Two Questions: 1) Low Ball Offers? 2)HydraSports Boats

[Pen]

Hi all,

Question 1: how do approach a seller with a lower than asking offer (say 15% - 20%) less than asking without it seeming like an insulting low-ball?

Question 2: what's the scoop on HydraSports? say 2004 or so at 24'? Were all of the 24s Vectors? I think I once read that the Vector series were better than the standard HydraSports models.

Thanks.

Pen

[B-Faithful]

Make the offer. it is what it is. If and when I was selling a boat, I was never "insulted" when someone made a low ball offer. A low offer is better than none at all. I view it as a good starting point for negotiations as the buyer may have more room but is testing the waters to see how desperate the seller is. If the seller is insulted, he is going to be an a$$ to deal with anyhow. There are too many good boats on the market right now and any buyer is in the drivers seat.

Vectors have a good reputation. Good luck!

[ClassicGuy]

In the current market the fact that you are a serious buyer is all that matters. A bigger risk is being too concerned about what the seller thinks and not making a low enough "low-ball" offer. What looked like low ball three months ago now looks like the high end of the range.

Of course you should be polite but just say "I have been looking seriously at a number of used boats and I just have a different view of where the market is right now and here is what I am prepared to offer you." If the guy tells you to shove it and does not give a counter offer, just move on and tell him to call you if anything changes.

[vwfam2000]

deleted.

[BiloxiGuy]

Vector series have Kevlar in the keel of the hull and up I believe 6 inches on each side of the keel. The hulls are thick, I don't know if the thickness is anything different than the regular hulls or not, I've only owned Vectors. I owned a 2400 Vector with twin 150 HPDI's and it was a great boat. A bit of a pounder but I fished it 100 miles offshore and never ever felt unsafe in it. Extremely dry, heavy, solid, and stable boat. I honestly believe that the Vector series HS's are one of, if not the most quality production line boats built...In fact, I just picked up another, the 2000CC in my sig. I've also owned an '87 Vector 22' in the past few years that surveyed out perfectly. Solid hulls.

[Scoutin 4 Goodies]

Low ball offers are fine just don't follow up with the "You must be stupid to think anyone will ever pay that kind of asking price." ;-)

[Pen]

Thanks..

I would never be disrespectful with my offer. I just seems as though offering low $50ks on a low/mid $60k kind of price is insulting. I do like the notion of presenting it in terms of poor market conditions, high inventory, buyer's market, though.

Good advice - thanks.

[plugmeister]

Have 2 friends who own HydraSport 23 Walk Arounds and they are very happy with them.

[gumshoe]

what would be more appropriate would be the question:

In THIS market, where do people get the notion that their asking prices aren't WAY too high?

The current real estate market in SW Fl is such that almost no offer is too low - I suspect the boat market is at least that bad.

[BWO]

Suggestion? Make your offer in writing accompanied with a 10% refundable deposit check. That will be taken far more seriusly by a seller than your oral statement of "what would ya think if I offer you X".

If you are a pre-qualifed buyer acting in good faith, an offer in the low 50's against an asking price of mid 60s is NOT a low ball offer. The simple reality is there ain't many qualifed buyers out ther right now willing to put their money where their mouth is, thus "market value" right now has more to do with finding a buyer with balls and cash as opposed to the traditional measures of market value - supply, demand, quality and type of boat. Good luck.

[mattttt25]

Like someone else said, make the offer but don't get pissed if it isn't accepted. I sold my last boat at the very beginning of this mess. I received 4 or 5 serious lowball offers. Thanks, but no thanks. I stuck to my price and got full asking. When you make a lowball offer, be prepared for a big no and someone else to come in and offer slightly more than you the next day and boat sold. If you can live with that possibility, then make the offer.

[Wolakrab]

I really don't consider an offer that is 15-20% less than the asking price as lowballing. I wouldn't consider it an insult if someone offered that for my boat.
Now an offer that is 50-60%(or less) of an asking price is what I call lowballing. Most offers like this are a way for the buyer to find out if it is a distressed or desperation sale...my experience is that the person making the offer is more of a tire-kicker than serious buyer. Depending on the manner it was offered, I may or may not be insulted.
A good way to put it is to tell the seller his asking price is out of your range and if he is willing to entertain a lower offer. How low that offer may be is entirely up to you.

[kerno]

Here's the way I'd do it: I'd say "Your boat is nicer than I expected and unfortunately, with the funds I have, I really needed to find one rough enough that I could buy it for $50.000. Yours is worth more, but that's all I can spend. If you can let it go for that, I'd be proud to own it."

[EFCBOB]

The Hydrasport Vector series is totally different than their Lightning series of boats. All the 24 footers in 2004 and 2005 were Vector Series boats. After that, they discontinued the 24's and went to the 25 which was about 8 inches longer than the 24. I owned a 2005 model 2400 with a single 250 HPDI and thought the boat was great. My son and I put on about 450 hours of fishing time and never had any problems. A very good value for the money. Hydrasport uses a lot of good quality hardware and provides lots of things as standard that you pay extra for with other boats. If you can get what you consider a fair price on a used 2400 Vector I think you will be happy with the boat. WHen I was trying to sell mine this past spring, I only received low ball offers. I wasn't insulted as that is the nature of buying and selling boats. It was my decision whether I wanted to accept, reject, or negotiate the offer. Look at the going prices on all the websites that sell boats and decide what you think the boat is worth to you....then make your offer.

[Reel Naughty]

Used to own a 2004 2400 Vector. It was a solid boat and was very capable. Had a single 250 Rude DFI on it and would get about 3 MPG out of it. Little better, little worse depending on what I did with the tabs, which are huge for a boat of this size.

JD

[happyjack92]

i agree with most others here that 15-20% below the asking price is not a lowball offer...BUT, if the boat is already priced well-below everything else out there with the same specs, you may get a drifferent reaction than if it's a boat price near the top-end. if the guy thinks he's well-below the market...even if it's a crappy market...he may be less likely to come down that far.

that said. make your offer. if the guys says "no way" and you've decided this is the boat you really want, then ask him..."what is your best and final price? i can write you a check today if it's closer to my offer than your current asking price." i think the key is knowing where his boat is priced in the market.

[Fishing FINattic]

kerno - 11/30/2008 4:39 PM

Here's the way I'd do it: I'd say "Your boat is nicer than I expected and unfortunately, with the funds I have, I really needed to find one rough enough that I could buy it for $50.000. Yours is worth more, but that's all I can spend. If you can let it go for that, I'd be proud to own it."

Nearly word for word as my approach -

This also opens up for call backs in a week with "I managed to get my hands on another XXX thousand dollars" if the first shot is no!

When I was selling my old boat - the broker told me to put it on the market for 32K - I ended up taking 20K - he drove the listing price

Just keep in mind - some people are buried in there boats- and may NOT be able to take less -

Good luck!

Tim

[ytmorris]

I agree with Happyjack. That is the number everyone wants to see anyways. I hate it when I ask for that number and as I am walking away they throw something a little lower or a perk. I just want the best deal possible without all the bickering. I realize that everyone has to make money and that’s fine, but be honest, especially in this market.

I was selling my Scout this past year and I didn't get insulted with anyone except one guy who took low ball to a new level. I had a 1.25 year old boat with around 100 hours one it for about 60% of the new price and I had added a T-top, electronics, custom hull color, and many other items. I felt as though I was being VERY fair but then I guy calls me to see the boat. He drives 2.5 hours to trial the boat and he claims to love it and then proceeds to tell me that he is willing to give me half of my asking price because he figured "I must be hurting in this market." He tried to make it sound as though he was doing me a favor. I was insulted to say the least, although he didn't have a clue about my life or why the boat was for sale in the first place. Make a reasonable offer and avoid assumptions, especially if it is a private party seller.

[pastaman1234]

kerno - 12/1/2008 7:39 AM Here's the way I'd do it: I'd say "Your boat is nicer than I expected and unfortunately, with the funds I have, I really needed to find one rough enough that I could buy it for $50.000. Yours is worth more, but that's all I can spend. If you can let it go for that, I'd be proud to own it."

Thats good advice along with bringing the wife and kids with you and having them present when you give him your offer. Worked for a friend of mine buying a house. The low ball was given. The husband (owner) had no response.....the wife (owner) looked over at my friendswife pushing the kid on their swing set and the wife (owner)said......"Hell Howard just give it to them, theses nice people need a place to live and raise their son".They laughed all the way home because there plan had worked just as they discussed.

[auguste]

I've been seriously looking for a boat . . .

I found a large brokers price list dated 14 months ago . . . I went to that broker's site and they have not decreased the asking price on 80% of these listed boats . . . they don't seem to realize that the market all capital goods is weak and the prices are dropping everywhere

I have also found that many boat owners over estimate the quality of their boats and want much more than others are asking for their boats

I suggest that you just be patient, offer what you think is a fair price AND YOU CAN AFFORD, and then wait. You will soon find out if you are offering way too little.

Good Luck