If this is a venting thread for CL idiots I'm in......
I was selling a 2 place trailer that I used personally for 2+ years until I moved up to a larger 2 place trailer as I
gradually upgraded to bigger (heavier/longer) machines. This trailer was in very good shape - new radials, galvanized,
storage bin, new carpeted platform, led lights, etc etc. In Canada, a double trailer is $1000 all day long. Maybe $850-$900 if it's
a POS, non-galvanized, lights not working etc etc. So in other words this was worth the $1000.....
This clown phones me as was going to buy a new single trailer for $750 but is interested in the double as it's "what I really
need". So he offers me the $750 instead. Politely I decline. End of story? Nope.
He phones back a few days and ups his offer to $900 (as it's half the price of a new double he says). Again I say no. I'll come
down to $1000 (listed at $1100) but that's it. Then it begins....
- the trailer is a 1993 year but super solid etc. He's worried that it's too old.
- he's worried that the trailer may vibrate or may have a twisted frame. No it does not.
- so if he buys new he has a one year warranty and can return it anytime to be repaired. Uh OK.
- I said go spend another $1000 (difference on the new trailer plus tax) and then add on radials, led lights, storage
and carpet the platform and see where you are.
- He say's that's what he's going to do then. (Man I have patience)
Of course it's not over.
Calls me on a Saturday and wants to see it. Price is still $1000, don't come out and waste my time to offer me $900. "OK"...
I grab the trailer (it was stored elsewhere) and meet him.
This guy gives the trailer a better physical than I get at my doctor. Shaking the tires two-three times to check the bearings, standing
and hopping on the trailer up and down, unreels the cranks to measure the strap length, checks the cranks, moves the tongue crank up and down, checks all the lights, the carpet, the tote, takes out a tape measure to measure the dimensions, measures his seadoo (yamaha actually - that should have alerted me) size - twice - hems and haws as I stand there.
Then he starts...."I need this for my stand-up and my 4 stroke machine. The stand-up is 300 lbs and the 4 stroke is 800 lbs. This will work great. It's perfect for what I need". Then he hems and haws a bit more....
"I'm worried that if I buy another 4 stroke the trailer may be a bit small" (Note - it is a "smaller" 2 place trailer)
"Are you buying another 4 stroke?"
"No, I would never do that. I love my stand-up. I'll have it for another 10 years"
"Then why are you worried about that?"
"Well, if I try to sell this trailer and the next guy has two 4 strokes, he won't buy it"
"No he probably wouldn't, but then again a guy has two 4 strokes and invested $10-15-20 grand he's already got a trailer".
"Well I'm worried I may not be able to sell it down the road and then I'd have to convert it into an ATV trailer or utility trailer"
"Let me get this straight. As I understand this, you're worried about having two 4 strokes - which you said will never happen, and
maybe not being able to sell it to a segment of seadooers who have the large 4 stroke machines sometime down the road - which
will be around 10 years from now."
"Yes"
"So you're worried about something that may never happen"
"Yes"
"OK what do you want to do?"
"I want to think about it and let you know" - note this is about 1 friggin' hour after we started this mess.
"OK see you later" and walk to my truck and off I go. I don't know if he expected me to leave so suddenly...I was just happy
to have my life back. :cuss:
The next day I get another call on the trailer, I meet the new guy 2 hours later, he walks around the trailer once then comes over
and hands me the $1000. As we're connecting it to his truck he asks if the lights work (yes) and off he goes. Took about 10 minutes
even after BS'ing a bit.
That night I get a text from the original yahoo saying he was "going to pass". I said no problem I sold the trailer
already anyway. No answer back yet...:facepalm:
Thanks for the vent...I feel better.