Buyers versus Tire Kickers

[BlueWater]

You know, coming from the buyer's perspective, the seller is selling something sight unseen and only giving the buyer a few photos and a description. I can see alot of potential buyers being tire kickers for any item sold online by a private seller. Now, I think its only right if the potential buyer is no longer intending to buy the item then they should let the seller know that out of courtesy.

^ This.

When selling more than a handful of items a decade ago, I took photos galore, had range logs, proofs of accuracy, and solid descriptions of nearly every aspect a person could inquire about. Didn't get a lot of calls, but the ones I got were "golden." On a couple of the spendier items, had some people ask boatloads of questions. Took my time with each. Only one person got cranky after purchase, declaring it should have been error-free; yet this was the one with cycling issues where I'd describe the condition and provided range logs and solid description of the involvement of the factory shop ... turns out it was an easy fix, which he solved in a week. Sold all of the items. Because of the volume of information I'd provided about each, there was nowhere to go with screw-around pointless Q&A. Got good buyers, and sold everything.

Can't say it'll work every time with everybody. But in my own experience it's a good way to go. As you say, it helps erase buyer trepidation over a sight-unseen item, via taking away the "unseen" part to the extent possible. One of the few things a good buyer with good items can do.

 

[BlueWater]

It's not the tire kickers that annoy me. It's the low ballers telling in a pm, it's not worth what I'm asking. They're on my list!

Some years ago, I had one or two items where the initial "buyers" were that sort. No communication, other than a low-ball "offer." I simply suggested they were really looking for something else and that there were plenty of other products out there that were more suitable. Never heard from them; got real buyers; sold the items. No idea what the low-ballers got, other than a temporary ego boost from being clods.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Usually if something is offered for sale and the price is reasonable, you won't have to deal with tire kickers as it will sell in a day or two. If over priced you may get some offers and a lot of questions. Paying more that usual for an item maske on wonder if it has a lot of bells and whistles. Just because a buyer asks a lot of questions, does not make them tire kickers. They may find a better deal elsewhere. Or they might have talked themselves out of the deal.

 

[DiffEQ]

Tire kickers, people who say they want to buy and back out, pfffttt. I could care less.
My wife takes more of my time just figuring out how her hair looks, or if her shoes match, on any given day. "Is this OK?"

 

[CT10ring]

I have to confess, if I want to buy an AS classified listed firearm - that I like, but don't "need"; I'll sometimes offer a bit less that the asking price. If the answer is "no, thanks" - then I just chalk it up as - it wasn't meant to be. A bit passive aggressive, I guess. If I commit, I always follow through. Easily a hundred great transactions on this site, the best (shooters & guys/gals)!

Some years back, late pm after too much club soda, I made a VERY low offer on EBAY for a Honda 250 (me) and an 80cc (for my son), thinking this will NEVER EVER happen. Won em... next morning, I called the dealer and said - Do I really have to buy the bikes? He said "Well, yes, please sir".
Paid up, drove to PA and loaded em up. The moral of the story is, well, I forget.

 

[john 800]

A few things come to mind here that may help.
List as many pics as you have patience for and as much info as possible in the initial add, that helps.
When I am selling something used, unless it is a high dollar item i am cleaning out my closet, price it to move quickly and there will be more urgency on the part of the buyer.
If someone asks a question, edit your post with the information, someone else may have the same questions.
Some people are just tire kickers and you will not fix it, if a person is asking intelligent questions about the item I dont have a problem, but I have had some people that talk in circles about their old one or wondering if whatever item you have will solve their problems in life and really dont seem to know what they want, If you find a way to deal with them let me know, because I have not found it.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Sometimes it works out sometimes it doesn't. I had a tire kicker emailing me about a Jeep I was selling. Questions and more questions. Finally I had another buyer in Denver so I hauled the Jeep down there. They backed out and lost their earnest money. I called the other guy on a whim as he was in Colo Springs or close. Told him I was in the area. Long story short, we met up and I made a sale.
Other times I get people wanna look and never show. My policy is first buyer to show gets it, No holds.

 

[joshb]

The last time I thought of selling a gun, the buyer hemmed and hawed a little. Nothing outlandish, but I had the gun out to take some pics. My son showed up and asked what I was doing with it. I told him and he got really sad. He said he always thought I was going to save it for him! Well, I’m glad that buyer never said “I’ll take it!”

 

[Medic505]

I just finished the process of selling a car through a Hemmings add. Selling items on here is a walk in the park compared to that.

 

[akajun]

If you guys think tire kickers in the gun world are bad, try selling atvs and dirt bikes, especially kids sized stuff. All the “ urban atv” stuff has brought about some interesting characters with questionable backgrounds.
It is fun though when they lowball me for 10% of asking price and then get aggressive when I decline. My MO is to accept the offer and have them meet me at one of the local wal marts in town and have them chase their tail cause I’m not coming

 

[hoz53]

If you guys think tire kickers in the gun world are bad, try selling atvs and dirt bikes, especially kids sized stuff. All the “ urban atv” stuff has brought about some interesting characters with questionable backgrounds.
It is fun though when they lowball me for 10% of asking price and then get aggressive when I decline. My MO is to accept the offer and have them meet me at one of the local wal marts in town and have them chase their tail cause I’m not coming

thats like the phone numbers i got from the girls i asked

 

[FNSafari]

Curious how you determine ( how much time do you spend) if someone is an interested buyer or just a tire kicker when selling something. I have posted adds and spent a lot of time answering lots of questions sending lots of pictures with potential buyers and all it was was talk on there side. When it comes down to closing the deal and sending money they just disappear

Well, dickering is a way of life in most parts of the world. Don't mistake someone trying to get a better deal with a tire kicker...however you define it. One should not be insulted when someone else makes a 10/15% lower offer, cause that is what they think your item is worth. Just part of horse trading imo.

 

[akajun]

Well, dickering is a way of life in most parts of the world. Don't mistake someone trying to get a better deal with a tire kicker...however you define it. One should not be insulted when someone else makes a 10/15% lower offer, cause that is what they think your item is worth. Just part of horse trading imo.

No like 10% of what I'm asking, ie $1000 honda crf 70
I get the $100 dolla cash mayne text which I decline, then they start threatening, being aggressive ie.

I don't mind negotiating in within reason and good faith, but these guys waste my time, so I waste theirs.

 

[Bojo]

There was a rifle on here that I was pretty sure I wanted , however it did not fit exactly what I feel I need. I am not also made of money either , so a few thousand dollars for a used rifle is a major purchase for me. I decided in the end to keep saving until I can either buy or have built exactly what I’m in need of.

that being said It sure would be noce if when sellers list a rifle for sale that they list the actual weight of the rifle.
that is one item that I see most left out , which is also a make or break for some of us who need to make weight at a shoot.

 

[wkdickinson]

I am always amazed when this subject comes up and people comment about how offended they get when someone offers them less for their stuff than they think it's worth. How many times have you purchased a car or a house and paid what was being asked, without offering a lower counter? For most of us I would say probably never. Why should we expect guns, scopes, tools or supplies be any different? If it's a good faith offer and just not enough, say "no thanks". But when I get a truly "low-ball" offer, I just don't even respond.

I spent much of my professional career selling very high-end capitol goods - construction and mining equipment. I learned to get thick skin very fast. The other thing I learned was, ultimately there is only one reason something doesn't sell - the price is too high. But there is also a time factor involved. Because it only takes one person to buy it, how long are you willing to wait for that person to come along? The faster you want to sell it, the better the deal has to be.

 

[ryanjay11]

There is a member on here that asks the diameter of the barrel at the muzzle on nearly every ad, regardless if you list the barrel contour or not. He has no intention of buying anything.

 

[ebb]

To be seen actively participating in several/ many classified sales would enhance ones self image, and would make that person appear to be way more involved in this sport and more affluent than that person actually is. Oniomania is close but not quite it, I think. Steely Dans guitar player coined a term called GAS, but just acquiring gear, does not explain this. When i built cabinets, I would get a call regularly from a housewife that wanted a price on a custom piece for her home. I would show up at her home listen to how bad she needed this cabinet, take measurements show her pictures and wood and finish samples. Get on the phone and price all lumber, plywood, and hardware, estimate time, prepare a price. Return or phone the customer and explain scope of work and finished product and give price. Never did she want any work done they wanted to feel important, and want others in the neighborhood to see that they were getting work done. He/she that appears to have the most toys wins when he/she dies wins.

 

[SEM]

Tire kickers, people who say they want to buy and back out, pfffttt. I could care less.
My wife takes more of my time just figuring out how her hair looks, or if her shoes match, on any given day. "Is this OK?"

there is NO correct answer to that question, just accept the glare

 

[DiffEQ]

there is NO correct answer to that question, just accept the glare

LOL. Have learned, there is, as long as you *never* lose patience.
Hair - "Honey, you could be bald and I still think you're beautiful. Who cares what others think?"
When she starts to get really frustrated or unhappy with my response, I'll say, "Honey, we are talking about *hair*. I'll point to my head (disheveled, thinning, full head of hair) and say, "you know how much I care about hair. Discussing this with me is like me talking about math problems with you." Given a scenario she can identify with, she gives up and I'll go tinker until she's ready.

Shoes - Ask to see all the choices. Discuss the things I notice about each choice and what they "look" like with the outfit. Then express a preferred choice. Still not happy? I'll quip, "go barefoot - who cares?" There are multiple pairs of shoes in her closet that cost $700 - $900 per pair. Two have been worn *only once*. Made her happy though, so priceless.

Just in case, I keep one of these in my wallet:

 

[lightman]

I'm going through this right now, trying to sell a gooseneck trailer. I wasted a whole day this week waiting on a no show. It happens.............