what do you think about this scenario?

[grasswire]

I fell in love with a musical instrument in a big antique shop. Not an upscale shop, but a mish-mash of stuff. The price on this item was $450. This was a couple of months ago. The next time I was in the shop, after Thanksgiving, a couple of men were fussing with this instrument. A squirt of WD40, five minutes of tinkering, and then it played beautifully. Beautifully. I heard them say to the shop owner that perhaps she should bump up her price a little bit.

Yesterday I was back at the shop. The price was now $1800. I had done some research on the Internet where I saw similar items priced from $400 to $1400.

Sigh. $1800 is way out of my range, but this item is something I've wanted all my life and it would bring a lot of enjoyment to my household.

Then it dawned on me that perhaps I could barter for part of it, and want to know what you think about this offer. I'm thinking of offering $400 (because I'm sure she paid considerably less for it than the $450 she was asking originally) and bartering for the rest. I will offer her $400 and a thousand pieces of collectible sheet music worth significantly more than a thousand dollars. Price guide values on many of the pieces of music would be $5-10. I have about 12,000 pieces of music, so it is no stretch for me to offer this. And I know that the owner does love sheet music.

Is this offer too generous? Should I offer less $$? Should I offer less sheet music?

Whaddya think?

[InvisibleTouch]

1. I truly don't know anything about the value of sheet music...

...so my question to you would be, how badly would you be kicking yourself if you didn't make the move, and then returned to the shop later to find the instrument sold? If you really want this piece, and it would make you happy, I think you should make your best offer on it. Good luck in the trade!

[grasswire]

2. yeah, it should be an offer she can't refuse....

...you are right. I just need to put as little cash into it as possible and am trying to hit the right balance.

[Vinca]

3. I'd strike up a conversation with the owner and mention that you

were interested in the item a couple of months ago, but came back and found the price had been increased and now you can't afford it. Maybe the owner will immediately drop it back down and you won't have to give up the sheet music (although that's a great bartering tool). Is this by any chance an old, ornate organ? If it is, the owner must know there are few takers for them and should jump at any offer.

[grasswire]

4. no

It's a spinet-sized player piano. One problem is that she kind of fancies it herself and starts giggling when she sits down and makes it play by pumping her feet. So that's something to overcome, too. I know that at this point she would not reduce the price to the original. She's a little bit of an airhead.

And wow....pump organs are going cheap? I grew up with one and loved it.

[Vinca]

5. I occasionally search ebay for Brattleboro stuff looking for interesting

things to sell in the group shop there. I'm always pulling up Estey Organs that people put on for thousands of dollars and, of course, have no bids. They're gorgeous things, but I suppose few have the kind of decor where they fit in. The ones that do seem to sell are the small field organs used by the military and mini child versions. In any case, if you love the spinet, I'd offer up the sheet music.

[yy4me]

6. I'd go back and tell them you saw it a few months ago at which

time you didn't have the original $400.00. I know tons of shops up the price on stuff but that jump is a whopper. At times like these, sheet music might not be of interest but cash might be. I'd be prepared to offer a little more and if things are very slow, a smaller sale is better than no sale. I'd be embarrassed to jump a price that much.

Maybe you can say you were going to use your Christmas money on the item. I'd make them feel guilty but then, that's me.
Good luck

[safeinOhio]

7. This might help

Always time your offer to the last few days of the month. That's when her bills are due. This worked for me once on a used car I wanted. Good luck and keep looking.