Reasonable offer?

[sueandherzoo]

I was just at the LFS window-shopping and asking questions and trying to get educated and stuff (never too old to learn, right?) and when I told the store manager that I was trying to get ideas for putting together a tank for sea horses he started pushing me towards the 14 gallon biocube. I explained to him that 14 was too small for one pair of horses (unless I was doing dwarf) and then he steered me towards the 29 gallon. I told him that the Biocube was definitely something I was considering but that I REALLY wanted to hold out and buy the Red Sea Max 34 if I were going to do a plug and play. He looked puzzled and I told him that it's a tank like the Biocube but a little bigger and better. He then said he had one in the back somewhere - he bought it a long time ago just to see what it was like but never got around to setting it up or even opening the box. I asked him what it was going for and he said he had no idea but he'd check. I told him not to bother - I wasn't ready to purchase yet anyway, but on my way home I was thinking, if he hasn't even bothered to open the box yet perhaps he'd be grateful to take some money for it and get it off his hands?
I'm going to go back tomorrow and make him an offer on it but I don't know what's fair or reasonable. Does anyone know what kind of mark-up are on these things, or what HE might have paid for it?
Sue

 

[subielover]

I think between 400-500 would be fair

Not too sure though. I think they go for about 650-700 new so, to be fair to him I would think anything under 500 is a good deal.

 

[freeborder_01]

i paid about 500-600 total for mine with a stand, however i also received a hefty little discount because i worked at my lfs at the time so i got it for a little more than what they paid for it. just to give you can idea, but they also have a new one out so you might wanna see if its the old model because then it shouldnt be too much because the new model has some improvements

 

[sueandherzoo]

I'm seeing all kinds of prices when I check online but it's hard to tell the exact value since a lot of them are priced WITH the stand (which I don't need) and a lot of them figure in shipping and handling. Of course I have to remember that buying it locally I also have to figure in tax that I wouldn't have if I ordered online.
I didn't realize the RSM 34 had an upgraded model. Maybe if I can find documentation of that I will take it with me to use it as a bargaining tool. It sounds like he has no idea what's in the box "in back".
Sue

 

[nwdyr]

I would tell him 350.00 , you can always go up a little from there. Like you said if it's just sitting in the back maybe all he wants is what he has in it

better to start low. JMO

 

[sueandherzoo]

Worth a try. He may not even know what it's worth retail and it may be the "older" version so he might have a hard time selling it if he ever DOES set it up and try to sell it.
I'll let you know tomorrow.
Thanks.
Sue