Is it wrong to offer considerably below the asking price?

[Pale Rider]

From the POV of someone who is selling at the moment- I'm flexible on my horses asking price by a couple of hundred quid, and have told people who have asked so, but I don't want to "get rid of her"- not all sellers are desperate to sell, and I'd rather keep her and event her myself than sell her cheaply. So it would be a waste of time if someone came to try her and then offered a lot less than asking price as I wouldn't accept it. Just another point to consider!!
It also isn't such a bad market at the moment- I've *touch wood* sold my mare pretty easily.

Very often it's not about how much you're paying for the horse. I always make an offer on a horse, more to test the resolve of the seller. If I think a horse is worth the asking price I'll let the seller push me up, depends on how much you want it really.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

as my mom always told me 'if you don't ask you don't get'

Not always true. Hagglers put me right off and It would concern me that they would try to cost cut in horse care.
The type of person I sell to is quite important.


Maybe that's why the thought of doing a car boot sale makes my blood run cold, can't bear the wrangling. Just damn well pay the 50p on the ticket for the sugar spoon...

 

[Theocat]

If you can't afford the full asking price (or perhaps just a little bit below it) then yes, I think it would be cheeky to go and view without first contacting the owner and putting the position to them.

I also think there needs to be a reason to offer less than the asking price - horse not as described, evidence that it is priced to high for the local market etc - not just because you don't fancy paying what they ask.

I never understand people who haggle a specific amount off before they've even seen it. What happens if you get there and it turns out to be worth even less than you offered?

My first offer on my own horse was turned down. Then the owner changed her mind and offered to sell him to me for less than I'd offered her in the first place ... I wasn't complaining

 

[QueenDee_]

Not always true. Hagglers put me right off and It would concern me that they would try to cost cut in horse care.
The type of person I sell to is quite important.


Maybe that's why the thought of doing a car boot sale makes my blood run cold, can't bear the wrangling. Just damn well pay the 50p on the ticket for the sugar spoon...

To an extend I agree, I wouldn't haggle to the extent of a couple of hundred (have known people who haggle down to the last £20!) though I think that offering below the asking price as you don't believe the horse is worth that price is different

 

[Enfys]

Of course not, only an idiot wouldn't haggle.

Idiot signing in then

When I say $2000 I mean $2000, but then I always, always state what I want, I either put 'price is firm' on adverts, or, I say that I am willing to trade for what-have-you.

I advertise horses for what I want, no more, no less. If I wanted $1500 I would say that.

I bartered a pony last Fall for 12 round bales of hay, he got what he wanted and so did I - in a roundabout way. I've taken fence posts, saddles, sheep, goats, cattle and even a lawn tractor in the past too (probably best not to mention that to my husband though )

It isn't wrong to offer lower, but take the asking price with you. As others have said, don't waste time by going to see a horse when you have no intention/can't afford to pay the asking price.

 

[vieshot]

I would never go and see a horse without knowing I could afford the asking price. You need to look at horses you can afford...

 

[Goldenstar]

Of course not, only an idiot wouldn't haggle.

I don't haggle and I am no idiot If I think the horse is value at the priced asked I will pay it when people offer a well cared for horse a good value and their value is the same ( or less ) than the value I put on the horse I pay it.

 

[Pale Rider]

I don't haggle and I am no idiot If I think the horse is value at the priced asked I will pay it when people offer a well cared for horse a good value and their value is the same ( or less ) than the value I put on the horse I pay it.

very commendable.

 

[*Maddy&Occhi*]

I sold a previous mare of mine and put her price up by an extra £200 or so as I knew I'd be haggled down by a pottential buyer. I think most sellers are aware and will be prepared that people will haggle, and it all depends on the person/horse/situation. If someone offered me significantly less for a horse then i'd be slightly offended and I would state my reasons as to why I felt that they were cutting the mark too fine, but would be happy to drop arounnd £200 below asking price, i'd make sure though that said horse was priced correctly and fair what he/she is, hense I would not take a such a low offer. I bought my late mare for £3000 and didn't haggle, she was exactly what I was after and If anything she should have been priced higher for what she was. Again it really does depend on the sellers circumstances, if they're desperately needing to sell said horse then more than likely they'll sell for a lot less, someone who isn't in a rush to sell a horse probably won't take such a low offer.

 

[Echo24]

I don't think it can hurt. I was approached by a seller who advertised her horse for £5,000 but my budget would only stretch to £2,500 and she was happy to drop him down to this price as I got on really well with the horse. Unfortunately he did not pass vetting and vet said to avoid and 6 months later he was offered to me for free! Sadly my circumstances had changed by then but there is definitely no harm in offering a lower price. It's certainly a buyer's market out there.

 

[slumdog]

If I'm selling something I put the price over what I actually want knowing I'll be knocked down. I know a old fashioned horse dealer that always offers half the asking price first whether the horse is worth the full price or not, he always says you can go up but you can't go back down. He's owned some brilliant horses so it must work, I'd never had the guts to do it though, I'm a wimp lol!

 

[Amy567]

I'm currently looking myself and if a horse is more than my budget then I ask the seller if they would accept that amount as it's my budget, though I can stretch a little and if the horse was perfect and worth every penny, I would stretch my budget to meet the sellers price. I did find the perfect horse, for exactly my budget that I believe would be worth more if it hadn't failed the vetting

A friend of mine spotted a horse that was £1000 over my budget, to which I said it would be unfair to offer so much less, unless they're desperate. I tend to go £500 above my budget when looking, as a lot of people would accept £500 less. It all depends on original asking price and the percentage of it that you're asking to reduce by etc.

But just ask them if they would take an offer of that amount before you go to view the horse

 

[FabioandFreddy]

there are a lot of over priced horses out there at the minute and have been on the market for ages, i know as keep seeing them as been looking ourselves for months! You see them start at x price, then few weeks later have been dropped in price significantly.

I'm not allowed to negotiate for anything! I'm one of those that would give another £100 to make sure i get it! OH however is not, and will always negotiate. He's gone in with some offers before that i think are way too low but they've been accepted - and i'd have paid full price so guess i'm the idiot! I think most sellers add a few hundred on the price as negotiating leeway anyway.