Looking for some free advice
SDSportsFan
Posts: 5,181 ✭✭✭✭✭
A few days ago, I contacted a specialized dealer via email, asking him if he ever comes across a particularly hard to find, but not overly popular/liquid baseball memorabilia item. He emailed me back and said that in fact, he happens to have the item currently in stock. He further quoted me his price.
I emailed him back, stating that the price he quoted was about four- times what I could currently pay. He emailed me back with a new price, which was about 60% of the original price. I emailed him back stating that it was still more than I could currently pay. I also told him that I would like to be able to get the item, but it would take me approximately four months to save up the money. He has now emailed me again, dropping his price another 10%...but it's still double what I can currently come up with.
Just as clarification, the item is something that I have never even seen for sale; therefore, I have no price reference to go by, other than what similar items have gone for. That price range is what I could currently pay. Turns out, this particular item just happens to be among the harder to find items of the genre. This particular dealer specializes in the specific field that the item lies in.
I now feel bad for even asking him about the item in the first place. I wasn't necessarily looking to buy right now, but I could at the price level I was roughly thinking of. I feel like he's now pushing me to buy, when really, all I wanted in the first place was some knowledge of what I was up against in pursuing the item. But then again, I'm the one who started this whole thing.
What would you do if you were me? I still want the item, and could have the money within about four months (it's around $1K). I just don't know how to tell the guy that I can't put the money together right now. I also don't want to burn any bridges for the future.
Thanks.
Steve
I emailed him back, stating that the price he quoted was about four- times what I could currently pay. He emailed me back with a new price, which was about 60% of the original price. I emailed him back stating that it was still more than I could currently pay. I also told him that I would like to be able to get the item, but it would take me approximately four months to save up the money. He has now emailed me again, dropping his price another 10%...but it's still double what I can currently come up with.
Just as clarification, the item is something that I have never even seen for sale; therefore, I have no price reference to go by, other than what similar items have gone for. That price range is what I could currently pay. Turns out, this particular item just happens to be among the harder to find items of the genre. This particular dealer specializes in the specific field that the item lies in.
I now feel bad for even asking him about the item in the first place. I wasn't necessarily looking to buy right now, but I could at the price level I was roughly thinking of. I feel like he's now pushing me to buy, when really, all I wanted in the first place was some knowledge of what I was up against in pursuing the item. But then again, I'm the one who started this whole thing.
What would you do if you were me? I still want the item, and could have the money within about four months (it's around $1K). I just don't know how to tell the guy that I can't put the money together right now. I also don't want to burn any bridges for the future.
Thanks.
Steve
0
Comments
I see nothing wrong with you asking and then not buying at his price.
Simply email him some terms that you can live with and if he accepts honor them.
If he says no, then just thank him for his time and move on.
Steve
T222's PSA 1 or better
Lou
Hoarding silver and collecting history
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
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as soon as I can. Thank you very much for helping me."
If it were me, I would wait four months and buy it then
do it.
If you cannot afford it at this time, then you cannot buy it. However, there is nothing wrong with explaining to the seller that you are interested, but due to your budget, you COULD buy the item at an agreed upon price IF the seller will accept a down payment and monthly installments. If the seller agrees and you are comfortable with the arrangement, it shouldn't be a problem. This allows you to buy the item at y a price you are comfortable with and gives you the time necessary to pay for it as well as allowing the seller to make a sale. Just be certain to follow through with the arrangement and be punctual and timely.
I've accepted transactions like this from some of my buyers over the years on higher end items. They've all paid through and then I shipped them their items.
Don't be surprised if the terms include forfeiting your deposits if you default on making payments.
I tried to keep the description vague to respect the dealer's privacy.
Allen, you made me
You've all made me feel better about it, and I thank you again!
Steve