haggling with sellers - what is reasonable?

[Kali]

what is a reasonable first offer in terms of percentages of asking price? say a vehicle is advertized for 10,000 - what should my first offer be? Is 7,500 too low, insulting what? To me the seller should make a counter offer, right? and then we would work out way to some middle ground. like 8,500 or 9,000 - right? Is 9000 to low to expect a dealer (as opposed to a private individual) to go?

I know if it was old Mexico or other parts of the world offering half as a first offer on any purchase wouldn't be insulting at all, but not sure about used cars here at home.

I'm getting strange "feedback" from a couple on-line offers I have tried. At first they act like they are all excited you contact them, then nothing. Am I doing this wrong? Nobody wants to do anything by e-mail - afraid of paper trail or what? They all want me to come talk face to face. I know why, but I live 200 miles away and am not going to go talk until I have some halfway serious things to go look at. shheeesh

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. If I think the asking price is within 20% of a realistic price, I'll look at the car.

If, once looking at the car, I think someone is going to buy this car in the next 24 hours, I'll buy at full price.

If not, I offer 20% less to get the conversation started.

Generally I don't talk price via email or phone except to ask if the seller "has room to move" on price.

[Kali]

2. my problem is logistics

(and budget) If I find the right vehicle on "paper" I could pretty much just buy it on line, if I could get the stupid haggling out of the way. (does Amazon have used cars?)


but I can't go running 200+ miles to have a look at one vehicle

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. Before the internet, all we had was the telephone.

Now you never have to go 200 miles to look at a car *sight unseen* because sellers will supply photos.

If the photos are ambiguous, ask for more. Doing due diligence about what condition the car is in and what it includes can be done before coming to visit.

Sellers are happy to answer any and all questions about the car, take more photos or video if necessary to make buyers understand what they're selling.

In my experience, haggling has to be done face to face. I rarely respond to people who reply "will you take $" to a craigslist ad, and if I do, it's only to say "come take a look at it before you offer".

As a seller, I've found that people whose emails indicate they are only interested in price are always flakes.

As a buyer if I like the car based on the pictures and conversations with the seller and would pay 80% or more of the asking price, it's worth the drive.

... and I bring cash.