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Swap meet etiquette, would this piss you off??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by AstroZombie, May 19, 2011.

  1. When one is new to the swap meet you get a lesson in life, you can derive the same lesson from watching Shark Week on Discovery. It is the nature of the beast. I was a virgin to a Jersey meet last year and had to laugh. I arrived in the dark and out of nowwhere was this mob of guys with flashlights running all around looking in everones trucks and trailers. I was not even parked and they were crawling in my windows snorting and out of breath asking for parts. it was like the sharks that come in for the test bite. I had to laugh and still remember the chilled air, the bulging eyes, the slobber, the frozen breath, the guy i almost ran over. Insanity plus. By the end of the day all the deals were done and most packed their bellies with overpriced heart attack food, farted and went home. Flea markets and swap meets have there purpose and there are lessons to be learned and some funny memories to be gained too.
     
  2. My favorite thing to do at a swap meet is to buy something and then get out my tape and marker and put a realy crazy crazy low price on it. Like a 32 shell for 20 bucks, then walk around with it and watch the dumbfounded look on peoples faces wondering how they could have missed that...lol
    The vendor to vendor selling and buying is always your first sale and purchase of the day. The low baller to later huge mark up guy is always there and it doesn't matter where your located, he's just always there.
     
  3. When one is new to the swap meet you get a lesson in life, you can derive the same lesson from watching Shark Week on Discovery. It is the nature of the beast. I was a virgin to a Jersey meet last year and had to laugh. I arrived in the dark and out of nowwhere was this mob of guys with flashlights running all around looking in everones trucks and trailers. I was not even parked and they were crawling in my windows snorting and out of breath asking for parts. it was like the sharks that come in for the test bite. I had to laugh and still remember the chilled air, the bulging eyes, the slobber, the frozen breath, the guy i almost ran over. Insanity plus. By the end of the day all the deals were done and most packed their bellies with overpriced heart attack food, farted and went home. Flea markets and swap meets have there purpose and there are lessons to be learned and some funny memories to be gained too.
     
  4. 39cent
    Joined: Apr 4, 2006
    Posts: 1,569

    39cent
    Member
    from socal

    I,m a swap meet buyer not a seller, and way back a friend told me he would help me sell some parts. So I was there watching him and he priced my 4 cylinder duece firewalle I thought kinda high. This one guy comes along and acts like he really needed it but was only able to pay a lower price. My buddy didnt go for it. I kinda wanted to get rid of it [I didnt really know what it was worth] Bud says he,ll be back, knows what its worth and hes a reseller. Sure nuff later on he comes back, pays our price and leaves. So out of curiosity I go lookin for him and he had it marked up about 50%. I got a good price for it, but he may havto keep it till the right buyer shows up.
     
  5. Larry T
    Joined: Nov 24, 2004
    Posts: 7,920

    Larry T
    Member

    If you were really black hearted, you could tell folks that the vendor had two more just like it and give them a vague "set up somewhere over there" wave of the hand and watch them look for the guy the rest of the day.
    Larry T
     
  6. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,719

    banjorear
    Member


    It would be crappy if he presented himself as a dude who was down on his luck and only needs [insert type of part here] to finish his project.

    If he didn't, as crappy as it is, that the deal with swaps.

    There are scum bags in every hobby. Consider it a lesson in swap meet street smarts.
     
  7. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,719

    banjorear
    Member


    Dead nuts on. Good advice.
     
  8. If I'm dumb enough to sell stuff to someone for too little money then it's my fault.
    He did'nt put a gun to my head for my parts.
    I cant blame the buyer because I caved into his offer.
     
  9. Fenders
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 3,921

    Fenders
    Member

    You thought?
    Hey, when you sell early you gotta realize the buyer is probably a seller. And the rule for selling to sellers is - "always leave something on the table." Let him make a profit.
    You get what you want, don't bitch. Then let the buyer get a bit more (or a lot more) when he re-sells it.
    I sell old books. One of my buyers is a reseller. I love it when he buys from me. I make a profit on every book he buys from me. And he makes a profit on every one too when he re-sells it. I'm happy, he's happy.
    Don't bitch.
     
  10. partsdawg
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,838

    partsdawg
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Minnesota

    My prices are usually double what I paid unless it's a high end part as those go market value.Numerous times I have sold a part and the buyer then smiles and tells me I sold it too cheap and how he was going to make 20 or 30 percent more.When I tell them I doubled my money the smiles go away.
    Been on the other side of that tale a time or two as well.
    I once saw a guy driving into a swapmeet with a pickup load and stopped him and asked what he wanted for all of it.He named a price,I paid him and he drove to my space and we started to unload my new stuff.As we were unloading a guy asked about one part and I shot a price and the guy bought the one part and paid me more for that one part than I paid for the whole load.I did have to unload the rest of the parts myself.
    Was I a bad guy? I dont think so.The guy quoted a price,I paid it.Not knowing what stuff is worth isnt my problem.
    With the internet not knowing what your stuff is worth before going to sell it is just being lazy.
     
  11. BuckeyeBuicks
    Joined: Jan 4, 2010
    Posts: 2,769

    BuckeyeBuicks
    Member
    from ohio

    I been doin swap meets for 40 years and I have seen some dandys. The best one that comes to mind was a few years ago at Lancaster; Ohio. I got a bunch of hubcaps, a guy picks up a 53 Stude wheel cover and asks how much. I told him $8, cause I really wanted $6 and would have took $5. He says I must be nuts , he might give $2. He comes by two or three more times that day, acts like I never seen him before, each time I raise the price. This is a two day meet so on Sunday the same guy starts the same shit, each time he ask I raise the price, by Sunday afternoon that cap is about $40. finally he sends his buddy to try, this asshole is "hid" down the row watching, I tell the buddy $45, he lays it down and says thanks. The end of the day comes and I see the goofball coming up the isle so I threw that Stude cap out on the blacktop and jumped on it about 10 times and put it back where it was. He comes up and says he may go $5 so I don't have to take it home. Then he looks over and seen the trashed cap and goes off on me. I told him, hey asshole you wanted a $2 cap there it is! We still laugh about that one!
     
  12. FoxSpeed
    Joined: May 19, 2009
    Posts: 385

    FoxSpeed
    Member
    from NorCal

    A friend was selling a really decent camper shell left on his property by a renter. It was worth probably $400.00. He put $100.00 on it, just to unload it and try to get some back rent owed. Some hillbilly comes by, offers $50.00, my friend looks at this guy, turns around, goes to his garage, comes back, fires up his chainsaw and cuts the camper in half. He then turns to the guy, and says "free" take it away. That guy couldn't run away fast enough. My friend is a retired fireman and that story is true and he is legend around here.
     
  13. Stevie Nash
    Joined: Oct 24, 2007
    Posts: 2,999

    Stevie Nash
    Member

    Yes it would piss me off! Is it wrong? Not sure...
     
  14. aojo
    Joined: Dec 21, 2010
    Posts: 144

    aojo
    Member

    Best system is to tell the early bird buyers with low ball offers that their bids are welcome at the end of the day.. pick a decent price and stick to it for a couple of hours.. you can always lower the price of give it away later..
     
  15. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 32,345

    The37Kid
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Good one! Sort of like the headlight lense story a friend used to tell. Guy picked up a 1930's lense and asks the price, guy wanted $10. gets an offer of $2. with an attitude. So my friend asked his buddy in the next space if the lense is worth $10. as it is in mid air on the way to him. Landed on the blacktop loudly and Russ said "Yes". :rolleyes:
     
  16. GomezGarage
    Joined: Jun 28, 2004
    Posts: 327

    GomezGarage
    Member

  17. This happens here on the HAMB all the time, you sell something at a decent price to cut a Haber a break and then you see your very same part here or on eBay, or refer to thread about selling the car you just bought off your buddy to make a profit.
     
  18. Don Lyon
    Joined: Jan 18, 2007
    Posts: 275

    Don Lyon
    Member

    yep, it's called free enterprise.
     
  19. ironandsteele
    Joined: Apr 25, 2006
    Posts: 6,112

    ironandsteele
    Member

    You hit the nail on the head in your original post.

    "A sale is a sale"

    YEP.

    "A major dick move"

    YEP!
     
  20. 296 V8
    Joined: Sep 17, 2003
    Posts: 4,666

    296 V8
    BANNED
    from Nor~Cal

    This is a great subject that gives an insight to how some people truly are.

    Just because it happens a lot and or is now the “standard” don’t make it right Bad manners are un cool no matter how common it is.

    Do unto others is more and more unheard of these days ….. To many laws and attorneys discouraging real life consequences imo.
     
  21. 32ford5
    Joined: Sep 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,089

    32ford5
    Member
    from Australia

    He said WHAT?! I would have jumped the table right then and there. F***er! After you did him a good deal and all...that sucks.

    As far as the OP topic...yeah, I'd be pissed off. If there was no argument on the price and you got what you want then he can sell them I guess but if they screw you down on price and make you feel like you are doing them a favour and then turn right around and sell them - that's bullshitting and low.
     
  22. MeanGene427
    Joined: Dec 15, 2010
    Posts: 2,307

    MeanGene427
    Member
    from Napa

    We got a well-known bottom-feeder around here, we call him "Red"- red ponytail, and always blue coveralls, and always rooting in your truck before you unload. Pulled into a meet in Sac a few years ago, and here comes that frikken' weasel- I'm still moving, pulling into my space, and I hear the zipper of his coveralls hit the side of my new black Powerstroke- bailed out with a "GET THE F#@% OFF MY TRUCK"- he lit out and disappeared. Had a half-dozen other sellers come over laughing, he'd had his nose in their trucks too
    I don't go to meets to make other sellers money, especially the weasels- I know what my "good" stuff's worth, price it fairly with a little cushion so a buyer can do a little feel-good haggling, and the right guy that needs it gets his part for a reasonable price, and everybody's happy. I trade in a lot of 427 and Cobra Jet stuff, usually pretty good, and fairly rare, parts, and if they're a little shaky or need work, the prices reflect that, and if you're a serious buyer and have something interesting to trade, sure, I'll listen- especially FE stuff. Those parts do tend to attract a lot of looky-loos, no problem with that, part of the fun. Lowballers or "experts" that try to BS me don't get very far- the serious buyers for that stuff are usually pretty quiet, can spot the parts from a distance, and head straight to the casting numbers and date codes, and don't BS- but usually have an interesting "real" project to talk about
    "Regular" parts are very negotiable, come and get it :p
     
  23. Special Ed
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 8,618

    Special Ed
    Member



    Well said. I was disappointed to hear a few of the stories on this thread, and wasn't sure how to respond. There are some real dicks on here...:cool:
     
  24. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,536

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Bingo, tell the early low baller to stop by about the time you plan to leave and you might deal with him on anything you have left. That gives you the chance of getting your price and gives him the option of getting them for his low ball figure at the end of the day.
     
  25. jazzfidelity
    Joined: Sep 19, 2011
    Posts: 370

    jazzfidelity
    Member

    yeah it happens... legal but it sucks.. the price of being nice to vultures and ya gotta expect it sometimes, man..
     
  26. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 22,455

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    darn lowballers and all thier cash, they should be banned from swap meets.

    the only resale lowballer I have a complaint about is the guy who bought a bunch of loose tools and asked to borrow my bucket to haul them all to his spot...sucker didn't return my bucket!
     
  27. MistShift
    Joined: Oct 27, 2011
    Posts: 136

    MistShift
    Member

    Let me get this straight, 5 or 6 assholes trying to screw other assholes? S'why I don't go to many big meets. :)

    Clarification... met lots of great guys selling and buying, and most vendors are excellent. Just had a few bored assholes give my sons a hard time when they were looking (not touching) their stuff. I always taught my boys that rule. Had a chat with one guy who told my sons (8 and 9 at the time) to f##k off... I offered him a lesson in manners behind his trailer... no taker. No reason to speak to boys that way.
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2011
  28. trimph1
    Joined: Dec 5, 2011
    Posts: 247

    trimph1
    Member

    I don't know..I had a few yardsales that had lowballers come around at 4am...they met a grump...me.:eek::mad:
     
  29. RDAH
    Joined: Mar 23, 2007
    Posts: 465

    RDAH
    Member
    from NL, WI

    Had my old 54 f100 truck front axel w/brake drums all sand blasted & primed for 40 bucks. Guy offers me 30, hey I don't need the thing. After he pays he says he's going to put in his 62 Galaxie with a 500 & something aluminum 460 w/TCI C6. Thought that's got to be 20 grand & he just saved himself 10 bucks. What a guy.
     
  30. wombat barf
    Joined: May 1, 2011
    Posts: 366

    wombat barf
    Member
    from oklahoma

    +1. if it was a price you could live with and he met it then ya gotta live with it. it was a b*tch move on his part but manners and tact are fast going the way of Muntz 4-tracks and leaded gas.
     

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