"What did you give for that?"

ely · January 27, 2014, 08:30:35 AM

bottom line, if they were going to be any sort of competition they already would be competition... people just like to talk these days.

Magicman · January 27, 2014, 08:43:07 AM

I do often respond and tell customers the price range for a new sawmill, but I don't know that I have ever been asked what I actually paid for mine.

ancjr · January 27, 2014, 09:38:09 AM

I don't have a mill, but I've been asked that question before about other things. Usually I give them MSRP, and even then they'll come back later and say things like "I told so and so what you said and they told me you got ripped off!" I figure the less ammo you can give anyone against you the better, if they're the type to use anything you say against you. :)

Delawhere Jack · January 27, 2014, 05:24:28 PM

Quote from: Den Socling on January 26, 2014, 09:26:37 PM
I say "cranky" too. Maybe they were just guys dreaming about buying their own mill. You know. They already have a Harley and a boat.

Ain't easy credit terms great! :

By the time they finish making 84 months of payments the bike is worth 1/3 the original price. But that won't stop them putting it on CL for $12,000

I'll tell folks what I paid for my used LT40, and the price range for a new one. It's usually just idle curiosity. I always finish by reminding them that it is far cheaper to call me than to buy their own mill for occasional jobs.

maple flats · January 27, 2014, 05:38:16 PM

I tell them roughly what I paid in 2004 new and what a new one sells for now. I also never had anyone asking that question run out and buy one to go into business

coxy · January 27, 2014, 05:55:38 PM

I always say to them what do you think I paid for it or what would you give me for it if they give me a price more then what I paid I tell them its yours but when they say a lower price ill tell them to look at a new one but most of the time ill tell people what I paid I AM VERY VERY CHEAP so most of the time I am getting a deal :D

isawlogs · January 27, 2014, 06:00:38 PM

I have been asked that many times about many things, lately its all about my new V=Plow, I have no reasons not to answer the question, I have no reserves on what I paid for it or why I should not let them know. I have little secrets to keep, and sure aint going to be the price I pay for equipment or accessories for them. I feel lucky at times for deals I get and then sometimes I may pay more then some would for other things, it does not matter to me as I get what I want at the time I need them. So if someone inquires on the price, what does it matter, if they want it they can either make an offer or (best) go find it else wheres as I don't do selling of my tools too well :D

Sixacresand · January 27, 2014, 08:08:22 PM

I was asked why I wanted a mill after I retired, and not a new bass boat or new golf cart. I just say you meet a better class of people with a mill. :D

justallan1 · January 27, 2014, 08:14:52 PM

For my mill, the main ones asking are my co-workers and the ex-present-possibly-sometimes girlfriend (somehow she knows more about my money than I do. :D), as for the co-workers, 2 of them are 21 and 25 that are married with kids and I try to encourage them to do something similar and tell what it costs new, what I paid for mine and have offered to help them get started. They're both good hands.
The couple other people that have asked I've told the new price for today.

Allan

POSTON WIDEHEAD · January 27, 2014, 09:34:06 PM

Quote from: Sixacresand on January 27, 2014, 08:08:22 PM
I was asked why I wanted a mill after I retired, and not a new bass boat or new golf cart. I just say you meet a better class of people with a mill. :D

Good answer!

WDH · January 27, 2014, 10:16:05 PM

Quote from: Sixacresand on January 27, 2014, 08:08:22 PM
I was asked why I wanted a mill after I retired, and not a new bass boat or new golf cart. I just say you meet a better class of people with a mill. :D

:D :D :D

redprospector · January 27, 2014, 11:51:38 PM

You guy's must have had different experiences than me. I'll use this for an example.
I bought a near new trailer once at an auction. This trailer had been pulled from Lubbock, TX to Tucson, AZ with a small car on it and back to Lemitar, NM for the auction. The local dealer sold them new for $2300, I paid $1400 for this one at the auction. When I got home with it (about 100 miles), a guy asked what I had to give for it. I knew it was really none of his business, but I told him $1400.
5 or 6 months later I decided that I really needed a bigger trailer, so I put this one up for sale for $1750. The guy I had told what I gave for it started telling everyone he saw that I was making a killing on that trailer, I had only given $1400 for it.
Had I treated this as I should have and told him "none of your business" or "a dollar four sixty" I would have sold it in my home town instead of having to take it to another town to sell.
Suite yourselves, but it really is none of anyone's business what I give for anything.

Brucer · January 28, 2014, 12:23:51 AM

I don't recall that anyone has asked me what I paid for my mill. Two or three times a year someone will ask me what my mill is worth. I respond by saying "This setup will cost you $x purchased new." That seems to be what they really want to know and I've no reason not to tell them. I'll usually tell them the "loaded" price for the mill, extensions, and optional extras, and I'll tell them the edger would be another $y.

I think a lot of people have absolutely no idea what the price range is for one of these mills, so they are curious. Back when I got started an acquaintance heard I'd started a sawmill business. He asked if I'd bought one of those Norwoods that were always being advertised in the paper (the ads appeared weekly and were for a $4000 bare bones mill). That was the only benchmark he had to go by.

Ianab · January 28, 2014, 12:44:19 AM

Red, this I can understand. That's why in my post I said that I'd tell people what a new one was worth.

If you had said, "They are worth about $2,300 new". What did you pay? "None of your business ;) "

How much you actually paid for a piece of used equipment comes under the "Need to know" basis.

Ian

SawyerBrown · January 28, 2014, 10:14:16 AM

Exactly. If they can go on-line or to a dealer or wherever to find out the NEW price, tell them if you know. If it's a used piece of equipment, or you get a special deal, then it is none of their business. Rather than say that, though, I'd probably give them a wink and a smile, and just say "Somewhat less ..."

In the same vein, I've had several people ask me "What's your reserve?" on an ebay listing (which I will probably never use again, by the way). That's a real "None of your business!" response for me. Bid on the DanG thing, and if you bid above the reserve, you'll get it!!

ancjr · January 28, 2014, 10:34:29 AM

Anything you say can & will be used against you in the court of public opinion. :)

jueston · January 28, 2014, 03:08:46 PM

my girlfriends family isn't from america, and to them that question is completely socially acceptable.

the first time they walked into my house, they looked around and said(in very broken English) "this is a beautiful house, how much did you pay for it?" which to me comes off as very aggressive, because as the man who is dating there daughter i think the question really is "how much are you worth to our family?" but they mean no offense by it. that is just the way they look at things. in there homeland they didn't have a currency, and everything was barter, so even though they have been in this country for a long time they are still curious what everything costs.

i long ago decided to just deal with them asking that question with honesty, sometimes they look at me like i must have killed the previous owners to get it at that price, and sometimes they look at me like i must be the biggest idiot on earth to throw my money away, i just roll with the punches...