Originally Posted by carleton

The conversation starts with, "What amount are you comfortable selling it to me for?"

If the answer is more than you can afford, then you say, "Well, I can't really afford to spend that much. How about $_____?"

That's pretty much all you have to do. Basically your post is about something between you and your friend. If that friend is comfortable making you happy for $50, then so be it. If you are happy paying $500 to help out your friend, then so be it. When you look at it like that it doesn't matter what we think.

So, invite your friend to coffee and have a chat about it. You will probably be pleasantly surprised.