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This reminded me of awful Craigslist buyers that always seem to be short 20 bucks when they arrive. A slightly different situation since CL scumbags are usually

This reminded me of awful Craigslist buyers that always seem to be short 20 bucks when they arrive. A slightly different situation since CL scumbags are usually looking for a spontaneous discount of > 10% vs. 1%, but funny nonetheless. I'd stay firm just out of principle, but you don't always have that luxury as a seller.

Joakal 15y ago
This is a bit humorous, when I was young and didn't have a card, I was using cash to buy a present for someone that cost $19.95. I came up 5c short. It was some store policy not to give discounts even after I emptied my wallet, pockets, etc to prove I wasn't joking. After 20(?) minutes, a supervisor came along and pointed to a discount card they had and gave me 50c off. But wow, the humiliation to get that extra 5c. Maybe I should have left since I couldn't afford it. I was stubborn but young though.
sireat 15y ago
Why would you call them scumbags? Granted, the buyers are disingenuous, if they truly have the cash and it would be better to phrase discount request differently, but in what world, CL prices are always fixed? This short 20 bucks technique is a very basic,naive, yet effective negotiating tactic 101, which was taught in all the 70s,80s books on trading (and probably also goes back to Babylon). If your ad specifically said $75firm then then it is their loss for not reading and trying to negotiate. If however you didn't specify a firm price, then in person to person dealings a little haggling is expected. Not fair to call a person a scumbag then. Most of the time you should be the one with the power since the buyers have to come to you and your loss of time is less than theirs, if the deal does not close.
- retroafroman 15y ago
  I'd call them a scumbag if they said on the phone, "yeah, I'll pay $100," then show up with $80 saying they were short. They hope you take the deal to just be done with them. Yes, it's a sometimes effective strategy, but still scummy in my opinion to say one thing and then make another lower offer at the last minute.
  - skunkworks 15y ago
    Bingo -- this is exactly what they do. I consider this a serious angleshoot because we agreed upon a price and this is to me a verbal contract. To have someone fudge the terms of the contract by taking advantage of a 11th hour switch is unethical IMO. I would much rather send them on their way out of spite, and I'll have a grin knowing that they wasted $4.00 of gas to walk away empty handed.

Joakal 15y ago

This is a bit humorous, when I was young and didn't have a card, I was using cash to buy a present for someone that cost $19.95. I came up 5c short. It was some store policy not to give discounts even after I emptied my wallet, pockets, etc to prove I wasn't joking. After 20(?) minutes, a supervisor came along and pointed to a discount card they had and gave me 50c off. But wow, the humiliation to get that extra 5c. Maybe I should have left since I couldn't afford it. I was stubborn but young though.

sireat 15y ago

Why would you call them scumbags? Granted, the buyers are disingenuous, if they truly have the cash and it would be better to phrase discount request differently, but in what world, CL prices are always fixed? This short 20 bucks technique is a very basic,naive, yet effective negotiating tactic 101, which was taught in all the 70s,80s books on trading (and probably also goes back to Babylon). If your ad specifically said $75firm then then it is their loss for not reading and trying to negotiate. If however you didn't specify a firm price, then in person to person dealings a little haggling is expected. Not fair to call a person a scumbag then. Most of the time you should be the one with the power since the buyers have to come to you and your loss of time is less than theirs, if the deal does not close.

retroafroman 15y ago
I'd call them a scumbag if they said on the phone, "yeah, I'll pay $100," then show up with $80 saying they were short. They hope you take the deal to just be done with them. Yes, it's a sometimes effective strategy, but still scummy in my opinion to say one thing and then make another lower offer at the last minute.
- skunkworks 15y ago
  Bingo -- this is exactly what they do. I consider this a serious angleshoot because we agreed upon a price and this is to me a verbal contract. To have someone fudge the terms of the contract by taking advantage of a 11th hour switch is unethical IMO. I would much rather send them on their way out of spite, and I'll have a grin knowing that they wasted $4.00 of gas to walk away empty handed.