Inquiries ignored.

[Rebeldad1]

In my mind, and maybe people can set me straight, but someone selling something used should be asking half of what new costs, or maybe a little more. I see stuff on Craigslist all the time where people are asking 80 to 90% of what new costs.

In my mind a home made box blade, of unknown quality, that is used, should be well under half the cost of new, but that is me thinking out loud.

Seeing in all the above....In my mind before I offer a 44% of what its worth offer I would have asked for a face to face to go look at it or at least a phone call for more information. More close up pics.

so lets say they took your offer. Sight unseen... cash up front and no backing out. Would you even have followed through with the sale? Or would you have thought because the accepted a very low offer it wasnt any good and just passed on it?

 

[dodge man]

I would have driven down and bought it. It would be about an hour drive for me. I would say based on all the comments my offer was to low, I guess I expected some kind of response. I also admit I was trying to low ball on the hopes they wanted to get rid of it. I do not know how the dealer gets my offer through tractor house. I assumed an email?

Another problem I have is I do not really know what box blades are worth. It looks like new $600 to $1500, looking at the pics of this home made one it looks like more towards the cheaper end.

I also appreciate the honest feedback even if it makes me feel bad for my offer.

 

[Rebeldad1]

how about posting a pic of it?

 

[dodge man]

 

[Jstpssng]

I would love to buy used implements for 1/2 the new price... please let me know the next time that you sell something. Something in good shape with no moving parts is more apt to go for 65% or more the price of new... and doesn't last long.Granted in this case it's a homemade item but you say that it looks solid and nothing's bent... and you are comparing the price to a new, bottom of the line implement.

I don't bother to reply to lowball offers like that either... if I did I would say "don't waste my time." If somebody is interested enough to ask questions about it, I will consider an offer.
I have a piece of property listed right now for $14500; somebody asked if I would finance. I said no, so he offered 2K for it. Should I have taken the time to reply?

Now I see your pics... that's a nice looking boxblade.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I consider people that cut up the item as a means to justify lowering the price to be the deplorable ones. I mean, pointing something out that the seller maybe didn't know, doesn't count.

When people do that, I just suggest that maybe they didn't realize it was used and they should buy new, and end any further interaction.

 

[CoyPatton]

In my mind, and maybe people can set me straight, but someone selling something used should be asking half of what new costs, or maybe a little more. I see stuff on Craigslist all the time where people are asking 80 to 90% of what new costs.

In my mind a home made box blade, of unknown quality, that is used, should be well under half the cost of new, but that is me thinking out loud.

Consider build quality! My experience is that if build quality is not important, why not but not the apparent low end as the OP expresses he priced a $600, but the more mid level implement? My experience has been you do not build something that you can buy reasonably priced. OP states if not told it was homemade he would never know! This tells me it is quality built and much heavier than the priced compared low end new unit. (Folks any of us that have looked at some of the Chinese stuff out there know that a big rock buried in a drive way could easily destroy one of them!)!
My guess the dealer know that a unit build that well new would close or more than 3x what his asking price is and to cut that by $250 is probably letting it go for less than he allowed if a trade or less than he paid if from an auction or estate buyout!
Yes I have sold a few things over the years. I have gad a bunch tell me I can buy that for ...., my usual response: if it is that good a deal you better by 10! And if it isn’t this quality you better buy 100!

 

[lilranch2001]

I personally have no respect for lowballers, I do not do it and I dont want it done to me.

I wouldnt give them any of my time either.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
Despite the fact it's advertised as "homemade" it appears there was a sticker on the side at one time.


There have been times when I wanted something, yet felt it was grossly overpriced. I walk away from it. Often a few weeks later the price is down to a more reasonable level, and is scooped up by me or somebody else. A couple of times I (politely) pointed out that they were asking at or over the price of new, and that never went well. Sometimes they get their price anyways...

 

[shooterdon]

I would think about what price I would be happy to take it home for. Homemade does make it worth less, but if it is built heavy, it could be better than an economy model. My first choice would be to go and take a look at it. My second choice would be to call and talk with a sales person.

"You know it is home made, what's the best deal you can give me"

If it's more than you want to pay, then say - "well that's more than I want to pay, but if you would take $$, give me a call".

Great advice.

I would be leery of home made without having a good look at it anyway. The asking price seems high to me.

It is an hour away. Drive over and look at. Make an offer based on what you feel it is worth.

 

[Xfaxman]

It does not look homemade to me, may have been repainted.

It could be from LMC: Box Blades Lowery Manufacturing, Inc. Boaz, AL 855-646-9624

 

[lilranch2001]

It looks almost identical to mine, other than mine is blue and 60"

Whoever built it in their home shop must have a decent amount of skill

 

[MechE1]

I'll offer another opinion. Maybe it has nothing to do with the low offer at all. It's been discussed on many other threads about how "dealers" don't even return calls for those seeking new equipment, such as say a brand new CUT for example. Seems that, just like everything else, they are cut to the bone on employees and only have time for the higher profit margin type sales. Just like in real estate, why mess with at $50k house when you have others biting on the $500k house? Guess which one will get the callbacks? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I called about a new commercial zero turn at a dealer 3 miles from here. TWICE. They never returned calls. Next closest wanted nearly 40% markup. Next closest was fair but 60 miles from here. Offered free delivery. That's where I got it from. Strangely, they stated they just delivered another piece of same equipment to a nursery that is even closer to the dealer in question. SO....it's all about time and money. They are not making any/enough money from you...they don't call. It may be that simple.

 

[lilranch2001]

I'll offer another opinion. Maybe it has nothing to do with the low offer at all. It's been discussed on many other threads about how "dealers" don't even return calls for those seeking new equipment, such as say a brand new CUT for example. Seems that, just like everything else, they are cut to the bone on employees and only have time for the higher profit margin type sales. Just like in real estate, why mess with at $50k house when you have others biting on the $500k house? Guess which one will get the callbacks? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I called about a new commercial zero turn at a dealer 3 miles from here. TWICE. They never returned calls. Next closest wanted nearly 40% markup. Next closest was fair but 60 miles from here. Offered free delivery. That's where I got it from. Strangely, they stated they just delivered another piece of same equipment to a nursery that is even closer to the dealer in question. SO....it's all about time and money. They are not making any/enough money from you...they don't call. It may be that simple.

And maybe......
They just do not like the way you sound, look, smell, breath, walk........

 

[dodge man]

I agree my offer was low and also probably not home made but that is what the ad clearly says. I am more in line with MechE1 line of thinking as to why no call back.

 

[jmc]

I agree my offer was low and also probably not home made but that is what the ad clearly says. I am more in line with MechE1 line of thinking as to why no call back.

Don't feel bad about it.

MechE1's (and similar responses too) make sense just from the standpoint that big, municipal customers have an involved bidding procedure that probably keeps dealerships busy. Probably worth their effort to sell a package of several backhoes or fleet of commercial mowers. A used implement? "We'll get back to ya."

 

[jmc]

A little off topic, but way back when things were sold thru classified ads, my coworker told me about a way he would torment buyers of the stuff he listed. I think he was a little sadistic.

When the buyer would offer him a lower price but still a price that the seller could still live with, he would grab it immediately without any further attempt at negotiation. His strategy was that he maybe left a little money on the table, definitely saved haggling over it, and probably left the buyer second guessing himself that his first offer must have been too high...

 

[Mat4644]

In the past I've tried reasonable offers and also asking for more information using the Tractor House system. Not one return. They like advertising there and nothing else. Now I just go if close or call dealer directly.

Maybe there's a rare dealer that's internet savoy and deals this way but I haven't found them.

 

[dodge man]

In the past I've tried reasonable offers and also asking for more information using the Tractor House system. Not one return. They like advertising there and nothing else. Now I just go if close or call dealer directly.

Maybe there's a rare dealer that's internet savoy and deals this way but I haven't found them.

That is another thing I was asking, how does it work with the dealer, do they see my offer even or would any offer I made be ignored?