As title says I would like to hear your stories. Here are a few I been around 1. A new truck deal went south over the price of side view mirrors! 2. A large contract was lost over 1/3 cent per pound trucking. 3. Some used items like tractor or implement deal went south over a small part like roll of baler twine or a battery. I have seen quite a few others that was a " nickel holding up a dollar" Seems some people thrive on this type of stuff I guess.
- Thread starter JOCCO
- Start date
I have a couple. Sometimes it is simply the principle of the thing. Many years ago we wrote a check to phone company for the bill. We had a difference of .10 (yes 10 cents) and my wife wrote the check for .10 less and noted the discrepancy, and that we were sending payment minus the dime. When the check cleared, it cleared for the amount billed - not the amount on the check. The biggest problem was not the amount, it was that she did not notice, and she was out of balance when she reconciled the account. She finally found it, and visited the bank inquiring why, and how that worked. She demanded the .10 be credited back or we were closing our accounts before leaving that day. I guess it made the point and they credited the account. Years later I recall an instance where we had made a deal on a new car, and happened to notice the closing amount was $75 more than originally agreed upon. This was a "dealer trade", where the dealer was going to pickup the vehicle. The salesman finally fessed up that the extra $75 was for sending an employee. Again, not so much the amount, but the principle that he did not disclose that this was happening, and seemed to be hiding this. I informed him he could eat the $75 or the deal was off, and I would go elsewhere, and if nothing else, I knew where the vehicle was, and had no problem driving myself and buying the car direct from that dealer. The salesman was all about making it happen, but his boss refused, and we walked. The following Saturday I drove approx. 2 hours to purchase a similar car, but he lost the sale over $75 - which likely cost me about that same amount in fuel, and certainly an entire day. But, sometimes you have to make a point.
Bob Bancroft
Well-known Member
- Location
- Aurora NY
I don't recall ever being in that particular situation. I have a friend who assumes he can always buy something for less than the advertised price. Apparently he's not the only one. Years back I had advertised a pair of 15.5x38 tires on rims. They were worn Firestones, and had had calcium, so rust on the rims was a factor. I had priced them at $200-$300, I don't remember. Guy called, and we discussed it. He came, driving maybe 1 to 1.5 hours, I would guess. He sat here and fumed for probably half an hour in disbelief that I wouldn't take less than the advertised price. He finally paid, we loaded them up, and he was off.
Well, if you added 1/3 of a penny per lb trucking my crops away, you would get to the $6000.00 neighborhood, I wouldn't really call that small potatoes?
Think any good businessperson would and should watch their expenses, but if you just want to throw it around I'll be sure to look you up.
When I ordered a pickup long ago, when it came the dealership said thry forgot a $100 fee, if I would care to pay for that. A month after we shook on the deal and I had made a down payment.
My friend who was along to get me there said he was surprised that I appeared that I would walk out on the deal if they forced the issue.
And I would have. We agreed, had a deal in writing, there isn't any changing it after? The price of corn dropped that winter, if they wanted to open up the negotiations I had less dollars than I expected a month earlier, I was certainly open to renegotiating if thry wanted to.
That dealership is out of business several decades later, but it always left a bad taste in my mouth, that they would want to tack on a $100 up charge and think that was ok.
On the other hand, I sold some small amount of grain to a distant neighbor this week, I looked at his containers in his pickup and asked for X amount as payment. Doing some calculations now after looking online how much his containers hold I see I shortchanged myself. No big deal, my fault, I won't ever ask for that to be changed, I named my price and I am happy living with that. Look forward to selling him some more in the future, we will visit the quantiy of future sales anew but we will not look backwards. All good, no issues on my part.
Paul
Think any good businessperson would and should watch their expenses, but if you just want to throw it around I'll be sure to look you up.
When I ordered a pickup long ago, when it came the dealership said thry forgot a $100 fee, if I would care to pay for that. A month after we shook on the deal and I had made a down payment.
My friend who was along to get me there said he was surprised that I appeared that I would walk out on the deal if they forced the issue.
And I would have. We agreed, had a deal in writing, there isn't any changing it after? The price of corn dropped that winter, if they wanted to open up the negotiations I had less dollars than I expected a month earlier, I was certainly open to renegotiating if thry wanted to.
That dealership is out of business several decades later, but it always left a bad taste in my mouth, that they would want to tack on a $100 up charge and think that was ok.
On the other hand, I sold some small amount of grain to a distant neighbor this week, I looked at his containers in his pickup and asked for X amount as payment. Doing some calculations now after looking online how much his containers hold I see I shortchanged myself. No big deal, my fault, I won't ever ask for that to be changed, I named my price and I am happy living with that. Look forward to selling him some more in the future, we will visit the quantiy of future sales anew but we will not look backwards. All good, no issues on my part.
Paul
TomH in PA
Well-known Member
Once when buying a new battery for a car, I got annoyed by all the personal information they claimed was needed for the warranty. I offered to buy the battery without a warranty but they wouldn't sell it so I walked.
Ultradog MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Twin Cities
I think the word is spelled quibbling.
Bob Harvey
Well-known Member
Same as some of the below accounts. When I bought my latest truck, I went and looked at it and made a deposit. The dealer is 2 1/2 hrs and a ferry ride away (add 45 min). Went back 2 days later to pick it up (the wife providing transport), and all seemed well. Get to the final paying stage and they had added a $350 'service/accounting' fee, I said no way. I already had a signed contract, so natch, I got up and walked out. Didn't even make it back to the car and the Sales Manager came rushing out. He tried to tell me that it was a standard fee - I looked at him and got in the car. He tapped on the window and said we will wave the fee this time. If I didn't really like the truck (and still do), we would have left.
accumulator
Member
Had a tractor for sale and a buyer drove 10 hours to pick it up. Drove the tractor and didn't like the sound of something. Turned around and left. Think he wanted me to discount. Sold the tractor a month later for more money and they were happy.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
Working for an aerospace company on a contract with a certain middle eastern country, our contracting officer told me "a signed contract is just a basis for further negotiation." Some folks ALWAYS want to get a little something extra out of the deal. Which works for them most of time, until it doesn't.
Goose
Well-known Member
I enjoy haggling.
One time (when I was not working as a salesman) I sold a Chevy Monte Carlo to a fellow. We got down to $20 apart on the price. He knew he was going to buy it and I knew I was going to sell it, we just had fun arguing over $20. My wife kicked me on the ankle and said, "Sell the dammed thing and get it over with".
Another time I bought a pickup from a large Pontiac/GMC dealer. I drove the salesman nuts. We got down to $5.00 apart on the price. I don't recall the actual price I bought it for, but it ended in $2.50 because we split the $5.00. I thought my wife was going to kill me.
My wife doesn't haggle. She makes an offer, take it or leave it. One time in the mid '80's she bought a GMC K5 Blazer. One of her brothers was with her, and told me the story afterwards. The dealer had the Blazer priced at $5995. My wife offered them $5300. The salesman went through the usual drill of talking to the Sales Manager. He came back and told my wife, "The Sales Manager says we can let you have that vehicle for $5700.
My wife told him, "You didn't understand me. I said I'd give you $5300 for it". By the time she left, she'd bought it for $5300.
One time (when I was not working as a salesman) I sold a Chevy Monte Carlo to a fellow. We got down to $20 apart on the price. He knew he was going to buy it and I knew I was going to sell it, we just had fun arguing over $20. My wife kicked me on the ankle and said, "Sell the dammed thing and get it over with".
Another time I bought a pickup from a large Pontiac/GMC dealer. I drove the salesman nuts. We got down to $5.00 apart on the price. I don't recall the actual price I bought it for, but it ended in $2.50 because we split the $5.00. I thought my wife was going to kill me.
My wife doesn't haggle. She makes an offer, take it or leave it. One time in the mid '80's she bought a GMC K5 Blazer. One of her brothers was with her, and told me the story afterwards. The dealer had the Blazer priced at $5995. My wife offered them $5300. The salesman went through the usual drill of talking to the Sales Manager. He came back and told my wife, "The Sales Manager says we can let you have that vehicle for $5700.
My wife told him, "You didn't understand me. I said I'd give you $5300 for it". By the time she left, she'd bought it for $5300.
Ted in NE-OH
Well-known Member
Scams, Like the car dealer wanting to charge me $90 to scan for codes. What a rip off when the local parts store will do it for free.
The dealer is diagnosing the codes for that money. The parts store checks the code, then gives a list parts that it might be. Most cars I get from the 'Zone have already had the store thrown at them and way more money spent than the diag ever would have been. But having it checked first by someone that knows what they are doing is "too expensive". Not defending dealers, I don't work at one, but used to. Just stating the other side of that coin.
CenTex Farmall
Well-known Member
I have life insurance through a union. I always pay the yearly premium in full rather than make payments.
One year after ten months had gone by I get a notice saying I owed them a PENNY. Yes, they sent me a bill for .01$.
I threw it away. I get another one and throw it away too.
Finally get a third one and now threatening to cancel my policy.
*sigh* FINE FINE FINE
So I call them up to see if they really intend to cancel a dues paying member's insurance over a penny. Man blamed computer rounding error and automatic billing system. It took him a while to fix it and think it had to go through the accounting department too.
One year after ten months had gone by I get a notice saying I owed them a PENNY. Yes, they sent me a bill for .01$.
I threw it away. I get another one and throw it away too.
Finally get a third one and now threatening to cancel my policy.
*sigh* FINE FINE FINE
So I call them up to see if they really intend to cancel a dues paying member's insurance over a penny. Man blamed computer rounding error and automatic billing system. It took him a while to fix it and think it had to go through the accounting department too.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
1/3 cent per pound on a 50000 pound semi load is $165. If the contract is for 100 loads, well well you do the math.
Worked for a law firm in a big city that did insurance defense work- so their clients were insurance companies. They billed on each case every month, whether they had done any work on the case or not. If they hadn't done any work, the bill was for 25 cents- the cost of the stamp to send the bill. I asked the office manager how they could get away with that, and he laughed and said the clients insisted on it- the bean counters at the insurance companies wanted a bill for each and every month in the file, and they were fine with the 25 cents.
I had a customer that was looking for a good, running takeout engine for their dump truck. I found them one at a local salvage yard so we went to look at it. The guy was offering it for something like $800, with no guarantees. I told them that since he offered on warranty that that it would even run, it was worth $300, at best. So, my customer offered him $300, and he wouldn't take it. The customer and I discussed it a bit more, and told the seller we'd just look elsewhere and began to walk out. Needless to say, we bought it for $300.
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
My wife was that way. Never tried to cheat anyone. But it was her price or she walks.
I had an engine from a chain store that was bad from the reman facility. Didn't even get one mile on that engine be it was coming back out. Warranty provides $300 for labor to fix the junk they sell. Store manager says that money can only go to their service center. Naturally that didn't set well with me and BIL (he was helping) l literally thought there was gonna be a fistfight right there in the middle of the store, all this in front of customers. I did get my money back back for the engine, plus the core money from my old engine, found someone that sold real engines, bought that one, got 150,000 out of that one. After a 4 page letter to corporate, I did get the $300 along with a very good apology for the idiots that ran the store. I can't condemn the whole entire chain, even though I'd like to, but l'd be in desperate straits to go back in there again.
My neighbor/friend bought a car from an individual at noon. Paid cash. At 3:30 he asked me to drive him to pick it up, and as we rolled into the driveway, the homeowner and three other goons were removing the battery from his car and intending to replace it with a dud. I've been in a few scraps in my life, but I never have considered my self to be good at fighting, so when my friend came unhinged, and jumped out of my truck threatening to whip everybody in sight, I was slightly concerned. The three goons dropped the tools, put there hands up and slowly backed to a pickup and sped away. The other guy ran like a streak to the house trailer and locked himself inside, with my friend banging on the door for him to come out. I've never in my life felt more like a sitting duck - I figured we were both gonna get shot. I tried to talk him into getting the car and leaving, but he refused - said he wanted his money back. After about a half hour of threats shouted back and forth through the locked door, the homeowner sent his oriental wife outside. She called my friend every vile name that I'd ever heard, and he just stood there, red-faced, silent, and looking at his boots. Finally, she reached in her bra and pulled his money out, and I beat him to my truck. I'm still amazed that there wasn't a shooting, and all we had were pocket knives. All we had to do was set the original battery back in the car and drive away, but something clicked in his head, and he no longer wanted that car.
K Effective
Well-known Member
Now, that's the way it's done, folks :lol:
\thread
Guy called me a few years ago, during the drought in Texas. He was coming through with a semi and wanted a load of hay. He examined the hay, I told him how much it was, he said load it. About half way through the load he decided it didn't have as much alfalfa in it has he thought. That's fine, I set it off the truck and he proceeded to offer me less. I shook his hand, told him to have a safe trip home. He stood in my driveway for about a half hour in disbelief but he went home empty.
Pair-a-dice farm
Well-known Member
I almost stopped a truck deal over the dealer not providing an owner's manual. The most upset I ever got over a deal was the day my Dad died. He had priced a bull to a fellow in the next state. My wife happened to be there when my Dad told him the price. The guy shows up at the farm and tries to short change my Mother. When I get there he has the bull on his trailer and I tell him to pony up the rest of the cash, or unload the bull or I'll call the sheriff. He wants to talk to Dad but he was already in a coma and hospice was there. I finally open the trailer and run the bull out myself into the yard. I had some very evil thoughts that day.
wilson ind
Well-known Member
I respect a woman like that!!!!!!
Determined
Well-known Member
Had the co-op out to deliver farm fuel, about 700 gal.
As usual got the bill and gave the driver a cheque for the full amount.
Three weeks later we got a bill in the mail for around $60.00.
Called them up to find out what it was for and they tried to tell me the driver forgot to change the rate on the meter so the total he gave me was based on the rate for a different customer.
Told them if they could afford to sell it to someone else for 8 cents less they could sell it to us for the same.
Even though they finally did reverse the charge life is too short to deal with idiots so we took our business elsewhere.
As usual got the bill and gave the driver a cheque for the full amount.
Three weeks later we got a bill in the mail for around $60.00.
Called them up to find out what it was for and they tried to tell me the driver forgot to change the rate on the meter so the total he gave me was based on the rate for a different customer.
Told them if they could afford to sell it to someone else for 8 cents less they could sell it to us for the same.
Even though they finally did reverse the charge life is too short to deal with idiots so we took our business elsewhere.
Are you aware of the cost the dealer has in their advanced diagnostic equipment verses the hand held scanner at the parts store and that the dealer scan can access info not available with the hand held scanner?
There are aftermarket scanners with near the capabilities of the dealerships but the cost to purchase the equipment and the subscription to keep the software and repair information up to date is astronomical.
Not as big of a "ripoff" as you think depending on the problem.
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