"Tom Francis" wrote in message
...


After an hour of this bull****, I was getting a little annoyed, but
kept cool. Finally, they left and the potential buyer said he'd get
back to me tonight.

I just got off the phone with him - he offered me $600 for the Halman
based on his "surveyor's" report.

I hung up on him.


I hate selling stuff period. When it comes to boats, I'd rather sell
through a reputable broker and pay him a commission, allowing him to screen
the tire kickers from the serious buyers.

It's not just boats either. I recently sold a custom built Harley that I
had advertised on Craigslist. Long story short .... the initial potential
buyer jerked me around with promises for over a month while he tried to
obtain financing to buy it. This is after I explained to him that it was a
custom build, had been inspected by the MA State Police and issued a MA VIN
number and title, but not all banks would finance custom built bikes without
a manufacturer's assigned VIN. (they can't look the value up in a book) I
also explained that I had priced the bike at well below it's value to make
it attractive to a cash buyer and provided documentation of the cost to
build to prove it. He told me he would be paying cash. He was a director
of something at a large food supply company in CT ... a typical
self-important yuppie. After a month of delays .... important job meetings,
sick mother-in-law, etc. he emailed that he was ready to do the deal and
would call me the next day. I said fine. Never heard from him again.
(Learned my lesson .... next time a deposit will be required).

Then .... Mrs. E. had purchased a set of OEM rims and winter tires for the
'06 BMW 750il that she had for a short period of time. She paid about $3600
for the set, never used them, and ended up trading the car for a Z4si. I
got tired (pun intended) of storing them, tried unsuccessfully to sell them
back to the dealer and finally listed them on Craigslist for $500 just to
get rid of them. I had guys wanting to try them on other BMW series cars,
but they wanted the option of getting their money back if they didn't fit.
(give me a break!) Then, a guy with a new seven series BMW called and
wanted them. He couldn't believe I only wanted 500 bucks for them and
showed up to buy them. He inspected them, looked at me and said, "Will you
take $450?"

I guess everyone has to negotiate, regardless of the price. I hesitated for
a second, then said "fine" and helped him load them in his truck.

Eisboch