Am I being a dick?

[Brainonska511]

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.

I see this as such. I would want to know prior "battles" because that would influence whether you could argue this one or just let it slide.

But seeing the stupidity that is surrounding this purchase, I would fight it.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Ramma2
Used = Used

50% retail.

Damn you're a cheap b@stard!!

OP, I'd say no more than 75% of retail price. And since you have to pick it up yourself, I'd drop it a little more. Maybe $100-$110 tops.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

I'd lay the fact out as I saw them and if she still wanted to buy it, then I'd go along with it. Maybe this is how chicks bond, I don't know. but if you explain you're paying retail for it and would rather look at other options but will defer to her, then you know she's willingly choosing, for some reason, to pay this much for this one from this person and you'll be doing something for her to make her happy and that's worth the $40 you'd save haggling and potentially ruining this for her.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

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.[/quote]

4) Find a better deal.

Looks to me you are getting that treadmill whether you want it or not.

 

[Narse]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
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.

Then let them take it back to the store.


Also I thought they used it 20 times, not once???

 

[KK]

who wears the pants in that family?

 

[shortspanishguy]

Be weary of an elliptical that costs only $160.

 

[IronWing]

Okay, they didn't like it after trying it out. Maybe you and your wife should go to her friends' house and try it out before making any decision. It may not be what you want at all.

Also, should you buy it from them, get the original receipt so you can return it if you decide you don't like it later. Just tell the store folks that it was a gift.

Not gettin' nothing seems the best approach. Walking is free.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Exercise equipment is always available cheap as people buy machines and then stop using them after a week.

So true. Only breadmakers rival exercise machines in the number that end up at the curb in near perfect condition.

But that's not the real question here. While we've established your wife will be overpaying, the core of your question is about the social dynamic here.

The answer depends heavily on the relationship between you and your wife. Will she be paying with "her own money"? I know this can be an artificial construct in two income families, but if she is used to more independence of purchasing action, then you should probably stay out of it besides letting your "independent valuation" of the item be known.

If the understanding between you two is that purchases of even this amount are always made in consultation, then you have more leeway.

THEN it depends more heavily on other aspects of your relationship with your wife. Will she eternally resent your "interference"? If so, then no amount of savings will compensate for that. Just eat the 'loss' and stfu.

If she's more willing to defer to your awesome ferengi knowledge without bearing subsequent resentment towards you, which you can be sure you would pay for in spades down the line, then YOU can play bad cop here. She can tell her friend that while SHE would gladly pay lebenty million for that sweat smeared piece of used crapola, her mean 'ol husband will not.

If she's cool with that scenario, you're good to go. If not, just ask yourself: "Given the opportunity to purchase X amount of marital happiness for $40, wouldn't you consider that a bargain?''

Of course you would!

 

[ghostman]

Yeah, I think most people will agree that you're better off just getting a new one. What if you decide you don't want one after 20 times? Do you have the option of returning it, like they do? That in itself, is worth $$.

I think your wife realizes it's not a very good deal, but she might feel obligated to take it since they've discussed it and have even come up with a price. Give your wife an escape route ("we're in no hurry. we really don't need one right now. maybe in a few months") and see if she takes it. Then buy one on your own 2 months down the line if she really wants one.

 

[Stuxnet]

Well, I vetoed the deal. To answer someone else's question, I learned long long ago that 99% of battles aren't worth fighting. Even when you win, you lose. Unless it involves a disagreement with how to raise our children, I'm usually just going along for the ride.

However, my wife has a streak of stuff like this. She's always so eager to please other people like this that we (read: me) end up taking it in the rear. I wasn't a jerk about it, though. I just sent her this:

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.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Narse
Also I thought they used it 20 times, not once???

I'm getting mixed signals on that. First it was 20 times, then it was 20 minutes. I have no idea. All I know is that it's out of the box, assembled, and used .

 

[spidey07]

Too late. You're buying that thing.

The emotional shopping path has already been laid out and cannot be changed. It is the inevitable. She's fallen in love with this experience and no amount of logic whatsoever is going to sway it.

 

[da loser]

you're a gentleman and a scholar. but you still lose

 

[fbrdphreak]

I give it four months before it isn't used anymore.

If they can return it for full price, have them do so. Or they can give you a discount for saving THEM from the hassle of boxing it up again & carting it back to the store. I wouldn't pay full price for that, although I wouldn't pay for it in the first place.

 

[silverpig]

Check out craigslist in your area to see what you can get them for. Exercise equipment is really popular to buy in the first week of January, and is really popular to sell in the 3rd week of January.

 

[dbk]

If you're going to pay $160 for that used one, you might as well by a brand new one.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

I think I'd vote for "take one for the team" on this one.

Sometimes with marriage, you can either be right, or you can be happy.

Actually... maybe offer to pay extra and get a decent elliptical or something Something about $150 treadmill doesn't exactly scream "quality" to me.

 

[funboy6942]

Damn, let the old lady have it, you then have a solid you owe me card. Meaning next time you wanna buy something she feels is stupid and a waste of money you can whip out the treadmill card and get what you want. Just agree and make her think she has good point (she does have a good one about putting it together and they are her friends so its not like shes buying it from a stranger paying full price so you'll have a one up with them as well )

You not smart dealing with the womens are you?

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Perknose
If the understanding between you two is that purchases of even this amount are always made in consultation, then you have more leeway.

We discuss all major purchases (> $100) together and consider our assets as both of ours. We don't have "allowances" or separate accounts. We may have our problems, but we've always seen eye to eye on finances (or as much as a husband and wife are capable of).

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I'd rather pay $10 more for a new one than take their used one. For one thing, most people can't assemble anything complicated right.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: funboy42
Damn, let the old lady have it, you then have a solid you owe me card. Meaning next time you wanna buy something she feels is stupid and a waste of money you can whip out the treadmill card and get what you want. Just agree and make her think she has good point (she does have a good one about putting it together and they are her friends so its not like shes buying it from a stranger paying full price so you'll have a one up with them as well )

You not smart dealing with the womens are you?

Hehe... if you think there's such a thing as "you owe me" cards with wives, then you haven't dealt with "the womens" AT ALL .

 

[alocurto]

Tell her you found one here for 120 and it's local. Then u can just go to the store and buy it anyway.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Leave your wife, then buy the thing for $180 just to spite her.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

thumbs up on the veto. Not a flat-out smack down, so she has an out or two