I had no idea some people felt that a horse’s price is not negotiable. I only bought one horse (out of 4) at the price it was for sale at and that’s only cause otherwise they were likely to load the horse on a trailer the next morning to ship it to a big show venue where it would be highly likely to get sold for very close to top price.
I wouldn’t shop much above my price range, but I would certainly make an offer on a horse.
We all know there are pretty much no industry standards, and therefore there are a lot of individual practices and standards going on which themselves may be relative to all sorts of other things: the timing of the sale (the seller needs the horse to move, it has sat too long, it just won a big division, it’s been losing consistently, and so on), the quality of the horse, the quality of the buyer’s riding or whether or not she has a BNT, personal contacts, etc. etc. etc.
Some sellers will price a horse above what they hope to get and then be willing to negotiate. Some want EXACTLY $X and the price is not negotiable- hopefully they include this information in their original ad or discussion with buyers. If they don’t include this and a buyer wants to know whether or not the price is negotiable going in, some sellers will get pissy about that and shut the door, whereas others will say that, yes, it is negotiable. Or, potentially negotiable to the right buyer/a show home, or whatever.
After a PPE that turns up something problematic but not necessarily a deal-breaker, some sellers will still not want to negotiate (they believe this horse was already priced low, the finding isn’t serious, etc.), whereas others will negotiate and hope they get close to what they wanted originally.
No industry standards means that a buyer may as well ask at the outset (and certainly after an iffy PPE) because any of several outcomes are possible in such undefined circumstances. If sellers get upset about that question, well, move on and hopefully both parties find someone else to deal with who doesn’t offend their particular standards.
[QUOTE=Dixie Chick;8174246]
Maybe some sellers will like that I can write a check on the spot for the entire purchase amount. No trying to borrow money, or somehow put together enough to buy the horse. I’m hoping…[/QUOTE]
People shopping in that price range are usually able to pay upfront the full amount.
I’d be really surprised if any seller would offer some sort of payment plan! 
This. ^^^.
Am I the only one living vicariously through the OP? I cannot WAIT to hear what she buys! In fact, OP, I’d love to hear about your horse shopping experience. 'Tis an unlikely thing that I will ever have the pleasure of shopping in that price range. 
[QUOTE=alibi_18;8174681]
People shopping in that price range are usually able to pay upfront the full amount.
I’d be really surprised if any seller would offer some sort of payment plan! ;)[/QUOTE]
I agree. And I think if you try to pitch it as a “plus factor” that you can write a check that won’t bounce without gathering cash first…
- The seller will think you’re nuts
- The seller might be turned off that you’d even try to pitch that as a plus factor for selling to you
- The seller will think you’re a real money grubber type
Plus factors are things like the fact that you show with a great trainer and will likely do well with the horse and reflect well on the seller’s business or the fact that you retire your horses after they’re done with their show career or that you will skip a PPE so the sale can be done faster-- not the fact that you can write a check on the spot. Most everyone who is shopping should be able to write a check on the spot or else why are they looking/looking at THAT horse.
Plus isn’t your trainer going to handle this transaction trainer-to-trainer? I don’t see where you’d even be having this conversation. And the presumption in a trainer-on-both-sides transaction is that the client has the money ready to go or else you’re yanking 3 chains (seller, seller’s trainer, and your trainer).
[QUOTE=Dixie Chick;8174246]
Maybe some sellers will like that I can write a check on the spot for the entire purchase amount. No trying to borrow money, or somehow put together enough to buy the horse. I’m hoping…[/QUOTE]
Hmmmm…
You, as a buyer, expect to see/try the seller’s horses, right?
We, as a seller, expect you to be able to right a check.
[QUOTE=Dixie Chick;8174246]
Maybe some sellers will like that I can write a check on the spot for the entire purchase amount. No trying to borrow money, or somehow put together enough to buy the horse. I’m hoping…[/QUOTE]
If you can’t, you’re wasting everyone’s time. Like the person who tried my horse.
Did not mean to imply that I would use this to negotiate…
