Funny or Out of Line?

falconcry72
falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
edited February 2014 in The Clubhouse
Tell me if I was funny or out of line in this scenario:

I was watching an amp on ebay. The opening price was set too high, so it got no bids and didn't sell. The seller was local to me, so I offered to come pick it up and pay cash... at a lower price than his initial listing. Here is our exchange:


- Me: Hi,

I'm interested in buying one of your *****'s. I am local, so I could come pick it up, and I can pay in cash. What kind of discount could you offer for a local cash deal?

Thanks.


- Seller: What are your expectations for pricing?


- Me: I need this amp purchase to be under 1500. I could do 1350 cash and come any evening this week.


- Seller: I'm sorry that this is not the amp you would be looking for at an offer of under $1500.
Perhaps a ***** amp would be more suited to your pricing constraints.

This ***** amp at a minimum of $1700.00 is above your offered amount. You make
the call!


- Me: Yea, I've owned the 2-channel version of this amp in the past, so I'm aware of its value. I'd offer you more money... but you sound like an ****. Cheers.



So... funny, or out of line?
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,228
    edited February 2014
    No voting buttons?:)

    I'm going with funny...very funny actually.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2014
    PSOVLSK wrote: »
    No voting buttons?:)

    I'm going with funny...very funny actually.

    damn, shoulda been a poll!
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

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    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited February 2014
    I don't see where not accepting your offer makes him or her an ****.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2014
    I don't see in your post where he sounds like an ****.......sounds like a seller that knows his amp will sell at his asking price when the right buyer is looking, this week only cheap buyers were looking....

    I also don't think you were out of line offering less, but you did get out of line saying he sounds like an ****
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2014
    George Grand wrote: »
    I don't see where not accepting your offer makes him or her an ****.

    It doesn't. This line does: "Perhaps a ***** amp would be more suited to your pricing constraints." Granted I am assuming some sarcasm/condescension in his tone, but I think it's a safe assumption.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited February 2014
    George Grand wrote: »
    I don't see where not accepting your offer makes him or her an ****.

    Yes I agree actually. I think the better way to go about it would be to look at ebay's seller fees - its 10% at that price - and offer him his lowest price minus the seller's fee and the paypal fee. With free shipping you are still looking at a 170 to ebay and about 20 for paypal. So If you handn't offended him and really wanted the amp and have a budget of 1500 and think that is a reasonable price, I think you could offer him 1500, maybe 50 less and explain you are saving him the trouble of shipping. But I also don't see how explaining that he won't go that low so you should perhaps look at another amp makes him an ****...
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2014
    It's his amp to sell at whatever price he wants for it. He declined your offer which is his right. You assumed he was being condescending, he was simply giving you another option for a lower priced amp to look at.

    You were out of line calling him an ****.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited February 2014
    This looks like "you had to be there", because the TONE would certainly be the deciding factor; even if the amp is worth more and the seller could get more there is NO reason to condescend and be snarky, if that is, indeed, what happened? If you can't say anything good then don't say anything at all.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited February 2014
    cfrizz wrote: »
    It's his amp to sell at whatever price he wants for it...
    Exactly so.
    cnh wrote: »
    This looks like "you had to be there", because the TONE would certainly be the deciding factor; even if the amp is worth more and the seller could get more there is NO reason to condescend and be snarky, if that is, indeed, what happened? If you can't say anything good then don't say anything at all.

    cnh
    This is one of the challenges of the written word, especially in today's "edgy", confrontational style of inter-personal interaction (buffered though it be by a keyboard, "pad" or smart-phone and/or the seeming anonymity of the internet).
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,695
    edited February 2014
    well if I knew what a ***** amp was I could comment...


    Thanks John for the PFB laugh:lol:
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2014
    hmm looks like I may have been out of line...

    Of course he can can charge whatever he wants and of course he can decline my offer... that's not my point here. Literally, my entire argument hinges on whether he was being snarky/condescending when he said this:

    - "Perhaps a ***** amp would be more suited to your pricing constraints."

    Am I the only one who reads sarcasm into that? Seriously? Maybe it's just the pessimist in me, but it seemed pretty clear to me! "pricing constraints"?! Seriously?! Come one people, dude was being a smart a$$ and I called him on it.


    OK here's the deal, if the "out of lines" out-number the "that was funnys", I'll write the guy an apology at the end of the day :)
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,606
    edited February 2014
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    well if I knew what a ***** amp was I could comment...

    I agree here. What is the amp in question?

    From just reading the above comments you and the seller had. Yeah I would say you were a little out of line.
    --Gary--
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  • Tornado Red
    Tornado Red Posts: 939
    edited February 2014
    It's a close call, but I'd say out of line. Just IMO, but I think the difference lies here: you're making an ASSUMPTION of sarcasm on his part because you can't be sure, but there is no assuming of what you called him.
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited February 2014
    Dude, you said "I need this amp purchase to be under 1500." How is that not a pricing constraint? Now if he said maybe an emo or a cheap adcom is more in your price range, then yes probably being an ****. If he offered a solid amp that comes in under 1500 regularly on the used market, then I just don't see it. So yes I agree the amp matters here...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,220
    edited February 2014
    Hello, falconcry72. I'm gonna have to go with the out of line bro'. My hat is off to you for at least acknowledging that you may have been out of line and offering an apology though. FWIW.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2014
    alright i sent the dude a sincere apology... but i still think he was being an a$$. :twisted:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited February 2014
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    - Me: I need this amp purchase to be under 1500. I could do 1350 cash and come any evening this week.


    OK, I'm a little lost here.....What was his opening bid (you never mentioned that)? Was it $1700? You also say you need the price to be under $1500, then you say you'll give him $1350? Uh......that's quite a bit under $1500!

    So.....if his minimum was $1700 and his eBay fees and PP fees would have been just under $200, he would have netted just over $1500 and would have had the hassles inherent in shipping the amp. Why didn't you offer - after apologizing for calling him an **** - an amount closer to that $1500 mark (ie. $1495!) if that's what it's worth to you. He might accept it. I'm sure he'd love to see your smilin' mug when you come to pick up the amp too!
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  • Hermitism
    Hermitism Posts: 4,277
    edited February 2014
    I think it's funny, but I always try to find humor in everything, although I would never have written what you did. I find that being nice gets you further in an incomplete transaction. I'm extremely sarcastic, but it's always meant to be funny, and not malicious. That's why "internet people" don't really get my odd sense of humor. They can't tell the tone in my words. That's why I never get mad when someone disagrees with my opinions on the internet or this forum, I just think of it as a couple friends having a conversation over a couple of beers. I also always welcome alternative points of view and enjoy trying to understand the "other side" of the argument...even though I'm still right. :wink:

    You should send him a Valentine's card! Now THAT would be funny!
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,695
    edited February 2014
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    alright i sent the dude a sincere apology... but i still think he was being an a$$. :twisted:

    But you are the better man for the apology...

    one never knows maybe he had a lot of A$$hats hit him up and it maybe just spilled over to you. If you've ever had a Craigslist ad you'd defiantly know what I mean.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,695
    edited February 2014
    Hermitism wrote: »
    That's why "internet people" don't really get my odd sense of humor. They can't tell the tone in my words.

    that's the truth right there...Mhardy also hit on the same thing..
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  • seabeerob213
    seabeerob213 Posts: 1,843
    edited February 2014
    i think its funny, for someone to ask for more than something is worth, and then be a dick to you when you make a reasonable offer, he deserves some criticism, he may have a job at bose marketing with that "im better than you" attitude and the mindset of selling something for more than its worth
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited February 2014
    teekay0007 wrote: »
    OK, I'm a little lost here.....What was his opening bid (you never mentioned that)? Was it $1700? You also say you need the price to be under $1500, then you say you'll give him $1350? Uh......that's quite a bit under $1500!

    So.....if his minimum was $1700 and his eBay fees and PP fees would have been just under $200, he would have netted just over $1500 and would have had the hassles inherent in shipping the amp. Why didn't you offer - after apologizing for calling him an **** - an amount closer to that $1500 mark (ie. $1495!) if that's what it's worth to you. He might accept it. I'm sure he'd love to see your smilin' mug when you come to pick up the amp too!

    I would have offered 1500 no problem if he hadn't responded in a way that I interpreted to be a$$hatish.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,656
    edited February 2014
    I find it funny. But then I have recently dealt with a condescending dickbag in a recent attempted amp deal too. Funny part is, I spent my cash elsewhere while he was claiming that I wasn't able to afford his amp.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • polrbehr
    polrbehr Posts: 2,834
    edited February 2014
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    alright i sent the dude a sincere apology... but i still think he was being an a$$. :twisted:

    It seems you have a perfectly balanced "apology equation" there... LOL

    Eh, I would've just turned and walked away; you never know if next week the guy might change his selling price but decline to sell to YOU just out of spite. My .02
    So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?


    http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,760
    edited February 2014
    I think the guy was trying to be helpful, so out of line.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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  • jephdood
    jephdood Posts: 1,671
    edited February 2014
    Unless there's no doubt it was a snark, I'd say your response was out of line. Very well could have been, but not really definitive, IMO.
    "I did not slap you. I high-fived your face."
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,228
    edited February 2014
    falconcry72 wrote: »

    - "Perhaps a ***** amp would be more suited to your pricing constraints."

    Am I the only one who reads sarcasm into that? Seriously? Maybe it's just the pessimist in me, but it seemed pretty clear to me! "pricing constraints"?! Seriously?! Come one people, dude was being a smart a$$ and I called him on it.

    Nope, I read it as being very smarmy.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,337
    edited February 2014
    I'm in the I don't **** * **** category...












    ;-)
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2014
    I recently (2 weeks ago) had a guy tell me that an item I had listed for $1495 would never sell for more than his $1k offer when the item already had an opening bid at my asking price with 4 days left to the auction. He couldn't get it through his head that someone had already bid on the item and it would sell for that price, and that people in the know might be willing to actually pay good $$ for a nice item. When it sold for $2730 at the auction end, I had no problem messaging him and thanking him for reaffirming my knowledge of the items that I sell.

    And yes, I most likely was considered an **** for my stance, but as a seller of over 1500 items this past year, I get tired of the never-ending low ball offers on items that don't have a best offer option and I regularly offer that option on items that I'm willing to negotiate on.

    Its a fine line when dealing with people through the internet, especially selling worldwide to so many different cultures. It is so easy to miss understand each other........
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  • jbooker82
    jbooker82 Posts: 1,627
    edited February 2014
    polrbehr wrote: »
    Eh, I would've just turned and walked away; you never know if next week the guy might change his selling price but decline to sell to YOU just out of spite. My .02

    I would. Going to get called an **** might as well act like one.
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