Fundamental difference in thinking? - Posted by Don-NY

import · March 17, 2009, 11:00am

Posted by Don-NY on March 19, 2009 at 04:22:41:

I have been doing this stuff since grade school. But it still amazes me that in this economic climate people still refuse to do anything extra to help themselves out. Maybe it’s because the media tells them every day that it’s not possible to better their lives by themselves and the GOVERMENT’S job is to make their lives better AAGGGHHH! And now congress is going to select a few citizens and tax them at 90% if that is not socialism what is? Still I’m going to continue to seize opportunities to make money no matter how small.

import · March 17, 2009, 11:00am

Posted by Don-NY on March 17, 2009 at 11:00:59:

Back In January a tenant asked to borrow $50 so he could put a down payment on a used car…I know what else is new. His car would no longer pass inspection and he was in desperate need of another one. The fact that the inspection station told him in 2007 that his car would not pass “next year” did not inspire him to plan for the impending need for another. Well contrary to trailer park belief I am not a bank, so I offered a solution. I would buy his old junker for the $50, He quickly agreed and hapily went off to buy his “new” car. Well it has been snowed in until last week. So saturday we drive down to check on the park and pickup our junk car. We get home and I take pics and list it on craigslist for $200 as a non registerable demo derby car. I had 15 phone calls and sold it sunday full price. I boggles my mind. Could he not see the opportunity, or does he (and others) lack any motivation at all!?

import · March 28, 2009, 5:31pm

Re: Fundamental difference in thinking? - Posted by GL

Posted by GL on March 28, 2009 at 17:31:45:

Reminds me of something Clifford Irving said when he was selling his (fake) Howard Hughes bio.

Someone at the publisher’s asked why Hughes was so insistent on being paid $750,000 with all his money.

Irving replied “You don’t get to be a billionaire by giving things away for nothing”.

I have seen the same thing you describe so many times, it hardly surprises me anymore.

Just a few weeks ago I phoned about a 1976 Avion trailer that was for sale for $550. The seller was recently laid off and was strapped for cash, that was why he was selling. Unfortunately for me someone else snapped it up. The seller, who was down on his luck and hard up for money, could just as easily have asked $3000 and got it. If he fixed the trailer up a bit (he was out of work after all) he could have got $5000 or $6000.

Here’s another one. A friend of mine recalled a job he did some years back. A man he knew had a lot of wooden office desks to get rid of. He offered them to my friend for $10 apiece. My friend suggested they take them to the guy’s home ( a mansion in the most exclusive neighborhood in town) polish them up and sell them for $200.

They tried it, it worked, and the guy was so thrilled he paid my friend $50 each to truck them to his house and polish them up. They all sold at $150 to $200. In most cases he then got $25 or $50 to deliver them to the buyer.

Now this guy was a millionaire many times over. He had all these desks because he just sold an office building and the buyer did not want the furniture. So what was he doing messing around with a bunch of old desks?

My friend also said he heard him haggling over the phone with the Mercedes dealer. He was literally arguing to the death over the last $50 discount.

To repeat, this man was a millionaire. And I predict he will stay one too.

As for the guy who could not save up $50 even with a year’s notice. I predict he will never be a millionaire.

import · March 18, 2009, 2:20pm

Re: Fundamental difference in thinking? - Posted by David

Posted by David on March 18, 2009 at 14:20:24:

good quick thinking. Congratulations on solving his problem and creating an opportunity for yourself. Really this story is about the simple concept of ‘Cash is King.’ Keep it up and soon you can open up Don’s Trade Shop and wheel and deal in stuff.

import · March 17, 2009, 12:55pm

Re: Fundamental difference in thinking? - Posted by Shawn Sisco

Posted by Shawn Sisco on March 17, 2009 at 12:55:22:

Don, I have taken such things as livestock, hay, horses, cars, trucks, tools, ect, ect. as downpayments. Of course I would get a buy bid from someone who deals in such.

I would make all the calls to put these deals together with my customer having full knowledge of what was going on. I don’t understand the reluctance of my customers to handle this on their own, but I have been down this road enough times now to recognize that I am not doing my job if I don’t ask about “other items” for trade. P.S. a late 70’s full size chevy will fetch about $1,000 to the demo guys around here.