Buyer?s Etiquette

[DanH]

Originally Posted by Cannon

It’s especially frustrating when something happens to me that I’d NEVER do to someone else. I’d never make it as a car salesman.

Might be worthwhile to note that salesmen in any industry are on the receiving end of poor buyer etiquette far more often than the occasional seller. And pros avoid generalizations based on race, creed, gender....and occupation.

Originally Posted by bobnoffs

so if the ''what's the least you will take'' is unacceptable do sellers take offense at an offer lower than they would take?

Some do, some don't.

There are very few absolute 100%-of-the-time rules in price negotiation. There are things with low probability of success.

I would offer this advice to all sellers; never be angry about an offer. The buyer just said "I will buy", which is a step in the right direction.

seems like just another version of the same game.

Romance and offering cash are also versions of the same game, but one usually nets a smile while the other usually results in a face slap.

[Ted RV8]

Originally Posted by Cannon

I was shopping for C185?s a few years ago. I had a buddy fly me up to Placerville (2-ish hour flight) to look at one that was promising. It had every one of my must-have STCs, and appeared to be ?the one?.

We had spent several hours looking it over (it was apart for an annual) and speaking with the broker when we went for a quick lunch. On the way out the door, I asked if I needed to be worried about him selling it while I was gone. He laughed and said he wouldn?t do that. When we came back from lunch, the seller had that guilty look a dog has when they?ve eaten a roll of toilet paper and spread it all over the house.

He?d taken a deposit for the airplane while I was at lunch.

Now, I don?t know how long he?d been talking with the other buyer, but the fact that I was told one thing, and another thing happened still pisses me off to this day, and I will never use or recommend their services as a result.

It?s especially frustrating when something happens to me that I?d NEVER do to someone else. I?d never make it as a car salesman.

That?s just wrong! I don?t blame you for being upset.

[TomVal]

I had two buyer's show up at the same time. I previously had given both time slots however buyer 2 showed up a few minutes ahead of buyer 1. Within minutes, buyer 2 said he would take the airplane. Well, buyer 1 also wanted the plane so I honored his #1 position and sold it to him. A very uncomfortable situation.

On another transaction I had two buyers interested, one from Canada and the other stateside. The Canadian buyer was willing to purchase sight unseen as long as the aircraft complied with Canadian airworthiness requirements. The second buyer was also a cash buyer. The Canadian sent me photos of his beautiful dog, meticulous hangar, and sports car. No doubt he would have been a great caretaker of the plane, however, I chose the other buyer. I felt bad about this but it boiled down to making a timely and uncomplicated transaction.

Later this month I will be listing another aircraft for sale...I really hate this process! But maybe this will be the last time I have to do this...maybe???

[Mark Dickens]

Originally Posted by TomVal

Later this month I will be listing another aircraft for sale...I really hate this process! But maybe this will be the last time I have to do this...maybe???

I've sold 5 planes and I'd rather do that than buy a car...heck, I'd rather fly the airlines than buy a car, and that's saying something!

[David Paule]

Quite a while ago, I did some business with someone in the entertainment industry. The details don't matter. What matters is the lesson I learned.

The other party made a very lowball suggestion and saw by my expression that it had been the wrong thing to ask. That party then defused the issue by simply noting that "it never hurts to ask." I thought about it for a few minutes and decided not to walk, as I was thinking I ought to.

We ultimately did come to a deal that was mutually satisfactory, and as a result, some excellent stuff got released.

After that incident, I didn't take offense at things people suggested while a deal might be pending. Didn't mean that I always played it the same way or that we always ended up doing business, just that it was one thing to consider while playing that game.

Dave

[meloosifah]

Originally Posted by rv7boy

And you would not be buying from me.
Regardless of all the pontifications in this thread, the seller sets the rules.

This is true. The seller sets the rules and can sell to anyone, in any fashion they choose. I just try to live my life treating others the way I WANT to be treated not the way I AM often treated. You can either:

1. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;
2. Do unto others as they do unto you; or
3. Do unto others before they do unto you.

I simply choose the first option.

[bobnoffs]

i bought a used atv yesterday. asking $2000. i offered 1700, seller said i'll take 1800. sold. what laid back seller. no offense taken.

[6ato14a]

I?ve never tried this but i will someday until then i think i like the idea. When asked for lowest acceptable offer I say to the buyer ? tell you what, I?ll write my lowest acceptable selling price and you write your highest buying price and we trade pieces of paper and if you are higher than me we split the difference. If you are lower we both walk.?

[TomVal]

I recently received a very low ball offer on my airplane via email. I just replied, "Good luck in your search."

I've been watching other For Sale websites on the -12 for several months. The market does appear to be going soft and beginning to see repeat ads and price revisions. A friend whom owns an import auto service center said he as seen a recent drop-off in business and thinks it may be related to concerns over the economy / political climate. He may be right!

[Ron B.]

Originally Posted by Cannon

I was shopping for C185?s a few years ago. I had a buddy fly me up to Placerville (2-ish hour flight) to look at one that was promising. It had every one of my must-have STCs, and appeared to be ?the one?.

We had spent several hours looking it over (it was apart for an annual) and speaking with the broker when we went for a quick lunch. On the way out the door, I asked if I needed to be worried about him selling it while I was gone. He laughed and said he wouldn?t do that. When we came back from lunch, the seller had that guilty look a dog has when they?ve eaten a roll of toilet paper and spread it all over the house.

He?d taken a deposit for the airplane while I was at lunch.

Now, I don?t know how long he?d been talking with the other buyer, but the fact that I was told one thing, and another thing happened still pisses me off to this day, and I will never use or recommend their services as a result.

It?s especially frustrating when something happens to me that I?d NEVER do to someone else. I?d never make it as a car salesman.

The owner used you for his first potential buyer and told him he had an offer coming after lunch from you.