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Undertoad · 05-20-2015, 10:32 AM

This is not a hijack. because...

It's a rule of the pawn shop world: the person who offers a price first is at a disadvantage in negotiations. At the shop, if you come with an item and want to sell it, the first question is: "How much do you want out of this?"

No matter what they answer, at that point they have given us information.

If they come in with a $200 item, which we would normally buy for $80, and they ask $20 for it, deal is done; we are giving you $20. That is the nature of the business, with few exceptions. If they want $100, they have to be dealt with differently. If they want $500, they have to be dealt with differently.

So, getting their number is so important, that we will always go a second round.

"How much do you want out of this?"
"Aw I dunno just give me what you think it's worth."
"No really, did you have some amount in mind?"

But it's also a rule that everyone in the transaction walks away satisfied, if not happy. You would not have set a price that you would not be satisfied with. And in that, a lot of strange things happen. Your number for fair market value could be way off, AND the buyer's number could be way off, and the transaction could still wind up done and everyone happy.

Many times the shop has bought in a $100 item only to find that it has a special add-on or condition that makes it worth $300. And, many times the shop has bought in a $100 item, only to find it's broken and can't be repaired, and sells for parts at $20.

05-20-2015, 10:32 AM	#1216
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	This is not a hijack. because... It's a rule of the pawn shop world: the person who offers a price first is at a disadvantage in negotiations. At the shop, if you come with an item and want to sell it, the first question is: "How much do you want out of this?" No matter what they answer, at that point they have given us information. If they come in with a $200 item, which we would normally buy for $80, and they ask $20 for it, deal is done; we are giving you $20. That is the nature of the business, with few exceptions. If they want $100, they have to be dealt with differently. If they want $500, they have to be dealt with differently. So, getting their number is so important, that we will always go a second round. "How much do you want out of this?" "Aw I dunno just give me what you think it's worth." "No really, did you have some amount in mind?" But it's also a rule that everyone in the transaction walks away satisfied, if not happy. You would not have set a price that you would not be satisfied with. And in that, a lot of strange things happen. Your number for fair market value could be way off, AND the buyer's number could be way off, and the transaction could still wind up done and everyone happy. Many times the shop has bought in a $100 item only to find that it has a special add-on or condition that makes it worth $300. And, many times the shop has bought in a $100 item, only to find it's broken and can't be repaired, and sells for parts at $20.