Negotiation starts with information
Whether you're buying or selling, the person who knows the real market value wins. Most second-hand negotiation isn't about charm — it's about turning up with the right number and a calm, specific case for it.
Find the true market value
- Use sold prices, not asking prices. What sellers ask is wishful; what items actually sell for is the market. On auction platforms, filter to completed/sold listings.
- Sample several comparable listings for the same model and condition, then ignore the extreme high and low outliers.
- Use tools. Our price guide shows median prices and trends, and price compare lines up the same item across sites.
Making an offer that works
- Never open with "what's your lowest?" It signals you don't know the value and invites a high anchor. Lead with a concrete number instead.
- Anchor with a specific, justified offer: "I can collect today and pay 40 cash" sets the frame and shows you're a real buyer.
- Use flaws as leverage, politely. "There's a scratch on the back and it needs new seals — could we do 55?" A specific defect plus a specific price is persuasive.
- Offer convenience. Quick collection, cash, no haggling drama — often worth more to a seller than the last few units of currency.
Silence is a tool. After you make an offer, stop talking. The pause does the work; the first person to fill it usually concedes.
If you're the seller
- Price slightly above your floor so there's room to "give" a discount the buyer feels good about — while staying inside the real market range.
- Don't drop the moment you're asked. Hold, justify your price with condition and comparables, and offer small concessions (free local delivery, throw in an accessory) instead of slashing.
- Read motivation. A buyer who's travelled to view is invested; a lowball over chat with no commitment usually isn't serious.
Close cleanly and safely
Once you agree, confirm the details and complete the deal promptly — momentum kills second-guessing. Pay or accept payment in a reversible/traceable way, get a receipt for bigger items, and never let negotiation pressure push you into an unsafe payment method. The safety rules are in avoiding scams, and finding the underpriced deals to negotiate on is covered in spotting bargains.