Has haggling died?

[ultrarunner]

It's the age-old supply-and-demand situation.

Building supplies are up 50-200% in the last year. Finally trickling down to finish-grade hardwoods - Hard Maple and Poplar went up 50-100% in 2 weeks.

Thankfully, I had confirmed POs in November for 5 T/Ls of HM at 2150. More thankfully, the mill is honoring those even though current pricing is at 3500 or even more.

Some have not been fortunate to deal with honorable suppliers..

Builders are really caught and some are saying they cannot deliver...

I'm sure contracts are already written with escape or escalation clauses...

 

[paulsharvey]

I think here in North FL, most of the stuff on Market Place, even very used, people ask above new price. Looking at drill presses, people ask $150 for the same model HF sells for $99, and its rusted and beat up. They know people will counter low. Jon Boats for $1400, 25 years old, and Academy sells the same boat for $999 new. Problem is, I dont want to even contact them, cause you don't know if is someone delusional about what somethings worth, or if they are heavily padding price for haggle.

I have some stuff I need to sell, including a 5x10 trailer, Kubota L285, and probably more, but I hate dealing with the BS. All you see is the asking prices, not sales prices, so the trailer listed at $800 very well might be selling for $400.

When I was shopping for a 6'4"×16 ft trailer, I saw tons of beat up old trailers for $2500, and brand new i think I paid $2800.

 

[paulsharvey]

If you have tons of time, you could probably go in person and look at half a dozen of item A, but if I go in person, I've pretty much already decided to buy it. I normally ask if they can take $50 off, or whatever, but thats about it.

Haggling or negotiating probably comes in more if you can work trade or partial trade for something you have that they need. You could probably trade an old gun or something and cash for a tractor thats just sitting, ect.

 

[LittleBill21]

I think here in North FL, most of the stuff on Market Place, even very used, people ask above new price. Looking at drill presses, people ask $150 for the same model HF sells for $99, and its rusted and beat up. They know people will counter low. Jon Boats for $1400, 25 years old, and Academy sells the same boat for $999 new. Problem is, I dont want to even contact them, cause you don't know if is someone delusional about what somethings worth, or if they are heavily padding price for haggle.

I have some stuff I need to sell, including a 5x10 trailer, Kubota L285, and probably more, but I hate dealing with the BS. All you see is the asking prices, not sales prices, so the trailer listed at $800 very well might be selling for $400.

When I was shopping for a 6'4"×16 ft trailer, I saw tons of beat up old trailers for $2500, and brand new i think I paid $2800.

yep, market place is a joke honestly. tree's growing through box blades for 500 dollars (600 new at TSC) Trailers are the same. I am buying it new, 20 year old, with everything broken is 500 less. not even remotely worth the time. I never thought i would go to dealers, now it seems that's the only people I am looking to buy from.

 

[hube2]

I don't really haggle. When I'm buying something, like when I got my tractor I told the dealer to give me a price and it was in my budget and also what I expected to here. I'm not going to haggle over $500 when I'm spending this kind of money. When I need something, I need it and I plan a budget that will cover the cost.

I sorta haggled when I bought my last car. I went to truecar, I found a dealer I could get to that had the car I wanted for the price I wanted to pay. I printed it out. I drove to the dealer and asked him about the car. He said, "Let's see what we can find for you." I showed him the print out and told him that he either had that car for that price or I was out the door. I went home that day with that car at that price. I don't really call that haggling.

When I'm selling something, well... When I buy something I don't intend on selling it. When I'm done using something it is generally used up. I drive cars until the only thing I can do with them is two them to the junk yard. But on occasion I have sold things because I either thought they might still have some life in them that someone else could use or and probably, I didn't want to find a way to get it to the dump. For example, last year I sold the snow blower off my old tractor. It was well cared for and someone could get several more years out of it. I put a price on it and someone came to look at it and they offered me significantly less than I was asking. I just said yes, take it away. Why, because I just wanted it gone so I didn't need to deal with it. Frankly, I would have given it to him for free if he asked just to get it off my property. Getting a few bucks out of it was a bonus.

 

[LouNY]

I don't know that haggling is dead or gone.
I just traded for a newer used pickup,
it took almost an hour to agree on the prices for my trade in and the newer one,
We ended over $3000 closer to what I wanted to pay and what they initially asked for.

 

[dnw64]

I say it depends on the circumstances. Cash discounts or x.x% financing is generally known in advance. Do the math. At 0% or 0.9% an auto or tractor dealer isn’t making money on financing. I ask for their best price, try to haggle a little, then ask the cash price. Shopping the monthly payment is asking to get burned. Price, financing, insurance and any trade-in are separate items, don’t let the salesperson mix them.

Another option, if you have the cash, is to do the financing at any percentage to get the best rebate, then pay the loan off the day after you drive off the lot. Sure, they may get you for a few days' interest, but even at an outrageous 8%, a full weeks' worth of interest is only about $75 on 50,000. You could sometimes get a rebate of a couple thousand for taking the financing. And I haven't seen a pre-payment penalty once in my lifetime (granted, I'm only 57).

 

[MinnesotaEric]

in the past couple years, im noticing a trend with used stuff, where the seller refuses to budge even a dollar, I bought a van over 21k used, that the sales guy even said they couldn't move for 2 years, yet only after showing up and walking out door, got 200 dollars off.

I am now actively trying to buy a tractor. this is now the 3rd tractor where the seller, doesn't even counter, its simply a NO. 14,250 on a 15k tractor was my offer.

I don't know if this is a new thing, but i have always in the past at least saw some attempt at haggling. Am i a relic?

Here is my six-year-old rant about the lack of professionalism in the business I wrote after trying and trying to buy a tractor.

That said, is haggling dead? I don't do business with people who cannot compromise. Last fall I bought a used 4-in-1 bucket for $775 that was advertised for $2500 over the phone because I pointed out the very limited applications it could pin onto and that I only had that day to drive down and get it. On the other hand, I've been business to business outside sales forever and am currently a real estate broker here in Minnesota and so everything I do involves haggling both for higher and lower prices--which for me, is fun!

 

[dnw64]

I don't remember all the exact numbers, but.

Last year we decided that it was time to "trade in" our 15 year old box truck. We had had several multi-thousand dollar repair bills over the previous 2-3 years.

After a lot of searching and researching we found what seemed to be what we were looking for. Or, at least, 98% of the way there. It was brand new, but 2 years old, and in WI - 1200 miles away. But it was somewhere in the vicinity of $15k less than ordering a brand new one. The new one had an upgraded engine, but was not available for 2-4 months.

So I ended up sending my son out there to ostensibly buy it, after personally examining and test driving it. He did parts A & B and then video-called me as he showed me around the various parts and pieces of the truck. I told him he was authorized to pay asking price, but first to make a counter, since there were several places where there was some surface rust on unprotected areas (you think? after 2 years in WI?). He tried, but they said no. Fine. Even with airfare out, fuel, meals and hotels back, it saved us well over $10,000. So I didn't really care. Then again, even just $500 in my pocket is way better than $500 in theirs. So I always try.

 

[OzKioti]

A bit of Monty Python humour:

 

[bironacad]

My wife didn’t like haggling, she’s of the same opinion, if she likes the price she pays for it. I took her into a car dealership, took her
into the manager of sales, ask the manager in front of her, does anyone pay the full sticker price? He said only if they’re stupid. 42 years ago we almost didn’t get married, when I haggle 25% off our wedding bands. Laugh out loud

 

[Ford850]

My wife and I were shopping for our first house. She found a spec house partially complete by a local builder. She quickly arranged for a walk through with the builder. After a thorough tour of the place he explained he had that one sold once he finished it but would be happy to build another one for us. My wife asked for the price of that first one 'as-is' so we could finish the build. He thought for a couple minutes and threw out a price thinking he'd just push us to the next build. My wife pulls out our check book and asks who to make the check out to. I don't know who was more shocked, the builder or me. We all took a step back and slowed the process, but we did buy that house and finished it ourselves.

 

[YanmarFever]

As a tractor dealer many many moons ago, I had customers that insisted I throw in a rototiller or a mower in the deal with the tractor
Some folks even asked that if I had ever done anything radical such as selling them a tractor at cost!
Needless to say I showed them the door.
I could go on with the story's, but Im laughing to hard...

 

[PuffyC]

Haggling was more of a thing when it was hard to know what something was actually worth, but today with the internet and sites like Truecar, Machinery Pete, etc, you should know the value of most things, so the concept of dickering over price becomes a giant waste of everyone’s time. This is why so many places have gone to “the price you see is the price you pay”. I know some people like playing the game and that’s fine, but me? Not interested. Your first price better be your best price or I’ll just buy elsewhere.

 

[OzKioti]

The opening gambit "What's your best price?" immediately marks that person as a beginner haggler to me, and puts them in a weaker position in my mind. My response is always "Make me an offer". (not that it's a regular occurrence)

A motoring guru over here recommends that when buying a car (for example) from a dealer, make your opening offer 15% below asking, and if the salesman goes into full BS mode, be well prepared to leave your number and walk away. If the vehicle on their lot is costing them money, they'll get back to you!

 

[paulsharvey]

Had last Friday off from work, and stopped at a garage sale. They had a Speedway Series 12 speed drill press for $40. I didn't bother trying to beat them up and just paid the $40. I'm sure I could have haggled down $5, but I didnt see doing it. The price has less then I was willing to pay.

 

[rScotty]

I hope haggling will never go out of style. It's the most enjoyable part of buying and selling. But then I come from a rural background where haggling is common.

And it doesn't always go like you expect. A couple of years ago I went to look at a used truck. I took one look at the guy, his place and his truck .... & immediately offered him cash at full price. If he had balked, I would have gone higher. The whole process took about one minute.
It's been flawless; a keeper.
rScotty

 

[Cougsfan]

I hope haggling will never go out of style. It's the most enjoyable part of buying and selling.

Different strokes for different folks. I hate haggling. If I deem something is too expensive, I will walk away. I have too much stuff anyhow. There are times I will ask "Is that the best price you can offer?" I don't even like doing that, but it is close as I will come to haggling.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Different strokes for different folks. I hate haggling. If I deem something is too expensive, I will walk away. I have too much stuff anyhow. There are times I will ask "Is that the best price you can offer?" I don't even like doing that, but it is close as I will come to haggling.

That is my thinking today. Often motivated sellers that are 1-3 hours away will drop their price without me asking once we talk by phone. Sellers do not like to be hussled by flippers.

 

[aczlan]

The opening gambit "What's your best price?" immediately marks that person as a beginner haggler to me, and puts them in a weaker position in my mind. My response is always "Make me an offer". (not that it's a regular occurrence)

I will usually reply with either "Make me an offer, I dont like to bid against myself" or (especially if they ask "What the lowest you will take for it?") "What is the most you will pay for it?".

Aaron Z