Am I being a dick?

[Stuxnet]

My wife wants to buy an elliptical from her coworker/friend. They bought it for $170, used it 20 times, and now my wife wants to buy it for $160.

Only a 5% off from the retail price?

I haven't replied to her yet... I'm just kind of kicking it around in my head right now. It's one of those "principal" things. I'm sure she's thinking to herself "well, it was only used 20 times and I know this person pretty well, so I'll just pay full price for it."

On the flip side, why isn't her friend thinking "well, it's used, and I know this person pretty well, so I'll sell it to her for $120."

FWIW, I'm sure the equipment itself is in near-mint condition.


Update
HA! I just got another email from my wife. The GRAND TOTAL of the thing was $169.54, which means it includes tax.

So not only are we getting shafted on used equipment, we're also going to help pay for tax!!!!

Update #2
I sent:

So not only are we not getting a decent deal on used equipment, but we?re also going to help pay for tax?

She replied:

It's exactly what we would pay for a new one, only we don't have to put it together, which is a pain in the neck. They put it together, tried it once and decided it wouldn't work for their knees. It's so new that they can still take it apart, return it to the store, and get a full refund.

So basically, our choices are:

1) Don't get one at all;

2) Pay $169.54 for one we have to put together; or

3) Pay $169.54 for one that's already put together and was used once.

Frankly, I'm a fan of "Don't get one at all." I have a fscking treadmill.

Update #3

Just look at it from a different point of view: we?re paying full retail for used equipment.

Another way to look at it is we would be saving them the hassle of 1) disassembling it, and 2) loading it up and taking it back to the store. You want me to consider what it saves us in assembly (which I don?t really mind, to be honest), but will you consider the flip side of that coin? They want a full refund without having to do any more work.

If you honestly want an elliptical, let's make sure you get the right one. They come in all shapes and sizes. I'd rather spend $500 and get a descent one that fits you and that you'll use, instead of spending $160 on a new/used one that we only bought so you could send [name of friend who likes to take advantage of situations] warm fuzzies.

If you still really just want to take this one off their hands, offer them $125. There's value to be placed on the convenience this affords them and the burden of us having to drive to the other side of the city - with a borrowed truck - to take it away. I'm not trying to be difficult... I would just prefer to come out a little ahead on one of these deals.

Update #4
NO ELLIPTICAL!!!

jbourne77: 4
Mrs. jbourne77: 54,992,202

 

[GasX]

Make your wife's friend deliver it and you have come out ahead.

 

[leftyman]

where is the yes/no poll?

 

[brandonb]

Yes, this one is hard. It's sorta like one of those "pick your battles" things... It might not be worth the battle.

However, it might be best to just say "I'm sure they just want to get rid of it since they don't use it. Sounds like an ok idea however, try to talk them down some from retail price. Then its win-win for us both." That way it comes off being more feel good for everybody.

-Edit: And no, you aren't being a dick, it's just being realistic. However, women think with their feelings, not their brains. So think of it in that way, just make sure you don't stomp on her feelings or the "way she is."

 

[Zysoclaplem]

If they bought it for 169.99, plus tax is cost them $184-$185 right?
You are saving $25.
What does it retail for now?

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Make your wife's friend deliver it and you have come out ahead.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[jdini76]

Can you find a better deal?

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Make your wife's friend deliver it and you have come out ahead.

I would, but they're in their 50's. That's kind of why I hate spending almost full price on it... I'm the one who will have to procure a truck, drive 40 miles to the other side of town, load it, drive back, unload it, etc.

I'm going to be doing all the work.

It's for my wife, so I don't mind helping, but I feel like we're always getting the short end on stuff like this, because my wife is so paranoid about hurting someone else's feelings. If they gave a damn about her feelings, they wouldn't have offered it to her for $160.

 

[leftyman]

Originally posted by: brandonb
Yes, this one is hard. It's sorta like one of those "pick your battles" things... It might not be worth the battle.

However, it might be best to just say "I'm sure they just want to get rid of it since they don't use it. Sounds like an ok idea however, try to talk them down some from retail price. Then its win-win for us both." That way it comes off being more feel good for everybody.

-Edit: And no, you aren't being a dick, it's just being realistic. However, women think with their feelings, not their brains. So think of it in that way, just make sure you don't stomp on her feelings or the "way she is."

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

I paid $200 delivered including tax for one from Amazon a couple weeks ago.



I hope that helps.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If you pay more than $125 for it you're a fool. Exercise equipment is always available cheap as people buy machines and then stop using them after a week.

 

[Stuxnet]

HA! I just got another email from my wife. The GRAND TOTAL of the thing was $169.54, which means it includes tax.

So not only are we getting shafted on used equipment, we're also going to help pay for tax!!!!

 

[leftyman]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
HA! I just got another email from my wife. The GRAND TOTAL of the thing was $169.54, which means it includes tax.

So not only are we getting shafted on used equipment, we're also going to help pay for tax!!!!

that changes things..time to battle!

 

[Stuxnet]

/dons battle armor

SWORD!

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
HA! I just got another email from my wife. The GRAND TOTAL of the thing was $169.54, which means it includes tax.

So not only are we getting shafted on used equipment, we're also going to help pay for tax!!!!

It sounds like you are buying it from them for the same price they bought it from the store.

 

[Shame]

$100.00, tops. Used is used. The depreciation on exercise equipment is staggering because everyone is selling them, especially this time of year.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: jdini76
Can you find a better deal?

Exactly.

 

[hypn0tik]

There is no reason to pay full price for something used.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Considering I got an elliptical for CDN$150 (multi-program, etc, monitoring, not a POS) that's a crappy deal.

When you add in the fact that you'll have to pick it up from 40 miles away, it's a sh*tty deal.

And since it's used, it's a horsesh*tty deal.

I can probably ship a brand new one to you from Canada for less.

- M4H

 

[doze]

Not your fault the people only used 20 times. You shouldn't pay more than $100

 

[Ramma2]

Used = Used

50% retail.

 

[Narse]

No way I would let my wife pay that much for a used piece of equipment!

 

[Stuxnet]

I sent:

So not only are we not getting a decent deal on used equipment, but we?re also going to help pay for tax?

She replied:

It's exactly what we would pay for a new one, only we don't have to put it together, which is a pain in the neck. They put it together, tried it once and decided it wouldn't work for their knees. It's so new that they can still take it apart, return it to the store, and get a full refund.

So basically, our choices are:

1) Don't get one at all;

2) Pay $169.54 for one we have to put together; or

3) Pay $169.54 for one that's already put together and was used once.

Frankly, I'm a fan of "Don't get one at all." I have a fscking treadmill.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

iConcur

- M4H

 

[masshass81]

wow, just buy a brand new one for $10 more locally.