Juice Squeeze

You cannot, in the present era, sell a used item to another person for a stated price.

If an item is worth $50 and you price it at $40, you will either be ignored (because there's clearly something wrong with it) or else be counter-offered $25.

It's been years since I've seen anyone accept an offer as-is.

I don't think it's stinginess. It's competitive imperative. People rush forward to perform the juice squeeze to indulge their adversarial impulses. An opportunity to conquer and crush! Unilateralism! It's a bit like Sue and the speed bump.

I recently posted an item for sale, making abundantly clear that the (very fair) $100 price was firm, and was flooded with messages ala "$85".

I replied to one:

Do you see any way to do this without launching a game of “Haggling and Screwing”?

Can you imagine a universe where someone charges a fair price, and you pay that price, and you’re happy? Or does that sound empty and pointless? Am I silly for even suggesting it?"

To be fair, current conditions make everyone overcharge now, to grant the sadists and conquerors their crushing victories. We charge $150, and let ourselves be bargained down to $100.

I can't do that, for four reasons:

1. I'm generous, so I prefer charging a fair price and making people happy. That, to me, is the win.

2. I'm efficient, and this route seems like a great big slobbering needless ordeal.

3. I don't like getting roped into dramatic shtick.

4. I don't negotiate with terrorists.

So I don't make many sales!