how much do you lowball

Mizzou

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When you see a game advertised on craigslist and the seller says in the add "price negotiable" I take it to mean that is a good oportunity to try to get the game on the cheap. My question is how much will you typically low ball a person when negotiating?
 
When you see a game advertised on craigslist and the seller says in the add "price negotiable" I take it to mean that is a good oportunity to try to get the game on the cheap. My question is how much will you typically low ball a person when negotiating?

It all depends on the game/condition/etc. I always start low though, and go from there, ha.
 
When you see a game advertised on craigslist and the seller says in the add "price negotiable" I take it to mean that is a good oportunity to try to get the game on the cheap. My question is how much will you typically low ball a person when negotiating?

I dont have a ton of experience with this, but I usually talk about the condition issues and how much time and money its going to take. Then I just go straight for "What's your bottom on blah blah blah?" I know its not really their problem how much time and money you are going to put into it, but that seems to give me some leverage.
 
When you see a game advertised on craigslist and the seller says in the add "price negotiable" I take it to mean that is a good oportunity to try to get the game on the cheap. My question is how much will you typically low ball a person when negotiating?

It all depends on the situation, you have to feel it out. You can't just go in swinging blindly. There's a lot of different factors. Like, is the guy desperate? Has the game been listed multiple times already and how long listed? Have they dropped the price at all when relisting it? Are they receptive to you picking apart the game? I don't know about others, but when someone comes in picking apart my game, I get pissed and won't sell you sh!^! Some people also will list the same game for the same price FOREVER and you're never going to talk them down because that's what they paid, they feel that's what it's worth and that someone (another sucker) will eventually bite. You have to feel it out while you're talking to the seller. If you have a good repoire with them, you have a better chance of them being willing to negotiate with you. Just my experiences with buying. I've got some real good deals just by being cool with the people I'm buying from.
 
i rarely lowball someone. i'll negotiate like i did with the recent purchase of my Police Force pin (he was asking $1k, offered him $900 cash which he was fine with,) but i have to think the price is fair or at least close before i'll even bother to make an offer. and if it is and i really want it then i'll buy it for the asking price or make a very close offer.

otherwise if their price is way out of line with market realities i'll let them figure that out, or find a buyer that's equally deluded.

if i don't really want it, well, i have enough junk sitting around as it is already and it doesn't matter how cheap it is.
 
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I used to lowball all of the time. Now I only respond to games that I really want, and I usually just pay what they are asking. I lost out on a lot of good games over the years trying to pay as little as possible. Now I just pay for what I want. I actually enjoy working more than trying to haggle over price, or try to make money reselling games. I need to sell a few games now, and I really don't want to. I don't mind getting rid of them, but I just really don't like selling stuff.
 
It seems to depend on how long it's been for sale. I like the posts that ask to make an offer.

For example: There was a game on CL a couple days ago, it was listed for about a week. I offered $50.00 (UR vid). He came back with $100.00. I picked it up the next day.

I also try to low ball just to get a response and see what kind of person I'm dealing with. The response tells quite a bit about the seller. If he's offended, he should have just set a price. If he's cool about the offer then you might just be able to work out a deal.
 
I'll try to get a deal, but I always make sure that what I offer is still fair. If they want to keep their price firm, I respect that as well. Sometimes you're not lowballing too much, however, and they're simply asking too much for their game.
 
I'm notorious for lowballing. If I can get a game for free, I will. I barter for things all the time.

When I really want something, I'll find a way to schmooze the seller into nearly giving away the farm. It's a skill. Right time, right place kind of stuff.

Lately, I've been away from buying games. I've got too much stuff to work on right now.
 
I used to lowball all of the time. Now I only respond to games that I really want, and I usually just pay what they are asking. I lost out on a lot of good games over the years trying to pay as little as possible. Now I just pay for what I want. I actually enjoy working more than trying to haggle over price, or try to make money reselling games. I need to sell a few games now, and I really don't want to. I don't mind getting rid of them, but I just really don't like selling stuff.

I would also recommend more people just pay what the seller is asking if the price is fair already. I put something on Craigslist and left off OBO from the description, but I knew I would have people trying to haggle anyways.
One guy is interested and we begin to haggle. After deciding on one price and a day to pick up, he comes back with a lower offer and another date. In the process of trying to get in touch with him again, someone else contacts me and pays the full price.
 
I'd say go with reasonable. Try not to insult the person, but explain the situation (video games have less value because of XBoxs, title is not very desirable, things wrong, hard to fix/get parts). You should be honest though. I just dealt with a guy that bought a MK2 in routed condition at an auction 4 years ago for $600. It's not worth that anymore. Walk away if the seller won't understand. Tell them the offer is good for 2 weeks. You might get a call (that works more than you think it will).
 
If its a Item you really want, I recommend never to offer less then 50%. As pervious stated, how long they've had it, number of price reductions etc are a factor.

My tip to you, is get your self in their door. Negotiate in person, you will have more leverage this way. Your usally able to make a connection with the person, aka small chit chat. This breaks the ice.

I try to work on two bases, What will it take to get it working (if not working), what will it take to get it minty.

If your goal is minty, some times its just not worth it even if you get it stupid cheap.
 
^^^^^ Agreed... I like the folks to know that they're dealing with someone passionate about arcade games...not someone out to make a buck.

I also, as a courtesy, send "Thank you" emails just to say, "Thanks again, the game looks great & my daughter is already enjoying playing it..." (or what have you) Folks appreciate it, even if they don't respond.

It doesn't hurt, and it actually once got me a killer lead on another cheap game... because the folks appreciated my courteous gesture.
 
When you see a game advertised on craigslist and the seller says in the add "price negotiable" I take it to mean that is a good oportunity to try to get the game on the cheap. My question is how much will you typically low ball a person when negotiating?

hey this is klov, i mean how much will you pay me to take the game? i have noticed more klovrs listing games for sale on ebay and avoiding the lo balling that happens here.
craigs list is the worst, i try to be fair, i mean you can offer someone with a nice working tron 150.00, never know what they mean by price negotiable. if its 500.00 i offer 400.00 usually 100.00 off for me.
 
People try to lowball me all the time, and they run down a list of why the game is a piece of shit, then make a low offer.

If it's such a piece of shit, why do you want it?

When I negotiate with somebody, I tell them how great the game is, but I can only pay this much for it. Works much better.
 
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