craigslist bargaining

advans13

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anyone have advice for craigslist bargaining? we all know the "super rare", "$10000000 firm", "mint", "needs work" etc.

do you even attempt to negotiate, or not bother with that crowd? Is there a good way or tactic you have used? someone is currently selling a dk3, needs prob a cap kit, has sound issues, cab looks ok for 800obo.

i would think, it would be about 4-500?

any stories, or advice you would like to share =)
 
anyone have advice for craigslist bargaining? we all know the "super rare", "$10000000 firm", "mint", "needs work" etc.

do you even attempt to negotiate, or not bother with that crowd? Is there a good way or tactic you have used? someone is currently selling a dk3, needs prob a cap kit, has sound issues, cab looks ok for 800obo.

i would think, it would be about 4-500?

any stories, or advice you would like to share =)
I would think ~$300...
 
I never mess with those ads. I figure the seller has blinders on and will only consider their over priced amount. If you wait long enough something will eventually show up at the price you want.
 
I never attempt to bargain with anyone who has a crazy high price listed for a game, I figure they are clueless and I don't waste time with them.
 
anyone have advice for craigslist bargaining? we all know the "super rare", "$10000000 firm", "mint", "needs work" etc.

do you even attempt to negotiate, or not bother with that crowd? Is there a good way or tactic you have used? someone is currently selling a dk3, needs prob a cap kit, has sound issues, cab looks ok for 800obo.

i would think, it would be about 4-500?

any stories, or advice you would like to share =)

I usually do what you did, come here and poke around. More often than not the folks on CL are posting for "Sentimental Value" included, much like folks selling a house. If they put all that 'firm' garbage in there I just usually pass on by.

-C
 
On a side note, seems like if you do not say "or best offer" on the item you are selling, the people that contact you always want to make you an offer. Seems common place on CL! No one wants to pay asking, even if its a deal already!

So just make offers to people and you'll be fine!

But anything way over priced like your example, does not even warrant an email to the person. They are smoking crack!
 
I would think ~$300...

Me too. Best way to deal is to be polite and simply state that an offer you would be willing to pay and leave your contact information and tell him to contact you if he changes his mind. Make sure to reiterate that the sale will be hassle free, cash in hand, at their convenience.
 
figured as much. state my offer and leave it be. my favorite event happened today. regarding a ad that had a generic image posted. i asked for actual pictures, and the only email i got was. "what pictures? my games are nice not junk so i don't need pictures".

that was just rude lol.
 
figured as much. state my offer and leave it be. my favorite event happened today. regarding a ad that had a generic image posted. i asked for actual pictures, and the only email i got was. "what pictures? my games are nice not junk so i don't need pictures".

that was just rude lol.

WTH! Yeah, we should all just 'know' this person does not sell junk! LOL!!!!

You should respond: Here's a tip, find a digital camera on Cl and buy it to take pictures of your crap, because most will not buy without a pic you lazy ass!
 
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I will usually ask to come and see the game in person and come prepared to buy it but offer below the asking price. If you look like you are willing to buy it but then start to walk out of the deal they will usually lower the price, and then you have them.
 
WTH! Yeah, we should all just 'know' this person does not sell junk! LOL!!!!

You should respond: Here's a tip, find a digital camera on Cl and buy it to take pictures of you crap, because most will not buy without a pic you lazy ass!

that is brilliant.
 
*shiver* craigslist makes me feel dirty.... ...maybe im just old fashion? i remember i had a resistance to ebay at first too- i prefered dealing with RGVAC marketplace! hehehehehe ...the only thing it has going for it is local contact- so DEFINATELY use it! as far as pricing- thats one of the things that makes craigslist so slimey! people deliberately price their items high because they expect someone to offer less- so most times you lose by offering full asking price. most people actually calculate it into their asking price! honesty seems to work much better for me. their is also a large group on craigslist that actually is not THAT interrested in selling their stuff. the have an attitude like "well, i dont really want to get rid of my car, but, heck, if someone will give me $40K for it- i guess id let it go!" so they let a FREE craigslist ad float around forever with their $25K car listed at $40K (because they saw someone elses crazy price on craigslist for a similar car) just in case someone bites. i know ebay is not perfect- but the sellers are usually more realistically interested in ACTUALLY selling their item. However, when it comes to ARCADE games where shipping is an issue.... local craigslist can be pretty nice.
 
I like to just point out the issues the machine has and try to use that as leverage, especially when they are not really into arcade games. That is how I got my Asteroids in December 2010 for $100.00 (pcb, rear door). And $50.00 later the board is repaired and bingo!
 
Me too. Best way to deal is to be polite and simply state that an offer you would be willing to pay and leave your contact information and tell him to contact you if he changes his mind. Make sure to reiterate that the sale will be hassle free, cash in hand, at their convenience.

Totally agree with this. When a price is crazy high, you have the advantage that you are probably the only person to even bother to inquire. So be polite. Make it simple. Bide your time. If the ad disappears, wait a week or so and e-mail back. Game could come home with you for cheap.

If they won't budge don't get upset. Wash your hands of the game....there are others out there.
 
I've done great on CL. Usually respond to the "cheap" machine ads. Ones that say they don't work. It's almost always an easy fix.

As for bargaining, if it says firm, I don't bother to bargain. It's either priced right, or I don't bother. Generally I will offer 75% of the asking value and go from there. I find offering 50% or less just ticks the person off and they are not willing to deal at all.
 
I saw an ad recently that actually used the term "pittance" saying they "know what it's worth, and I will not take a pittance for it"

I avoid them.

I've read some people who will try and educate the person. I think t really depends on the seller. If you get the one who's not going to put up with any BS from buyers, no way will they negotiate. But sometimes it's the "oh, it's big, so it must be worth a lot" and they can be reasoned with.
 
The 4 game steals I got off of my local CL, I just paid their asking price. (They were already dirt cheap, and even though I could have talked them down, I knew I was getting a deal. That's just how I was raised. ;) )

I guess I did talk a guy selling a $350 Joust down to $250 one time, though. I just shot a very nicely-worded email saying how much I used to love the game, and that I knew it was a good price, but only had $250 and it would be a while before I could get the additional $100. He sold it to me for $250 and has been a really good contact for all sorts of game-related things...
 
I've done great on CL. Usually respond to the "cheap" machine ads. Ones that say they don't work. It's almost always an easy fix.[\QUOTE]

Same here, most people aren't aware of the easy fixes and just dump them when "the monitor went, and you can only hear it play". Found a few this way for cheap that either had a loose connector or needed a $5 cap kit.
 
I do not even attempt to deal with those people.

It's quite amazing that on the Chicago CL that you see the same overpriced ads over and over again.

Examples:

Space Gun - Has been on CL for over a year. Currently $400 but over a year ago he wanted $600 for it. Still priced too high.

Getaway (Pinball) - $3000 on CL for almost a year. Niles, IL. Does this guy really think he is going to sell it for $3k when there is currently one on CL for $899 and another one for $1600.

This Niles guy also sells overpriced arcade games too. Another over poster of high priced stuff is from someone in Crystal Lake.
 
I do not even attempt to deal with those people.

It's quite amazing that on the Chicago CL that you see the same overpriced ads over and over again.

Examples:

Space Gun - Has been on CL for over a year. Currently $400 but over a year ago he wanted $600 for it. Still priced too high.

Getaway (Pinball) - $3000 on CL for almost a year. Niles, IL. Does this guy really think he is going to sell it for $3k when there is currently one on CL for $899 and another one for $1600.

This Niles guy also sells overpriced arcade games too. Another over poster of high priced stuff is from someone in Crystal Lake.


These kinds of sellers eventually do get uninformed, naive buyers, though. That's the type of customer they're looking to snag.
 
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