How do you haggle?

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Ziggy_

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Ok, so I posted last week about a mare, who I have now decided I definitely want to buy. My problem, is that they won't budge from £1000. Now I can see that she isn't worth that, but I really really want her, I've never haggled over anything in my life and paid way over the odds for my current horse so am feeling a bit
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How do you persuade people to drop the price? Of course they might not budge full stop and be stuck with her forever, but I want to give it a go.

She has plenty of bad points to emphasise which should help
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Here are her stats;

- 15.2hh TB mare
- Approx 17 yrs old
- Exc. hack in company but wont go out alone
- Travels well but dreadful to load
- Generally good to handle, catch and with farrier
- Rears. A lot.
- Weaves when stabled
- Doesn't jump.

On second thoughts I might just print off this list and give it to them....
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I need haggling tips please
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Why do you want to buy the horse, it sounds like a nightmare to me,
But i would leave them your tel number and the price you think she is worth offer them that then let them stew.
Teresa
 
I would say be prepared to give them a price and if they don't accept be prepared to walk away at least for a few days to give them time to think oh dear what have we done. You can always go back and offer them what they want but you have to try and make it out to them that you are doing them a favour. Good luck.
 
I'm rubbish at it but sometimes if you just state your concerns the other party offers a reduced amount.

Given her problems, age and as she isn't particularly talented/proven in any area (unless well bred and could be used for breeding?) they might be lucky to get a good home for her at all... if they'd be prepared to keep her as an unridden pet then they obviously don't need the money (so it won't matter much to them if they get less either!) but if they are going to sell and have a concern for her welfare then you could use that to bargain with. (Assuming you're offering a 'forever' home here of course...)
 
Have in your head the price you are willing to pay - offer less than that then work up to it - must be prepared to walk away tho otherwise pay the full price and don't haggle.

My last horse was advertised at £3.5k, I brass necked it and offered £2k and got him at £2200!!! So it is worth it - he was the love of my life and we successfully low level evented and bsja'd.
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QR

I want her mostly as a companion, although I might have a go at sorting her ridden issues too. She used to belong to a friend and I always really liked her even though she has a few screws loose.

So what would you make as a starting offer? I've offered £250; they were NOT impressed LOL!!
 
From a sellers point of view - I am more likely to budge on the price if the buyer is nice about the horse, if you stated the mare's bad points as a haggling point, I would have told you to bu@@er off - you obviously don't like her that much, so you can go home.
Say you like her and are interested in buying her, but the price would have to be negotiable and then make an offer of X... (lets say you want to pay £750, then offer £500 and be prepared to meet them half way). Let them think about it, but not to long, if they don't budge you have 2 options: a) pay the asking price or b) walk away.
Good luck! TBH you have pushed your luck a bit with the £250... I think I would be slightly offended in their shoes.
 
I would just give them my number and say i like the mare she does come with lots of issues if you cant get any interest then call me. I wouldnt wanting to be paying anything for her. My tb was sold for £400 last year he had bone spavin was 10 years old but absolutely perfect to hack and ride and was an absolute gent to have around couldnt school or jump (because of spavin) and did need remedial shoeing every 5 weeks (no additional cost for shoes just care). So £1000 is absolutely miles off
 
I must agree that £250 isn't an awful lot compared to what they want for her, but then she is waaaaaay overpriced.

I would tell them how much you like her, up your offer to £350, tell them that's your final offer and then give them a fortnight to call you. Then start looking for something else.

They won't sell her with those issues at her age so be strong and don't let them take advantage of you no matter how much you like her.
 
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