Anatomy of a Negotiation

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 04/05/2020 at 13:28 • Filed to: None

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He originally listed this car, a 2016 Focus ST with 52k miles for $15,500, too high in my opinion. He later dropped it to $14000, so we contacted him. We saw it yesterday, and he texted me last night offering it at $13,500. He is bargaining against himself - a bad mistake. I have yet to make an offer.  I'm thinking about $12,500 to try to get it at $13,000.  That seems like a very good deal for this car.  He bought it a year ago as a certified used vehicle from a local dealer (CarFax confirmed thanks to ITA97).  What do you think, hive mind?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 13:33

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I’m always wary of some one too eager to sell a car. Could be theyre just in a financial pinch.  But it could also be that the car put them there.

gettingoldercarguy > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/05/2020 at 13:37

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Possible, some people are really bad at negotiating and never learn it. I’m bad at it, so I typically retain somebody  to do it for me.

Nibby > gettingoldercarguy 04/05/2020 at 13:40

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hi you pay me to take your car off your hands and pay shipping, sounds good?

RPM esq. > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/05/2020 at 13:40

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I think it’s very plausible that someone trying to sell a car right now, of all times, would be eager to get the deal done out of fear no one else is shopping.

gettingoldercarguy > Nibby 04/05/2020 at 13:42

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Bad, but not dumb.

So sure!

Under_Score > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 13:42

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I think $13,500 is a win for everyone. CarFax estimates the trade-in at $13,23 0, so you get a good deal and he gets more than a dealer would offer.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 13:49

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I think even 13,500 is a great deal. He might feel a bit boned if offered 12,500.

Forrest > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 13:57

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I would offer him 11.5k or 12k. I would tell him I’m in no hurry, and I would rather just stay home during the rest of the quarantine for my safety . But, if you can meet my price, I will come pick it up.

Nibby > gettingoldercarguy 04/05/2020 at 13:58

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woo i’m getting a new car

Chariotoflove > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 14:18

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I think first order of business is to decide for certain that you want this car at a price you are willing to pay. You don’t want to waste your time or his. Second is that you negotiate for the best price you can get and let him take care of himself. He’s a big boy. But if your conscience is bothering you about taking advantage of him, I think offering $13k firm is a good compromise. 

whatisthatsound > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/05/2020 at 14:29

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some people are really bad at negotiating. I have done the exact thing the seller did with a shifter kart. It takes practice to be what some would call a shrewd negotiator.

DipodomysDeserti > Forrest 04/05/2020 at 14:36

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Forrest, everyone’s favorite Craigslister. Who then asks you if you’ll take payments, otherwise it’ll take him a few weeks to get the funds.

Forrest > DipodomysDeserti 04/05/2020 at 14:47

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Hahaha...

No, I don’t play those games. But I do play tough on price. And I don’t show urgency. I always pay right away once we agree to a price.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 14:47

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2015+ is worth it. The pre-2015 FoST has a very harsh suspension setup and crashes over every imperfection. I still haven’t modded my 2017 and I love mine with the softer, updated suspension.

As for why the cheapness - the 2017/2018 model years had massive discounts piled on so brand new FoSTs were leaving dealership lots for well under 20k. So if a new one was 20k, used ones fell down even harder. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 14:55

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I think it’s okay to accept the offer as is, even $13,000 seems like a done deal . The fact that he texted you back isn’t a sign of weakness, per se. He’s just trying to actually do things that will help encourage ANY sales opportunity. There aren’t a lot of low-ish miles FoST’s that aren’t beat to hell left.

You could offer 12.5 if you want, but consider whether it's worth walking about for that amount of money. Only you can answer that question 

DipodomysDeserti > Forrest 04/05/2020 at 15:09

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Problem is people that far off on price usually are. Anytime I’ve gotten offers too far off or asking wuestion already answered in the ad I immediately block the number and don’t respond.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 15:26

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Go for it, 12.5 isnt low balling so its a respectful offer. 13 seems fair for both parties but at worst 13.5 seems fine.

Also, is this a cop driving around with no front plate?

MUSASHI66 > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 15:35

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Go to carvana and type the info for the car and see what they would offer. Pay him a bit over that. 

Cash Rewards > gettingoldercarguy 04/05/2020 at 15:43

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It might not even be bad negotiator, just someone who has a good idea of what their time is worth. It might take them a week or two (or three) to get a better deal. Might not be worth the effort to them. Maybe their schedule doesn't allow for tire kickers and low ballers, and they're willing to take less to just get it done. 

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ImmoralMinority 04/05/2020 at 15:45

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I say take advantage of the sellers desperation and offer $12K.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 04/05/2020 at 15:48

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If he’s willing to take $12.5, then he’s willing to take $12k, no?

Heh heh heh 

RPM esq. > Forrest 04/05/2020 at 16:25

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Yeah, but that lack of urgency goes both ways. On the seller side I don’t even respond to lowball offers. As DD rightly points out, 9/10 lowballers have another round of bullshit to follow the first, so it’s not remotely worth my time to try to  talk some sense into them in hopes they’ll be the 1/10 who is merely a time-wasting prick and not broke or a scammer on top of it. Much easier to wait for someone who does show some interest in actually getting the deal done.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 04/05/2020 at 17:41

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$4k cash today! 

Forrest > RPM esq. 04/05/2020 at 17:50

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I guess I am in the minority on this one. Sorry if I have offended you.

RPM esq. > Forrest 04/05/2020 at 17:53

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I’m not at all offended, just pointing out how that strategy is often perceived from the seller side and thus how it sometimes fails . If it works for you, go for it!