Thread: Bartering etiquette

Originally Posted by POD

My inclination is to just ignore these people as rude time-wasters but maybe my etiquette is outdated?

No, your etiquette is fine. It's just that they have none. Ignore them. Block 'em if you can. Rudeness has become endemic.

That’s just the nature of online sale these days. I usually reply with “no”.
I’ve had one or two turn up and do the same thing in person with the assumption that I’ll just take the cash, but if I advertise for 4500 I’m not taking 3K just because you have it handy.

I refuse to talk money until they come and inspect unless i know its something thats going to sell quick.

I've always hated selling things. Even back in the pre-internet Trading Post days you'd make arrangements with someone and they would not show up, but at least back then they had to pick up the phone and talk to you. Just too easy to flick off a time-wasting text now.

Not so long ago I sold a Ford on market place. I was only asking $900 for it, when it had more than that in brand new parts in boxes going with it. I just needed it gone. I got one guy offering $300... "best price you will get mate...." He kept bombarding me with more and more nasty messages telling me that I was an idiot ( he used more insulting terms than that ) for not accepting his fantastic offer. This is why I say "block 'em".

As for the Ford, I wound up getting close to what I asked from a nice young bloke. He came from two hours away, with his FIL, wife and baby to pick it up, and was utterly stoked that I hade made it driveable so he could get it home on a permit. Thing had sat for over five years, I was a little nervous he wouldn't make it, but he called me to say it had got him there with no problems. He couldn't believe his luck.

Good people are out there, but there's a lot of **** to wade through to find them.

Originally Posted by POD

I've got a couple of items advertised on gumtree at present. One of them I have put up with a price of $900, I've had two separate individuals message me with 'would you take $500?' and no preamble, no 'can I come and inspect?', just a cold lowball offer. Is this the way things are done now? I would have thought that you discuss the article, maybe turn up to inspect with a wad of cash, and then haggle. My inclination is to just ignore these people as rude time-wasters but maybe my etiquette is outdated?

Only two? You were lucky. I had something recently at a similar price, and reckon there were about 6 lowball offers over a couple of days. I'd written in the ad "happy to negotiate on price after inspection".

The bloke who bought it was happy to pay the asking price, advised he was going to drive dome 40 minutes across Perth to collect it and showed up on time. Deal done.
He then told me he'd missed a similar item the month before. He'd called to arrange collection and payment further away, some 90 minutes from his place, only to arrive to find the thing had been sold. Seller didn't bother to call him and let him know!

Perhaps I'm becoming an old fart, but manners anyone? Where have they gone?

I gave up long ago. Most stuff now I just give away or send to the tip.

I have no tolerance for time wasters, and my time is worth more to me than any funds made.

I love haggling - for pretty much anything - but as you've said - that's after I've gone and looked at it or at least discussed it on the phone - I won't transact by PM/Email/text. As others have said - they are just being rude.

Try this next time - it's great fun.

Advertise whatever - say $900 ONO
Receive low ball by text - $500
Reply back - $1000 ONO
They'll come back with something like WTF??? I said $500!
Reply back - $1100 ONO
Keep going until they stop replying - Once had a guy reply 4 times and I had doubled the price before he gave up.