Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Jan 14, 2018 8:24 AM
Boring Story (by Lynda [TX]) Jan 14, 2018 10:46 AM
Boring Story (by Frank [NJ]) Jan 14, 2018 11:46 AM
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Jan 14, 2018 12:16 PM
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Jan 14, 2018 12:20 PM
Boring Story (by Lynda [TX]) Jan 14, 2018 2:02 PM
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Jan 14, 2018 5:16 PM
Boring Story (by Robert J [CA]) Jan 14, 2018 11:19 PM
Boring Story (by Wilma [PA]) Jan 15, 2018 7:53 AM
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Jan 16, 2018 5:21 AM
Boring Story (by Wilma [PA]) Jan 16, 2018 5:56 AM
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 8:24 AM Message:
I want to share with you my story about trying to buy a used lawn mower and my idea about how on-line shopping is changing.
I'll go quickly.
Scope: Very rare mower is in Florida on Craig's. Very rare but not overly valuable. (In that lies the problem and opportunity). The ad originally was posted in November. Only yesterday was I able to send a trailer to Florida to try to buy and retrieve mower.
Seller needs money, but at the same time didn't mention that the mower was not in the same area where he lived/advertised.
All this is no problem, my driver adjusted and maybe later today the mower will be picked up, maybe not. Maybe not is due to seller.
That said. You have a guy who needs money and is selling what he can. Had this seller offered shipping back in November...or even October. The mower would have been sold.
So this seller simply isn't up to speed on the opportunities he has.
(I think of my rental business and wonder what I am missing...what actions I could take this minute that would produce results. Very "St Louis" thinking).
So if today works out, the seller will get some money today which he could of had back in October.
When I post a Craig's list ad, I now put the items on pallets and offer the pallet size and offer to get the shipping weight. I have found that search engines are scanning larger areas and Facebook and others are competing for our attention so they include used items for sale.
Will Zillow one day offer used furniture ads? What will Zillow expand into next?
How can I fill my rentals? Is it as simply as a hashtag in the ads? I could write a book on what not to say when applying for a rental...or perhaps how to live before moving.
Did you ever imagine that while you were offering free first month rent, you could of simply said " We accept on-line payments" or "Pay once a month or twice a month...the choice is yours".
--74.96.xxx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Lynda [TX]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 10:46 AM Message:
Smoke, you left out the most interesting part of the story. What was rare about the mower, altho not valuable at the same time? If you are not going to use it to mow, and it is not valuable, why would you go to so much trouble to own it? Just to own something rare? Just to own something odd? To add to your 'mower collection'? Must be a story there. --108.87.xx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Frank [NJ]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 11:46 AM Message:
I too am quite interested in the back story about this piece of equipment.
We deal in used goods as our main biz and always like to hear about what motivates a Buyer
We wanted a certain model of J Deere lawn equipment; something with a serviceable tranny, not the sealed - throw away the whole mower when the tranny dies ones.
Found THE ONE on Craigs...about 2 hours away.
Hated to have to drive that far....wanted the item. Did what we had to do.
Have started using Facebook groups to sell stuff. Get a kick out of folks that buy something for 2,000.00 use it for a year and expect to get 1500.00 for somewhat standard consumer goods.
Lets face it, its the old classified newspaper ads all over again. --74.105.xxx.xx |
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 12:16 PM Message:
You know, I was thinking that way also. We have gone full circle to old classified ads. I believe there were people who knew that would come about sooner or later.
In my case. There was a walk behind mower made that had a wishbone front end allowing the wheels to soften the ride over uneven ground. That design along with the manner in which the whole front end unbolts from the back of the frame....(breath),...make it easier for me to modify the mower into a gas wheel chair for children.
Gas, because electric wheel chairs can't go off on trails or fields. There is one model of electric wheel chair designed for walking in the woods but it is 12 grand.
I need a version that I can make and lend out to families. I hope to have a thousand dollars in working models. Perhaps less. If I don't keep the cost down I wan't have them to lend out.
--74.96.xxx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 12:20 PM Message:
I put this in a separate post on purpose. I drive a bunch, state to state. I've always offered to move things for people.
There are many people out there who buy old printing presses or high wheel bikes, or simply love their old Cub Cadets. When they locate that no longer made accessory, they are glad to pay shipping charges. I believe there will be more older items being bought and sold this way.
Even with all the cars being rebuilt, I think bulking items like trunk lids or fenders will be shipped more and more.
I tell tenants, and people looking for work to simply post items for sale. Walk down the street and post what your neighbors are selling as well. Help others - help yourself.
--74.96.xxx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Lynda [TX]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 2:02 PM Message:
SEE, I knew there was an interesting back-story! You're gonna use it to make a wheel chair. Who'd have thought? More power to yah! What I thought you were going to say was something like your grandfather had one like it and taught you to mow when you were little. NOT boring at all. --108.87.xx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 5:16 PM Message:
An update. Seller was able to meet and sold the super mower I wanted. I sent a gift for this guy...took a guess. It was a nice clean Honda mower.
So I have the second wheelchair build on the way and I think we helped this seller out.
--74.96.xxx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Jan 14, 2018 11:19 PM Message:
I know which mowers, weed eaters and blowers I'm going to need in the future for my various tenants. I make myself a list.
Then when Home Depot, Lowe's or another retailer has a ONE DAY Half Off sale, I place my order. I do not buy a gas operated mower, they go bad from no-use gas going stale. I buy battery operated models -- 18 Volt, 20 Volt, 36 Volt and 40 Volt systems.
I buy the extended warranty. A brand like Ryobi gives a 3 year warranty and the extended warranty give me another 2 or 3 years. I also charge the purchase on my American Express which give me another 1 year free warranty.
I make my tenants responsible if the items get stolen because the left their garage unlocked or the product was stored outside. It comes out of the tenants deposit.
So I get a new product delivered to my house free and have years of life for half price and no worries.
I just purchased a hedger, 18 volt and 40 volt bloweres and a mower. I also just got two mulch'ers with battery and charger so my tenants can aerate the soil around their plants. I give that to them on loan.
No need to buy used equipment that will fail and cost me more money fixing them.... --47.156.xx.xx |
Boring Story (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Jan 15, 2018 7:53 AM Message:
Not boring at all! What a great thing to do. If you want to post here the specifics about what you usually look for, I for one will keep my eyes peeled. Still quite a few places here that take trades on new equipment, and then just let the old sit around until someone spots something they want and makes an offer. We've gotten two mowers ourselves that way. --71.175.xxx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Jan 16, 2018 5:21 AM Message:
Thank you,.
Very kind of you. What we are doing is converting the hydro drive mowers to be controlled by two levers rather than steering wheels. The overall size will be smaller than a traditional zero turn and the components will be cheaper to service.
I use old Lesco mowers built in....I believe 1989. They were rare then. However the good part is that the engines and hydro drives are very plentiful. Just not the prototype frames that were needed.
This creation needs to be working this summer and then off on a cross country quest in 2019.
--74.96.xxx.xxx |
Boring Story (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Jan 16, 2018 5:56 AM Message:
We will keep a look out for one. You never know, and SE Pennsylvania isn't far away from you. --71.175.xxx.xxx |
Reply:
|
|