Negotiating for a new vehicle is treacherous territory, all the more so when it’s a long-distance transaction. Throw in an attempt at situational arm-twisting, and it doesn’t take long to make a good deal go bad. At least, that’s the experience one Texas man had when he drove four hours to pick up a new truck. Little did he know that the seller, Paul Lester (@plester844), was not in an accommodating mood. What Went Wrong With the Texas Man’s Facebook Marketplace Truck Sale? In his “Gripe of the Day,” the distinguished TikToker explains that he’d posted the truck for sale on Facebook Marketplace and gotten lots of interest. Eventually, he came to an agreement with a young man from just outside Dallas. The younger man made an acceptable offer, then made the trip up. “We agree on a price,” says Lester. Then the young man drives for four hours. “We test-drive the truck,” continues Lester. “Everything goes perfectly.” Pause. “Then he tries to lowball me,” explains the creator. The kicker? The buyer isn’t asking to knock off a couple of hundred bucks for the gas he spent getting there, or because he thinks he’ll need to buy car-seat covers to better match his personal aesthetic. No, he’s offering $3,000 less than the agreed-upon price. You Don’t Have to Go Home, But You Can’t Stay Here Lester holds fast to the originally negotiated price. So, the buyer revises his low-ball offer, offering $1,000 more. The answer is still “no.” So, the buyer offers another $1,000–which, if you’re keeping track, is still $1,000 less than the original agreed-upon price. Lester’s answer remains “no.” Finally, the potential, now failed, buyer leaves. And he doesn’t simply depart, he leaves mad. “He’s pissed at me because I wouldn’t come to his price,” says Lester. What Are the Rules For Haggling on Facebook Marketplace? Haggling on Facebook Marketplace is different from negotiating at a shop or at a dealership. That’s because there’s no intermediary to soften an insulting offer or advise against one in the first place. It’s also because people are often selling their own things, so an inflated sense of worth can accompany the items for sale. Think of your grandfather trying to sell off selections from his outboard motor collection. Even the ones that don’t work are “rare” and “valuable.” Married couple and designers PJ and Thomas write on their eponymous site that when buying something from Marketplace, first do your research about the object. “Check prices for similar items to ensure your offer is reasonable,” they add. Then, if you’re still trying to get a better deal, offer about 10% to 20% less than the listing. And, as the buyer in this situation tried to do, use your availability to pick up an item as more leverage. Additionally, because it's an interaction between two private individuals, you want to make a good first impression (especially if it’s a much-sought-after item). So, in your introductory message, be polite and personable. For safety, meet up in a public place. And finally, before you pay, inspect the item. Most private individuals don’t have a return policy. What Would You Do? In this situation, users were quick with observations and opinions. Jody Johnston said, “I don’t feel bad for him one bit. he knew the price." “You mean he SAID he drove 4 hours,” said Justin Joyzer, intimating that perhaps it was a negotiation-by-guilt technique. But Casinokid777 might have the most salient word: “Never negotiate over the phone when they haven’t even done a test drive because that price becomes the new starting price. Or tell them the price reflects all imperfections.” As commenters saw it, the mistake wasn’t making the drive; it was trying to renegotiate after the keys were already in hand. Motor1 reached out to Lester via TikTok direct message and a request in the comments section. We’ll update this if he responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team