Veloh

There are a few times where a bicycle is amiss with its pricing especially by a seller that's unfamiliar with bicycles in general. What's the best way to haggle down?

Is flexing your C&V knowledge in all its glory a good thing or does it make you look cocky to the seller?

Is pretending to be a bicycle newbie going to gain sympathy from a seller or would it make you a prime target for even more price boosting?

Do you just show them the cash your willing to dole and tell them, "take it or leave it"?

What are you techniques or advice?

tashi

When I sell things I couldn't care less WHY the potential buyer is offering me less than I'm asking. Generally I have a number in mind that I'll take, if we can't get there than no sale. Others may be different, and sympathy, overwhelming knowledge or being browbeaten about the condition of the bike might get them to lower the price. You'll have to read the individual on that one though, for instance I'm pretty inclined to drop my prices for pretty girls due to their special powers and my desire to see pretty girls on pretty bikes everywhere I go.

septacycles

I would say it depends on the seller and the bike your trying buy.

First thing is to know what fair market value for the bike is and then decide what you want to pay for it.

When I buy a bike... I try to be fairly annonomus... I don't offer any information about my self or what I'm going to do with the bike unless directly asked. Sharring a little knowledge is okay but making the seller feel like an idiot is not.

I try and be honest with the seller about the condition of the bike and what I think its worth to me.

Knowing why the seller is selling the bike is also very helpful... from that I usually can guage how much they are willing to haggle.

I would not pretend to be a newbie... when I sell a bike newbies pay full price.

I alway ask if the price is negotiable...

Be polite and likeable

Have CASH IN HAND to make the deal on the spot!

wrk101

1. Cash in hand.

2. Forget the lesson/education, seller wants to sell his bike, and doesn't want a story. +1 I try to be anonymous, I do not want to appear to be knowledgeable.

3. Some sellers have ridiculous high prices. Just make an offer and be prepared to walk. I always couch the offer in: "It probably is worth more to someone else, to me, the most I can go is $xxx." I don't play games with offers, and if the bike is a deal, I just gladly pay full price.

A couple of times, I briefly educated seller on condition, mainly rust. Bikes had been on trainers, and had quite a bit of rust. My other education point has been on stuck seat posts. I always try it, and if the post is stuck, I make an offer based on the bike becoming a donor. I let the seller know maybe I can get lucky freeing it up eventually, maybe not.

Ran into a guy once with a 1972 Varsity. He wanted over $300 for it, as he explained that he paid over $600 for it originally and it was RARE. Rather than dispute this information (the seller was a nice guy), I just bought this real small bike he had, that he told me wasn't worth much. Terry Despatch, Tange 1 tubing, Cyclone 7000 components....

Now, I have bought several bikes from DKO flippers. In that case, I am totally direct. Bike is missing X, Y, Z; it needs a lot of cleanup, I don't mind doing it, but look for a discount; etc. A lot of the DKO flippers just want to move bikes, and don't want to do any work. So I sometimes will seek out their incomplete bikes, or bikes that need a lot of love.

Veloh

The more educated the seller is, the more moot significant bargaining seems to be. Personally, I list high expecting to be asked for a discount, if not, I'm that much happier with the extra funds. It's more about the seller who thinks anything vintage is worth a few hundred and trying to get some common sense into them (although that may be an even bigger challenge than getting the bike).

FYI, I have the same weakness. Once, I actually offered to lower my price without her asking me. I surprised myself. The force is strong...

20grit

If a seller doesn't point out flaws in the bike it makes bargaining easier. In my experience sellers were willing to knock a bit off the price when I pointed out problems they hadn't disclosed.

It's cheap.... but it works.

gaucho777 

So the lesson is: 1) check out the bike, 2) figure out a good price, 3) walk away, 4) send the prettiest girl you know to close the deal.

WNG

I bring my wife along, she's (IMHO) cute and unassuming, but haggles you like if you're in the ring with Andre The Giant.


When I'm alone though, be friendly, never condescending with superior knowledge of product. Show enthusiasm but obvious disappointment when said bike or parts aren't meeting expectation. That's when I point out why and give them a short history lesson. If they get the idea that if I'm typical reaction of a buyer, then they'll lower the price as it'll likely be rejected for the same reasoning.
Sometimes finding out a little of the seller's background in bikes allows you to strike a friendly conversation and it'll warm up the negotiations later.

It doesn't always work if you're dealing with ignorance...stubborn about its value. But that's fine, we have the option to leave with our money in our pockets.

WNG

"You shall accept my offer for these C-Record brakes."