Penalized Selling Stuff 'Cheap' or Priced to Move?

[1970PAKombi]

I want to be clear that this isn't a rant or anything, it's a legitimate question. Please don't come into this thread and start bashing people directly. But I wanted to ask the question of whether some of you actually feel penalized for selling stuff to move?

Again, not directed at anyone specifically - but recently I've been trying to unload stuff from picks to off-set gas, trailer rental, etc. It's typically priced at 50-60% of similar items because I don't want to store it and I want to recover my investment.

But man, the offers that come through the door and/or the crazy trades make me almost want to increase the price it higher to avoid the Looney Tunes!

Unique trades include: animals, stolen tools, payment plan (for a $500 item), etc.

[Glenn]

[vwracerdave]

The real issue is you are too scared to let it go. Hoarding is a mental illness.

If your selling stuff and the buyer makes a ridicules offer simply say No Thanks and move on.
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[1970PAKombi]

[vwinnovator]

I get stupid offers from people all the time no matter what the price.

"can you sell me one seat back from your matched set of seats"

"I just want to buy the steering column out of your turnkey car"

Parts I don't really care for I tend to ask a price of fair value.

Basically..If you had to make/build from scratch could you build it for what I'm asking??

Like a $50 fender, or a $25 steering wheel...Can you make it for that???

If the offers are stupid just tell them "I'm sure someone else has what your looking for for that kind of deal, but not me..good luck"

[slayer61]

Maybe I look at it differently. If I'm not using something, it goes cheap. Be gone.
Last year I think I sold a BJ beam minus spindles & leaves for $10 or some such thing.
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[EverettB]

[Glenn]

Yesterday i listed an accessory and it sold in 30 minutes. Was going g to as $100 but figured that it would go faster @ $75... and it did.

And I'm ok with that.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[Abscate]

If you don’t like interacting with people don’t sell stuff. I usually find someone who needs a cool thing I find and give it away rather than clutter life with emails/trades/skateboards and it pays forward

I think I sold a Bus Beam here, that was it. I delivered it
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[modok]

I know what your saying.
Having the lowest price is good idea, but going TOO low invites trouble.
If it won't sell then lowering the price past reason does not always help, you best try another time or try somewhere else or just give it away.
I do NOT believe in throwing stuff away if you can't get a "fair price", but I can see how some would come to believe that.
It may depend a lot on what you are selling too.
Very different kinds of markets with very "different" people

[typ914]

The few times I have listed things I have looked at similar ads and priced mine lower. Sometimes a lot sometimes a little. I have a few people complain or ask stupid questions. In Which case I link them to an ad of the same thing but a much higher price and just tell them to buy that one.

[Dusty1]

It used to be retailers sold retail and everyone else bought from them.

Many retailers relied on a conventional supply chain. The had to pre- internet. It was difficult to catalog parts in a situation where each part came from an amateur vendor.

The internet changed everything. Yeah, it's been around for decades. Amateur retailers are still learning.

Amateur retailers tend to believe if they list something on The Magic Internet a buyer will show up almost instantly and pay retail. The same belief exists in actual reality. Sellers believe buyers will show up if they have a garage sale on a dead end road a hundred miles from nowhere.

Same sellers will produce a screen shot from eBay, Amazon or a similar site exhibiting an inflated asking price. They'll stick to their "retail" price although their situation is far from retail.

Same sellers charge for listing fees, PayPal fees... that's all part of doing business. Roll it into the price instead of sticking it to me after the sale.

Shipping has become ridiculously expensive. We're going to have to come up with creative shipping solutions if we're going to rely on e- business. For example rather than relying on FedEx or UPS, what if there was a truck with a 53' box that went coast to coast a couple times a year? Then my cores could find their way to West Coast rebuilders. Rebuilt parts would boomerang back. We would rely less on an offshore supply chain.

Every time a VW gets shipped coast to coast parts could ride with it.


Lowballers:

IMO lowballers should feed on the bottom with the carp, the crabs and the shellfish. Never mind that I like a bargain as much as anyone. I have a fairly strict protocol, however.

I believe it's rude to offer less than 2/3 of asking price and it's certainly rude to attempt to buy pristine parts off someone's running vehicle. Mind you I'm still steaming at bus people who used to steal parts off my buses when I wasn't around. First someone stole all the VW logos. Another day someone stole all the wipers. Hey, I'll hook you up with wipers if you need them. There is no need to steal all the wipers off all my buses.

It's certainly rude to sell broken or defective parts as pristine or NOS. I can link to Samba ads presenting useless parts as usable and worse, charging as if they're usable. Believe me, I have a Third World attitude towards junk. If I can't rebuild it no one can.

If a part or vehicle is overpriced don't expect to hear from me. I don't like to play games and I especially don't enjoy that game.

Of course rules are made to be broken. If your price is way high I may offer a little less than my usual protocol. Bear in mind I've been at this for longer than many if not most. I operate within a reasonable price range. I'm pretty good at arbitrage.

I find that overpriced parts or vehicles are a continuing education in dealing with difficult people.


Anyone who says, "Don't waste my time!"

Can be sure I won't.



Focusing on lowballers:

The proliferation of amateur retailers makes for a proliferation of lowballers. Lowballers like to buy rare parts for chump change and then flip them for retail. Hassle is it's work. Rather than patiently waiting for the right deal or following protocol lowballers prefer to push.

It's like any other relationship. You can politely wait for the right partner and woo them with charm and wit or you can rudely proposition potential partners and succeed once in a while due to the Law of Averages.



Would be vendors:

Patience is a virtue! At this time of year it's a good idea to wait for the summer swap meets if you want to sell parts. Sweat equity and skin in the game pays dividends.

I've always promoted camaraderie at swap meets. I may help you unload if I get there early enough. I try to provide entertainment during the day. I'll help you load out if you'll let me. I figure I had a good day if I'm the last one to load up and leave.

So, OP:

Hang on to those parts for now and swap meet 'em later. Transform what can be an annoying process into a fun vacation.

.
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[Abscate]

I always offer a payment plan

1 you make payment

2 I plan on how I’ll spend your cash

You are welcome
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.ssS!

[cdennisg]

[Manfred58sc]

Nobody goes to cheap doctor. We value what we pay for. Buying and selling is a fairly sophisticated endeavor, not for everyone ( don't like doing it? go get a job and have someone else tell you what to do ).
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Fat chick owner/operator

[1970PAKombi]

[Glenn]

[Joe 20]

AHH you make a funny....a cheap doctor
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[Abscate]

[Stripped66]