88cook Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 trying to make a fair offer on what appears to be an english wrought iron anvil aprox. 150lb with broken heel through the hardy hole, the only visible marks are dudle. which i take to be dudley england as the shape of the anvil appears to be from makers in the area. This may be my first anvil and was thinking offering $1 a pound since the heel is broken, would $150 be a fair offer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will. K. Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 $150 seems a little high to me. Price depends alot on where your located and what kind of shape the rest of the anvil in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulsepushthepopulace Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I would say that it's good practice to see what the seller wants for it. Then, as you look it over, in person, do a rebound test, inspect for cracks, all the while keeping in the back of your mind what you want to pay, and what youd be willing to pay.... It sounds crappy, but there are certain things that automatically detract from it's value, especially broken backs, horns, heels... Yes, it might add character, but those are all crucial areas to the overall forging operation... Present the offer (price you want to pay... "would you take $$$ amount?"... Complement the product "it's beautiful, but" then explain your reasoning for that number... I've found that when I buy bikes, everybody's got a one of a kind custom yadda yadda, and there's not a single one like it... Sorry charlie, I realize that you're proud of the money YOU spent, but I don't pay other people to decorate my house, and I'm definitely not inheriting the bill for your 5 thousand dolar paint job and chrome bits... Anvils are different, but the same in many ways... I'm not going to pay antique prices for something that has substantial signs of wear, if it were flawless and never seen a heat, then maybe... From there, if the seller is not comfortable with that price, ease into that realm of what you're willing to pay... Don't surpass it. Make it a promise to yourself that you don't cross that point of too much... The all encompassing tactic here is for you both to walk away from the deal feeling good about it... Don't be afraid to walk away... I usually put what I'm "want to pay" in my right front pocket, and the suplemental "willing to pay" divided in half; one half in your front pocket the other half in your wallet... nothing else on hand.... if you start meandering towards the "willing to pay", excuse yourself and take a second to recount your money... There is a strange psychological satisfaction that a seller gets out of this... It presents a feeling of closure because tangible cash is there... It's a subliminal signal, when you reach into your second pocket that he's on the winning end of the barter gamel... come back and mention that this is all you got, hinting at how he plays hardball... Usually this wraps it up... now you're at the halfway point of wanting and willing... which aint bad... If he wants more; tell him you have to go scour the glove box or make a few calls... If you're unsure about it? tell him you'll be back in 15... take a drive... think about it, ask yourself if you're satisfied... come back and make your final offer, or simply wish him the best, shake his/her hand and leave... This is crucial, sometimes they'll stop you and say they'll take what you got (left and right front pocket...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulsepushthepopulace Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 lol, my car salesmen dissertation... yes... there is a lot of games you learn selling cars for a couple of months... Some things were logical approaches to making the deal... Others were strategies on how to remain in control, while acting out the complete opposite... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I wouldn't even think about paying a dollar a pound. Even if the edges and horn were in pristine, as-new condition, the anvil isn't complete. And we know the edges won't be perfect. The weight of the anvil gives you a good starting point, but you need to subtract from that the fact that you're going to "need" an leg vise to use your hardy tooling (sob story for the seller). If this is the best anvil you've seen in your area, and you don't already own another anvil, offer him something on the order of fifty cents a pound with the explanation as to why. Be willing to go up to a buck, maybe, if everything else is very very good, but make sure that's a buck a pound for the actual weight and not the stamped weight. Anvils vary in price depending on location and condition. Can't say what it's like in your area, but the condition doesn't sound worthy of much over scrap prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 With the heel broke, is the top plate lifting at all? If so, scrap price. Pulsepushthepopulace pretty well sums up what I do. Set a limit, don't cross it, have CA$H on hand, and be willing to walk. There ARE better anvils out there for decent prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 While $150 isn't astronomically high, try $50 unless the remaining anvil is rather near perfect.Also where are you? Here in Ohio anvils are pretty easy to find. In California the game is a little different.Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Buchanan Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 if you need an anvil... not a great deal..... if your wanting wrought iron.... not such a bad deal for 150lbs of wrought..... theres guys on here that charge 2 and 3 pr lb... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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