What to do with "Best Price" Merchants

Moomat

Does anybody else find "Best Price" merchants infuriating?
If you've sold anything online you'll know the sort. They refuse to negotiate and just insist on knowing your "best/last price"...
What happened to a bit of good aul fashioned haggling??
the majority of them strike me a just being voyeurs anyway, with no intention of buying

Anan1

That is negotiating. Give them a price, take it from there.

Moomat

Any ad I publish would have a price so bidding against myself seems abit pointless.

_Kaiser_

Have to agree with the OP - you put up an ad with a reasonable/realistic price and a decent description and the first thing you get asked is "whats your best price"

FFS, if I was looking for less I'd have lowered the asking :rolleyes:

Bpmull

Moomat wrote: »

Any ad I publish would have a price so bidding against myself seems abit pointless.

The best thing to do is add a bit on t0 take it off. Eg if you want 5k for your car but it up for 5400 and then knock some money off when someone bargains with you and then the buyer thinks there great getting a few bob off. I think it's just a psychological thing with most people they have this need to get some money off in order for the car to be a good deal. Even if it is priced keenly in the first place.

PLUG71

I use Donedeal all the time and some off the gob****es that contact me are living on anpother plant!

Moomat

I don't mind knocking something off, I'm all for a bit of bargaining, but it shouldn't just consist of "whats your best price"

Gary ITR

'Come look at the car and we'll talk money then'

daRobot

Moomat wrote: »

I don't mind knocking something off, I'm all for a bit of bargaining, but it shouldn't just consist of "whats your best price"

You don't get to choose that though, you've got to work with whoever you're dealing with. You might not like their negotiation style (everyone has different tactics), but ultimately who cares, providing you get the deal done.

If you've got a car priced at 5k, and you've priced in a good bit of wiggle room, and will take 4,200 , then tell them. If you're firm at 5k, tell them you're firm at 5k. It's simple.

I don't get all this great offence taken to haggling by buyers, and the obsession with "timewasters" in this country. I've sold a good few cars, and have engaged with every person who has rang or texted me, some of whom were flat out nuts.

But just because the buyer lacks social skills, and approaches it in a way you don't like, doesn't mean they're not going to buy the car. It's hard enough to shift a car without having a personal criteria that they must negotiate "the right way"

barryfitz

I had advertised a car for bangernomics money (sub 500) there about a year ago, this guy rings me up and asks for the best price straight away. So I told him its priced according to the condition of the car, and need a quick sale etc.. so he asks "will u take 200 for it?" At which point I said, come out and take a look at the car and then make me an offer! So he comes out the next day, checks the car out and starts handing me 150! I said hold on a sec, at which point he gets all huffed because he took it that when I said come out and look at the car just as he was offering 200 on the phone, that the deal was done! Yet he still tried to screw me for 50 notes.

mitosis

Gary ITR wrote: »

'Come look at the car and we'll talk money then'

Yes, if they go to the trouble of coming to see the car it makes it a little harder for them to walk away.

Moomat

Gary ITR wrote: »

'Come look at the car and we'll talk money then'

Had a van for sale recently, pretty rough and said so in ad. Van was advertised for €2500. Guy rings and asks for "best price?"
Told him the above..
Comes out, checks van out and he's insisting on knowing best price. In my mind I knew €1900 was my very lowest depending on his negotiatining skills. So he's still insisting on my best price, and I'm giving it "can't buy and sell the horse, make me an offer" etc.. So after much squeezing of him out pops his first offer...€2400... FFS, I would've thrown in the the missus for that price if he had of asked!
So off he went happy as Larry with his €100 discount and me missus never knew the bullet she dodged!

djimi

Reply with "my best price is written on the ad that you got my number from". Its one thing talking to someone for a while and then discussing price (even if they ask for best price at that time), but when its someones opening line then my first reaction is to tell them to **** off.

Moomat

daRobot wrote: »

If you've got a car priced at 5k, and you've priced in a good bit of wiggle room, and will take 4,200 , then tell them.

If you came straight out with 4200 as your price they'd be offering you 3000 next!

daRobot

Moomat wrote: »

If you came straight out with 4200 as your price they'd be offering you 3000 next!

Which I wouldn't entertain for a second. I always know what I want for the car before I place the ad. I'll price it above what I want, and if I catch a fresh fish (like you did with the van), all the better, but I'm always expecting someone to haggle.

While I do understand your point about holding your cards to your chest in relation to your price, and your example with the guy wanting just 100 euro off, I think you'd agree that's the exception rather than the norm.

Moomat

daRobot wrote: »

While I do understand your point about holding your cards to your chest in relation to your price, and your example with the guy wanting just 100 euro off, I think you'd agree that's the exception rather than the norm.

He was so exceptional that he got €50 back from me for luck!:D

Grolschevik

What about replying: "Well my absolute best price would be nothing, but you're not getting it for that. However, my second-best price is what it says in the ad."

Tigger

i needed a cheap 4x4 last month there was one on done deal for sale
i asked what he'd take for it today if i came down to him and he told me that the price was the price and acted insulted.
its still for sale if anyone wants it but i don't get why he wouldn't tell me how much he had added on to take off.
i bought off the next guy who told me what he'd take and gave me luck back as well.

Anan1

Grolschevik wrote: »

What about replying: "Well my absolute best price would be nothing, but you're not getting it for that. However, my second-best price is what it says in the ad."

What about just being nice and selling the car? Honestly, why do people have to take business so personally?

Gary ITR

Moomat wrote: »

Had a van for sale recently, pretty rough and said so in ad. Van was advertised for €2500. Guy rings and asks for "best price?"
Told him the above..
Comes out, checks van out and he's insisting on knowing best price. In my mind I knew €1900 was my very lowest depending on his negotiatining skills. So he's still insisting on my best price, and I'm giving it "can't buy and sell the horse, make me an offer" etc.. So after much squeezing of him out pops his first offer...€2400... FFS, I would've thrown in the the missus for that price if he had of asked!
So off he went happy as Larry with his €100 discount and me missus never knew the bullet she dodged!

I'd have offered to split the difference in that situation

hi_im_fil

Tigger wrote: »

i needed a cheap 4x4 last month there was one on done deal for sale
i asked what he'd take for it today if i came down to him and he told me that the price was the price and acted insulted.
its still for sale if anyone wants it but i don't get why he wouldn't tell me how much he had added on to take off.
i bought off the next guy who told me what he'd take and gave me luck back as well.

What if he hadn't added on anything onto the price to take off for haggling? Maybe the price in the ad was the price he wanted for it?

ted1

A car is only worth what some one is willing to pay for it. Just because you stick a price on it, it doesn't mean its worth it so naturally people are going to look for a better price.

coylemj

My strategy is to push back and ask him: 'How much are you prepared to offer me?' Typically he will reply 'well I haven't seen it yet!' so I say 'agreed, we'll discuss the price when you come and look at it'.

Giving a discount over the phone is bad haggling, never give something away for nothing. The fact that he rang you means he's interested or at least he claims to be. Unless you explicitly say 'no offers', he will know that you're open to offers so why discount so early in the process?

bazz26

I find adverts.ie the most comical for this sort of thing.

Car advert goes up with an asking price of €8k which is around the going rate and then straight away you get an offer of €1,500. Then the person who made the ridiculous offer gets offended when it is turned down, tells the seller there is a recession on and that their offer is the best they will get and still stands if they change their mind. Then someone else will offer €2k plus a Jack Russell pup or swap for junk they are trying to get rid of. So after about 3 pages of posts the seller finally gets a serious offer and responds only for the poster never to reply again.

ted1

coylemj wrote: »

My strategy is to push back and ask him: 'How much are you prepared to offer me?' Typically he will reply 'well I haven't seen it yet!' so I say 'agreed, we'll discuss the price when you come and look at it'.

Giving a discount over the phone is bad haggling, never give something away for nothing. The fact that he rang you means he's interested or at least he claims to be. Unless you explicitly say 'no offers', he will know that you're open to offers so why discount so early in the process?

If the seller won't discuss the price he'll take over the phone I wouldn't be bothered viewing it. So you may be doing yourself out of a sale

johndaman66

As far as I see on the basis of those I've dealt with very few people are blessed with good bargaining skills. Way too many get over emotional about the item they are selling. Also very little point saying a car stands me €x. Such are past sunk costs and irrelevant to the clearing price of the car. On the other side of the fence there are those who wouldn't think twice about putting in an offer €200 for something asking €1,000.

Then I have had the numptys who'd expect you to be at a location of their choice within 20 mins...you know the type you'd be fairly certain are going heavy on the weed. No, I cannot meet you in blanch in 20 minutes. The ad mentions I'm in County Limerick you fu*king git you'd feel like saying

Blut2

When I'm looking for a car I don't have time to waste driving all over the country visiting 20-30 private sellers/dealerships.

So I'll make a list of 20-30 suitable similarly specced cars, ring each seller up and tell them I'm ringing 20-30 other sellers and I want their best price. Then I'll take the 3-5 best prices and go test drive those cars and make my final decision based on the cars, without haggling.

This saves both me and the seller time. Seems to be a good system to me.

If someone refuses to give me their best price and insists I come discuss it in person, haggle, or whatever else then I simply tell them no thanks. Can't be bothered to waste my time with them.

bazz26

Blut2 wrote: »

When I'm looking for a car I don't have time to waste driving all over the country visiting 20-30 private sellers/dealerships.

So I'll make a list of 20-30 suitable similarly specced cars, ring each seller up and tell them I'm ringing 20-30 other sellers and I want their best price. Then I'll take the 3-5 best prices and go test drive those cars and make my final decision based on the cars, without haggling.

This saves both me and the seller time. Seems to be a good system to me.

If someone refuses to give me their best price and insists I come discuss it in person, haggle, or whatever else then I simply tell them no thanks. Can't be bothered to waste my time with them.

There is a flaw in your logic though, what if the car with the best price is not always the best car to buy? In a lot of cases the cheapest are also the ones in the worst condition or with colourful pasts.

For Forks Sake

bazz26 wrote: »

Then someone else will offer €2k plus a Jack Russell pup or swap for junk they are trying to get rid of.

Bargain.

Swap 4 my ad?

JohnBoy26

barryfitz wrote: »

I had advertised a car for bangernomics money (sub 500) there about a year ago, this guy rings me up and asks for the best price straight away. So I told him its priced according to the condition of the car, and need a quick sale etc.. so he asks "will u take 200 for it?" At which point I said, come out and take a look at the car and then make me an offer! So he comes out the next day, checks the car out and starts handing me 150! I said hold on a sec, at which point he gets all huffed because he took it that when I said come out and look at the car just as he was offering 200 on the phone, that the deal was done! Yet he still tried to screw me for 50 notes.

Is that not your own fault though? To me it seems you didn't make it clear to the buyer that you wanted more for the car when he offered you 200.

By saying come look at the car and make me an offer must of given them the impression that you where willing to accept less than what he offered on the phone.

Voodoomelon

Blut2 wrote: »

When I'm looking for a car I don't have time to waste driving all over the country visiting 20-30 private sellers/dealerships.

So I'll make a list of 20-30 suitable similarly specced cars, ring each seller up and tell them I'm ringing 20-30 other sellers and I want their best price. Then I'll take the 3-5 best prices and go test drive those cars and make my final decision based on the cars, without haggling.

This saves both me and the seller time. Seems to be a good system to me.

If someone refuses to give me their best price and insists I come discuss it in person, haggle, or whatever else then I simply tell them no thanks. Can't be bothered to waste my time with them.

I reckon that system half works with A. dealers only and B. regular, run of the mill, paddy spec motors.

For any car sold privately or of worthy spec/performance, it's a ridiculous system.

visual

Adverts.ie is strange at times but ive notice the true value of car comes to light after there is few offers and its nealy aways a good bit less than the original asking

Voodoomelon

Classic adverts conversation:

http://www.adverts.ie/car/opel/corsa/03-opel-corsa-fully-loaded/3825626

http://www.adverts.ie/car/opel/corsa/opel-corsa-c/3884547

http://www.adverts.ie/car/opel/corsa/2007-opel-corsa-for-sale/3802928

thecomedian

Blut2 wrote: »

When I'm looking for a car I don't have time to waste driving all over the country visiting 20-30 private sellers/dealerships.

So I'll make a list of 20-30 suitable similarly specced cars, ring each seller up and tell them I'm ringing 20-30 other sellers and I want their best price. Then I'll take the 3-5 best prices and go test drive those cars and make my final decision based on the cars, without haggling.

This saves both me and the seller time. Seems to be a good system to me.

If someone refuses to give me their best price and insists I come discuss it in person, haggle, or whatever else then I simply tell them no thanks. Can't be bothered to waste my time with them.

You would probably be left with problems, not the cleanest or lesser cars. I'd always pick the best car within my budget.

Matt Simis

Anan1 wrote: »

That is negotiating. Give them a price, take it from there.

Come on now, what a flattering statement.
I consider it the lack of any negotiating skills and typically Irish. The seller shouldnt be the one bidding against themselves, its retarded.

I usually reply to them with a rationalisation for the current price (I always set aggressive pricing and was selling stuff for the last 5 years people consider unsellable) and verbally open the door for them really wide to make offers, but I dont make the offer for them.

Its like they are too embarrassed to ask for money off, but too stubborn to pay the asking, no matter what it is, as they need to feel they got "one over" on the seller. But is not a negotiating stye or skill, its fumbling about and looking dumb and inexperienced.

Blut2 wrote: »

When I'm looking for a car I don't have time to waste driving all over the country visiting 20-30 private sellers/dealerships.

So I'll make a list of 20-30 suitable similarly specced cars, ring each seller up and tell them I'm ringing 20-30 other sellers and I want their best price. Then I'll take the 3-5 best prices and go test drive those cars and make my final decision based on the cars, without haggling.

This saves both me and the seller time. Seems to be a good system to me.

If someone refuses to give me their best price and insists I come discuss it in person, haggle, or whatever else then I simply tell them no thanks. Can't be bothered to waste my time with them.

A good system for the cheapest possible car, which out of a pool of 30 cars (so assuming cookie cutter A-B stuff) which you cut to 5 sight unseen is most definitely going to be one of the worst examples (though not the absolute worst of 5 presumably). If cost is 90% of your motivation, then it is a good approach. But that view would not align well with most on a Motoring forum...

barryfitz

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Is that not your own fault though? To me it seems you didn't make it clear to the buyer that you wanted more for the car when he offered you 200.

By saying come look at the car and make me an offer must of given them the impression that you where willing to accept less than what he offered on the phone.

I don't agree, I was very clear that he should look at the car before making such low ball offers. There was no way I was letting it go for scap money. Got what I really wanted for it in the end.

JohnBoy26

barryfitz wrote: »

I don't agree, I was very clear that he should look at the car before making such low ball offers. There was no way I was letting it go for scap money. Got what I really wanted for it in the end.

Did you tell him that before he came? If so no excuse on his part.

Blut2

bazz26 wrote: »

There is a flaw in your logic though, what if the car with the best price is not always the best car to buy? In a lot of cases the cheapest are also the ones in the worst condition or with colourful pasts.

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I reckon that system half works with A. dealers only and B. regular, run of the mill, paddy spec motors.

For any car sold privately or of worthy spec/performance, it's a ridiculous system.

thecomedian wrote: »

You would probably be left with problems, not the cleanest or lesser cars. I'd always pick the best car within my budget.

Matt Simis wrote: »

A good system for the cheapest possible car, which out of a pool of 30 cars (so assuming cookie cutter A-B stuff) which you cut to 5 sight unseen is most definitely going to be one of the worst examples (though not the absolute worst of 5 presumably). If cost is 90% of your motivation, then it is a good approach. But that view would not align well with most on a Motoring forum...

I'll give Voodoomelon his point - this system definitely wouldn't work if you were looking for a car that only had 5 or 6 models on sale in the country. Unless you're dead set on a particularly rare make or model though it works well though.

My last couple of cars I've spent approx €25,000. My last car it was a case of looking for one of a petrol (between 1.8-2.5litre, with leather) Audi A4, BMW 3 series or BMW 5 series in that price range. Absolutely massive amounts of choice available, most generally of a decent quality.

I don't necessarily go for the cheapest model - I take into account mileage, extras, the added value I'd place on a certain model, colour combination etc. I don't think it leaves the worst examples at all, I'm very clear that I'm not going to be trying to haggle the price down any further. Some sellers seem to appreciate this upfront approach, some don't. The ones that do generally offer me a below listed price.

Sometimes 1 or 2 of the 5 'select list' cars can be dogs upon viewing, I've never had all 5 be such though. Overall I find it saves me massive amounts of effort (plus petrol!).

edit: should probably add in that my last car shopping trip was 2 years ago, trying to find a post '08 petrol car of that type these days would be...harder. Sadly! That was just my most recent example though, the same logic would apply to others shopping with a decent range of options.

hiluxman

if someone asks me what will you take for the car, I always say make me an offer, If they are still asking what will i take, I tell them that they cant expect me to do both, set the price for the car and also tell them what the lowest Ill take for it,
I will always leave myself some room to move on the price and will tell the person to come and have a look and ill do something for them, If they are anyway intrested they will come and have a look. I think its important to let the buyer know you are willing to move somewhat on the price

steveone

price is the price, if you buy it you'll get luck money back, if not, no loss. I always stick to that, I'd give stuff away to someone rather than sell it to a clown who thought he had the god given right to come up and heckle- cos it's not haggling they do on done deal....put a caravan on and see what happens!

Supraman

If I had to travel a fair distance for a car id try investigating on the phone before travelling .

If relatively local ill just meet the person and go from there with negotiations .

Last time I sold a car was to a german guy . I had the car stored in the back arse of nowhere . We spoke before he booked flights . Agreed a price .

When looking at the car he tried getting a further discount . Luckily for me he had to buy at agreed price as he was probably a 3hr drive from a prebooked ferry in Dublin . He handed over the agreed price with about 3.5hrs to go in Cork lol .

Point being , there's often a few variables that can be taken into account when selling a car .

ednwireland

ted1 wrote: »

A car is only worth what some one is willing to pay for it. Just because you stick a price on it, it doesn't mean its worth it so naturally people are going to look for a better price.

this just beacuse yu think its worth something doesnt mean it is

theres a dealer up the road with an 06 mondeo (poverty spec) 100+ k miles might be interested but at 6950 not even worth going -its been on the forcourt since at least july, another one on done deal 2.2 diesel o6 titanium x started at 7k plus down to 5.5 and still up !

i'm still looking but the number of dreamers out there is unreal
moneys tight you know

giant_midget

I don't understand this "best price" nonsesnse as an opening question...I find it extremely uncouth.

Any NORMAL person with even the smallest of social skills must realise that they are going to get something off the price in the end...

I must be one of the last few people in Ireland who actually use a phone call as my first port of call when looking for a car, Always nice to have a chat in my opinion, everyone has their own ways i suppose... I ignore the "last price" "best price" texts.

dantastic

Selling and buying both is a bit of a dance, a game you play. If I am selling something I obviously ask for more than I expect to leave room for negotiations. But I obviously want as much as possible for my item. With something like a car there are numerous things that will play a huge role in the resale value. Many of which you will not be able to assess from just the ad alone.

Now what neanderthal do you have to be to open with "What is your rock bottom?". I would be utterly useless if I told you. And if I did, how on earth do you know what it is worth??? And you would probably start haggling from there. Or try to swap me for a broken xbox...

I always say I would accept a near offer.

I think next time I sell a car and someone asks for my best price I will actually tell them. But demand up front payment before they get to view the car. Will be fun to see how that plays out!

ba_barabus

giant_midget wrote: »

I don't understand this "best price" nonsesnse as an opening question...I find it extremely uncouth.

Any NORMAL person with even the smallest of social skills must realise that they are going to get something off the price in the end...

I must be one of the last few people in Ireland who actually use a phone call as my first port of call when looking for a car, Always nice to have a chat in my opinion, everyone has their own ways i suppose... I ignore the "last price" "best price" texts.

I disagree about your NORMAL person comment. In the past I've priced cars fairly and correctly given what the market dictates. 9/10 people will try bargain you down as "sure its the done thing" while the genuine buyer will realise you're not taking the piss with the price and they'll pay up with out complaint. If something is priced correctly they'll pay up and not mess about. However it must be priced right in the first instance.

SouperComputer

"I'll consider your strongest offer after you've looked at the car"

Esel

PLUG71 wrote: »

I use Donedeal all the time and some off the gob****es that contact me are living on another plant!

They're slugs, probably.

I usually ask the seller if there is room for negotiation on the price. You can often tell a lot from their answer.

I agree that "last/best price" merchants are a pain though. If they phrased it differently it would not sound so bad e.g. "What's the lowest you'll take for it?"

alias no.9

Gary ITR wrote: »

'Come look at the car and we'll talk money then'

/Thread

Henry Ford III

Had one last night on the phone.

"What's your lowest price?"

I said "Look I assume you've done your research, and if you have you'll know already that this car is keenly priced and that it's a rare and very high spec. model too, so there's only a small amount of wriggle room on it. What you need to do however is come and view the car and drive it, because it won't dissapoint. If you're serious you'll want to buy it. We can perhaps talk about a small discount then."

"So you won't take €3000 less than the advertised price then?".

"Not a hope".