haggling!!

brigit

brigit

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 April 2013
Messages
98
Location
West Sussex
Visit site
im considering a horse thats advertised for £3500 but my budget is £3000
the ad says offers accepted but how low would you go?
I really want to knock that 500 off because its a seemingly perfect horse for my current situ.
 
If it is the perfect horse but over budget be honest with the seller if they are genuine and want the best home for the horse you need to sell yourself to them rather than try and get the price down by pulling the horse apart. I will drop on asking price, usually 10% built in to play with but if the buyer starts haggling by being over critical it can have the opposite effect to what they expect, I think they do not deserve my horse if all they can do is find fault.
I picked up a pony today for a friend, the seller dropped a fair bit due to us offering a really good experienced home where the pony will be correctly brought on, the seller was in tears and genuinely pleased that he will have a good future which in this case really was more important than price.
 
I viewed a horse that was 3100, my budget was 2500. I ended up paying 2700 for her including delivery from over 4 hours drive away. If you take into account the amount I would have had to pay a transport company she came in under budget.

If you don't ask you won't get. The worse they can say is no.
 
Brigit - I'd offer 2500 cash and claw your way back up to 2750. If they don't accept, say 'ah well, it's a shame, I really love her but I saw something else yesterday v similar but at 2500. I suppose I could do 2800........' Then don't say anything. Even if there's a really long silence, don't break it. This is wheb they usually crack. If they still say no, offer 2900 and say 'this is really pushing it for me' and wait again.

Offer 3k only as a last resort and say you'll need it delivered for that.
If they still say no, walk away. They'll be on the phone to accept 3k before you get home.

When dealers price horses, they always ask more than they actually want.
They also usually price a horse ridiculously high when first advertising, hoping to net a numpty. Go there with your eyes wide open, take your time and get proof of everything the horse has done.

Also, arrive at the yard 30 mins earlier than you say you will. You might catch them giving it a sneaky lunge.

Good luck.
 
Offer under but don't be rude about the horse, as above poster said sell yourself and the home the horse is going to,if the seller is only about money they wont sell anyway.
If they are concerned about where the horse is going they will be more inclined to sell if they think it is a good home ,rather than a seller badgering them.
 
It depends. Mine is up for £3.5k she's already cheap at that price and I won't take less than 3.2k for her. I have lots of people wanting to come see her and I'm in no rush to sell, so I guess it depends on circumstances. What I would say though is to discuss what the owner is willing to accept before viewing. I'm fed up now of doing 13hr days to see buyers at 7pm at night or getting up at stupid o clock on my day off to be told "my husband says we have to sell first", "we like her and want her but won't give you a deposit" or "we only have £3k will you accept that and throw on her 1k saddle" !!!
 
If you are going to haggle make sure you do it before any vetting etc. Many years ago I had a horse up for sale and we agreed a price and she was vetted, which she passed with flying colours. We were doing the paperwork in the house when her "experienced advisor" decided to haggle. I stated that we had agreed a price but they insisted they would only pay less. They were sent out of the door faster than that and the lady who was supposed to be buying her was in tears. I got a phone call a few days later from the lady offering the full price but I told that it was too late and that I would only with people who were honest with me.
 
It totally depends. When I bought buddy I knew two things, one his owner wanted a quick sale and two that someone else wanted to come down to see him if I didn't like him. I loved him, offered to take him the following week (if he passed vetting) and made and offer which took off that last weeks livery bill so the vendor wouldn't lose out but I got him a bit cheaper :p

I also agree with poster above that this should be done prior to vetting. Although I would have cracked if purchaser hadn't haggled and phoned me in tears ;)
 
When i bought my last horse last year i offered them £1200 under asking price they settled on £1000 under! start low you can always go up but cant go back down again at the minute i am trying to sell one and in the current climate cant imagine anyone refusing sensible offe as they arent easy to get! Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top