Opinions Please

[dfeck]

I recently responded to a Craigslist ad for a used KK 5ft rough cut mower. The seller was asking $750 for a 2 year old cutter. He's about a hour away so I asked him a few questions about it including if he could send a couple of PICs of the cutter before I traveled to see and buy it. I asked in 2 separate EMAIL's and received no PICs but he always responded to me but sent no PICs. I'm very familiar with the KK cutter and I can purchase new for $845 + tax at my local TSC store. I know the KK brand is an economy line but my use would be 3-4 times a year on about 5acres of flat over grown weeds/brush. I don't need a high end cutter so I figured I'd save a few hundred and buy used. My last EMAIL to him I offered $675 for the cutter and this would be contingent of the condition. His repsonse was defensive and I got the feeling he was insulted with the offer. Do you think my offer of $675 was too low? Needless to say I responded politely and bowed out of pursuing his cutter.

Doug

 

[LD1]

I think only knocking 150 off for a two year old cutter is still a little steep. You don't know how much it has been used/abused. Although it may be in like new condition, we'll never know. Another think to consider (because I don't know) does tsc offer a warrenty on their new cutters. If so, it may well be worth the little extra $$$ to buy new.

 

[greggh]

Did he give any reasons for not sending pictures? The mower is 2 years old and you did not offer that much lower than his asking price IMHO. If this is getting complicated, I think that I would go ahead and purchase locally. The hassel of driving that distance and loading the mower and driving back, getting an unknown quality would not be worth the stress for me. But I'm old. So you have to take the old, set in my ways attitude into consideration.

 

[devildog1]

dfeck,
Not to worry, that's what those classified adds are for. Most all who advertise know this and always increase the asking price because most buyers will try and negotiate a lower price.If seller will not include photos at your request, move on to an other seller. But I have to agree with greggh, maybe for the small difference in price you would be better off buying new. At the very least you'll know It's new and not abused, In the long run you'll be much better off.
DevilDog

 

[LBrown59]

I think only knocking 150 off for a two year old cutter is still a little steep. You don't know how much it has been used/abused. Although it may be in like new condition, we'll never know. Another think thing to consider (because I don't know) does tsc offer a warrenty on their new cutters. If so, it may well be worth the little extra $$$ to buy new.

I figure used for about 1/2 of new.

 

[dfeck]

No real reason why he didn't send PIC's. My thought is that he didn't have the technical means or know how to do so. In his EMAILs he said the mower was in good condition and stored indoors. I knew I was going to buy one soon so I figured what the heck I'll buy his used cutter and save a few hundred in the process. At this point, nothing he says will convince me to buy from him. The way he acted is enough to show me is true colors. I have sold plenty of items on eBay and Craigslist and I NEVER felt insulted with the offers others have given to me. I don't blame people for asking. If I feel my price is fair then I'll stand firm on my price or counter offer.

Doug

 

[BarryinMN]

I'd say you lost the deal of the Summer.

As a seller I want a buyer to show up with cash and transport. $500 cash -- sold & gone. The buyer has done his homework knows what he wants, what it's worth and prepared to drag it off.

I'm going to get 10 calls & listen for the profile above. I might not have more pictures or email literacy to send them.

I don't care about buyer's trailer trouble, travel distance, begging the wife for permission, money to feed the boys, or anything else. See para 2 above.

Email price negotiators are the bottom of the pile. These armchair shoppers are busy saving money they don't have in the first place. They are a good source of funny stories over a beer though.

 

[dfeck]

I'd say you lost the deal of the Summer.

As a seller I want a buyer to show up with cash and transport. $500 cash -- sold & gone. The buyer has done his homework knows what he wants, what it's worth and prepared to drag it off.

I'm going to get 10 calls & listen for the profile above. I might not have more pictures or email literacy to send them.

I don't care about buyer's trailer trouble, travel distance, begging the wife for permission, money to feed the boys, or anything else. See para 2 above.

Email price negotiators are the bottom of the pile. These armchair shoppers are busy saving money they don't have in the first place. They are a good source of funny stories over a beer though.

As a buyer I expect detailed information about the item the seller is posting. I want to make sure the item is what I expect before I travel an hour so I don't waste my time or energy. I know about the item the seller is selling but I don't know the condition or the year he purchased it in. I was very prepared to show-up with cash in hand and a trailer. I just wanted NO surprises when I showed up. I'm not sure how much you know about craigslist. If you don't leave a phone number, which MANY people don't, you MUST respond by EMAIL. I have made MANY deals through EMAIL before I've seen an item with the condition that the item is exactly what was described/agreed upon when I showed up to purchase. I also don't understand why people don't post their item WITH the details in the posting including a PIC. This would help weed out the "tire" kickers!

Doug

 

[LD1]

As a buyer I expect detailed information about the item the seller is posting. I want to make sure the item is what I expect before I travel an hour so I don't waste my time or energy. I know about the item the seller is selling but I don't know the condition or the year he purchased it in. I was very prepared to show-up with cash in hand and a trailer. I just wanted NO surprises when I showed up. I'm not sure how much you know about craigslist. If you don't leave a phone number, which MANY people don't, you MUST respond by EMAIL. I have made MANY deals through EMAIL before I've seen an item with the condition that the item is exactly what was described/agreed upon when I showed up to purchase. I also don't understand why people don't post their item WITH the details in the posting including a PIC. This would help weed out the "tire" kickers!

Doug

I agree with you. First of all, if a seller is too illiterate to send pics by e-mail, then they are too illiterate to post on craigslist. Anyone that can post, has got to be smart enough to send pics. Allthough they may not have a camera, they could say that instead of just not sending pics. The last thing that I want to do as a buyer is waste a hour and a half going to look at a total pos. Likewise, when I sell an Item, I always try to give as detailed of info as I can, including year, model, condition, etc, as well as pics. Because the last think I want a porential buyer doing is traveling a long way for something that was not as I described it, or not in the condition he thought it was in.

I am also not a big fan of e-mail. If possible I always try to talk to te buyer/seller by phone and get a better idea of what I/they are getting into.

Lastly, I would hardly call that the deal of the summer, unless you are the seller. A two year old bushhog of only $150 less than new...no thanks. And when offered a reasonable price, the seller got defensive. go figure.

When I am offered a price lower than I want, I politely respond

"no thanks, I am looking to get a little more out of it as I feel it is worth a little more than your offer. I'll keep your contact info and if I don't have any luck in the next few weeks, I'll see if we can work something out"

or

Make a counter offer, and negotiate a little bit, but I usually insist on them seeing the item first, before we negotiate too much, as I don't want any suprises and I don't want them to waste their time if it's not what they thought

 

[Soundguy]

I usually won't pay more than half new for a used implement.. perhaps 75% if it is truly new ..

from what you say.. I'd get a new one... it's not enough of a deal to buy 2yrs used and an hour trip for almost no savings.

used / serviceable 5' hogs go for about 400$ here..

soundguy

I recently responded to a Craigslist ad for a used KK 5ft rough cut mower. The seller was asking $750 for a 2 year old cutter. He's about a hour away so I asked him a few questions about it including if he could send a couple of PICs of the cutter before I traveled to see and buy it. I asked in 2 separate EMAIL's and received no PICs but he always responded to me but sent no PICs. I'm very familiar with the KK cutter and I can purchase new for $845 + tax at my local TSC store. I know the KK brand is an economy line but my use would be 3-4 times a year on about 5acres of flat over grown weeds/brush. I don't need a high end cutter so I figured I'd save a few hundred and buy used. My last EMAIL to him I offered $675 for the cutter and this would be contingent of the condition. His repsonse was defensive and I got the feeling he was insulted with the offer. Do you think my offer of $675 was too low? Needless to say I responded politely and bowed out of pursuing his cutter.

Doug