Help me deal with my friend. Opinions please

[tracysbeans]

Ok I have a friend. He is male. He makes me Hot Under The Collar. The end. LOL (Wait it's even worse cause he's my ex. )

Ok can you help me solve a debate I'm having with him PLEASE.

Ok this is the deal. I plan to purchase a freezer from someone tonight. (Or least I hope to purchase a freezer tonight) I'm hoping to be able to negotiate on the price of it. I think they are asking to much for it. I also have gotten 2 others just like it for a lot less. Anyway my male friend said when he negotiates the price on something he asks what the seller paid for the item. (now just so you know he is talking to a seller that is a stranger not someone he knows) I think that is rude to ask that. He doesn't. I even said why doesn't it matter what THEY paid for it. I just care what they want to sell it for. I even gave him this example. Let's say I paid $50 for a commercial freezer from a friend. (geesh don't I wish $1,400 poorer now) I would NEVER tell a potential buyer I got a hot smoking deal of ONLY $50 bucks. I feel it's not the potential buyers business what I paid for something. I even think it would be rude for them to ask. AND if I had some bozo ask me I would say I forgot what I paid or whatever. I guess I might tell them what I paid IF I paid let's say $1,400 and I'm selling it to them for $1,000. Just to let them know they are getting a HOT deal on it.

What do you guys think? Who do you agree with?

HELP! I am ONLY debating this with him because I want him to be aware that even though HE thinks it's ok to ask that some (like me) would think it was rude to ask what I paid for something.

Now maybe if I knew the person or it was a relative I might ask what they paid for something. It just wouldn't cross my mind to ask a complete stranger what they paid for an item.

[tracysbeans]

oh crap I forgot to proof before I posted.

I meant why DOES it matter on this sentence

"why doesn't it matter what THEY paid for it"

[tracysbeans]

Oh and it makes me even HOTTER under the collar when I'm dealing with somone who isn't open to seeing the other side of the coin on something. (I guess that's why he is an EX )

[tracysbeans]

I also had him ask a customer of mine (a male customer) he didn't know but was in place of business at the time what he's girlfriend did for work. I mean he just struck up a conversation with one of my customers (that is a stranger to him) and asked what his girlfriend did for work. (she wasn't with him) I was like :shrug7: after they left. I felt that was kinda odd to ask that.

[tracysbeans]

Crap no more editing here?? I can always do that anywhere else. Anyway I meant to edit my 3rd post and say that was why he is my ex AND why I'm STAYING single. I don't know how the heck you married people can get by

[shashabell]

Me and my sister have a couple garage sales a year, and we've never ever encountered anyone who asked what we paid for something we're selling. If they did, I'd probably inflate the price I actually paid.

[tracysbeans]

Me and my sister have a couple garage sales a year, and we've never ever encountered anyone who asked what we paid for something we're selling. If they did, I'd probably inflate the price I actually paid.

But don't you think it would be rude if someone started asking what you paid for everything?

And with US couponers we would REALLY have to inflate the prices. I don't think some would believe us if we actually told them what we paid.

[3timesoccermom]

My MIL used to ask husband and me what we paid for stuff all the time but she was the 1st to get offended if someone wanted to know that about something of hers. We finally got around it by telling her "a lot."

Many times people say what they paid for something when they're trying to sell it so I don't see it as rude if he's inquiring about something he's considering buying though I do think it's none of his business. But, the seller can choose whether to answer or not.

If he asks people at other times what they paid for something, say their new car, yep, it's rude, nosy and inappropriate, but again they don't have to answer. Some people are brought up in families that openly discuss these things and others aren't.

[hbaqueen]

Yes I think its rude to ask someone what they paid for something. Perhaps they could say what does something likes this new run for? Or something like that wouldnt be so rude but I still wouldnt ask even that.

On a similar note
My husband will not sell something to someone who downs the product. Like if he is selling a car and they say well there is this dent and this and that. He feels like he knows what is wrong with it and that its rude for people to use that tactic for getting the price lower. If they were just to say Ill only give you x for it hed take it but if they say well this is wrong and this is and that is he wont budge.

[leqet]

Well I don't really think it's "rude", but it's an odd question to ask if you're looking to get a good deal. I mean if I were the seller and I got asked what I paid for something new (on a big item), I might think about it and raise my price to try to get more. Say I have a freezer I bought new for $1500 and it's only been used for a couple years; it's still in "like new" condition. If I'm trying to get $500 and someone asks, "Well what did you pay new?" I might tell them and then go, "you know you're right this is worth a lot more that $500." But that's just me. So I guess I disagree about it being rude, but I agree with you that it's no way to haggle a good price.