Help with Luger

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by postino

No problemo!

I suppose you all pay whatever a salesman quotes as the sale price???

Well, it depends. If it's a used car or similarly marketed item, then no. If it's a genuine article and they're asking half price, straight up, then much more likely.

I think a moderate approach was appropriate and it turned out successful here in this deal. I'd have been concerned that an $800 counter offer might have bordered on the insulting; and if the seller discovered the ultimate worth of the pistol afterwards, there might be hard feelings. I think any seller will entertain a counter offer to their asking price, at which point they can counter with a new asking price; yup, negotiation. I feel it's OK to get a really good price by negotiating for something, but would feel weird about coming away too successful as a result of a seller's ignorance. But there is plenty of middle ground and room for rationalization! Presuming the seller is an adult, it's really up to them to do the research to determine what they are selling, or get some help doing it. A seller's failure to use due diligence this way will reap its own reward, likely in a reduced price. I'd just try to stop short of robbing war widows, etc.

Anyway, a handsome pistol...I'd have bought it( though I might have paid $100 more for it!) with little hesitation.