Should I pounce?

[bljones]

Originally Posted by eherlihy

You have to decide if you want to treat this retired sailor fairly, or not... However, if you make a ridiculously low offer, you run the risk of loosing his respect (which may, or may not, mean something to you).

Business is business. "Fair" and "respect" are determined by whether you can make a deal that both parties are happy with... or both parties feel equally screwed.


If one gets worried about hurting a seller's feelings or losing a seller's respect, guess who is going to lose.... and guess who won't have won any respect anyway.


BTW, I have had retired sailors try to play the "ouch! hey, take it easy, I'm an old guy" card before, and my reply is always, "do you see anybody else here wanting to pay you for something you no longer need or want?"

[Minnewaska]

If the tender and motor are in as good condition as you imply (nearly new), I would pay a thousand bucks for it in a heartbeat and still feel like I got a deal.

I am suspicious that the motor is that pristine.

Left pocket, right pocket method could work. However, I've also bought things below value at their offered price while the other guy was counting bills. He got nothing, I got the deal. Not everything has to be had below offer, you need to know when to bargain.

[eherlihy]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

Not everything has to be had below offer, you need to know when to bargain.

Amen!

Figure out what it is worth to you, and then ask him what he wants.

[endoit]

Thanks everyone. I think that I would prefer not to insult this person and I thought $800-1000 was a fair price. It appears that a tender is in my near future.

[calden]

Originally Posted by rikhall

I have never played Texas Hold 'Em, but I did live for a number of years in Taiwan.

After "Where's the bathroom"

The first Chinese I learned was "How much is that?"
The second phrase learned was "Too much"
I loved it there. Buying and selling were wondrful social events.

And there is just something about Cash in Hand!

Good advice bljones.

Heck - I bargin at Sears!

Rik

Love it, Rik. I lived in China for a year a long time ago. We took our kids to China and Taiwan in 2001 for a visit. We went to a million night markets and I taught my pre-teen kids to say "how much?" and "isn't that a bit expensive?" and "I'll come back and look later." Just opening their mouths in Chinese reduced the price to half, and a bit of bargaining got it down much more and made great friends as well.

Carlos

[funjohnson]

Originally Posted by bljones

Go to the bank, take out $900 in cash. Put $500 in $20s in one pocket, $250 in $50s in another, and $150 in another. Check out the boat, then pull out that thick $500 wad and start counting them off, then ask, "will this do it?" and put out your hand for a shake. If the answer is no, and the seller counters with a number over $750, without saying a word, pull out your $250 wad and count it off, and say, "I've got $750. Have we got a deal?" and put out your hand for a shake. If the answer is still no, and the seller is still sticking to his guns, then reach into your last pocket with a sigh. "Okay, I'll give you my gas and grocery money."

I rarely have to reach for the last pocket... and when I do, I never have to use all of it.

I have had people try to buy something from me on Craigslist pull this stunt. I would much rather keep the item then deal with a person that works like this... a fair offer is one thing, but this in another.

[SoulVoyage]

Well....I paid $450 for my used 7'6" hypalon Seaworthy without a motor and I think I got a good deal....so $800 or so for an Avon WITH engine that has been well-taken care of and in good shape would certainly be a great deal.

I'd make sure it's hypalon, though....as PVC just doesn't last nearly as long. I'm pretty sure almost all avons ARE hypalon.

[bljones]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

I have had people try to buy something from me on Craigslist pull this stunt. I would much rather keep the item then deal with a person that works like this... a fair offer is one thing, but this in another.

Show me how this is an unfair offer. You apparently must never invest in the stock market, or real estate, or buy a boat through a broker, or because that's how it works. It's just more antiseptic when there is a middleman involved.

I'm sorry that you won't do business with a person like me.