Price negotiation. . .just curious on your approach.

[22hipower]

Yesterday I was at an LGS with a friend. He asked to look at a used rifle, studied it carefully, it was priced at $1650 as I remember. He asked the clerk if they would take $1500 out the door for it. The clerk took the rifle back to the owner/manager/whatever and after awhile came back and said "yes, we can do that." My friend said, "ok, thanks, I'll think about it."

No big deal, but when an item is clearly priced, and I make a counter offer, and that is accepted by the seller, I feel an obligation to buy the item. Not a big deal but just seems to me if I'm going to propose a price, different from that listed, and it is accepted I should buy it. Am I out in left field on this?

Thanks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[CATI1835]

I would have only made to offer if I was serious about purchasing it. Were I the owner, if your friend came back and decided to take it for $1500, I might not accept his "offer".

 

[JohnRippert]

I'm with you. If I say "Will you take.....", I consider that to be a offer. If that offer is accepted, I buy. It is a verbal contract, so to speak. I was raised so that my word means something to me.

Once I was at a show and made a offer to a regular dealer that I see all the time. He accepted and as I was about to pay him someone came up and said he would pay the original asking price. The dealer blew me off and sold to the other guy. I walked and never have looked at any of his wares since. If your word is no good then I do not do business with you.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...I ask..."how firm are you on the price?"...if they are really interested in selling...they might go lower than you think...if not you can still negotiate from there...

 

[PatriotX]

The offer implies an immediate deal upon acceptance.

I may have countered with a few select phrases in the same situation.

 

[Alpo]

That's an "at this instant in time" price. Not good twenty minutes from now. Certainly not good tomorrow.

Some years ago I misfigured the code on the back of the tag, and agreed to a price a hundred dollars LESS than the shop paid for it.

He said he had to think about it, and left, and as I was putting it back on the rack, and cussing him under my breath, I re-read the tag and realized my error.

When he came back, two days later, and wanted it for THAT price, I told him that price was no longer valid, and the new price was 300 higher.

 

[reddog81]

I routinely ask if a shop or owner if will go lower in price, but always with the intention of buying. If they counter with something higher there is no obligation to buy but if they accept your price I would conclude a deal has been reached. I'd be pissed if someone did that to me.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Let's assume everyone is acting in good faith.

A deal requires a firm offer and an acceptance of the offer while the offer is still open.
The classic case is where the seller says: "I offer to sell you this gun for $1,000," and the buyer answers: "I accept your offer."
Everyone looking at this would understand that a deal had been reached for $1,000.

The flip side is where the buyer says: "I offer to buy your gun for $1,000 ," and the seller says "I accept your offer."
Again, it is clear that a deal was struck for $1,000.

On the other hand, When a gun is listed for sale at $1,000 and the buyer says: "Will you sell it for $900," that does not mean that the buyer has made a firm offer to buy. It merely means that the buyer wants to know if the seller is willing to sell at the lower price. There are many legitimate and honorable reasons why the buyer may not be making a firm offer and is merely trying to get information.

The full conversation that would create a deal would go something like this:

1) Seller: "I will sell this gun for $1,000" (this is an offer to sell for $1,000)
2) Buyer: "Will you sell it for $900?" (this is an invitation to make a new offer at the lower price)
3) Seller: "Yes" (this is a new offer to sell at the lower price)
4) Buyer: "We have a deal" (this is the acceptance of the new offer at the lower price)

NOTE: If everyone knows that saying something like "Will you lower your price to $900" is in fact a firm offer to buy at the lower price, it would be a deal if the seller accepted. But in general, an inquiry by a buyer about whether a seller is willing to sell at a lower price is not a firm offer to buy at that lower price.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Let's assume everyone is acting in good faith.

A deal requires a firm offer and an acceptance.
The classic case is where the seller says: "I offer to sell you this gun for $1,000," and the buyer answers: "I accept your offer." Everyone looking at this would understand that a deal had been reached for $1,000.

The flip side is where the buyer says: "I offer to buy your gun for $1,000 ," and the seller says "I accept your offer." Again, it is clear that a deal was struck for $1,000.

On the other hand, When a gun is listed for sale for $1,000 and the buyer says: "Will you sell that for $900," that does not mean that the buyer has made a firm offer to buy. It merely means that the buyer wants to know if the seller is willing to sell for that price. There are many reasons that the buyer may not be making a firm offer and is merely trying to get information.

The full conversation that would create a deal would go something like this:

Seller: "I will sell this gun for $1,000" (this is an offer to sell for $1,000)
Buyer: "Will you sell it for $900?" (this is an invitation to lower the offer)
Seller: "Yes" (this is a new offer)
Buyer: "We have a deal" (this is the acceptance of the new offer)

I disagree. Having worked in a few gun shops, I would remember such a person that negotiated a discount only to walk away without buying. He would pay full price from then on or not at all. The owners of the gun shop feel the same way.

There is absolutely no reason to ask for a discount if you don't intend to buy. Looking for information? Search the internet instead.

 

[mcmaniac]

I think that the better question, and one the seller should have asked, was "Would you buy it today if I could sell it for your offered price?"
That clarifies it for both parties.
If the prospective buyer does not intend to purchase now, then he's not really making an offer, he's just asking. He might have said it like he was serious, I guess you had to witness it to know the tone of the conversation.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I disagree. Having worked in a few gun shops, I would remember such a person that negotiated a discount only to walk away without buying. He would pay full price from then on or not at all. The owners of the gun shop feel the same way.

There is absolutely no reason to ask for a discount if you don't intend to buy. Looking for information? Search the internet instead.

That is what I meant by course of dealing. If it is known that asking for a discount is in fact making an offer to purchase at the inquired about price, it is an offer. However, just because you ask someone if he would be willing to sell at the lower price is not a firm offer to buy at the price. When he buyer says, "would you sell it at $900," the savvy seller should answer: "is that an offer?"

 

[Kanewpadle]

That is what I meant by course of dealing. If it is known that asking for a discount is in fact making an offer to purchase at the inquired about price, it is an offer. However, just because you ask someone if he would be willing to sell at the lower price is not a firm offer to buy at the price. When he buyer says, "would you sell it at $900," the savvy seller should answer: "is that an offer?"

That's my point. If you take the time to ask for a discount, that in fact IS an offer to buy. Otherwise it's waste of time for both parties.

You should hear the conversations that happen on the other side of the counter.

 

[Arik]

This is easy. My LGS does not negotiate. Never have. They have good prices but they DO NOT haggle.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[CajunBass]

I usually just pay 10% more than the asking price.

Saves time.

 

[sixtwoniner]

I buy most, well all of my guns private party, but that's how I am. When I do a deal I always ask for $ off the asking price the seller can always tell me to take a hike. The condition of the piece and the amount of time it has been for sale usually dictate how much off. I almost always drop at least $25. If the seller comes back with a yes, I buy it right then. If I get a no, depending on how much I like the offered deal I'll buy it anyway. If I don't have the cash in my pocket I don't ask. I believe a cash offer implies a sale. But that's just me and I'm old.

What ever you deal for remember: Shoot Shoot Shoot than Shoot some more. We must all be proficient.

 

[Andyd]

"He asked the clerk if they would take $1500 out the door for it."

I consider that an agreement to buy the item at the negotiated price, a verbal contract. I consider it very poor form to negotiate for better prices and then back out when the terms are agreed upon.

 

[petepeterson]

This is easy. My LGS does not negotiate. Never have. They have good prices but they DO NOT haggle.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Arik,

I have a local shop like that. When you ask if the price is firm, or there's any room in it, they say "all our guns are priced to sell."

There's a perverse pleasure in watching a gun sit for a few months after hearing that comment. Then again, it's their money, not mine.

 

[American1776]

If the customer asks, 'would you take x for it'? It's implicit that 'you'll buy it for x'. After getting an answer 'yes' from the seller, and then saying I'll think about it, is what's called playing games.

Now, I have been in circumstances where I'm looking at a pistol at my LGS, and the sales guy said, 'I can give it to you for x'. I'm not obligated to take that offer, since it was an offer from him, not an offer from me to buy it for x.

just my own thoughts on business transactions.

 

[Arik]

Arik,

I have a local shop like that. When you ask if the price is firm, or there's any room in it, they say "all our guns are priced to sell."

There's a perverse pleasure in watching a gun sit for a few months after hearing that comment. Then again, it's their money, not mine.

I don't mind. It's their policy and they are not exactly overpriced to begin with. I don't bargain in other stores so I don't see the difference. I either like the price and buy or don't like the price and don't buy. I pass on a lot of things there only because I can't afford it all. They aren't the only ones either

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[arjay]

Yesterday I was at an LGS with a friend. He asked to look at a used rifle, studied it carefully, it was priced at $1650 as I remember. He asked the clerk if they would take $1500 out the door for it. The clerk took the rifle back to the owner/manager/whatever and after awhile came back and said "yes, we can do that." My friend said, "ok, thanks, I'll think about it."



No big deal, but when an item is clearly priced, and I make a counter offer, and that is accepted by the seller, I feel an obligation to buy the item. Not a big deal but just seems to me if I'm going to propose a price, different from that listed, and it is accepted I should buy it. Am I out in left field on this?



Thanks.



Jeff

SWCA #1457

He's a tire kicker.As a seller I would see him as a guy who is wasting my time.