You opinions on ads that say "Firm" after a price.

[tvguy]

Is firm, really firm? Or would you tried to negotiate?

I have been casually looking at used cars and it just seems like there is a link between cars that a priced as much as at 30% over High Blue Book and the ad saying the price is "firm".

I mean, I do know a number of men who were told by their wives they had to sell an extra toy car and they do put them for sale, but at price nobody would pay. Oldest trick in the husband bag of tricks.

 

[mj70148]

As far as I'm concerned, anyone selling something used, of their own, is up for negotiation. There isn't a corporation behind them enforcing a set price. The worst they could say to an offer is No, but you at least have your foot in the door. It would be VERY unwise to purchase something for the listed price someone gives up front, without attempting to negotiate (of course, unless the price is a steal and you know the next person who sees the listing will grab it first).

If someone says 'firm' (and means it), and the price is 30% higher than KBB -- good luck to them actually selling the thing! (unless they really aren't trying to sell it like you imply some men might do! )

 

[Mizzoufan]

I think firm means no lower prices will be accepted.

 

[LJSquishy]

In my opinion firm means firm.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

If I went to the trouble of saying "firm", I would mean it! And if someone offered me something less, I'd be thinking, "Can't they read?????"

You can always ask but I would say firm=no.

 

[sksjasams]

We have bought and sold several used cars on Craigslist.
Now we have never put "firm" in the ad, but as a seller, I can tell you there is nothing more annoying than someone trying to negotiate a lower price before they even come and see the car.
If you are really interested in some of these cars, make appointments and actually go and test drive them. You will have much more negotiating power in person. You can point out things you noticed about the car and why you think the price should be lower.
As a buyer, we have been very successful in negotiating a lower price standing there, in person, with a cash in hand offer on the spot. And as a seller, we have definitely accepted a lower offer in this same exact situation.

 

[miknsusn]

I think you could contact them and explain that you realize their price is firm, but if they don't get any offers for that price, you would be wiling to pay $x. It might work out if they simply don't realize their price is too high.

 

[tvguy]

I think you could contact them and explain that you realize their price is firm, but if they don't get any offers for that price, you would be wiling to pay $x. It might work out if they simply don't realize their price is too high.

The car is a 2005 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. 15,000 miles on it. Asking price, $15,500. Blue Book is $10,500, NADA is $10,650.
IF I was interested I might point out it has been for sale for over 6 months and I would be interested at a lower price. But given that it HAS been for sale for 6 months, and the price is still $5,000 over what it is worth, I suspect they don't care about what it is worth or if they sell it.

I really upset a co-worker back in 1984. He had a 1974 Datsun pickup with 200,000 miles on it he was getting rid it. I offered him $500, which was high blue book. He said he wanted $1,500. Wow. Fast forward a week, I find an old Popular Science magazine from 1974. The sticker price on that truck was $1,495!. Fast forward two weeks, someone peels off 15 $100 bills for that truck.
The lesson, a vehicle is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it, not matter how much over it's established value.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Just because it says firm, does not mean that over time they won't bargain. If it has been sitting at a price for quite a while they may come down. And like I tell my husband it never hurts to ask, all they can say is no.

 

[MomToOne]

I'm not saying they are realistic in how much they expect for the car, but I know cars sell in our area are generally selling for more than KBB or NADA. My car was recently totalled, and the insurance company paid out a much higher value than either KBB or NADA gave, because they had to base the value on recent sales of the same car in the area.

So do your research to see what similar cars in similar condition might actually be selling for in your area.

(In your case, only 15,000 miles on a 10 year old car is odd - did you by any chance mean 150,000? Otherwise, the NADA and KBB values would not properly account for that extremely low mileage and I would expect the selling price to be higher. I know, you get to plug in a mileage number and they give you a value - but with that extreme low mileage I wouldn't expect their algorithms to handle it properly.)

 

[lauradis]

Depends on if they really mean it.

The worst thing that could happen is they say no I want 10k period.

 

[tasha99]

I just bought a new car today because the piece of crap used car that my daughter bought a few months ago has another thing wrong with it (in addition to the leaking/cracked head gasket). Not throwing any more money at that thing, so I bought a Toyota Corolla, and am giving her my old car as an early graduation gift (also a Corolla, but a 2004).

Just out of curiosity, I looked on Craigslist to see if it would have saved me much money to buy a 2012-13. Omg, people were actually asking what I paid or only $1-2000 less for cars with 30K miles on them. Often, with salvaged titles. It's bizarre. The more ridiculous the price, the more it seemed likely that they were very "firm" about it.

 

[tvguy]

I'm not saying they are realistic in how much they expect for the car, but I know cars sell in our area are generally selling for more than KBB or NADA. My car was recently totalled, and the insurance company paid out a much higher value than either KBB or NADA gave, because they had to base the value on recent sales of the same car in the area.

So do your research to see what similar cars in similar condition might actually be selling for in your area.

(In your case, only 15,000 miles on a 10 year old car is odd - did you by any chance mean 150,000? Otherwise, the NADA and KBB values would not properly account for that extremely low mileage and I would expect the selling price to be higher. I know, you get to plug in a mileage number and they give you a value - but with that extreme low mileage I wouldn't expect their algorithms to handle it properly.)

15,000 miles, not 150,000 miles. That doesn't surprise me because when my mom passed away 2 years ago her 10 year old car had just turned 10,000 miles. A lot of older folks have to have a car but don't drive a lot. Given that the average person drives just under 12,000 miles a year, the 1,000 mile a year folks off set the folks who drive 30,000 miles a year. I just jumped on craigslist, and it's hard to compare because none of the cars there has less than 100,000 miles, most have 200-300,000 miles because Lincoln Town Cars are popular in the Livery industry. But the highest price on any those is $6,000, so $10,000 seems in the ball park.

KBB and NADA are supposed to show what the cars are selling for in your area. If you got more in an insurance settlement, you were lucky. Most insurance companies pay ACV (actually cash value) which is less than either KBB or NADA.

 

[MomToOne]

KBB and NADA are supposed to show what the cars are selling for in your area. If you got more in an insurance settlement, you were lucky. Most insurance companies pay ACV (actually cash value) which is less than either KBB or NADA.

Actually these days many insurance companies use settlement software that looks at comparable sales in your area to get the actual cash value, not at KBB or NADA values. They should be able to show you the comparable sales they used to determine that value - and how they valued any differences in things like condition, mileage, etc. If sales in your area are going higher than KBB or NADA, then they will pay you that. That was my case. I did legwork before they offered me my settlement amount by looking at comparable listings and sales, and they were right in line with the settlement they offered. I was all ready to dispute because KBB/NADA values were much lower, but I didn't have to because the insurance company did the same thing I did to determine the value.

 

[crisi]

I would agree that if its been for sale six months at that price and he hasn't lowered the price, or taken an offer from someone who didn't understand what firm means (and you can bet there have been offers) he isn't that interested in selling the car. Its easy enough in the age of the internet to relist for $1000 less every week until it sells.

 

[crisi]

Is firm, really firm? Or would you tried to negotiate?

I have been casually looking at used cars and it just seems like there is a link between cars that a priced as much as at 30% over High Blue Book and the ad saying the price is "firm".

I mean, I do know a number of men who were told by their wives they had to sell an extra toy car and they do put them for sale, but at price nobody would pay. Oldest trick in the husband bag of tricks.

By the way, to answer your question, if the ad says firm, I think its disrespectful to do anything other than respect the price and bother the lister with an offer below the listing price. I wouldn't take a strangers time in that manner. Words have meaning.

 

[sherlock14]

By the way, to answer your question, if the ad says firm, I think its disrespectful to do anything other than respect the price and bother the lister with an offer below the listing price. I wouldn't take a strangers time in that manner. Words have meaning.

Your stance is nonsensical at best.

 

[supersnoop]

If someone is trying to sell something, and I'm interesting in buying it, I'll make them an offer at a price I believe to be reasonable. I'm not going to overpay because they have some misguided idea of how much their item is worth. If they're goint to be upset or offended because I offered less than they wanted; well, that's their problem.

 

[tvguy]

I would agree that if its been for sale six months at that price and he hasn't lowered the price, or taken an offer from someone who didn't understand what firm means (and you can bet there have been offers) he isn't that interested in selling the car. Its easy enough in the age of the internet to relist for $1000 less every week until it sells.

Best I can tell, this car has never been advertised anywhere, just sitting in the driveway with a sign on it about 5 blocks from where I live on my route to and from work.

 

[tvguy]

By the way, to answer your question, if the ad says firm, I think its disrespectful to do anything other than respect the price and bother the lister with an offer below the listing price. I wouldn't take a strangers time in that manner. Words have meaning.

That's my initial feeling too. No so much taking a stranger's time, but wasting my time. Funny given my dad was in sales and his motto was "everything is negotiable".