fisky wrote:
Amateurs are often illogical when it comes to pricing and negotiations. A low-ball offer can bend the sellers' egos to the point that they are irrational about continued negotiation.
What has worked for me is to only make a lowball offer face to face and to present it in a way that saves the seller's feelings. Something like this...
I understand your asking price. It seems fair (or something along this line) NEVER FOLLOW THIS WITH ... "But..." Follow it with, "Unfortunately, my budget is only $xx,000. I just can't afford to go any higher. You might get your asking price, you never know, but I'm here right now and I'll pay $xx,000 in cash. Your time and avoiding the hassle is worth something, right? What do you say? Let's do this for $xx,000 right now."
Usually, they say, "No!" I frown. Pretend to think for a while and then grudgingly up my offer.
You have to judge the insecurities of the seller and present your pitch accordingly. If you're dealing with a professional, it's different, of course. With a pro, it's about time, profit margin, ability to turn over your cash for another vehicle and do it again to make a 2nd profit. I once got a GREAT deal on a convertible by pointing out that it was December and the salesman would probably have to sit on the car until spring to sell it.
Ugh, this crap is what makes selling stuff annoying. Of course the price is negotiable, but if you make me waste an hour of my time by showing up with a lowball offer and a sob story, I'll be annoyed.
I had people try to pull this on a $1800 car -- "oh, I can only go $900, you see I'm only driving a little, and it's for my wife, and.." The car is worth $1800, you and I both know it, make a reasonable offer or GTFO.