One thing that irritates me when dealing with people

[radiotvnut]

The other day, a real estate agent who I know told me about a radio/record player combination that was in a house that they were about to close on and the owners only had a short time to clear the stuff out. Last night, she got in touch with me to let me know that this morning would be a good time to look at the radio. So, me and another friend that we all know met her over at the house.

The radio was a typical '48 Philco AM/FM console with a pull-out drawer under the dial that contained a 78 rpm record changer. It used a 12" speaker and two 6K6's in PP for audio output. Besides a missing knob, the cabinet was in nice shape. The problem was that he wanted $150 for it. I nicely told him that his price was on the high side and he wanted to know what I'd give him. I offered $50; which, I think is a very generous offer for an average '40's radio/phono console. I also explained what all is involved in getting it going again and that's the reason I couldn't give no more than that. He didn't say anything at first and my friend bought some things from him.

After my friend was finished dealing with him, the guy told me that if he couldn't get his price for the radio by next Friday (the day he has to be out of the house); then, he'd sell it to me.

I don't blame the guy for trying to get as much for the radio as he can; but, I'm not into this "come back later" sort of thing. I put that in the same category as these estate sales who won't budge on a price; but, will tell you to come back tomorrow for half price day. When I'm at a sale; I'm ready to deal and I'm not likely going to return the next day or next week. From a selling standpoint, I've learned that if someone is standing in front of you and they are wanting to deal; then, you'd better deal with them. Otherwise, they may not come back and I may get stuck with the item. Years ago, I was trying to sell a color TV for $75. A lady looked at it and offered $60 and I turned it down because I knew I could eventually get $75 for the TV. She finally agreed to $75; but, said she'd have to go get the rest of the money and that she'd be right back. Guess what? She never returned and I ended up selling that TV for less than $75. I learned a valuable lesson from that experience in that if someone is there with money in hand, it's best to deal with them. Nowadays, it's hard enough to sell something and I don't think it would be in my best interest to give the potential buyer "time to think about it". Get the money while he/she is in the mood and say "thank you". It might not be as much money as you'd like; but, it's better than not selling the item at all.

The guy who owned the radio was nice and it will depend on what kind of mood I'm in rather or not I go back after the radio if he calls. One side of me says to get it and add it to the pile that's already here. The other side of me says to forget it and develop the "you should have sold it to me while I was willing to buy it" attitude.

I was talking to the real estate agent outside and she agrees that no one is likely going to give him $150 for that radio and he will most likely get in touch with me about buying it. She also clued me in that one of the local high priced antique shops wanted to buy everything for one price and that they were the ones that clued him in on what to ask for the radio.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm at an auction instead of a tag sale. If these sellers are wanting to hold out for the most money; then, maybe they should have an auction.

Another thing that irritates me is people who can't make up their mind what they want for something. Years ago, I ran a "wanted" ad in the paper for records. An older woman called and I told her over the phone that I never pay over $1 for LP's and I don't pay over fifty cents for 45's. She agreed to that over the phone; but, when I got to her house, she tried to charge me more money. I reminded her that was not what we agreed upon over the phone and she gave me some line on the order of, "these are in such good shape and I need to get more money for them". I looked through the box anyway and picked out two or three LP's that I would have paid her price for; but, she then wouldn't sell them to me unless I bought the whole box. I had to get out of there before I said something ugly to her. As for me, when a price is agreed upon, that's the price and I don't take it very kindly when people back out of an agreed upon deal. I think people think that once they get you over at their location; then, you'll go ahead and pay their price.