$2500, You're out of your mind!!

[PhoenixStar]

Let's say you see a game that you really like on craigslist, and we'll assume that the average street value sell price is $500 in good condition. The craigslist ad is listing the game at $2500 by someone who is apparently not savvy with arcade games (you can tell by his ad lingo he's not in the hobby by saying things like "box is in good condition", "tv colors are nice", etc).

My question is if you really want the game, how do you negotiate with a seller who thinks his game is worth the asking price of $2500, when the average street value dictates otherwise for example $500?

I know some are going to say "It's worth whatever someone will pay for it, even at that price", but that's not the answer I'm looking for. How do you tell him the game is worth only about $500 without him flipping out.

I'm not going through this scenario by the way, Im just asking to see what you guys say or do in this situation.

 

[tron guy]

I would tell the guy that prices that are "listed" on ebay never sell that high anymore.
And that I have an off of $500. If the game is common enough you can do a completed listing search on ebay for some proof. At that point you would discuss ebay/paypal getting 18-20% of the selling price and consider that when factoring price.

I would wish the guy luck with his sale, but let him know I am interested at the above listed price.
I just wouldn't want to come across as insulting.

 

[splattergatz]

how do you negotiate with a seller who thinks his game is worth the asking price of $2500.......How do you tell him the game is worth only about $500 without him flipping out

ya, many a time i have not been the one standing there when the seller finally realizes his game isnt worth what he's asking

 

[mhkohne]

Let's say you see a game that you really like on craigslist, and we'll assume that the average street value sell price is $500 in good condition. The craigslist ad is listing the game at $2500 by someone who is apparently not savvy with arcade games (you can tell by his ad lingo he's not in the hobby by saying things like "box is in good condition", "tv colors are nice", etc).

My question is if you really want the game, how do you negotiate with a seller who thinks his game is worth the asking price of $2500, when the average street value dictates otherwise for example $500?

I know some are going to say "It's worth whatever someone will pay for it, even at that price", but that's not the answer I'm looking for. How do you tell him the game is worth only about $500 without him flipping out.

I'm not going through this scenario by the way, Im just asking to see what you guys say or do in this situation.

You aren't going to convince him. The best you can do is make him a reasonable offer. And if he keeps the ad up, repeat your offer every month or so. One of several things will happen:
He'll just keep listing it. Oh well.
He'll actually want it sold, and agree to a lower offer. It's possible that he knows it's only worth $500 and the $2500 is just an attempt to pry money out of people who don't know. If doesn't find anyone to pay that price, he might want it gone for it's actual value.
He'll decide to just keep the thing.

There's really no way to tell a person who genuinely thinks that something is worth $2500 that it's only worth $500. He's not going to believe you. The best you can do is make reasonable offers and don't worry too much about it.

 

[jbbradley]

I offered a fair price for a game on CL that was going for 800. Told him the going rate was no more than 400 for excellent condition. 6 months later he emailed me and I picked it up for 350. So sometimes they do come around.

 

[wildwest3163]

I called about a group of 3 games that were titles I was interested in, only to find out from talking to the person that 2 of the games worked, one didnt, and all 3 were in bad shape. I told him with the conditions he was stating I could go probably as high as $300, without checking them out in person. He said hed get back to me in a day or 2. He never called back.

3 days later I had my wife call him from her cell phone and ask how much he wanted for them, he told her "Id like to get $300 out of them". I went and picked them up that night, never told him that I was the one that called first.

 

[Malice95]

I saw a ms pacman on craigslist.. guy said it wasnt working. playing blind and the cab was in good shape. He wanted 600. I said I'd offer 150. His wife said he would keep it for that price.

One of the issue is people buy games at retail for 1500-2000 and then expect to get almost half of that for a broken game. This is what happened to
my CL guy. Oh well..

 

[cleverlyj]

one thing, though, is that some of the high priced ones may be priced due to the wife wanting the game sold and the husband doesn't, so he lists it way high so it won't sell.

other than that, i'd call and see if they'd negotiate. if not, let it sit on CL for a while, after a few weeks call back and see if their tune's changed.

 

[p1899m]

as mentioned the most important thing is to not belittle the seller or come off condescending. It may be true that you know a lot more about this item than the seller but if you come off with an attitude the seller is likely to get defensive and not consider selling to you. I know a lot of folks around here like to play the tough guy, I know more than you, your game has this issue and needs that work role to talk a seller down on price but I doubt that will work well with this type of seller.

Personally I try and explain the full picture to the seller. I explain retail sellers and why their games can command higher prices. I explain even why ebay commands more than CL and I try to support this with proof and not just ask the person to take my word. After all is explained I make my offer. If this is truly a game that you want and would be a keeper in your collection you might also want to explain that and let the seller know that you are a collector who will keep the game in good working order and provide it a good home where it will be enjoyed . May sound corny but many people actually get attached to these games (as we do) and want them to go to a good home.

It will really boil down to if the seller is selling the game in hopes of making a ton of cash or if they were just looking to sell it and were basing their prices off limited research.

 

[snapJaw]

I've found 1 of 3 things:

1) they price it high because they don't really want to sell it. Maybe wife or S.O. wants it gone, and they price it high enough that if someone actually buys it, they can deal parting with it. I've done this in the past just to see if a game would sell. Sometimes I can't say no, and sometimes I just want to know if I have anything of value.

2) They paid retail for the game. They shelled out 3K for it, and expect to get at least half back, whether it works or not.

3) They have no clue, and don't know anything about titles/condition/etc. They think it is worth that, and won't budge right away. Keep asking if it doesn't sell (relists) and hope he/she comes around. A lot of times (my personal experience) this is due to inheriting a game or owning it not by choice. They don't know the value and look on ebay, seeing listings for 1k-4k. When they don't get offers for it, they are stubborn.