asking price and offer below

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Sunshine

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Yesterday we finally managed to traverse the country to meet and ride a pony I had originally seen advertised and liked last autumn, but had discounted for a few reasons at that time.

Anyway, to cut a long story short I spotted it again last month and still really liked it so made further enquiries, everything seemed ok but we had delays co-ordinating appropriate times with the vendor to go and view so only managed to get there yesterday. And we love it. It ticks lots of boxes, has lived up to my expectations and we do want to buy. There is just one little snag.

I know from the advert the price was quite high last year for a just backed 3 yr old with no performance or show record, and it has done nothing more since, wintered out and only just brought back into work 3 week ago. However when the vendor mentioned the price initially she was suddenly asking for £1500 more than last year. When I replied that it was too much and I had spotted the ad last year she immediately agreed to reduce the price by £1k. I could understand the price increase if there had been more education or work but we discovered yesterday that it has done nothing really since then.

Now I know I probably shouldn't have got so far involved but when I've looked into the costs of transporter and that it doesn't come with any tack or rugs etc I can only really afford the same price as last year. And tbh I feel it is a very reasonable price, but I am worrying about phoning to explain this in case my offer is dismissed outright.

I haven't bought a horse for such a long time and I am hopeless at haggling. How should I approach this?
 
Well, why don't you just offer what you can afford (that's last year's price) and see what the seller says. The worst case scenario is a no. You have got nothing to lose...(I think)...
 
I don't think people will be falling over themselves to buy this, offer her half what she was asking last year when you first saw it and see what she says. Plenty horses for sale :)
 
If it was me I would just be honest. Explain that you like the horse but you think it is worth £xx and that is the offer you would like to make. If they dismiss it out of hand then just say you would like to leave the offer on the table should they wish to reconsider.

It's a buyers market at the moment, and if it has been for sale for a while they might go away, have a think and come back to you.

Sometimes if I have to make a phone call I am not 100% comfortable with I make a few notes about what I want to say beforehand to keep me "on track". Maybe doing the same might help you make the difficult call?

Good luck
 
It sounds like she is trying to recover the costs she has incurred by having him over winter. However, you are right, there is no reason (for you) that the price should have increased.

Haggle.

If I were you, I would go in lower than it was at last year, as it must now be unfit if it has been out of work all winter?

Go in low - you can always increase your offer.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on!!! :D
 
Well an update for you :-(

Pony was advertised last year at £4250 ono, and the advert is still live on the website at that figure. In the meantime it has suffered from severe rainscald and has marks in the coat on its rump. I offered my max and explained that we could be helping to promote the stud by keeping the prefix and registering their involvement at every opportunity, including the possible selection for byrds teams, and payment would be in their bank today. First reply was that they felt we would be the perfect home for the pony but would need to discuss.

I have just heard back that my offer was not enough and they are not prepared to let it go for a figure somewhat in excess of the advertised price!!! It seems that they have apparently had lots of interest at over £5k and therefore feel justified in holding on to this price from one of the other interested parties.

Just don't know what else I can do :-( One friend said that they have probably pulled this trick before and that's why the pony hasn't sold over the last six months. What is everyone else's thoughts?
 
Leave your offer on the table and walk away. Chances are they will contact you within a few days to accept your offer. I don't think he will be going anywhere in a hurry so if you don't hear from them and you decide he is worth more you could always contact them.
 
3Beasties said:
Leave your offer on the table and walk away. Chances are they will contact you within a few days to accept your offer. I don't think he will be going anywhere in a hurry so if you don't hear from them and you decide he is worth more you could always contact them.
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It's not just a case of deciding it is worth more - I just haven't got any more savings available at present. Maybe next month I could have saved up a bit more or won on the premium bonds.

I am really upset and confused, it was a pony for my daughter and the vendor agreed she rode it beautifully, and that the pony would be in the best home. She even agreed that we could be promoting her prefix when out competing.
 
I'd want it with gold-plated tack for that price. I simply do not believe that any-one is offering more for a been-out-of-work pony with rainscald and no competition record. Hold your nerve.
 
3Beasties said:
Leave your offer on the table and walk away. Chances are they will contact you within a few days to accept your offer. I don't think he will be going anywhere in a hurry so if you don't hear from them and you decide he is worth more you could always contact them.
Click to expand...

Yep, wait, don't panic!
 
It is hard if you really want it but assuming it doesn't have golden hooves hang tough there.
I REALLY REALLY wanted a horse years ago and made an offer, which was declined. I sat on my hands - while foaming at the mouth and stressing - and they seller cam eback to me the next day.
If they have had £5k offered they would have taken it and it would be sold, they are trying it on.
 
On the one hand - I can see why it would be worth more now than 8 months ago, even despite no more work.

Horses tend to be cheaper coming into winter for obvious reasons, and as a just backed 3yr old it would probably have needed to be turned away before being brought back into work anyway.

So as a rising 4yr old in Spring time, it's the perfect time to bring back into work and do some work over the summer - a more attractive proposition.

However given the price they were after I think they'll be lucky - 5k for a newly backed youngster is a hell of a lot of money unless the pony is really top quality.
 
second thought, i think you should just think of a price and make an offer...
i had a lady and her polish partner viewed my rented property a month ago. the asking rent/month was £750. they texted and offered £450!!!
i suppose there is nothing to lose...
(by the way, i didn't rent it to them!!!)
 
Stick to your guns and wait them out - as others have said, if they had really been offered £5k, they would have sold.

When I was looking, I saw a fab horse, really liked it, but the price was just way more than I wanted to pay, or than it was worth in the current market. My offer was declined as the owner had paid x amount for him, and so he should be worth x amount... Whilst her horse might have been worth that a few years ago, she just wasn't taking current market into consideration. Her horse stayed up for sale for nearly a year after, with the price dropping every couple of months...

In the meantime I found my lad, who was actually cheaper, has a better attitude, and I now wouldn't swop for anything!
 
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