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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
  
| TheOldGrayMare - 2016-03-09 7:21 AM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2016-03-08 5:01 PM It is just stupid to price a horse at your bottom dollar. You always put extra on it BECAUSE people will ALWAYS haggle. Price that $2,500 horse at $3,500, then when they offer $2,500 you got your money, and they think they got a deal.
Some people don’t want to haggle and frankly…they don’t have to if they don’t want to. If someone wants to low-ball anyway, the seller has the discretion of not selling the horse to the jackass. If someone advertises their horse as $XX,XXX FIRM then the buyer should be able to use their common sense and realize that the seller is not willing to negotiate or else they would not have made a point to say their price was firm.
This. I can't stand when people want to try to play games when the price says firm. Basically "firm" means either you want it or you don't. The person that says "now how low are you willing to go on this horse," is the person that gets hung up on and their calls not returned. Did I mention I'm NOT a horse broker? I just don't have the time or the stamina for the games and manure that come along with it. It's one thing if it says OBO, but a FIRM price to me means either I want the horse at the listed price (or expect to sell it at such price) or move on. | |
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| If it says firm then I can understand the frustration but if it doesn't, of course I'm going to try to haggle for the best price possible. People take negotiating too personal I think. If you don't like the offer either say no thanks or counter with what you would be willing to do whether it is on price or meeting them somewhere to pick the horse up, etc. It's not ment to be rude and it doesn't say I can't afford the horse or the possible vet bills, it is just smart business. A penny saved is a penny earned. | |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Because people think it never hurts to ask. They assume that if you want to sell it bad enough, you'll take their offer. I sold a horse for my mom several years ago and had one person offer half the asking price because they would have to pay for transport and pay for training. Um no, that's in addition to the price of the horse, it's not my problem you live so far away and want to train him for something completely different than what he's been doing. Another lady actually came and tried him and I told her what my bottom dollar was because another lady had made an offer, but I'd have to deliver him, so I was trying to avoid that. She made an offer several hundred dollars less than the first, I guess she thought I was bluffing. I told her to forget it, that I would accept the first offer.
Selling horses is very frustrating. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| 1DSoon - 2016-03-09 9:56 AM
FlyingJT - 2016-03-09 10:52 AM I price my horses fair, so I don't budge on price and I don't waste my time with someone that wants to haggle. If you like the horse and it fits you, you'll pay the asking price. If you don't want to pay the price then maybe the horse isn't for you! With that said, when I buy, i'll shoot out a price that's significantly lower and see if they are going to budge or not, if not than I determine if I really want the horse at that price, if they do then that's great!
This confuses me
you don't like folks to haggle with you, but you will haggle with them?
Haggle: dispute or bargain persistently <---- Key word "persistently"
That is not what I do. I'll state a price, if they move off their price than I know they will negotiate, if they don't than I don't waste their time with it.
I don't mind if people pop of a price to me on the first convo, but when I tell them "no" the price is what it will be, I don't mess with those that can't understand that concept and continue trying to get me to move off my price! | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| babbsywabbsy - 2016-03-09 7:40 AM
1DSoon - 2016-03-08 6:44 PM
This will sound harsh, but it's really not intended to.
But if you sell cheap horses expect to deal with cheap people.
Agree with this 100%. Also, I know 2500 was just an example, but in my opinion, if someone can't pay 2500 for a horse then they wont be able to afford vet and normal care for the horse if it gets hurt. You never know when you're going to get a 4000 vet bill!! (if you don't have insurance of course )
I've said this a billion times. Buying the horse is the cheap part, maintaining him is the expensive part.  | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425
Location: California | rodeomom3 - 2016-03-09 4:27 AM I had the opposite happen to me. I was trying a few horses at a brokers place, was not going to try one because of his history, ended up trying him anyway and loved him. I asked several questions the next day and the broker went up on the price a few thousand when I showed interest in him.
My fiance gave me this rule... Never show interest in the one you really like. Haha  | |
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Regular
Posts: 66
| I had a few people do that with my 2 year old gelding I had for sale. They offered over $500 less and told me they wanted to use him for a trail horse! I was like ummm heck no! If they were planning on using him for competing I might have thought about the offer, just because I wanted the horse to be competed in a performance event, but for trail riding I thought that's a bit ridiculous! | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | When I look at horses I will only look at horses that fit the budget I'm looking in. If a horse is $10,500 and the budget is $10,000 I will email and ask a seller if it's something they'd consider before I'd waste a lot of their time asking questions. I don't expect to get $1000's off the asking price. If I think the horse is overpriced I won't go look at it. Either other people will think it's over priced and the seller will lower the price eventually, or someone will buy it at that price. I'll look at horses in my price range, that I feel are priced accordingly.
What drives me nuts is when your selling and it says No trades, or you are specific on what you'll trade for (ex 2-3 year old unstarted mares for example) and someone wants to trade you their backyard bred, grade, untrained 7 year old stud for a finished horse -- because he's fast across the pasture. Um no!
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  Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | I deal with pricing/haggling/lowballing every day of the week selling horse trailers and RV's. Normally, I give myself a small cushion on pricing because I know people like to bargain a little and it really does make them feel better that they "got a deal"....on the other hand, there are some trailers I tell them I just got and I'll be glad to lower the price in 30 days if it's still here....of course, I know the value of these things and I already know it's priced lower than market and will sell fast, and I also know the buyer is calling about it because they know the exact same thing...so they buy it at the list price, and they still get a good deal.
Sometimes the reason a person is even looking at your stuff is because they have already done their homework and they know it's a good deal, but they still try to beat you up more....fact of life when you sell something, haggling and lowballing part of it, so just see it for what it is and don't let them get to you...my very worst times to sell trailers is during the Triangle sale at the Expo...we get every horse dealer lowballing trailers...LOL..it's a game, and you don't have to play, just say no thanks and smile. 
p.s....if you are a seller, you should price your stuff according to how fast you want it to sell, and you have to know the market...hard to sell brings a lower price...in demand brings higher prices....ask a tad more...generally "price is firm" means nothing to lowballers, they beat you up anyway because that's what they like to do...I very seldom put "firm" on anything for that reason... | |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | RunNitroRun - 2016-03-09 11:15 AM When I look at horses I will only look at horses that fit the budget I'm looking in. If a horse is $10,500 and the budget is $10,000 I will email and ask a seller if it's something they'd consider before I'd waste a lot of their time asking questions. I don't expect to get $1000's off the asking price. If I think the horse is overpriced I won't go look at it. Either other people will think it's over priced and the seller will lower the price eventually, or someone will buy it at that price. I'll look at horses in my price range, that I feel are priced accordingly. What drives me nuts is when your selling and it says No trades, or you are specific on what you'll trade for (ex 2-3 year old unstarted mares for example) and someone wants to trade you their backyard bred, grade, untrained 7 year old stud for a finished horse -- because he's fast across the pasture. Um no!
Whenever someone asks me if I'll do a trade, I'll say yes, I'll trade for cash.  | |
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Regular
Posts: 66
| Gunner11 - 2016-03-09 9:37 AM
RunNitroRun - 2016-03-09 11:15 AM When I look at horses I will only look at horses that fit the budget I'm looking in. If a horse is $10,500 and the budget is $10,000 I will email and ask a seller if it's something they'd consider before I'd waste a lot of their time asking questions. I don't expect to get $1000's off the asking price. If I think the horse is overpriced I won't go look at it. Either other people will think it's over priced and the seller will lower the price eventually, or someone will buy it at that price. I'll look at horses in my price range, that I feel are priced accordingly. What drives me nuts is when your selling and it says No trades, or you are specific on what you'll trade for (ex 2-3 year old unstarted mares for example) and someone wants to trade you their backyard bred, grade, untrained 7 year old stud for a finished horse -- because he's fast across the pasture. Um no!
Whenever someone asks me if I'll do a trade, I'll say yes, I'll trade for cash.
Haha thats a great response! I'm keeping that in mind next time I sell one of my horses! I always get offers for partial trades on cheap saddles...  | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| rpreast - 2016-03-09 10:41 AM
babbsywabbsy - 2016-03-09 7:40 AM
1DSoon - 2016-03-08 6:44 PM
This will sound harsh, but it's really not intended to.
But if you sell cheap horses expect to deal with cheap people.
Agree with this 100%. Also, I know 2500 was just an example, but in my opinion, if someone can't pay 2500 for a horse then they wont be able to afford vet and normal care for the horse if it gets hurt. You never know when you're going to get a 4000 vet bill!! (if you don't have insurance of course )
I've said this a billion times. Buying the horse is the cheap part, maintaining him is the expensive part.
I dont that its an accurate statment. Ive never paid a lot for any of my horses because I keep a cushion for unknown expenses. My horses get better care than most. For the level of competition I do and how often I go, I cant justify buying a $10,000 prospect. I go to barrel races and stuff but I dont hit the big stuff that costs several hundred bucks a weekend.
With that said, I always price with some room for negotiation. Not a lot but if I found the perfect home and felt really good about it, I could afford to move. I sold a colt last summer though that I priced fairly and to sell. I have 3 or 4 offers on him in less than 24 hours.
I do agree thought if something says firm, I dont try and make an offer. I'll even ask in an ad if they are firm on price because maybe its a bit more than I have to spend. But dont want to waste their time if I cant afford it. When I shop, I have a set number in my head that I wont exceed. Not that i cant but I wont. I am comfortable with the budget I have thought out. So if a horse is $500 over budget and its firm, I wont go look. Could I pull an extra $500 out of savings, sure .. but then I am uncomfortable.
Also, I get real tired of going and looking at horses who are so overpriced... so falsely advertised. Just because they cost money to make, feed, etc... but youve let them sit for 5 years with no handling... they're not worth 5k. Especially when theyre a gelding. I dont even know if I will get the sucker broke because hes not even halter broke. | |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | babbsywabbsy - 2016-03-09 8:40 AM 1DSoon - 2016-03-08 6:44 PM This will sound harsh, but it's really not intended to.
But if you sell cheap horses expect to deal with cheap people.
Agree with this 100%. Also, I know 2500 was just an example, but in my opinion, if someone can't pay 2500 for a horse then they wont be able to afford vet and normal care for the horse if it gets hurt. You never know when you're going to get a 4000 vet bill!! (if you don't have insurance of course )
not always the case.
and also some might not want to pay 2500 because they might feel it isnt worth that.. just in general... | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1286
Location: Mississippi | mtcanchazer - 2016-03-08 10:27 PM livexlovexrodeo - 2016-03-08 8:24 PM GLP - 2016-03-08 5:32 PM I don't think it's stupid to set the price and put firm right after. I don't think its stupid either. Working in retail it amazes me what people try to haggle prices on. Especially working at the feed store. Everyone treats us like we are a car dealership and that we should be able to lower the price on everything.
To the one that mentioned "cheap people," cheap people are the very worst to deal with. They are the ones that have a very minimal amount to spend, yet expect everything for that price. In the case of a car, they want a $10000 car for $2500. We see it and deal with it every day. There are people who are truly very nice and only can afford so much, it is the not nice ones that buy the cheap thing, then they break something on it and expect you to fix. Recently from our lot it was a woman who purchased a $1500 car. Car still runs and drives great, does everything as it should. The woman, on the other hand, less than a week after purchasing it broke out the driver's side window and admits to it and wants us to pay for the repair. That is what "cheap people" are.
I'm a terrible haggler. If someone doesn't say firm, or says OBO, I feel its free game to haggle a little bit, but within reason. I guess I'm just adding to the vent too, and I understand what the OP is talking about. Retail can be great, but it can kind of suck some days.
We own a dealership too and I bet you and I could share some unbelievable stories. It is just amazing to me what some of the people expect  | |
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| I'm shopping right now to buy! I search for price & age. If I see a 10,000 price tag I keep going. (because of my budget) I'm not going to call them and waste their time trying to get them to come off the price. It's nice to see OBO on the ad. | |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I had a nice grade mare. Nothing special. She was awesome in trails. No spook, Buck, rear, what have you. Sweet as pie. 15 years and 15 hands. Pretty thing. But basic. I priced her at $2k. Someone asked if I would do a little less. I said I could come down to $1800. They came that weekend to try her out. Loved her. Said they can't pay $1800 because they came up from phx and spent too much in fuel. They would give me $1300. Hubby and I laughed and told them to enjoy their drive home.
Someone else, local. Same mare priced at $2k. Guy came over, tried her. Loved her. Said she had a bit of thrush in one hoof (it was monsoon season and the pasture was straight mud). And since he was going to have to work with his vet and farrier to treat it, he would give us $1500.
I have a mare up for sale currently. Bought her to play around at gymkhanas. She's very obviously blown up even after two years away from barrels. She's a nervous wreck. Very spirited. Quick on her feet. Extremely light mouth. Clearly been used rough. I disclosed all this info in her ad as well as tell everyone she is not for a beginner rider. She has issues and needs someone to really take time with her, or maybe use her as a broody or companion. I constantly have people inquiring if she'd make a good kids horse or beginner trail horse. Smh.
Selling horses is a drag. | |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | This all boils down to RUDE people. If people would be more empathetic and less self entitled, I'm guessing this post wouldn't even exist.
Edited by LMS 2016-03-10 10:24 AM
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 Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2076
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown | I don't like to haggle, either (and I'm sure most times I pay more than Seller expected). And when I sell anything, I put my bottom dollar - but most times, I get asked to go lower, even if I go ahead and say FIRM. My husband tells me that most people expect that you overprice, and they expect to haggle -- I guess everyone's different.
My grandpa - honest hard-working Christian loved to sell at flea markets after he retired - he made a sign that said something like, I find, it, I buy it, I clean it, I take care of it, I pack it and unpack and pay to bring it here -- how could you ask me to take less................but my grandma told me he thought differently when he was the buyer :)
The last horse I bought looked a LOT different in the photos than in person. Professional photos, great stance, in the late Summer - raised in lush Montana pasture. I went to see him the following February - winter coat, turned out to pasture in Texas - not handled much and about 2 inches shorter than advertised. Not known to be a shady seller, either, and had nice horses. Seller already said they were pretty firm on price. I didn't haggle, but left, still searching for my new horse. Several days later they called me and said they thought I'd give him a good home and told me what they'd sell him for (which was actually the figure I was thinking in my head AFTER I saw him in person). His personality and looks have blossomed and I'm very happy with him (except just a little shorter than what I was after). But it was meant to be.
Edited by txbredbr 2016-03-10 10:15 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| 1DSoon - 2016-03-09 7:56 AM
FlyingJT - 2016-03-09 10:52 AM I price my horses fair, so I don't budge on price and I don't waste my time with someone that wants to haggle. If you like the horse and it fits you, you'll pay the asking price. If you don't want to pay the price then maybe the horse isn't for you! With that said, when I buy, i'll shoot out a price that's significantly lower and see if they are going to budge or not, if not than I determine if I really want the horse at that price, if they do then that's great!
This confuses me
you don't like folks to haggle with you, but you will haggle with them?
Agree, it usually means that someone thinks their horses are on cloud 9 but everyone else's is junk.. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| FLITASTIC - 2016-03-10 10:22 AM
1DSoon - 2016-03-09 7:56 AM
FlyingJT - 2016-03-09 10:52 AM I price my horses fair, so I don't budge on price and I don't waste my time with someone that wants to haggle. If you like the horse and it fits you, you'll pay the asking price. If you don't want to pay the price then maybe the horse isn't for you! With that said, when I buy, i'll shoot out a price that's significantly lower and see if they are going to budge or not, if not than I determine if I really want the horse at that price, if they do then that's great!
This confuses me
you don't like folks to haggle with you, but you will haggle with them?
Agree, it usually means that someone thinks their horses are on cloud 9 but everyone else's is junk..
You two need to look up the definition of HAGGLE....... | |
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