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I agree with freeform5spot, if you don't like a price then haggle. I would always start a little higher as I'm not out to be robbed but I'll always entertain offers and will happily reduce a price if I was wrong with my estimate. It's all part of the process.
I have very little idea of the value of stuff so when I tend to check on CRC and go for half of that. Sometimes I will haggle, sometimes I won't.
Buying - I tend to just pay the price without haggling unless it appears really high on an expensive item - I can't be bothered arguing over a fiver.
What I meant by in the OP was that prices were high & so there was a lot less activity, most stuff seems to hang around for ages now
Not so long ago, you'd see numerous posts with 10+ replies - not now
Many posts don't even get a single reply
Stuff like used tyres for £25 each is laughable
Personally, if the asking price is high I'd just ignore it rather than bother haggling
have people forgotten how to haggle??
Dont go there! It then comes under 'don't low-ball me'
To the guy trying to sell the Brompton:You say you are 'just trying to recoup your costs'.. Yet personally - I accept that - whenever I buy something and then try to sell it on again afterwards (even if I haven't used it), I will always lose some money on it. It's just the way things work...
You just have to take these things on the chin, surely?
Sure, if I discover I have paid over the odds then yes I'll take the loss but I don't think trying to recoup my outlay first off is some sort of outrageous crime. It was 2nd-hand when I bought it and I don't think it would have depreciated any more in the time I've owned it. The bike is in better condition than when I bought it, I've spent time (admittedly I enjoy the tinkering) and money on it and having given it a service it runs much better as a result.
Like everyone on here I'm aware that I will probably lose money but I'd rather not lose much and as I've done before when both buying and selling on STW over the past 5 years I'm prepared to haggle.
In response to uplink's OP I agree stuff doesn't move as quick as it used to but I also think that there is less activity in the classifieds due to people being a lot more careful with their money, you only have to read the tales of redundancy in the chat forum to know that there are a whole lot of people on here with more to worry about than their next piece of bike bling.
Yeah.. fair enough I suppose. It's actually quite a nice looking bike! Hell, I dunno what it's even worth... and a Brompton is on my list of one-of-the-bikes-I-really-must-own-before-I-die. Not sure why though (I think it's just cos they're beautiful-practical looking things)
I realise now that you are only really admiting your honesty in your intent in the wording of the advert. But as a potential buyer of such a bike - saying in the advert that you are only trying to recoup costs - suggests to me that (1) it's possibly over-priced and (2) that you are most likely to be unwilling to negotiate. This may/may not be the case, but it's just how it 'reads'.
Good luck with your bike sale anyway.. 🙂
In response to uplink's OP I agree stuff doesn't move as quick as it used to but I also think that there is less activity in the classifieds due to people being a lot more careful with their money, you only have to read the tales of redundancy in the chat forum to know that there are a whole lot of people on here with more to worry about than their next piece of bike bling.
I understand what you're saying & eluded to the fact in the OP that people are a bit careful with their money right now
But doesn't that reinforce the theory that things are over-priced?
Simplistically - if something isn't selling, the price [b]must[/b] be too high ??
Simplistically - if something isn't selling, the price must be too high ??
That's a very simplistic way of looking at things, and imo only really applies to commodities,.
I ofthen look at things and think 'I have better things to do with my money' or 'I have nowhere to put it' or 'the kids will ruin it' - none of these have anything to do with the value or sale price of those things.
RaglanSurf understand where you are coming from but surely one could spent £150 more, get a warranty (probably a free service after a period) and stick your own lights on? then you have a brand new bike and not a 4-5yr old bike. Ive seen many well cared for mountain bikes- they mean alot to their owners but sometimes wouldnt be worth what their owners feel in the market place. I have to agree with the 50% rule but I (personally) have my own value that I want for something as well (like you) so I am torn. 🙂