My personal view is that people have "mutated" in the last 5 years.
I remember buying my Hilite set in 2006 - my dear friend Peter (I didn't know him then) said the price, I told him ok - and we did the deal. In fact, I rarely bargain, only if I sincerely can't raise more $$$. The problem is me - I think sellers know their price well...
And that IS the problem - the sellers and buyers (at least here) changed.
As a seller - I don't remember the last time I sold something for the stated price, even if it was low. People (who I know have cash) come and still they make indecent proposals... I spent 9 months trying to sell the Hilite set, and on an agreed price, the buyer still came with 150euro less, as his final offer...
As a buyer - the sellers here put BIG prices, like 600euro for a Tama Swingstar set without cymbals, or 900euro for a Pearl Export. If You tell them what the reasonable price would be, they look at You with that "kill, kill, kill" look... That's why I totally stopped buying used gear from my country.
I believe in honest people like the ones here - they offer something, and if I have the cash, I buy it... That's how things should be...
The drum Forums (at least Rev's) evolved into "Look, I made the best bargain" places. You offer something, and suddenly people try to get that for half the offered price. OR, the sellers have an unreal price, just because they think You should pay extra. So, if a seller got his drums at $1500, he tries to sell them for $1400, and the buyer wants them at $700...
You can't really understand human nature. I'm sure things weren't this way in 2006. eBay.de had fantastic bargains - Hilites for 900euro. Now, the Hilites go for 1800 (or at least the seller think that what they should get for them). Signatures were 1400euro top, and now they ask even 3000euro for them...
The market has gone crazy - with no logic whatsoever...
That is why Kelly - I think the seller (if he's reasonable enough) will contact You and will offer them to You at that price. If he wants them at home, well - that's his decision...
I let my Hilites go under the agreed price just because I knew:
- the buyer wasn't lying about not having 150euro more
- there wouldn't be a buyer with that cash soon
- 150euro won't make me richer, no matter how much I needed the $$$ at that time.
Good things come to good men - if the seller thinks like that, both of you will be satisfied in the end...
I guess I forgot myself a bit here...