What do you say when a seller asks why youre buying it?

[Butter Hat]

Hi everyone,

Interesting scenario for you all to ponder/discuss/share your thoughts on. The other day I was out buying, and I came to a house where the guy was selling a lot of car stuff. He had a lot of nice things but they were all very expensive, but I found a steering wheel from a '67 camaro that was in great shape and I figured I'd go for it. He wanted a high price but I talked him down, and then we started talking about his camaro that he had restored, and then he asked me if I was restoring a camaro too because I was buying the wheel. I don't know why, but for some reason it seemed like he only wanted to sell it to a fellow camaro lover, so I blurted out that I was buying it for a friend. I have no idea what came over me to not tell him the truth, but he seemed to take it well and the transaction went smoothly. I don't normally lie to random strangers and I felt weird about lying impulsively, so I decided to make sure that the next time that question was asked I would answer truthfully.

The next time it was asked I was buying a truck tailgate from a guy's sale, it was brand new and very underpriced and I was excited because I was definitely going to make some money. The guy was very friendly, and he asked me what had happened to my truck's tailgate. I remembered my oath from the last week, so I told him that I didn't have a truck and that I was planning on re-selling it. He seemed a little taken aback, and I could tell that he was regretful that he had sold it so cheaply and that he had unintentionally left a lot of meat on the bone. The transaction was fine, but it struck me that I had made the seller visibly upset and uncomfortable by telling him my intentions.

So what do you all do? When someone asks why you're buying their thing, do you tell them that you're planning on selling it for more money than they are? Do you make up a white lie about how your mom'd birthday is coming up and she will love it to make them feel better? Do you tell them as politely as possible (or not) that it's none of their business? I still don't know what is best for me, I'd love to hear what you all do in this situation.

Thanks in advance for any replies, and happy hunting as always!

Say (in a 'blonde' voice), "I just think it looks rilly cool!"

 

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[jeff of pa]

"scrap"

 

[Butter Hat]

'I am a yard artist and this will look good next to my rusty tractor seat.'

 

[OldSowBreath]

"I like to re-purpose things." (Works great on Millennials. I leave out that I like to re-purpose them into greenbacks.)

 

[batcap]

I don't get that question very often, but I'll tell them the truth:
"I enjoy finding unusual items and matching them with the people who want them."
"This thing looks special to me and I want to have it."
"If I put in a little time and effort, I can probably make a couple of bucks."

Did you buy this steering wheel early in the morning in an old development off York Rd, inside the beltway, south of Towson college? Did you hear a guy walking up as you were leaving say "Damn! They already got all the good stuff!"? Did a lady actually carry the steering wheel to your SUV? If so, that was me, and I'll say "Hey Baltimore!" next time I see you.

 

[Piledriver]

My life-guide (the Bible) tells me it is "better to be a poor man than a liar".

For me, no amount of money is worth selling my integrity.
That said, nothing requires me to tell ALL that I know.

To some, I simply say I am a collector, which I am.
I have no intention of selling anytime in the foreseeable future.
To others, I occasionally tell more, depending upon my feeling for the situation.

I certainly do not want to train a bunch of pickers in my own back yard.

 

[batcap]

I just say because we collect it. Seeing a 34-year-old male, buying jewelry at their house. Sometimes they will say why are you buying jewelry. And I'll say because I have three girls in my house so I think we officially collect it now! And no one has ever questioned that. They all understand! [emoji16]

Sometimes I even go Hey wait I got more! Then bring out the Mardi Gras beads. Lol.

In my territory there are at least a 1/2 dozen jewelry specialist guys. I've seen them all at work at one time or the other. "Do you have any (other) jewelry, coins, watches? No? Bye!" Gone in 60 seconds. I can't/don't want to compete like that. Not every, but many yard sales around here will get raided just that way, so you can say . . . "The other guy musta got all the jewelry, these hubcaps are all that's left!"

 

[ARC]

Went to a garage sale once...
Guy had a broken up beat part of a jewelry box...
It was grodie and nasty but in one side of it were slots...
The slots were filled with about 10 pair of cufflinks...
Some looked good and some looked like crapola...
So I pick it up and walk over and ask him... how much for the tray... mind you this is a small tray...
He replies " I don't know this one pair is worth at least 25 dollars... as he points to the pair that I was planning on throwing in the trash...
The are fake turquoise chip domes...
Ugly as sin...
So I say to him... "no those are not worth that to me... you can keep that pair"...
How much for the rest...
He says let me see...
And takes the box... gets distracted and begins walking around holding it and talking with other people...
So I follow...
And he looks at box and says 15 dollars... for these...
I say...
how much for ALL of them... one price...
He counts...
Then counts...
And counts again...
He says... "what are you going to do with them"...
I said well to tell you the truth... I am gona sell them...
He totally changes...
He is hemmin and hawin ...
So I say "listen" I will buy them from you if we can just meet on a price...
He is like I don't know if I wznt to sell them all now...
I look at him like he is nuts... which I am beginning to think he really is by now...
I say...
Welp... You keep em then...
They are only worth a buck a pair to me anyway... unless you can prove they are something special...
He says " a buck a pair"...
I say yes... and you know what... for half of those I will be lucky to sell em for 2 bucks a pair.
He now is insulted.
And I am starting to get annoyed...
I just turn and walk away... saying "have a good day"... "Time to go... with my money".

 

[Baltimore]

I don't get that question very often, but I'll tell them the truth:
"I enjoy finding unusual items and matching them with the people who want them."
"This thing looks special to me and I want to have it."
"If I put in a little time and effort, I can probably make a couple of bucks."

Did you buy this steering wheel early in the morning in an old development off York Rd, inside the beltway, south of Towson college? Did you hear a guy walking up as you were leaving say "Damn! They already got all the good stuff!"? Did a lady actually carry the steering wheel to your SUV? If so, that was me, and I'll say "Hey Baltimore!" next time I see you.

Sadly no, My girlfriend doesn't do the sales with me and I drive a station wagon, My steering wheel was up in Bel Air, it was on a "flag lot" at a guys house who had a ton of expensive toys. He had the look of the overpaid boss that everyone hates, and the multiple motorcycles/67 camaro/90's corvette/ loaded silverado in the yard to prove it. We should link up some time though, I still have never been to an estate sale and I'd love to be shown the ropes by a fellow tnetter. I promise I'm not one of the elbow throwing yard sale jerks, I do it more for fun than anything else so I don't mind going with other people. Let me know!

 

[batcap]

PM sent.

 

[gollum]

.................'So the Feds will have someone else to investigate when I use your _______________ to aid my child pornography business"............

 

[Keppy]

When you buy auto parts from a car person they are interested in what you plan to do with it .. They think you are a car person also...Just like Tnet people talk about detecting with each other .. Car people like to talk cars also... And you can always say i think my son or brother could use it ....

 

[clovis97]

Interesting topic.

I generally admit that I am a reseller. No sense in lying to the seller. "Well, we ebay and flea market" is my standard answer. Most of the time, they are cool with it, and most of the time, it opens up new dialogue.

We don't waste much time at garage sales. They take up too much time for the little results that they generally produce. Now, 10 years ago, we were killing it at garage sales. I mean killing it. These days, in our area, it is hard to find much more than baby clothes and some worn out trash.

Last week, telling the truth hurt us. We went to a fabric/sewing/craft sale. As we walked up, the woman asked, "Are you a quilter or a yarn person?" I told her that we were resellers, and I caught a glimpse of a look from her that told me that she didn't like that. She was polite and all, but I could tell that her nose was out of joint.

She wouldn't cut us any deals. Not a one. I offered to buy everything that she had if she would knock a $1 off each yard of fabric. I'd still tell the truth, as I always do. One side note, I did catch her in several lies, and I firmly believe that she is a reseller too, having bought the fabric from others and flipping it at her own sale.

 

[scaupus]

by all means, tell them the truth. Your spiritual integrity is more important than a few dollars. But, you may find it's not a whole lot of fun.

 

[dejapooh]

I say, "I am a School teacher, and I buy and sell this stuff to help make ends meet." More often then not, they ask what I teach, where I teach, and so on. Sometimes they want to talk about my buying stuff, so I tell them that I usually buy if I can pay $.10 on the dollar that I sell them for. After my expenses, and the time, and then work involved, and the items that never sell, that's where things usually price out. They get it. Usually, they agree that it is fair, and then I buy what I want. Occasionally, people will ask what the price of something is when I look it up online. I explain my pricing, and make my offer. If they take it, COOL. If not, Fine. I don't have the time or energy to lie or create a diversion.

 

[RustyGold]

Well if it's rusty gold then it's part of history and you going to give it a new home! You wouldn't be lying!

 

[Oregon Viking]

I say...I've been lookin' for one of those....And I'm walkin, walkin'...

 

[artslinger]

I've never been asked, and I've been to a lot of them! The bottom line is, seller's only care about selling it and having money in their pocket. Once they bring their things out, they lose all the attachment that they had for that item. That has been my experience.

RJA

 

[clovis97]

I've never been asked, and I've been to a lot of them! The bottom line is, seller's only care about selling it and having money in their pocket. Once they bring their things out, they lose all the attachment that they had for that item. That has been my experience.

RJA

FWIW, I have met a bunch of people over the years that do care, and quite often, they either get greedy or start backpedaling on the deal.

I do agree, though, for the most part, the majority of people don't care what you do with the item. They just want it gone.

I am like Mike on American Pickers. I am up front and honest with the sellers. I will often tell someone the value of an item, if the conversation gets to that point, and then flat out tell them what I can pay for the item. Most people are cool with it and you build trust with them.

If the item is laying out at a garage sale, and they don't care, or don't ask, I keep my mouth shut. I pay the price and move on.

 

[clovis97]

BTW, if I am buying from a friend, relative, acquaintance, or if I think I'll cross paths with someone, I am brutally honest with them, especially if they have called me to buy something.

I have told more than one seller: "I am in the flea market and ebay business. That is what I do for a living. I'd like to have these items for resell, and I plan to make a profit on them. I can show you how to sell them on ebay or craigslist at no charge, or I can offer you $300 for them right now."

I've never had anyone balk when I say that. I generally add "So, if you are cool with this offer, I am game. And, by the way, if you change your mind, you can come buy it back at ______________ Antique Mall. I should have it ready, priced and on the shelf by Thursday." That part usually gets a laugh.

Upfront and honest, always. Everyone leaves the table thinking they got a fair shake.