiations and even prone to giving in. Just because someone low balled your product, so what, that does not mean he might pay more, and in some cases even full boat and in some cases might even pay more than you are asking. So he took the time and he opened a door to buy. Why not listen to him. Just say, I appreciate your offer, but just out of curiosity, "Why do you think the gun should be sold at that price"? Listen to what he says and then YOU SELL your Product. Features and benefits. Sell the sizzle not the steak. Then ask him, are you really interested in this gun. Get him to start saying YES. And then go from there.
I could go on and on. but you should get the drift of what I am talking about. Have some fun with it. SELL IT! Tell why you loved it, how you cared for it, etc. And then close the deal.

When I was a very young lad in the sales world, I had a boss that had a license plate that had three letters ASK. Ask for a date, ask for a discount, ask, ask. You never know, and you will be surprised how many rewards you can get in every day life.
And here is something to remember. "Make the customer feel like he won", Even if it is a mere $10.00 off your "Firm" price.

What should be remembered is that not everyone has (or wants to develop) the skill set to be a salesman or think like a salesman. One of the jobs that is plentiful in this country is sales positions. It seems companies are always hiring salesmen to replace the unsuccessful salesmen that preceded them. I know in my industry, salesmen move from company to company about every 12 months for failing to meet sales goals that are apparently very hard to meet.

But that's okay. It's like any job. Some people are more skilled in one sort of work than another and do better in one line of work than the other. Just like a service tech that fixes what a salesman sold. Neither are usually masters of the other's line of work.

 

[TomJ]

I've sold a number of guns on Armslist and have accepted the fact that people are going to haggle. I add $25 to my target price for less expensive guns and $50 to more expensive guns. When I'm ultimately asked if I can come down, and it almost always happens, I agree to take $25 to $50 off the price. The buyer got a fair deal and feels better having "talked me down" and I got my real asking price. It's a win win.

 

[Elkins45]

What should be remembered is that not everyone has (or wants to develop) the skill set to be a salesman or think like a salesman. One of the jobs that is plentiful in this country is sales positions. It seems companies are always hiring salesmen to replace the unsuccessful salesmen that preceded them. I know in my industry, salesmen move from company to company about every 12 months for failing to meet sales goals that are apparently very hard to meet.

But that's okay. It's like any job. Some people are more skilled in one sort of work than another and do better in one line of work than the other. Just like a service tech that fixes what a salesman sold. Neither are usually masters of the other's line of work.

Have you ever bought a second car from the same car salesman? I have only once, and that was just two years later because I hit a deer. Usually when you go back to the dealer the guy you bought your last car from is long gone. A good salesman has to walk a tightrope between too aggressive (run the customer off) and not pushy enough (let the customer go elsewhere) and so they seem to move around a lot until they find a place they fit in with the style the management likes. Gun shops are somewhat different it seems to me. I see the same faces year after year in the shops I frequent.

Regarding "firm" prices for gun sales: the firmness of a price is often inversely proportional to how long the gun has been dangling out there with little or no interest. I have watched more than one gun with a "firm" price get dropped in $50 increments. The price was still "firm" every time.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Have you ever bought a second car from the same car salesman? I have only once, and that was just two years later because I hit a deer. Usually when you go back to the dealer the guy you bought your last car from is long gone. A good salesman has to walk a tightrope between too aggressive (run the customer off) and not pushy enough (let the customer go elsewhere) and so they seem to move around a lot until they find a place they fit in with the style the management likes. Gun shops are somewhat different it seems to me. I see the same faces year after year in the shops I frequent.

Regarding "firm" prices for gun sales: the firmness of a price is often inversely proportional to how long the gun has been dangling out there with little or no interest. I have watched more than one gun with a "firm" price get dropped in $50 increments. The price was still "firm" every time.

Not only Have I bought from the same car salesman, but have done so for 30 years. And as young salesman, going up the ranks to senior mgt. I have seen many people that think they can sell. Many think that they are just great talkers. Where as the great salesmen are great listeners. A good salesman for a company is worth his weight in gold. They do not go anywhere unless they start getting offers from competitors that are tired of losing to them.
Yes, good salesman can be pushy, but they can push without the customer knowing they are being pushed. Good salesmanship is a art. Good closer's are not made, they have a natural gift.
And great companies do NOT have a high turn around of Salesmen. Great companies have salesmen that want to be apart of the best. And that is not a easy task. Proven performers have to actually prove that performace and they better perform very well in a interview and CLOSE the deal.

When I hear someone say, they do not want to develop their skills as a salesman, then fine. Because you go through your entire life of selling. You sell your self on a job interview, asking for a raise, asking a girl out, talking to a policeman out of giving you a ticket and on and on and on. Selling yourself short is not the way to go through life.

 

[Otto]

** There is a inherent risk when buying a used gun that you cannot see. Just because the owner say's the gun is in great condition does not mean it is. Obviously the owner is NOT in love with the gun, or he would not be selling it. Unless he just wants or needs the cash.

Yep. Even worse... the "owner" is knowingly selling a stolen firearm.
For that reason alone, I'm done with Armslist and Texas Gun Trader.

 

[Rockrivr1]

** There is a inherent risk when buying a used gun that you cannot see. Just because the owner say's the gun is in great condition does not mean it is. Obviously the owner is NOT in love with the gun, or he would not be selling it. Unless he just wants or needs the cash.
And why not listen to what he wants to trade. Yes, maybe some will be unworthy, but some might actually be a gem that for some reason he just does not like etc. You never know, until you ask.

I take just about all used sales as the seller getting rid of a gun that he doesn't want and most likely has some kind of flaw that isn't being stated. Have to be prepared to ask a LOT of questions, which I find that most sellers will answer. If they "forget" to answer one I figure I've found the reason for it being sold and take negotiations from there. For me I love haggling. I'm not going to insult the seller with super low balls, but will start at a reasonable point below their offer and the haggling starts from there. Yes, I get this puts some sellers off, but I've saved thousands over the years haggling over price. Don't plan on stopping at this point.

 

[BSA1]

Another tactic is to agree to the deal, get them to drive farther than they like to meet you, and then don't show up. Do that once or twice and I'm guessing they'll never contact you again.

I don't get the hate.

Someone insults you with a offer. So because your feelings are hurt you lie by agreeing to the deal and then cheat the buyer by making them use their gas and time to meet you somewhere you will not be.

Whereas you can easily and quickly deal with a offer by typing "N", "O", hit "Reply" then go the top of the e-mail and mark it as "Spam" to avoid seeing future replies from that person. 4 keystrokes that takes maybe 15 seconds of your time.

I just don't get why you feel lying and cheating is rewarding.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I don't get the hate.

Someone insults you with a offer. So because your feelings are hurt you lie by agreeing to the deal and then cheat the buyer by making them use their gas and time to meet you somewhere you will not be.

Whereas you can easily and quickly deal with a offer by typing "N", "O", hit "Reply" then go the top of the e-mail and mark it as "Spam" to avoid seeing future replies from that person. 4 keystrokes that takes maybe 15 seconds of your time.

I just don't get why you feel lying and cheating is rewarding.

Well for the record, I've never done this to anyone with the exception of the scammer I mentioned before. I sent that person to the money wiring company they specified twice because they were trying to scam me into sending them $500 overseas.

It's not something I'd just do to someone on a whim. I mean low ball offers are part of selling something in a capitalistic society.

The OP said

I sell a few guns and I get the same emails from the same people who offer about 1/2 the price I am asking.

I can understand the OPs frustration and if the same repeat folks waste his time, I can see how someone would want to make a point. You're right though. Adding that email to your spam list is a quick way to deal with it.

Guess I was in a crappy mood when I read this thread a few days ago and just hate'n on people in general.

Sorry

Edit: Thought about this a little more as I wondered why I had the initial reaction I did.

I guess for me I see a difference between a low initial offer with haggling, and someone repeatedly offering like half of the asking price on different deals. If the seller is way off, I get it. However people who immediately offer half the asking price when that asking price is reasonable (assuming full disclosure of condition) are trying to do something very specific. They are hoping you are desperate enough to take an unreasonably low price so they get a steel. In my mind that is a buyer trying to take advantage of a seller and cheat them out of a fair price.

I have a sense of fair play, and when I see someone trying to take advantage of someone else I get a bit angry and sort of have an eye for an eye attitude.

I'm not asking you BSA1 to agree with my opinion or trying to justify my reaction earlier, only explain why I had a strong "screw em!" attitude.

Bottom line, it had nothing to do with my feelings being hurt when vet a low offer. It was a reaction to a buyer trying to cheat a seller in my opinion.

You're right though. Whether or not you agree with my attitude, two wrongs do not make a right. So I say again, sorry for the negativity.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Heh!

Brother of mine was selling one of his cars to a guy who pretty much buys cars to take apart and sell the components from.

Brother had a fair price, based on the actual condition of the car and research on fair market prices. Not asking any outlandish parts.

After the guy kept low-balling him, my brother said "See that tow hitch and chrome exhaust on my car?"

Guy said "Yeah?"

"You low-ball me one more time and I'm taking those off the car and we can start over. Got it?"

Guy paid him his asking price.

 

[1KPerDay]

I get annoyed when you agree a price on anything by phone or by email and then the buyer tries to lower the offer when they come to collect.

That's a dirtbag move.