Advice on Offering a Fair Price

[Robin House]

Thank you everyone for your great advice and input. My friend saw my wife's Facebook post and lightheartedly confronted me at work about what I intended to do concerning the accordion. I knew he would eventually see her post and I was ready. I had decided to offer him $100. Our conversation went like this:

Greg: So what are you going to do about the accordion you finally got around to trying out?
 
Me: What do you want for it?

Greg: What do you think it's worth?
 
Me: Well, if you look up accordions for sale on the internet you'll see a whole lot of similar looking ones starting at around $400 but I can't afford that. I think there are a lot more people asking for $400 than there are people buying them.

Greg: How about $50?
 
Me: How about $75?
 
Greg: Laughs. Just think about it during lunch and then give me what you want to.
 
After lunch I handed him $100 telling him that that's what I had decided on before coming to work. He handed me back a $20 bill and I said, "Good. We can both walk away saying 'thank you'."
   
So it looks like the adventure is about to begin. I reckon I'm in good company here judging from what I've experienced. 

 

[dunlustin]

Great story!

 

[Tom]

Awesome! Let us know how the playing goes....

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Robin,

Well done ........ now the hard work starts!!!

Please give us an idea about the kind of music you want to play, including specific songs/tunes. I have no doubt that you will find other members who share your musical tastes.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Greg Ellis]

That's great Robin, it's so nice when things work out!
The easy part is acquiring the accordion, the difficult part is learning and practicing!  I have found the first 2 Palmer-Hughes books to be very basic but helpful and recently purchased Hal Leonard Accordion Method by Beverly Grace Joy (cheaper at music store than at Amazon!) and it has really helped with playing the left side of the instrument. Good luck!

 

[TomBR]

Thanks for telling the story Robin, backwards negotiation is a nice thing when it happens. (Surprisingly often I find.)
Good karma both ways! 

There's a story about a big-time property developer who was a notoriously hard negotiator. He was ordering a huge quantity of special materials and had beaten the supplier down to agree to a really low price. Then he said, "but I need you to be happy with this deal. Let's go back up to ##.## per unit and I know you'll do your best for me."

 

[Robin House]

Hi Robin,

Well done ........ now the hard work starts!!!

Please give us an idea about the kind of music you want to play, including specific songs/tunes.  I have no doubt that you will find other members who share your musical tastes.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Robin House]

Hi Robin,

Well done ........ now the hard work starts!!!

Please give us an idea about the kind of music you want to play, including specific songs/tunes.  I have no doubt that you will find other members who share your musical tastes.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

Yes, I agree with you all. It's time to start either playing the accordion or collecting them lol.  I lean toward the folk stuff  and I would like to start a jug or skiffle type band when I retire in a couple of years. I've been listening to the Carolina Chocolate Drops and I've always enjoyed the music of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I would love to be involved in something like either of those. I play stringed instruments so I do have an ear and aptitude for music. I've never played anything like the accordion. This is entirely different for me.

 

[craptiger]

I find the best way to eliminate musty smells from inside old accordions is just to play them. A lot.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Robin,

Over here in the UK, most towns have a few Folk Clubs. They are usually, but not always, situated in pubs or community halls, and are just about the friendliest places to spend a few absorbing hours with like-minded people.

I don't know what form the folk "scene" takes in the US, though I would urge you to find a folk club near to your home. All the folk clubs near me are closed until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak, and I imagine you will encounter similar restrictions on your side of the pond. This hiatus will give you time to learn a few simple tunes, so you will be ready to contribute something to the evening's entertainment when normality is finally restored.

Please keep us informed about your progress.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.