Acceptable Offers?

money_pit_yj · Mar 25, 2016

Backstory: I am looking for a truck to haul the jeep an rzr and for my church to use to haul a few things. I have a specific truck in mind as far as year make and model. The book value on these trucks generally range from $2500 for a rough truck with high miles to $8000 for an absolute mint condition truck with few miles. The average is probably form $5-$6k. I have found a truck that is exactly what I want, 1 owner, 108K miles, needs some paint and nice interior, but dude is asking $3,000 over clean retail and $4,000 over what I believe is the FMV for the truck. What makes an offer acceptable or non offensive? Is clean retail a "lowball" offer because it is 3/4 of the asking price? Just because I think my widget is worth X amount of dollars doesn't mean it is truly worth X amount of dollars, it is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Am I inconsiderate for trying to buy this truck at a price where I won't lose money on it in the future when I sell it? Am I trying to rob this guy? What says Hardline?

kmcminn · Mar 25, 2016

Personally I had rather the money be in my pocket than some random strangers. You can always go up if need be.

creepycrawly · Mar 25, 2016

Fair market value is the only thing that matters. As you stated, something is only worth what you can get someone to pay for it. Offer what you believe is fair. He will take it or he want. It's not like you are in love with that particular truck and it doesn't sound like you are in a huge time crunch.

money_pit_yj · Mar 25, 2016

kmcminn said:
Personally I had rather the money be in my pocket than some random strangers. You can always go up if need be.

Excuse me sir, there is a poll. I am only interested in your input if you will answer the poll. :dblthumb:

EDIT: My apologies, I had to answer the poll to see the results :rolf:

InDaShop · Mar 25, 2016

base your offer on other comparable trucks for sale in your general area (250mi or so)

TacomaJD · Mar 25, 2016

InDaShop said:
base your offer on other comparable trucks for sale in your general area (250mi or so)

This! Which is none of the poll options lol.

I always scan what seems like 5 million listings and get an idea of what a specific vehicle goes for given the shape, miles, and model. Look at enough listings and you can get an idea who's listing them right and who's trying to be a sky-high asshole.

A lot of things, you can throw the book away on. Like Toyotas. When I was FJ Cruiser shopping, most everybody had them priced anywhere from $2-$4k over book. I guess because they stopped making them in '14. I bought mine on the cheap from the guy that bought it new in '07, he was a doctor, didn't give a **** about getting the most money out of it, he'd just bought a brand new Range Rover loaded out. He had it listed for what it booked and I jewed him $1k on it and he took it. For the exact same vehicle/model/options/shape, others were wanting $2-3k higher for theirs. Key is researching the market on what you are buying, then make a wise decision before investing. I'm confident I could sell my FJ right now and make money on it. That's a good feeling to have.

money_pit_yj · Mar 25, 2016

TacomaJD said:
This! Which is none of the poll options lol.

I always scan what seems like 5 million listings and get an idea of what a specific vehicle goes for given the shape, miles, and model. Look at enough listings and you can get an idea who's listing them right and who's trying to be a sky-high asshole.

A lot of things, you can throw the book away on. Like Toyotas. When I was FJ Cruiser shopping, most everybody had them priced anywhere from $2-$4k over book. I guess because they stopped making them in '14. I bought mine on the cheap from the guy that bought it new in '07, he was a doctor, didn't give a **** about getting the most money out of it, he'd just bought a brand new Range Rover loaded out. He had it listed for what it booked and I jewed him $1k on it and he took it. For the exact same vehicle/model/options/shape, others were wanting $2-3k higher for theirs. Key is researching the market on what you are buying, then make a wise decision before investing. I'm confident I could sell my FJ right now and make money on it. That's a good feeling to have.

I absolutely agree. I was raised on a car lot so I have always kept up with the market on trucks and jeeps. I always figure what I can sell a truck for, then look at book value to see how close I got. IMO the "book value" is just a general idea.

Eddyj · Mar 25, 2016

Something is only worth what someone will pay for it.

poolman · Mar 25, 2016

Eddyj said:
Something is only worth what someone will pay for it.

X2 I agree I've got great deals and I've paid more because I wanted it.

zukimaster · Mar 25, 2016

The older something is, the greater the value will vary, example, most of these "values" comes from a average auction price, let's say a 1998 Chevy 1500 truck probably has almost no value according to the book, most that go thru a car sale are clapped out **** bangers that don't bring much, but you take the same truck that uncle Joe bought new and has kept in the carport since new, and you can name your price, just got to use common sense.

lowbudgetjunk · Mar 25, 2016

I have offered less than half of asking price because that is what I thought it was worth. Guy sold it to me for what I offered, then when it was done, said he would have taken less. If it is someone I know, I usually won't do business with them, but if I do it has to be a mutual agreement between the two of us. I'm not taking one for the team and I don't expect them to either.

kmcminn · Mar 25, 2016

lowbudgetjunk said:
I have offered less than half of asking price because that is what I thought it was worth. Guy sold it to me for what I offered, then when it was done, said he would have taken less. If it is someone I know, I usually won't do business with them, but if I do it has to be a mutual agreement between the two of us. I'm not taking one for the team and I don't expect them to either.

I agree on selling to friends.

TBItoy · Mar 25, 2016

Re: Re: Acceptable Offers?

kmcminn said:
I agree on selling to friends.

X2

I only have one friend I buy sell and trade with.

ranger11 · Mar 25, 2016

Re: Re: Acceptable Offers?

lowbudgetjunk said:
I have offered less than half of asking price because that is what I thought it was worth. Guy sold it to me for what I offered, then when it was done, said he would have taken less. If it is someone I know, I usually won't do business with them, but if I do it has to be a mutual agreement between the two of us. I'm not taking one for the team and I don't expect them to either.

Was that the camper? Lol

lowbudgetjunk · Mar 25, 2016

ranger11 said:
Was that the camper? Lol

Golf Cart. 1500 asking, offered 700, said he would have taken 500, put an hour into it and sold it for $1500.

BTW, the motorhome is worth twice what I paid, even with what I've put into it in tires. Wait til I get done with interior paint, flooring and dinette. Gonna be priceless. :****:

5BrothersFabrication · Mar 26, 2016

I think my offer is based on need in my opinion. If I need a truck to dd, the offer is pretty much book, minus a little haggle southward. If it's parts, like a non-running (by 10 years AT LEAST) F-350 IDI, 4x4 with a service truck bed up at Douglas Lake I was eyeballing, I offered the price of the axles (for me), what I can CL the 7.3 and service bed for, and scrap price on the rest. $1500, lady said $5000, no-go for me.

By your book value and that guy's asking price, I'm guessing you're looking at a Dahj/Cummins truck. I really don't care what the guy's buddy sold his to that 16 year old with daddy's Mastercard for, I wouldn't pay a nickel over "fair" Blue Book.

ranger11 · Mar 26, 2016

Re: Re: Acceptable Offers?

lowbudgetjunk said:
Golf Cart. 1500 asking, offered 700, said he would have taken 500, put an hour into it and sold it for $1500.

BTW, the motorhome is worth twice what I paid, even with what I've put into it in tires. Wait til I get done with interior paint, flooring and dinette. Gonna be priceless. :****:

I was joking, when you said "guy sold it" it took me back to the story.

money_pit_yj · Mar 26, 2016

5BrothersFabrication said:
I think my offer is based on need in my opinion. If I need a truck to dd, the offer is pretty much book, minus a little haggle southward. If it's parts, like a non-running (by 10 years AT LEAST) F-350 IDI, 4x4 with a service truck bed up at Douglas Lake I was eyeballing, I offered the price of the axles (for me), what I can CL the 7.3 and service bed for, and scrap price on the rest. $1500, lady said $5000, no-go for me.

By your book value and that guy's asking price, I'm guessing you're looking at a Dahj/Cummins truck. I really don't care what the guy's buddy sold his to that 16 year old with daddy's Mastercard for, I wouldn't pay a nickel over "fair" Blue Book.

98 crew cab Silverado dually 454 1 owner 108k miles. Cadillac in its day. Weekend warrior now.

5BrothersFabrication · Mar 27, 2016

money_pit_yj said:
98 crew cab Silverado dually 454 1 owner 108k miles. Cadillac in its day. Weekend warrior now.

Offer $5500, pay no more than $6500. My buddy paid $6500 for one that was MINT but 275k on the odo. Even had some of those fancy 19" Alcoa wheels on it.

zukimaster · Mar 27, 2016

5BrothersFabrication said:
I think my offer is based on need in my opinion. If I need a truck to dd, the offer is pretty much book, minus a little haggle southward. If it's parts, like a non-running (by 10 years AT LEAST) F-350 IDI, 4x4 with a service truck bed up at Douglas Lake I was eyeballing, I offered the price of the axles (for me), what I can CL the 7.3 and service bed for, and scrap price on the rest. $1500, lady said $5000, no-go for me.

By your book value and that guy's asking price, I'm guessing you're looking at a Dahj/Cummins truck. I really don't care what the guy's buddy sold his to that 16 year old with daddy's Mastercard for, I wouldn't pay a nickel over "fair" Blue Book.

. do you want to sell that 1986 Ford 250 that your wife's uncle bought new for "book value" ? This is what I was talking about earlier, that truck probably books for 1200 bucks or less, but I bet you would not take anything near that.