How would you go about this machine purchase?

[projectnut]

the old "cash in hand, or cash money gambit is a joke. like you're going to take a credit card or trade for a goat.

I would agree. There’s no way I would accept anything but cash from a stranger.

 

[rabler]

There's two approaches someone can take to sell something. One is to take the time to be knowledgeable about the market, the other is to overprice and bring the price down over time until it sells.

Ok, those are two extremes and most people work somewhere in between. But starting low and working up rarely works well. Unless it is an auction .

On the rare occasion I'm selling I usually decide what I think is reasonable, and add 10-20% for haggle room. Then I do my best to point out every possible issue with that item, I'd rather be upfront. I doubt I'd survive as a professional salesman ...

 

[yota]

before all this insanity with the economy, my philosophy was that anything used in good condition was worth half of what it currently costs new. there were some exceptions. in today's crazy price reality, this may no longer apply.

 

[projectnut]

before all this insanity with the economy, my philosophy was that anything used in good condition was worth half of what it currently costs new. there were some exceptions. in today's crazy price reality, this may no longer apply.

My absolute top price for any piece of used equipment would be 50% of retail. For that amount of money it would have to be nearly new and in perfect condition. Anything more and you might as well buy new and get a warranty

Most tools and equipment I purchase are in excellent condition and go for about 10% to 25% of new retail.

 

[yota]

I've never had to go that low to get anything to sell.

 

[matthewsx]

I used to get people in my shop all the time that thought their old junk was worth a mint and I would happily pay their asking price. When they asked me what it was worth I'd answer $170/net ton (which was the going rate for sheet iron at the local scrapyard).

When I have something used offered on CL or FBMP and someone asks "what's your bottom price"? I say "just bring your friend Benjamin and we'll see".

If I were the OP I'd make an appointment to look at the machine and bring whatever I thought I would be willing to pay + ~$100 give or take. Make an offer, in cash, with your wallet open. They can take it or leave it but they'll know you're serious.

Sometimes you just walk away and know another one is out there. Sometimes you come up because you really want the thing they have and it's not worth the hassle to wait.

Up to you, you're the buyer....

John

 

[projectnut]

I live in the rust belt where high quality old American iron is plentiful. Shop owners depreciate their equipment down to $0.00. Anything they get from the sale of an obsolete machine goes straight into their pocket

By the time most machines are sold they’ve earned their owners thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. They’re too slow to continue to compete in the marketplace. They’re replaced with current generation machines

In almost every case the old machine has to go to make room for the new one. Rather than pay storage or leave it outside to deteriorate they sell them at bargain basement prices.

Of the two dozen machines in the shop I doubt I’ve paid over 20% of what an identical new one would cost. They all need a little cleanup before going back to work but that’s to be expected.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Well, I finally closed the deal on this purchase.

Turned out the guy was much closer than his FB profile showed and I could have easily gone and checked out this machine in person, 30min away vs the 1.5 hour drive I had anticipated.

Paid more than I wanted, but only by $100 and the machine is in fantastic unused condition, I honestly cant believe it.


Lil dirty, but I cant believe it hadn't rusted at all where they had it stored. It was in a shed behind the house with some other machines.


Condition when I brought it home.

I initially thought the brown on the compound was rust, but it was only WD40 mixed with dust.








Little staining from the WD40 is all there was after a wipedown.











There are no chips or signs of use anywhere. The brown spots are WD and sawdust.














The flaking on the ways is still pristine. This is before it was even wiped down, the entire bed is pristine.








The new (I have 2 now) SD400 sitting next to its baby brother, my modified SD300 from this thread. How it all started.








And now Ill have to finish up and sell my other SD400 from this thread. Definitely broke in the head. Along with the modified SD300 to make momma happy.



.

 

[matthewsx]

Well, I finally closed the deal on this purchase.

Turned out the guy was much closer than his FB profile showed and I could have easily gone and checked out this machine in person, 30min away vs the 1.5 hour drive I had anticipated.

Paid more than I wanted, but only by $100 and the machine is in fantastic unused condition, I honestly cant believe it.


Lil dirty, but I cant believe it hadn't rusted at all where they had it stored. It was in a shed behind the house with some other machines.


BRB, uploading pics.

Looks like a peach. Persistence for the win.

John

 

[Dabbler]

way to go!!