interpretation

[zhead240]

in my long search of ads i frequently come across-example, $7500 or b o. i've always thought this meant $7500 or best offer below asking price.the wife says noooooooooo. it means $7500 or best offer above asking price.i try to reason, why would anyone offer more than the person is asking.what's your interpretation? thankyou very much

[Zedrally]

obo

or best offer closet to 7500. The rest is all negotiation.

[Bambikiller240]

My interpretation is $xxx.xx or best offer PERIOD In other words whatever he can get. Most buyers I run into will state this type of thing and entertain offers for a period of time, and the highest offer gets it. Usually it will end up being below the price stated, but really, do you think he would turn down a higher offer?

[hls30.com]

OBO is a sign that says ignore everything involving price before or after. Offer what you would like to pay and move toward the limit of what you would pay-regardless of any other figures in the situation-the seller has already thrown them out the window with the OBO.

Will

[EScanlon]

OBO is a sign that says ignore everything involving price before or after. Offer what you would like to pay and move toward the limit of what you would pay-regardless of any other figures in the situation-the seller has already thrown them out the window with the OBO.

Will

Although I agree with what you are saying, I think that it is a somewhat "harsh" way of explaining it. I think what he's saying is "I really want 7500 for it, but if you don't think it's worth 7500 then offer what you think it's worth to you and that offer that coimes CLOSEST to what I want, 7500 is what will get the car." I don't think he's thrown everything out the window, he still retains control of whether or not he sells the car.

To think that a seller would negotiate DOWN an amount HIGHER than what they've already stated, or that a buyer would so willingly give MORE than what the seller is asking is ludicrous and naive.

Ask your wife if she's willing to pay $1000 for a pair of jeans just because she could afford to pay that amount (WITHOUT some other "value" added i.e. designer label, custom tailored, uniqueness). That is, a plain old pair of jeans that everyone else would pay $25.00 for you're going to pay $1000. I don't think so, and if she says she would.....I have a couple of items I'd like to sell her.

2¢ (which she can give me a dollar for)

Enrique

[Bambikiller240]

..............To think that a seller would negotiate DOWN an amount HIGHER than what they've already stated, or that a buyer would so willingly give MORE than what the seller is asking is ludicrous and naive.

In 1983 a former neighbor of mine put up For Sale a 2 Door - 1971 Datsun 510. He had rebuilt the drivetrain, suspension, and it had a nice interior, etc. It was advertised at $2300 obo in the local paper. Since I knew the car and had drooled over it when we were neighbors, I immediately called and offered him the $2300. He indicated that he'd had little in the way of calls in the week it had been for sale, but he wanted to wait until the 2 week listing in the paper ended before agreeing to sell it. I asked him to let me know when he was ready to sell it. To make the story short(er), he was unable to contact me at the end of the classified ad due to my work schedule and before I could get ahold of him ( about 2 days later) I discovered the car pulling into the driveway across the street from my home. My new neighbor had bought it for his girlfriend and paid the guy $2500. I called the seller and he explained that he'd tried to contact me to see if I was still interested in the car, and planned to sell it to me, but my new neighbor had come to his door with cash in hand and bumped my offer by $200 and he couldn't turn it down.

It's not always about being willing to give more than the seller asks, but rather to outbid another interested buyer in an "o.b.o. battle" for a desired item.

(Missing out on that car is a sore subject in my home 20+ years later)

[EScanlon]

.....It's not always about being willing to give more than the seller asks, but rather to outbid another interested buyer in an "o.b.o. battle" for a desired item....

You're right Carl, I meant in an uncontested situation.

If I know that I'm the ONLY person interested in a car, and the guy is asking 2300, why would I give him 2500. In the situation you mentioned, the other neighbors offer was higher than yours and therefore "better".

Are you still looking for a 5 and Dime?

Enrique

[Bambikiller240]

If I had money I would be. Unfortunately it's a pipe dream at the moment.

[hls30.com]

Enrique,

Yes, I guess it was kind of harsh-that wasn't the intent, but I can see where that could have come across. I do look at an ad with OBO just that way though. I start with what I consider to be a respectable offer-with out regard for any amount listed in the ad, and work up to what I would consider my limit. Now, that does not mean I am not polite to the seller, it simply means that I read the ad, and made an offer-just because it may not have been my best offer does not mean that it could not have been the sellers best offer. I did the very same thing when I tried to buy the JDM headlight covers as I posted in another thread, and I was not rude or curt there. Being rude can make a price go up, or a purchase dissapear forever, being polite can only help as long as the communication is complete, or at least open ended-and persistant!

Will

[EScanlon]

Will:

Didn't mean to imply that YOU were being rude or harsh, but that the description was too harsh to make the subtle point you were making. I agree, if someone wants to sell a $100 bill for $200 OBO, I might just offer $10, although I know someone will beat me. Then again, if the contract is binding, as it is on e-Bay (supposedly), I'll be the winner. If it isn't, then I havent LOST anything, but I did stand a CHANCE to gain. Sometimes that's all you really want.

After all, who other than Z owners, would buy something for a price, invest a chunk of change in it and then sell it for less than what' he wants for it...... ?

We basically agree on our methods.

Enrique

[hls30.com]

Enrique,

Good Pernt! Got any parts you want to sell :laugh: ?

Carl,

put out the herb, and put the pipe down !

Follow that Casey Casem advice !

Will

[EScanlon]

Enrique,

Good Pernt! Got any parts you want to sell :laugh: ?

Actually, yes, but have to get Beandip to finish selecting what he needs for his car and then I just picked up another Z that may need some parts and then they'll go up for sale.

In the meantime, I'm collecting as many $20 Bills I can get in hopes that Zhead240's wife will buy them for $50 Best Offer.

Carl,

put out the herb, and PASS the pipe down !

EDIT MINE

Follow that Casey Casem advice !

Will

Ok, I can understand the rolleyes cause I can't for the life of me remember this one.

Enrique