Oh great.......
I could write a book and only cover a fraction of what we do.
Every situation is different so there is no best way that works in every situation.
However, the best advice I can offer is don't be in a hurry to buy and, base your offer on KBB trade in value.
Remember, money doesn't talk, it swears *(@^&@$%^@$.
I make a ton of offers on the internet and about one in five will say something like I can't take that, I need at least X amount.
So my reply goes something like this, "I completely understand where you are coming from and I appreciate your counter offer. Unfortunately my offer is the best I can do. If at some point you have a harder time selling then you thought, remember that I have cash and I don't play games."
Then out of the blue they contact us and away we go.
Basing your offer on KBB takes away the "Low baller" syndrome.
They might be asking 2K for their bike but if you show them that KBB say's it's 1K then you aren't offering an arbitrary amount based on emotion, it's what the established value of the bike is.
I'm a dealer and that is what we pay. Why? Because we are going to sell it for retail, that's how we stay in business.
People will sometimes immediately say no.
Then something comes up that they think will be cool or they need and there you are with cash swearing in your pocket
Another thing I don't do is criticize their bike in order to beat them up on the price.
Even though they are selling their bike, often times they still love it because of all the fun they have had on it.
So be patient, be polite, and treat it as a business transaction, not as an emotional decision based on how much fun you will have on it.
Questions?
Feel free to ask.