Negotiating for a boat....

[Maclin]

Re: Negotiating for a boat....

NM,

It is tough to crusade for a cause on bulletin boards that have no audience for it.

Most responses to your thread topic were reactions to a level of naivety your posts showed about the level of integrity out there amongst the vast sea of boat sellers. Not many of the "bad" sellers post here. Most of the posts here are from those who have experienced first or secondhand the level of deceipt that is sadly the norm in the boat selling arena. Your posts gave one a feeling of a rose-colored glasses type of view and as such more or less asked for enlightenment to the other "side" of things.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Negotiating for a boat....

I don't have a problem with anyone trying to negotiate. It's all part of doing business. But in this case I think you are expecting to much from any private party that is trying to sell anything of this type.

There was a long thread here a couple years back that involved the sale of a boat. The buyer took possesion, used it, blew it up and then tried to sue the seller. Long story, lots of lawyers and court dates, in the end the seller won.

I have told buyers no and as a buyer I've walked away and a few times ran.

I can go back to my recent purchase last week. I seen the ad and responded. I also had a very good idea of what the boat was and the condition it was in. In my 1st email I made an offer of $400.00 less than the asking price sight unseen. Never received a response from the seller. A week later I phoned the seller and we had a very good conversation. We then also agreed on a price, unseen, conditional on inspection. Believe me if it wasn't what I'd expected I would have walked away even after driving 3 hours to go see it!

All I'm getting at is if you approached me and asked for me to pay 50% of any repairs I would flattly say no way. Then it is up to you to decide if you are still interested in the item.

 

[OneBone]

Re: Negotiating for a boat....

I am going to go forward as though every seller is intent on ripping me off.

No offense meant, but I've known fellers like that. My experience has been these kinda guys are either also intent on always ripping folks off, or getting something for nothing.

/2 cents

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Negotiating for a boat....

NM -

Although your plan has not been well received here, and it probably has been debated enough, perhaps it is best at this time to put it to the test and see if it works out for you.

Your plan is not the more traditional sales process that many on this forum are familiar with, but I would be interested to hear how it goes.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Negotiating for a boat....

You are basically asking a seller to enter into a pre-sale contract (that puts financial liability on them!), or to put negotiations in writing. That just doesn't happen 99% of the time for a $7,500, 10+ year old used boat. If you can find the 1%, more power to you.

I think that is the important part. Every day in the use there are many thousands of private party vehicle transactions that occur. Just a wild guess, but I'd say that less than .01% of these involve conditions like the OP mentioned. Dealership selling a used vehicle, absolutely, but certain not private party.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Negotiating for a boat....

I asked for opinions on a given set of conditions that clearly were not comprehended by many.

I'm under the impression that everyone replying here understand what the conditions are, but most think those conditions are unreasonable and unrealistic, give the circumstances of a $7500-10K boat and a private party sale.

If you can make your tactics work in a sale ,then "more power to ya", but I don't see a majority of private sellers jumping through hoops like you wish, on a $10K boat. It's not worth their time and aggravation to try and please 1 person who might buy the boat. If I were selling a 10K boat, a signed contract would mean nothing to me, it's just a piece of paper that could cause all sorts of complications if the buyer tries to back out. If this were a "business deal" in a "business environment", go ahead and make all the contracts you want, but you are asking about a casual private party sale.

It sounds like you would be served better by purchasing from a boat dealership that can cater to your unique requests.

 

[V153]

Re: Negotiating for a boat....

And personally I am surprised at the lack of reading comprehension these days. Especially online.

Especially this forum.

Huh? For the record I'm an extremely fast reader, and commperhend must of it.

Appears to me the general consensus is that you are the one lacking comprehension?

Do us all a favor, go out'n get a kayak.