yup, and I dont blame you saying your ideal price skunk. But always make sure you are saying to somebody that "this is my ideal price $____ ". That approach is way better than saying "I'll give you $20 for the user SS4."

But really I think low ball bids are best given with an apology and an explaination. There's even a better chance it will taken seriously if you can give a honest (or at least believable) argument for your low ball offer. And I don't mean blaming the seller for your unwillingness to meet the asking price. Saying stuff like "It's a user.." or "Your price is high..." is probably going to make a guy dig in. Saying "I don't know if I want to or can justify paying that much for a used knife.." or "I want it but please consider adjusting your price... (examples of prices next)." are much easier to digest. Of course they can say always say "no" but you probably just evened out the level of frustration which betters the odds for a decent savings to come back to you.

One guy buys a stick from the store and uses it to hit something. Lists it on eBay for $20 less than what he bought it for cause that's a good deal. Guy buys it and hits something with it then does the same. Again and again about 10x's. Well there's a guy with the same type of stick bought from the same store for the same price who hit something with his 10 times and lists it for $35 below what he bought it for because that's a good deal. Well ole Skunk says I want your stick but there's another for less that has only been used 11 times. So what's the price for a used stick? The other stick may be in the same condition but 9 other guys sold there's for less because they all bought it for less than it sells for. Doesn't mean it's worth less but in many people's minds the stick is only "worth" the average of what the other 10 guys sold there for. And there's a handful of people who only (only!) see the prices. And to the large picture, what does that mean to store selling the products and the maufactor making the products when your products values drop so fast by so much?

hmmm... just checked my rant meter. just shy of full blown rant now.

was typing before you asked but hope there's some help in my post...

Lol that post was helpful, guess I'll have to go out and just go for it and see what happens

And for the record... I'm always happy to see the high markup for Busse company knives. For completely selfish reasons I want some prices to come down on certain knives. But I'm glad that Busse is still in high enough demand that new people will still realize they should have been buying quality and getting quality service. Maybe we as a society will slowly star to expect more from the companies we deal with. Right now I know we are getting getting ripped off and trained to accept it.

Please dail #2 if you want me to continue
Please dail #3 if you see where I'm coming from
Please dail #4 if you are okay with dialing number to get help and we will direct you to the next number system and then the next one because it doesnt cost us anything but the price of a computer to let you spend the next 30 minutes pushing buttons on your phone but we might has to pay somebody if you had dial #0 the second your realized it was a machince that picked up the phone... gasp!

lazi, I didn't think you were ranting at all. You hit the nail on the head, 10 guys selling, 9 asking less. Average out the cost between the 10 and offer a bid or price you are willing to pay. NOTHING wrong with haggling, as long is the first "Haggle" is in the ball park. And like you said, it can't hurt explaining why you offered less. Maybe the guy has been there and will offer you a discount.

Oh well this could get beat to death. All we can try to do is get what we want for what we are willing to pay or take without offending the seller or buyer.

I HATE THOSE STUPID RECORDINGS!

911 what's your emergency? Please hold for the next available operator. Your average wait time will be 10 minutes on account of all these brainless idiots who clog up the EMERGENCY lines because the neighbors dog is barking! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

#2 lol, Im trying to learn as much as I can. Like I was asking, with the way some buyers mark up the discontinued models, where do you start?

Unless thats a redundant question... then just tell me so <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sure I'll wait... Hey Mr. Murderer! They just put me on hold! There's some juice in the fridge

just follow all the "leads" you get when you are searching for what you want. And it may be a long search. I have searched literally hours for something before I found "the right" price. AND look at the prices others are offering it up for. That will give you a good idea of the "average" asking price. Then if you want offer a few dollars below the asking price, but not insultingly low.

Like me, IF some the average price for something was say 100.00 I might ask them if they would take 90. To me that would not be an insulting price offer UNLESS that would make it less than they paid for it, IF they listed what they paid.

Hope I have helped and not confused you.

I have even had folks call 911 to report a street light burned out.