Negotiating really works, it happened to me

You may have heard someone say that you should always try to negotiate everything you buy, especially large ticket items. Well, from personal experience I can say it’s true. Just this week I was negotiated out of $10 from the sale of a computer desk.

My wife and I recently moved our computer into the kitchen onto a built in computer desk, freeing up our office computer desk. Since it was in our dining room we thought it would be best to sell the desk to free up some space. We listed the computer desk on craigslist and had multiple emails the first day it was posted.  We really wanted to get $75 out of the desk and we made the mistake of listing it for $75. It’s amazing how much people will try to negoate to save a buck.

The first person we had look at the desk drove to our house to take a look. When they arrived they asked if it had a hutch that went with it. I was thinking to myself, the description on the ad never said anything about a hutch and there was no hutch in the 3 pictures that was posted, but I simply said, no… no hutch. He offered me $50 for the desk and after my return offer of $75 didn’t appease him he left and said he would keep looking.

I had two other people offer me $50 via email and said if noone else purchaed it they would gladly give me $50 for the desk. I however refused to let the desk go for $50 considering we paid about $200 for it 2 years ago.

Our next potential customer made an appointment during my work hour lunch to view the desk. When she arrived she asked how much I would sell the desk for and I gave here the $75 answer. I told her I had two other offers for $50 and wouldn’t let it go for that cheap. She replied, “I’ll meet you half way and give you $60. Well, $60 isn’t’ halfway so I replied I’ll give it to you for $65. She looked into her pocket and pulled out $60 cash, “That’s all I have, but I can write you a check for $5.” I’m sure she thought I would let her have it for $60 but I told her it was a deal for $65. She ended up finding $5 cash before she left but I realize she had the whole thing planned the minuted she showed up at my door. I was tired of answering email and negotiating so I gave in and lost the battle.

The lesson I have learned is that people are willing to sell something for even less than they really want. It’s pretty easy to fin great deals on used furniture., because most of the time they person selling the furniture no longer has a use for it and it’s in their way. Always try to negotiate!