Storage Auctions

I think I lost a sale...

I think I lost a sale...
« on: April 08, 2013, 08:30:50 PM »
I been trying to off load this refrigerator for a couple of weeks now.  It's a appartment size 2 foot deep, 2 foot wide and maybe 5 feet tall.  Works great, and looks good except for a ding on the door.  I had it on CL for $75 and received a few calls on it, but no buyers.  I even went down to $50.  I do have a problem with giving stuff away, but still no buyers.  I noticed in the area that I'm in if you lower the price it must be junk.  Well, I relisted it and raised the price to $135.00 and later that day a guy calls asking about it.  Yep, I'm asking 135, works good.  Then he had the nerve to ask if this is the same one I was selling for 75 last week.  Yep it is, just figured I would relist it and bump up the price so I can go lower.  Then he asked about the $75 price, yep I'll take that also.  Then he again, had the nerve to ask it I would go lower or if my $75 price was firm.  Yes sir my bottem price is $75, it's a nice refrigator, I alreadly came down from $135 and I can't go any lower.   He never called back....

Offline MovieMan

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Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2013, 08:59:08 PM »
I think I lost a sale...

Ya, think !   

You were willing to sell it for $50 at one point, but then you didn't when you had a buyer on the line.

We've all done something like that; once you've done it you're less likely to do it again.


Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2013, 09:27:12 PM »
I think that I'm learning.  Note to self: Don't negotiate over price after working all night and your dead tired..  LoL

Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2013, 09:57:52 PM »
Yesterday at the flea market I had a plastic dish rack on my table that I was asking a dollar for. Someone tried haggling with me over a dollar. I just let her have it. I said, "If the dollar is that important to you, you can just have it." She then turned around to her friend and said, "I told you I'd get it cheap, girl!" ..sometimes I hate people..

Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2013, 12:28:50 AM »
Wow, now that is cheap. 
Going to make an attempt to sell at the flea market  this Saturday.  I told the wife that if she lets me go to a string of auctions this Wednesday I would sell some stuff Saturday. The surprise was that she agreed.  I think my biggest problem with her is that she claims all dolls, Jewelry and antique furniture. Such a little... Costly.. Price to pay.
 

Offline Cobia

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Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2013, 09:10:07 AM »
Yesterday at the flea market I had a plastic dish rack on my table that I was asking a dollar for. Someone tried haggling with me over a dollar. I just let her have it. I said, "If the dollar is that important to you, you can just have it." She then turned around to her friend and said, "I told you I'd get it cheap, girl!" ..sometimes I hate people..

I my have mentioned this before but since there are new posters I will say it again. I know a couple of regular storage auction buyers who have similar strategies for dealing with extreme lowballers like the one you mentioned.

One seller, when they have something for sale at the flea market for $1 and the customer tries to hard haggle for .25 cents or .50 cents; they pretend to agree to the sale then they take the item, walk around the table and "accidently" drop it on the ground breaking it.

Another seller is much more direct. When they have something for sale at the flea market for $1 and the customer tries to hard haggle for .25 cents or .50 cents; they just take a hammer and smash it in front of them or pick it up and slam it on the ground with the explanation "If it's not worth a dollar, it don't need to be on my table!"

Apparently he made some lady cry one time cause he had a porcelain doll, retail value of about $40, he was trying to get $10 for it and this lady was hard haggling him trying to get it for $1-$2. He said screw it, grabbed the hammer, smashed it's face, and said "You can have it for free now!"  :D

Not something you want to make a habit of, but God that's some funny sh$t and I have definitely considered it myself!

Offline MovieMan

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Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2013, 09:42:58 AM »
Yesterday at the flea market I had a plastic dish rack on my table that I was asking a dollar for. Someone tried haggling with me over a dollar.


Cobia's examples are very good, but if you want something a little less extreme (and not as satisfying as the doll smash) I have several times just taken the $1 item in question and made a show of throwing it in a large industrial trash bag I keep under my "prep" table which is in sight of the haggling buyer. Again, "If it's not worth a dollar I'll just throw it away."

One guy said, "If you're just throwing it away I'll take it for free."  My response, "No, you won't"

Then after the poor saps walk off it's an easy matter to retreive it, put it back on the table at $2 and then take the $1 offer from the next clown.  ;D

Offline alloro

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Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2013, 12:42:38 PM »
Well, I relisted it and raised the price to $135.00 and later that day a guy calls asking about it.  Yep, I'm asking 135, works good.  Then he had the nerve to ask if this is the same one I was selling for 75 last week. 

FYI, when relisting an item and increasing the price like you did, always use different pictures. People will remember the pictures because they're visual and easier to remember.

Offline Alias300

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Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2013, 04:01:47 PM »
FYI, when relisting an item and increasing the price like you did, always use different pictures. People will remember the pictures because they're visual and easier to remember.

Yeah, I've learned that one.   Different angles, different background.....

I've done that with relisting.  If no one bites in first 48 hours and its something I just want to move; I'll relist with totall different pictures/background and description and mark the other "SOLD" but not pull the ad.    People must think the other sold fast, this ones a bit cheaper.....better jump on it!   

Haven't done it but 2-3 times when I really want something gone.  Probably against he rules but I haven't been flagged so.......

Offline alloro

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Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2013, 07:44:11 PM »
If no one bites in first 48 hours and its something I just want to move; I'll relist with totally different pictures/background and description and mark the other "SOLD" but not pull the add. People must think the other sold fast, this ones a bit cheaper.....better jump on it!

I think you should change your username to "Slick"

Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2013, 11:26:28 AM »
That is a good idea, I will try it....

Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2013, 11:32:57 AM »
My neighbor was telling me a story that fits this thread.. and this business very well.. Particularly one line that he used..

"I'd rather make fast nickels than slow dollars."

 
The moral...
If someone makes you a reasonable offer, take it! There's nothing worse than sitting on stale inventory..


He's in real estate. A top producer with his company.

Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2013, 07:57:26 AM »
good point

Re: I think I lost a sale...
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2013, 09:59:54 AM »
Another angle  to look at it from is that every hour you spend selling an item you have to "pay" yourself for.  So if it takes an extra 5 hours of work (relisting/answering calls/having someone else come over) to sell it for $50 more you're only making $10 an hour.

I don't know a lot of people that like working for $10 an hour.


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