Stainless hotpoint combo?

[sarahperdue]

Backed out

I backed out of the Hotpoint sale--I had a few concerns too many for a fridge that is too far away to check out in advance.

Meanwhile, this one turned up on Facebook last night--it's in Birmingham, single owner in continuous use. One of the latches is broken. How big a fix would this be?

The seller says she has an antique dealer "on the hook," but I cannot imagine someone who is planning to resell would pay $1,000. I'll be waiting for her to feel ready to lower the price.

Sarah

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[sarahperdue]

Calling her bluff...

She came down from $1,000 to $700, and I was about ready to cave until she told me she was waiting to hear from me before she got back in touch with the antique dealer whom she was certain would fix the latch and sell it for twice what he was going to pay her (which she implied was the original $1,000 asking price).

I just couldn't do it. First of all, I didn't like being pressured. Secondly, I don't think there is a snowball's chance in hell that a dealer (especially in Birmingham, Alabama) is going to pay her $1,000. Lastly, I would have always wondered if I had been "had."

We've been chatting and sharing old house pictures...you know how that goes. She says her husband died and she needs the money. I told her that since she needed the money so badly, she should contact the dealer first. I'll keep you posted.

Sarah

 

[turquoisedude]

Well-played Sarah! The seller sounds like they think you'll pay any price and are gambling you'll get nervous if you think there's another buyer. The price will likely come down now. Good luck!!

 

[pulltostart]

The dealer is most likely John Jowers, in NE GA.  I'm not aware of anyone closer to North AL.  He might give her the asking price, but it will go into his unrestored inventory with a restored price of something around $5,000.

 

lawrence

 

[sarahperdue]

Antique appliances.com?

Lawrence, I figured he might be my only legitimate competition. I think I’m in a game of “chicken.”

 

[goatfarmer]

Finding a latch for that "might" be an issue. Depending on what is broken, perhaps the original one might be repaired?

 

[sarahperdue]

Only a day...

It’s been Listed less than 24 hours. Lawrence, I find it hard to believe that antique appliances spends a lot of time surfing Facebook looking for fridges to restore. Anyway, it is still listed. I think if the “dealer” was ready to give her $800, she would’ve sold it already.

I will positively keep you all posted. For the moment, the game is fun.

 

[sarahperdue]

Curiouser and curiouser

When I look at my list of messages in messenger, it appears to be indicating that the seller marked it sold, but when I open the message or the item listing , there is no indication that it has sold. I’m speculating that she marked it sold to get my attention the marked it available again...

 

[lowefficiency]

One easy way to call someone on their bluff, with less risk of being denied, is to show up in person and make your lower offer there after inspecting the item. People are much less likely to decline if you are right there and willing to walk away, especially if they don't actually have any other offers. "$700 and we can take it today", etc. I think seeing something walk (or be willing to) makes them second guess their price, as they can visualize being moments away from having the cash...

Another thing to consider, is that there is a lot of value to seeing/purchasing a unit when it is still installed, rather than a jumble of bits in a garage, or worse, having the seller deliver it. You get to hear how it runs, see how well it cools, etc, and also have control over how carefully it is dismantled and removed, especially for all of those trim parts.

 

[sarahperdue]

Good advice,

Thanks.

She marked it pending this afternoon and now it's available again. I'm going to wait a while, then I think your suggestion of showing up with cash is a good one. From what I'm learning about fixing latches, I'll probably be offering closer to $400...

John L suggested having one painted silver at a body shop if I find one I like that isn't stainless.

I will keep y'all posted...

Sarah

 

[pulltostart]

Sarah,

Yes, John Jowers is the owner of antiqueappliances.com.  I've only been to his business once, but he has a pretty large inventory of unrestored refrigerators and stoves.  I doubt that he would be willing to give $1,000 for the refrigerator, unless he knew that he could turn it around pretty quickly.  He probably would be doing some negotiating, just as you are.

 

Good luck with this one!

 

lawrence