collector or scrapper

parts cost more than the whole thing

fixer up!

A WD45 like that is diffently worth $500!! Around me that would sell for $1000 or more.

Problem is, you are too far away from me!

Nobody seems to be willing to pay much these days. Probably don't have fun money any more.

If it were mine theres no way I'd sell it for less than $1000  Over the years (befor recession) I have fixed up many and usually get less than what I have in them but it's a hobby for me and I enjoy working on them.

I'm cheap, so I'd try to get it for as little as possible, but If it's a good runner & you weren't so far away, I'd offer you closer to the $1000 that you want for it.

Well, I wasn't sure what the original post or title was about, so I went looking for it in the classifieds.

My perspective on it, is that if somone posts items for sale, and posts no asking price, then they're asking for offers.

In a face-to-face sale, price is determined by a jointly agreed transaction price.  "value", at that point, is established, not only by the transaction PRICE, but by other considerations between seller and buyer.  Sometimes these considerations can be evaluated, however, other times (like when buying or selling to family or a friend) simply cannot- they exist in a realm above money.

In an auction, price is determined not by the highest bidder, but by the second highest bidder.  (Grandpa's words, not mine... but he was right!).  The limits to which one will bid on an object in live auction, are frequently limited by the amount of time and depth of observation that the bidders have to examine the object and determine it's true condition.

In an internet auction, the price is subject to same situation as a live auction, with the caveat that essentially NO prior examination is possible, and buyers constrict their offers based on the condition which the object is described, the amount of demonstration provided (photo of stack with engine running, video of startup and operation, etc), the level of guarantee that the seller offers, and finally, the investment a buyer would have to make in order to get the item delivered to their location.

Back to the initial condition-  when offering something for sale, the seller posts an asking price.  This price reflects the seller's confidence in the item, as well as the seller's understanding of the marketable value, given all the other items above.  If you offered the tractor for sale for $200, and was located in Gnome, Alaska or anywhere in Honolulu, you would likely get no offers.  You did excel above others, in that you did list your location...   why some don't, totally escapes me, because last time I tried, I couldn't get a WD in a standard Priority Mail shipping box... alas, it still happens.

But anyway, you didn't post a price, so one would surmise from that, that you were open to any and all offers, reasonable and unreasonable.  The buyer's offer, at that point, would be motivated by three simple things:

1) Accomodating the fact that they have less that sufficient understanding of it's condition...

2) Accomodating the fact that cost of coming to look, and the transportation investment is very high...

or...

3) They're looking for a very good deal.


Frankly, I can't blame anyone for ANY of these conditions.

If you feel slighted by their offers, I recommend that you put on asking prices, and when doing so, take into account that which I noted above.  Also accept the fact that an agreement on value is made through the volley of negotiation, and that you may find that there's more INTRINSIC value (i.e., it was a family heirloom) in it than what someone's willing to offer for a sale-value.  In that case, you'll have the choice of rejecting the offer, or perhaps accepting in in consideration of other factors that transcend money.