Need some opinions from the fellow FTE members. I got a deal on two '60 trucks as posted earlier. Posted the price (two for $400) I paid because I was kinda proud of the deal. Started to sell off parts and one individual asked about a part, the rear axle. I told him I would let him know on price and a time frame. I researched prices locally and found $450 - $500. I offered it this person for $400 with a statement of, How does $400 sound? The reply back was no, at any price because he felt I was trying to screw fellow FTE members. With the statement of how does that sound, I was expecting a counter offer and we would most likely find a happy price. I did a search again on the FTE and found prices suggested from $150 and up. Very few about having actually bought one for less than $200. To me, a bit of price negoatiating is part of the buy/sell world.

Now, my question is: Can a guy make money from a good deal or is the seller forever into the low end because of how he bought an item. Seems to me that I should be able to turn a buck on the parts, but still not "screw" anyone. From this one dealing, my initial thought is not to even try selling anything here. One thing for sure, I doubt that I will ever mention what I pay for anything again.

Let me know your thoughts..........

 

IMO you should not have mentioned the your purchase price if you had intentions of selling parts. It will only sour the deal. The other thing, if you were looking to get $150 for it you should have started a little lower. Also, alot of people don't realize how much time you put into aquiring your truck. If you had to travel to another state or even in state, you have time and fuel spent. Even if you got them for $400 you should factor gas and some for time into the reselling price. You're not a profesional so you can't really charge a profesional price for your time so be reasonable.

 

I can see that by mentioning the purchase, it makes some think that selling things should be lower. I have never thought that way personally. The first price stated was based on the best info at the time as the search here was not turning up good info. Wasn't real set on any price, just something that would be fair to both. Thanks.

 

What a person sells parts for is his business, but a rear axle is something you usually sell locally or offer at a price worth someone making a trip for. IMO, Unless there was a special need for a large part such as a cab or bed, especially with fuel prices as they are, most of us would easily pass on an otherwise reasonable price offer.

 

This is one buyer I wouldn't try to negotiate with. If he doesn't want to negotiate, but rather put the pout on cause he's not getting in on the good deal you got, he probably wouldn't buy it anyhow. Or, he'd find something wrong after the sale and try to return it... or, a bad feeling would reside over the deal for all time... or, whatever. The little guilt trip he has tried to drop on you is a valid negotiating ploy in some arenas. Not in this case, however.

Doesn't seem worth worrying about to me.

another Pete

 

OK, AZ Pete decided to make this public so I might as well tell my side. Yes I'm the guy who was inquiring about his "spare" rearend. You guys might remember that AZ Pete bought two 1960 trucks for $400. AZ Pete then started a thread about which rearend he should keep. After several reply's AZ Pete decided to keep the "car" 9", and sell the other one. I'm following this closely because I'm still interested in the spare rearend. After discusions about swapping third members verses the whole rear axle assembly I pretty much lose interest because I figure whatever is left over is not worth keeping. AZ Pete sends me a PM and asks if I would be interested in the left over 9" for $400. I've already checked locally and on the internet and I know I can buy an entire assembly from $150 to $350, or I can buy complete vehicles for about that same money. So I told him " No thanks". Az Pete wants to know why, so I tell him, "No Thanks at any price" and I tell him that I think he's trying to screw me. Then Az Pete starts this thread.
I've offered parts on this forum for free. If I have something someone else needs and I don't need it, for the price of shipping its there's. But trying to recoup his entire investment in one transaction with a part that is questionable at best, was more than I could stomach.

So, AZ Pete, you reap what you sow.

PS

 

Many times the whole is worth less than the parts. He had to get them home, sounds like they were towed? At the end of the parting-out process, he's got to get rid of the junk. He's also disassembling, I assume.

Lots of guys sell off extra parts to finance their project. I think you'd know more about this rear end than others you'd buy from a totally unknown person or boneyard; at least you'd know "where to find him". If it were junk, you'd seem to have some recourse.

Rear ends aren't cheap around here, and one that vintage is downright hard to find.

Overall it doesn't seem like this is worth either side getting too worked up about.

 

Any part is worth what someone will pay for it. Period. If you don't like the price, make a counteroffer, or say no. Unless he talks about your Momma, there's nothing personal about it.

I think both of you should quit whining and get back to playing nice.

 

Frankly, the mistake was in saying he was out to screw you - he wasn't. I would not have paid that much for it, and would have told him he was too rich for my blood.

With fellow members I always ask them what they think is fair, and generally we can make a deal. But not always, and I try to keep it friendly when we miss in price. A polite "no think you - that is far more than I am willing to pay" lets him know you think he is too high, and also that you will not buy unless he is willing to let it go at bargain prices.

Far better to miss a sale then to lose a friend over some junk parts.

Now why not try to put this behind you and play nice?

 

In my book 400 bucks is too much for any rear end.

Vern

 

Three mistakes I see:
1. highballing the asking price expecting a counter offer. Not a good practice! I'm in a retail business that is notorious for marking up prices so they can be marked down to a "discounted" price, and have NEVER subscribed to that practice, I feel it insulting to the buyer. Ask a price you really want for it if you ask high to me, I'll just say no thanks and you'll lose the sale.
2. the potential buyer should have just said no thanks to the original price. If asked for a price he should have just told the seller what he was willing to pay. Insulting the seller just blocks any deal and hurts feelings to no benefit, you may want to deal with him in the future, or he might take your counter offer. Same with the counter offer, don't lowball!
3. Airing out the dirty laundry in public! This hasn't helped either of you. You both should have walked away as friends with no sale and left it as that. Now my advice is for you both to forget about it and go on or lick your wounds and contact each other and see if you can finish the deal in a way that satisfies you both, especially considering you both hang out here and live close to each other you might end up making new friends instead of enemies. (sounds to me like you both could use some growing up as well.)

 

Just to clarify, I did say "No Thanks". It was after Az Pete asked why, I elaborated.

Good feedback from all, Thanks.

Its over now, no hard feeling on my side.

 

Wasn't trying to air dirty laundry, just asking for some opinions towards future use of this board. Different things on different boards work to different results. Had good luck with deals from other places so I had to ask here. When a fair price is not known, I would look to discuss the price. Wasn't making this public as to anyone else involved by name. Not out to upset anyone either, just gaining info. Thanks to all who responded. No hard feelings here either.

 

Hey Pete, Wasn't That Truck On Ebay?

 

If you don't know what a fair price is or want to negotiate a price, don't ask a hiball price to start the negotiating, but it would be better to say "well I'm not exactly sure what it's worth, make me an offer, what's it worth to you?" Chances are the potential buyer has already been looking around and/or knows what he's willing to give for it. If the offer is less than what you think is fair, you can ask for more: "I really need to get a bit more than that, I'd take xx.xx." Or if the person is local, "it's not worth the work for me to pull it out for that much, how about yy.yy and you take it out?" It's also good to know exactly what you have before offering it so you can justify a higher price or realize that it might not be worth as much as you think. On the rear axle, I'd find out what the gear ratio is and if it might be a positraction unit, pull the brake drums and see if the axle seals or the wheel cylinders are leaking, are the drums smooth or scored and pitted? Are the emergency cables free or frozen? Is the pumpkin gasket or the pinion seal showing any leakage? Take the fill plug out is it full of oil, does the oil smell burnt? Drop the driveshaft and spin the wheels by hand, are there any strange noises you can't attribute to the brakes? If it all checks out and its a posi and/or has a desirable ratio, then you can ask a premium price. If you don't want to go thru all that or something is less than good, then expect you'll have to take a low end price. The more risk that the buyer has to assume, the lower the price you should ask/expect, he needs to leave some $ in the pot for any potential repairs if buying as is.