Question:

How far should you go when negotiating the price of something?

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I was going to purchase a dining room set from a lady off Craigslist. There were 11 pieces – table with two leafs, eight chairs (two arm and six side), buffet and china cabinet with hutch. The furniture is 15 years old and for the most part it was well kept. There is a pretty long scratch on the table top. It wasn’t like a surface scratch, but more like something had slightly carved the wood. The buffet had a few knicks and the chair cushions were that old thick material. To add new fabric I would have to take them to an ulphosterer because they weren’t the kind that you could redo yourself by stapling the fabric to the bottom. She was originally asking $1,200 to $1,500. When we talked, I offered her $1,000. She told me to come look at the furniture first then we could talk. I went to her house and looked at the furniture. After I saw the furniture I offered her $900. She countered $950. I told her $900. She agreed. I went back home and talked to my husband.

He didn’t think the set was worth $900, considering the cost to have the chair cushions done ($30-50 per chair plus I still had to buy my own fabric) and suggested I keep looking. I called her back that evening and left her a voicemail explaining that. She called me back the next day saying she talked to her husband, and he would sell it to us for $800. At that point, I took into consideration that it would cost almost $400 to get the chairs redone, so I offered her $700. She countered $750. I told her to talk to her husband and see what he was willing to do. She said she would call me back that evening or first thing the next morning. I never heard from her. I went back on Craigslist to look at other tables for sale, and I saw she had reposted the ad asking for $975. It wasn’t a big deal because I wasn’t in love with the furniture to begin with, but did I go too far with the negotiations? I didn’t expect her to give it away, but I just felt because it is so old she was asking a bit much.

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  1. You should go as far as you are comfortable... If you are not comfortable with the price... Dont get it... Find something that you will be comfortable with....  


  2. There is no such thing as going to far with negotiations.  Either they take the offer or they don't.  She obviously wasn't set in her price for the item.  Who knows if she will ever sell it.  God only knows how long she's had that set on craigslist.   $1000 is a lot to pay for used furniture.  

    It seems like you didn't like the furniture that much anyway, you're better of without it.  I'm sure you can find something better.  Take your time while looking and don't be afraid to dicker.  In a week she may be kicking herself for not taking your offer.

  3. You of course went too far with this particular negotiation. That is your right however and in the end you decided it was worth a lot less than the seller. Be careful entering verbal agreements to buy something however and always think something over before making an offer. If you know your spending limit before you enter an agreement you will be better off.

  4. I'm an habitual negotiator.  I do not think you went too far with your price haggling.  You have every right to ask, she has every right to refuse or counter offer.  As long as you were nice and polite in your askings, you did nothing wrong.  If you did not get the price you wanted, then it's time to look for another dining set.  Craigslist has got tons of them, so it should not be difficult.

  5. I haggle constantly. My typical rule is to never go below half what someone is asking. So say she wants $1,000. I would never go below $500. Reason is that is considered a bit insulting. Now if I want it that bad I will go up some. But to go below the half price mark isn't what I would do. So it sounds like you were okay with your dealings. I look at it as if I want it THAT bad then I must be willing to pay that much. But if not don't bother entering into negotiations. Next time I would not enter into a verbal agreement with anyone until you discuss it with your husband and make sure.  

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