Fair $$ for spare parts

[doughboy68]

Cash for old trucks?? - Found a 67 with tires rotting under it holding a plethora of junk in the bed... guy knows his old Fords are worth money ( has two for sale with spare parts for $5000 for all). My interest is in the front clip to get 75% of the parts for my rebuild. A bit of rust, some parts no good, but I can salvage a good bit of them. He wont sell the whole thing, but will sell what I need. He wont give me a price, he asked what it is worth to me??? Anyone not think $200 is a fair offer... I can get a 68 in the weeds that has been picked at for $300, a lot missing, but again, most of what I need is there except I have to haul it and sell/junk it when done. Thoughts appreciated??? I am new to scrapping and finding parts so... I know it will cost a lot more to buy from parts companies, just looking to be fair to him as well and save a buck or two.

[68 Ford Stepside]

There are two sentences in your thread that don't match. Guy knows his Fords are worth money & Looking to be fair to him.

[doughboy68]

I get it, but you didn't answer the question... do you think $200 is fair? I do or I would go less. "I am new to scrapping and finding parts so..." is also included and ultimately it all comes down to what he says... he may think $500 is fair... I am looking for experience of others who have done this longer than me to help me decide a fair starting place... If it goes over $300 Ill take the other truck.

[68 Ford Stepside]

A good straight "complete" front clip with minimal rust or damage would cost me a minimum of seven hundred dollars.

[doughboy68]

Thanks... this really does help me!!

[70shortwide]

$700? Thats a good chunk of money! around here I wouldnt expect to pay more than $200-$250 for a nice clip. have bought these trucks in presentable good running condition for $500 a few times.

[Calfdemon]

I guess it would depend on where you are. Around here, I can get a complete roller truck for parts for under $1000. I would think that 200-300 would be fair to offer, but again, it depends where you are. I guess in the rust-belt, the parts might cost a bit more. I sold an entire cab recently for $200 and sold a front clip for another 200. But that is in SoCal where non-rusted parts are everywhere.

[hazelnut]

Location is going to be the biggest factor. If rust free trucks are everwhere than the value comes down. If you have a hard time finding good parts than it goes up. He could get $500 for scrapmetal, More if he parted it out. If the man knows his parts then he surely knows his prices. If you try to cheat him you'll be still looking IMO.

[doughboy68]

Thanks to all for the input.... again, I am new to this and all the info helps get me started. I am not out to cheat him out of $$.... dont want to overpay either because I am new to buying parts like this and I've seen a lot of folks trying to get their part of a future value out of a truck they can't rebuild themselves. 25% of what is there is rusted through and needs more work put into it to get top $$... now I have a range to bargain within!!

[chicof100]

Business is business, How much do you want to pay for parts? (If you can get a roller in the weeds use that for leverage in your own mind of course.) Start low and stick to your guns.
You say this guy knows his parts and what there worth, but there sitting somewhere not making him any money, right?
Now as troublesome as this might seem, are you sleeping with this guy? NO, right? Then what do you care about being fair.
Now some of you may think my words are harsh or even stupid, maybe, but I've been buying and selling Ford parts for 8 years now. If I buy from a private party I make my offer low, I know what I'm willing to spend but I won't get to that price. The least he can say is NO. If my price is not agreed upon, then I usually leave my number and walk away. Nine out of ten times I get called right away to come get the parts.
Remember Business is business and if you can walk away with a hand shake, then the deal is good and all is happy.
I let people talk me down on an item, but, I do have a bottom line. I've given more parts away (to friends) or at my cost then I care to discuss.
I'm not trying to burn the other guy, but I usually get the parts at what I want to pay.
A good salesman can sell ice to an Eskimo, A good buyer can buy that ice from the Eskimo for half of what he paid for it. It's called "The gift of Gab"
Learning to negotiate is not easy, if you go into it with "Feelings" you'll pay top dollar for everything.
Bartering is another tool to use, no cash is used and you can trade up.
While my words are "Different" then what most of you are used to hearing, try it. No one is getting hurt and the seller does not have to sell unless he wants to. Same goes for a buyer, you don't have to buy unless you want to.

[68 Ford Stepside]

I totally agree! I've given away a ton of parts for free,but when it comes to buying & selling I turn into the best used car salesman on the block. LOL!