It's the beginning of swap meet season, and it's time to blow the dust off those negotiating skills. i believe the "haggle" is an important part of the swap meet experience, but i must admit, i'm not the best at it. so i'm gonna put this out there and mabye we can help one another. i'd like to hear from veteran swap meet "buyers" as well as "sellers" on your most effective methods for great transactions. i generally throw out an offer about 3/4 of the asking price to get a feel for what the seller is "really" after. sometimes i get a look like i offended them, but sometimes what they are asking is offensive! And since we're on the subject of buying and selling, how about some advice on buying that old car you've found resting under that lil' old lady's carport. this is a tricky one, cause you don't wanna scare her with the height of your pompador, but smooth talk her with your Richie Cunningham good looks and charm. ...or that crotchety ol' ******* with that old 32 sedan he uses to house his pigeon flock, and you know he's got a cool stash of parts, cause you remember seeing his garage open when you were younger, and that sure looked like an old race car hiding in there! he's gonna be wary of what you're intentions are, so tread lightly, and you may score a cool car and a good friend and a wealth of information. so, how do YOU do it??
I have bought and sold stuff, both parts as well as collectibles. A friend and I were pretty big into it a few years ago. Anyway, to be honest we always preferred the friendly customer who truly knew what they were seeking or was interested and maybe had genuine questions in what we had for sale. The guys who come up and pretend that they don't know what you have or why you want so much (no matter the price) and try the whole game aren't fooling anybody. I believe that is why they get a lot of at***ude. I mean think about it. First they are at a place where you know where you are going (swap meet for example). Second, they approach the seller and act dumb, naive, etc. Basically this causes the seller to feel insulted, as if the buyer is calling them an idiot, like they will trick the seller into practically giving them the item. Anyways, sorry for the rant but that would be an example of bad bartering/negotiating. In my opinion just try to make small talk and be direct. The seller knows what they have or they wouldn't be trying to sell it. Make a fair offer, if you know the price is too high they probably will not budge and you may not want to deal with them anyway so move along, someone else probably has it for the right price. You could always make an offer and check back later. Last day, end of the show, people tend to start making deals if they didn't make there goal. Hope this helps some.
As far as trying to buy the old car......hmmm... some guys are really sauve in this dept. I am not so suave but I think the biggest mistake people make is just going right up and saying "Yo, how much?" or the eqvlnt. Think about anyone that has done that to you, it's an automatic turn off to even wanting to talk to them most of the time. Just flat out let them know that you like the car, that style and maybe show them what you have done to previous cars (hopefully it was good ). The old lady with her original 56 Caddy would probably be a little more willing to let her car go to someone who has the care and potential to shine her up again than to some punk who's going to wrap it around a pole, etc. I bought an Cutl*** from the junkyard once and got it running good etc. When I sold it the guy who bought it kept b.s.ing me about how he was just going to drive it and maintain it as a cl***ic. I asked him straight if he was going to turn it into a lowrider and told him it was cool if he did. Shows up to pick it up with his pearl purple Dakota lowered on red Daytons. Good luck, looking forward to some of the replies to this one.
As far as negotiations go, always offer what you're willing to pay, and don't worry about insulting someone. Sometimes people just want to sell **** and they're happy to get any offer. If you're really worried about offending someone, just come right out and say it. "I don't want to offend you with a low offer, but would you take $X for this? It's all I can afford." That's always better than "Jeez, this is only worth $X" No one wants to deal with a ****head. I went to the Iola swap meet this past summer with $10.49 and I bought an amazing amount of **** for such little money. I really had to s****e just to come up with the $10, I was broke. I still came home with a Chevy artillery wheel, a 26-27 T windshield post, some 55-56 Dodge taillights, and a whole bunch of other neat stuff. A buck buys a lot when you're willing to offer it to enough people. As far as buying a car, I've always wondered why people have to ask if cars are for sale, when there are literally ****loads of old cars for sale all the time by people who actually want to sell them. I'm drowning in old car projects right now, bought all of them cheap, and I never had to beg one off of anyone. If you do see a car out for sale, it probably wouldn't hurt to knock on the door and ask if it's for sale. But don't ask if it's for sale and get a price out of the guy unless you have money and are ready to buy it. I have guys stop in at my shop all the ****in' time and they want me to price out all the stuff I have laying around, but they don't have any money. I don't want to be an ***hole, but if you don't have any money anyway, then why ask? If you really have to have something that isn't for sale, drive up in an old car you put together to show the owner that you'll actually do something with it. And don't lie about how you're gonna restore it if you're gonna hotrod it. That's ********.
Anytime I've attended swap meets as a seller, I've been motivated to sell the stuff and not bring it back home (I'm not a dealer). I price my stuff reasonably so anyone interested sees the prices are fair to begin with. If they really need it....usually they just hand over the money with no haggling. If they don't maybe they'll offer less. Many times I consider those people to not be serious about buying. It kind of makes me mad if I've priced something low to begin with and then somebody wants to haggle the price even lower, because they are used to doing that. In a lot of cases it has nothing to do with the value of the part, people just expect that you'll lower the price because swap meets are open to bargain negotiation. I have had a few buyers tick me off to the point that I refused to sell an item at the reduced price that they had offered...and when they finally agreed to the original marked price, I still refused to sell it to them because they had made me mad at them.
We are not a bartering society...but in other countries this is a game that enhances a purchase....just paying for something is mechanical and dull....I like some clever banter and determination.... don't let the face bother you....hell thats part of the game...get yer poker face on! pull out your acting skills. ...." is that really gold plated"? ..... ... you need to work on the snappy comebacks when your selling and they low ball ya..... " so you want a pint of blood with that?" ...." whoa!...your hands so far down my hip pocket I hope I get an *** scratch with that." you must always look hurt by a low offer People need to lighten up and have fun with this.... it's still up to a yes or no.... One time I had a guy come back probably 4 times on me and each time he had another funny comment... I finally gave in and gave him his price....the ******* wore me down.. But I enjoyed the game.
Funny.... reminds me of the time I tried buying a '56 Oldsmobile, the seller couldn't say enough how he was sentimental about the car, like driving it through college etc. Then says there is a condition of sale that he must know where it is at all times and be able to see it once in awhile. Or the guy who shook hands on a deal for a '54 chevy then said two days later He figured he would rather take it to auction to see what he could get there...but offered to take me along to see the auction? And can't forget the up-teen times I had driven a hundred miles or so to see a car the seller thinks is prime only to find it was nothing of the sort. Lastly, the couple of times the seller had a car advertised for sale, but confessed he wasn't sure if he really wanted to get rid of it and was just desperate for conversation and attention. Oh ya, Sellers too, can be a little weird as well from time to time no doubt about that!
It seems like there are three types of sellers at swap meets. There's the guys that buy a truckload of new stuff and put it out on display stands next to their big trailers with blue awnings. They're okay if you need something new, but if you're looking for old stuff, those places are kind of boring. Then there are the guys who think their old junk is priceless, and they price stuff about twice what it's worth, and won't budge on the price. You ask them "how much is this?" And they fire off "$385!". They have some magic number carefully planned out and they're not going to take a penny less. These guys bring the same stuff to swap meets over and over for years and years. They're just hoping to sell a couple items to somebody who doesn't know any better I guess. After the first item you ask about is three times what it's worth, you can pretty much figure you're not going to find any deals there, so you keep walking. Then there's the guys that are kind of like me, who just have too much **** in their garage leftover from old projects, and they just to need to unload some of it due to lack of space. They hate to throw it in the garbage, because they know some other fellow hotrodder might need it, so they drag it to the swap meet. They ask a reasonable price. I love doing business with guys like that. I don't even ****er with them if I know the price is fair. Usually they're the guys who will lower the price anyway if you stand there and look at it a while. I feel good buying stuff from those guys. One thing I noticed, is if the guy barks the price at you with an authoritative statement, it's probably too high and you're not going to get a good deal. Or if they're such wheeler dealers of exotic car parts that they say "FIVE!", meaning "five hundred" or "five thousand", then there's no way you're going to get a good deal. But if you ask the price and the guy says with a puzzled look, "Hmmm.... I dunno, how 'bout five bucks???" in the form of a question, then you're in business. Usually those guys give you a reasonable price right off the bat, and I'm glad to hand over my dough to a guy like that. I feel bad for the guys that are offering their old junk at very reasonable prices, like they're only asking $5 for something that other guys are asking $100 for, and some jerk will complain and say, "aww, I don't know, it's got a little scratch here" and try to ****er him down even lower.
I usally offer half or below half, even though I'm willing to pay 3/4 the price they have on it. it gets right down to where you want to be. If you offer 3/4 they'll ask 7/8 the price. I've even had them chase me down after I've walked off and was down a couple booths! haha love that part!
My favorite response from a seller is "I get such'n such bucks for'em on ebay all day long" Hmmmm? Where are we? Swap meet?
I'm not sure if this qualifies, but I go to the Oshkosh fly-in every year, and ever year I go to their fly market. In one tent , the same guy is there selling old aviation books. There is one book I really want, but its $110.00. For years I've asked if he'd come down, and he's never moved. Yet, over the years we've come to know each other. He kids me about if I still want that book. Then he'll show me some cool stuff he's kept tucked away out of sight. And I usually drop about 50 bucks on other things in his tent.
i've got a good strategy for this one... i know which "high dollar" or "special" parts i will be looking for at the swaps this year, so i'm gonna track some on ebay. i'll print out what they sold for when their auctions end, and keep those with me. when "joe seller" throws out the old " that's what they're bringing on ebay" line, even though he's twice as high, i'll be able to show him exactly what said items, REALLY are bringing on ebay!
I've always wanted to reverse the whole system: A buyer's booth at the swapmeet, to be staffed by an apprentice while I go hunting. It would be much like the traditional sellers booth, a tarp lying on the dirt staffed by a semi-comatose attendant... On the tarp would be little piles of money, held down by rocks or rusted lugnuts; here, a little pile of bills beside a piece of paper wit "'32 roadster windshield frame" scribbled on it, there another marked "amneter"... Think it would work?
That's funny! And it brings up another point too. I can't stand the sellers that appear to be asleep or dead, pissed off or generally just pissed off about being there. Sometimes it's just the help be it a son, friend, etc. but to be honest they truly are no help, they're scaring away the customers Generally if I see someone like this I just move along, they never seem too motivated to sell their **** and seem to take most of it back with them too.
I think bartering/haggling is a waste of time. Basically if you don't price it sanely, I ain't going to waste my time with ya'. Why spend minutes ****ering with some jerk about his overpriced **** when I could be moving on to look for the things that are already priced real right, and going to be gone soon. Last summer, I taped a "wanted" sign to the back of my jacket; didn't pan out finding me what I wanted, but got to talk to a lot of folks. Probably will work out at some point; will do it again. When I'm looking for something, I always say I'm looking for a good deal on thus-and-such. I don't just go around blathering that I need this-or-that to finish my car... I think that sends a message to the opportunistic that they should raise their prices 50%, since it's what I need, instead of something I'd kind of like to pick up if the price was right. Does it work? Well, last Saturday I agreed to buy another pickup less M/T (to replace my totalled one) for $50 - delivered. Last swap meet, I scored an almost mint pair of Sportster wheels for $20, and some aluminum Wilwood calipers (I'm looking for a good deal on pistons...) for $5. Ya' know, this is kind of a good idea: I'm not sure about piles of cash laying around, but it'd be a good idea a) to have a place to go and chill/eat/drink when not wandering, b) a place to drop purchased items, and c) a place to get a sign up for what you're looking for. More people will see the sign than you'd likely be able to talk to during the day. -bill
ah yes... bargaining at the swap meet. one of my favorite activities.... I low ball everybody on almost everything. when someone has a bunch of related parts I always ask how much for everything? then you sell off what you don't need and get the part you really want for free. or usually even make money.
"I think bartering/haggling is a waste of time. ........................... Why spend minutes ****ering with some jerk about his overpriced ****" a guy at the swap meet last weekend had a cool item I would like to have. I asked him how much, he said $125.00. that was more than I wanted to pay, but not a bad price. he asked what I would be willing to pay for it, and I told him $60.00, he countered with $80.00 and I brought it home. I got an unusual item I wanted at a fair price. that is why you spend a few minutes ****ering with a seller. I don't see that as a waste of time at all.
Anything under $10, just pay it unless you are buying a lot of them. Anything else, offer just below what you are willing to pay. Then walk away if he says no. He'll counter and you can come up a little. If you get nowhere and can't find another (unless you simply have to have that one) come back later with "I see you still have......."
get there early and watch the unloading. Many years back at Jefferson, I watched as a guy started unloading his pickup. First thing on the gate was an Eddie Meyer intake. I looked the bed over a little closer. Plenty of goodies. I asked him what he'd take for the whole mess. He thought a minute then shot a price at me. I said fine, and asked if he'd deliver it. He looked stunned, but said yes, then mentioned he'd wasted the money on the lot space. I gave him that back too. Hell, he was so happy, that by the time he got to my place he helped me unload it, then mentioned he had more. Ended up buying everything he had. Sometimes buying in bulk works. Besides, I'd always wanted to do that once.
Offer what YOU want to pay for the item. If the guy gets offended(another way of saying no) then who gives a ****? If he won't sell for what you want to pay, he can't blame you for trying, and he shouldn't get offended by what YOU think it's worth. Each item has a different value to different people. Why in the hell would you offer more than you want to spend just to spare the guy getting offended? And, like you said. Some prices are offensive themselves
Gotta love a good haggle. You know it's good when you walk away thinkin you got a bargain and so does the other party. I think you should have a price in mind of how much you want to pay for an item and stick to it. I'm always going to haggle on the price, no-matter what. It's fun ;-) I just think you can't be a **** about it, just have some fun with it. If the price is too high, I'd throw out a lower offer than you're prepared to pay then work your way up to your price in mind..if it doesnt work, walk away, no big deal. If the price is reasonable, I'd probably offer 3/4 lower to see what sort of a reaction you get anyway. if the seller is a tool and gets all offended and ****ty, give him his money and leave. If he's a good guy and has a joke around, you go back and forward a couple of times, have some fun, make idle chit chat, maybe get him to throw some other stuff in, and you get a deal. Worst comes to worst, you pay the reasonable asking price. I know when I'm selling, I like people to talk to me and make jokes like I'm a person, not just some idiot vendor who doesn't know ****. Just have some fun with it I say..geez.
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