Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with offer

What should my counter offer for a used car be?

FairlyFarley — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:51:40 -0800

I'm in the middle of negotiating with a dealer for a used car. I need to know what a good counter offer would be and how many offers I should be expected to make. I know I want a used toyota tacoma truck. I found one locally on the internet. I really want to buy it, however I don't want to go into the dealer yet and get milked so I'm communicating with a salesman from the dealer through e-mail.

The truck was listed for $11,700. I sent an e-mail expressing my interest and also my findings that kelly blue book and edmunds list the value of the vehicle at $8,100 and $8,300 respectivly and that "this amout was closer to the amout of the load I've been approved for" without coming out and making an offer.

I have been approved for a loan for up to the whole asking price.

The dealer e-mailed me back saying they "taked with the boss" and will be willing to sell the vehicle for $10,800.

What would be a reasonable counter offer? And how many counter offers should I be expected to go through? Is there some magic percentage that they are allowed to go down? What's the lowest I can offer and still be taken seriously?

I want this truck, but I don't want to feel like I got a bad deal.

How long do you need to consider an employment offer (in the US)?

mockjovial — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:51:47 -0800

What timeframe do you need to consider and respond to an employment offer (in the US)? I just made a job offer to a chemical engineer in Chicagoland and gave what I thought was a reasonable amount of time to consider it – until the close of business Friday, or Monday morning at the latest. 3-5 days. He asked me to wait until a week from this Friday – 10 days.

I’m sure he is waiting to see what else pans out. He confirmed that our offer was in line with his previously stated expectations.

I told him I’d let him know shortly how long we are willing to wait for a response.

In your opinion, what is a reasonable amount of time to have in order to consider a job offer? Was I out of line?

Should I go work for one company (1-2 month) while waiting for another company's offer?

Anonymous — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:42:24 -0800

Should I accept the offer from company "A", knowing full well that I would go work for company "B" in 1-2 month? I'm sure 99% that B's offer will come, but should I do this as a way of hedging my bets? Hello, fellow hiveminds. I need to ask you guys (gals) something work related, and so I must be anonymous. [Also, English isn't my first language, so please excuse my grammar/spelling.)

I'm 27 years old, got Bachelor in Engineering and Master in Finance. I used to work as a software developer for almost 4 years, then went for a master in the US. Now I have returned and live in Asia. (my hometown)

I got my master recently and have a bit of an "identity crisis". I'm not sure which career path I want to pursue -- in IT or Finance. (I know, it's a bit silly but that's another post all together)

So what I did was sending resumes to both IT and Finance companies. While waiting for the companies to respond (a few weeks), I finally figured it out that I want to go the Finance route. Shortly after that I got an interview, and then an offer from Company A. Nice pays, nice benefits. I also talked with company B and also got an "acceptance" in principle.

I must elaborate about A & B a bit. Company A is a big US software company, specialising in Financial and Legal/consulting business. I don't have anything against A, it's just not the career path I want to pursue.

Company B is also a big international financial firm. I used to work as a programmer for a guy there (my boss) and after discussing with him and his superiors, they're very interested in me and told me that I'll be in his new business plan. Actually, I talked with him on and off about this opportunity since 5 months ago.

This position is the greatest you can ask for, for an entry level position.The problem is, they can't offer me anything concrete until (they are guessing) 1-2 months because of the new business plan. (approval, paperwork and all that)

The reason I'm confident about B's future offer is -- the Top executive at the company really likes me and even called me personally about this opportunity. So it's 95% confidence level for me.

Ok... really long background, sorry. my question is:

Should I accepted an offer from company A? It's a good deal for me, but I'd feel bad about company A. Would there be repercussions if I did? And Are there other [better] solutions?

I welcome all suggestions, and thank you so much for reading through all that.

Making a smart offer on a house

whatgorilla — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:10:42 -0800

How do we make the most strategically sound offer on a house, and how to best estimate the monthly costs (mortgage+taxes+insurance+PMI)? Part 1:
I found out that a great house was being put on the market two days ago. Called the listing agent, who had just put the sign in the yard. $154.9K for 3/1, 1500sq ft + lots of extras. We saw the house yesterday, loved it, and decided to put an offer on it today; however, the listing agent left a message with our realtor that someone else had looked at the house yesterday as well, and was also putting an offer on it today. We are prepared to offer the full price, but if the other offer is super low, and the sellers would accept an offer of $150K from us, then it seems like we're just giving away $5K out of fear that the other offer is really high (which might be the case, since I'm assume the listing agent told them about us as well). However, if we offer $150K and the other prospective buyer offers $151K (or the full price), we'd lose out. Our offer goes in at 5:30pm; theirs goes in at 7:30pm. The house really is worth $150K easily (it sold for $150K in 1/05, and they've added nice, new appliances and all-new windows since then). $155K is definitely a fair price, though $5-$15K more than we'd planned on spending.

What should we do in order to maximize our chances of getting this house? (Note -- time isn't on our side: wife is pregnant with twins and may go on bed-rest in May, so we really need to find a place, but our backup plans are all short-sales, which take forever.)

Part 2;
What's the most accurate way to estimate our monthly house-payment (mortgage+taxes+insurance+PMI) on a mortgage of $144K in Jacksonville, FL (32205)? How accurate is the zillow mortgage calculator? I can't tell if it's taking the $50K homestead deduction into consideration nor how high/low it's insurance estimate is.

Thanks.

Will Company A wait for me while I interview at Company B? (3-4 weeks from now?)

inatizzy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:38:02 -0800

I am likely to soon get a job offer from Company A. Yesterday, Company B called to schedule an interview for a few weeks from now. I would prefer to work at Company B, but if I didn't get the job, I would want to work at Company A. How do I handle this delicate situation, seeing as we're talking about almost a month until I would have an answer from Company B? Hivemind, I can really use your help with this. I just don't know how to play it and I'm not someone who is very experienced with hardball negotiating. I just want everyone to be happy and get along. :) I've read thru a similar previous question, but the timeline there was shorter.

Here are my questions:

1. What can I really do in this situation without being unethical?

2. In this case, it's practically a month between now and when I would make a decision. Are companies OK waiting that long? Is it insulting to ask Company A to wait until mid-to-end of December?

3. On the flip side, would it hurt me to interview with Company B before their scheduled interview week? Does it look bad to ask that?

4. And, how honest can I be with each company about this? At what point do I tell each of them I am interested in a different possibility?

For what it's worth, I would probably be willing to let the job at Company A pass, if I had to in order to be considered for Company B. But I'd rather not.

If you want the details: (Sorry for the length of all this!)

Company B is conducting first round interviews the week of Dec 8. (so, 2-2.5 weeks from now.) If I made it to the second round, it'd be the following week. Between all that, checking references, etc. it will be at least 3.5 weeks from now before I can expect an answer on that job, probably more. Compared to the job at Company A, the role at Company B has more responsibility and autonomy, is much more interesting, would not require me to move or get a car, and would take me out of pure 'administrative' roles, which I want. At Company A, it's an administrative role, but I'd take it to get my foot in the door and then grow into another role. (We discussed that during my interview.)

I interviewed at Company A 1.5 weeks ago, they contacted my references end of last week with an emailed questionnaire to be returned no later than tomorrow (Wednesday). I thought I wouldn't hear from them until next week due to Thanksgiving but I got a voicemail today from my future boss at Company A, who's doing the hiring, asking me to call her back today or tomorrow to chat about a few things. If she doesn't reject me, then I expect she'll either make me an offer or ask more questions about my availability/salary expectations. I don't think I can postpone returning her call anymore than I have. (I didn't return it yet, and she emailed me after dinner asking about tomorrow.)

Thanks in advance for your advice. :)

First time home buyer looking for advice on terms and conditions

Kickstart70 — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:08:24 -0800

Just about to make our first ever offer on a house and need advice on terms...help? (lots more detail in click) Rural beauty, small town, 1215sqft, 4.94 acres (1 acre cleared), dead end street, decent shape but 22 years old, needs a little non-structural work (deck plywood) but otherwise seems good. Dual furnaces, one oil and one wood, use the same ducting system with individual blowers and thermostats. Fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer, dryer, blinds, valances, fixed mirrors, blah blah blah included. Kitchen recently redone. Carpets and walls in great shape (not thrilled about the wall colours however). Decent landscaping (better than most in the area). Shallow well. Septic lagoon (legal). Two sheds of little or no value. Metal roofing.

Seller is leaving because they need more space. They are asking $169k, originally was $179k. One previous offer, which fell through because buyer could not arrange financing.

We will be getting a house inspection and a well test. A previous home inspection 4 years ago also detailed a few problems and recommendations (doubling floor joists, re-aligning siding, adding additional structural support to roof peak).

Bank says no real problems in us getting a mortgage (though it was close...admittedly because they are being restrictive in the current financial climate.

So...given all that we are thinking of offering $155k and requiring all firewood on site left behind (perhaps enough for this winter). What else should we ask for?

Specifically, we can ask for other things to be left in place, though I don't know what those would really be. We could accept if they refuse to leave other things behind if they don't try to keep too close to their asking price. What are our big risks, given the above info?

Any other suggestions?

A great problem to have

NotMyselfRightNow — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:34:09 -0800

What factors do you look at when considering multiple, simultaneous job offers? By the middle of this week, I expect to have two job offers in hand. Both are professional, full-time, white collar, mid-career positions. I’m trying to figure out how to best compare the two offers, as well as the two organizations and positions, and I’m assembling a spreadsheet to do just that.

What are some of the factors that you have considered when looking at jobs and job offers? I’m looking for both normal items (“Salary?”) as well as things that might be a bit out of left field (“Do they offer free massages on Friday afternoons in the summer?”). Items I already have fall along the lines of:

- Salary, benefits, etc.
- Reputation of the organization in the marketplace
- Likely next step in my career after this one
- Commuting costs, parking costs, etc.

What others ways can I compare them? What pros and cons have you looked at in the past?

How do I negotiate my new salary?

matholio — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:56:01 -0800

What strategy should I adopt to clarify and hopefully increase this job offer? I have a job, I think it's a good job, but for various reasons I want to move on.

I had an interview with the CEO of a smallish company, and I thought it went well.

During the 1st interview, the topic of remuneration was discussed, I wasn't really ready for it, and frankly I think I made too many positive noises too early. Some figures were mentioned and afterwards I wished I had made my position clearer.
Basically there was some confusion on my part about Base/Package.

I was tempted to call back to clarify it, but I didn't want to sound over confident.

They followed up with a reference check, and finally a telephone interview with a senior technical consultant. All went well and they made an offer today.

The offer is exactly what the numbers mentioned by the CEO.
Looking at the offer, they have included Super (pension) in the Base.
That's a significant amount, say, at least 8% of Base. Maybe more but they have not indicated how much Super they offer (why?).
It's not really normal to roll these numbers together, quite unusual actually.
Also, regarding the bonus, it's KPI linked, but the KPIs will be thrashed out during the probation period.

So my question is how do I approach these discussions?

In my initial conversation with HR, I stated a minimum base.
In my mind Base does not include anything else.
The CEO may well believe we had an agreement in the first interview.
The at risk component is quite significant, so I feel they have room to move.
Should I offer to give up potential bonus, for more base salary?
Should I mention it's not usual to include super in the salary?

There no point moving for the offer they have presented, but I like the role, I think it will suit me, and they are keen to fill the role. They have been with out this role for at least a month and already feel standards are dropping.

My gut feeling is they can and might meet my minimum salary expectations, I just don't want to stuff it up with my lack of negotiation experience.

Sorry for the rambling back story, I hope it's coherent enough.

Changing my mind on a declined job offer

megancita — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:41:48 -0800

I was offered a job four weeks ago, and declined it mostly due to overwhelming anxiety that stopped my brain from thinking logically. I think I made a mistake. What's the protocol for calling and asking if the job is still available and if they would consider me again? Would it be best to make the inquiry by phone or email? Do I need to explain my change of mind? And would this behaviour label me as a total flake?

The job was a writing position, and really, the only explanation I would have for them is that I freaked out about the job offer -- it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, i.e. "perfect", it involved a move to a city where I don't know anyone, and I wasn't sure the job would help me get future jobs because it was a very niche writing market. Cut to today, and I feel like I've neutralized those worries, plus the cold slap of economic reality makes me realize this might have been the only job offer I'll get.

The job posting is no longer on their website.

Job offer ... do we take it or not?

finitejest — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:21:20 -0800

my SO has gotten a great job offer in another state, it's a great opportunity for him... but the timing is less than perfect. Do we take it? (more details inside) The job opportunity would include a sizable raise for him, plus awesome benefits and a carte blanche in the IT dept of a large company. Having the boost in income would help us meet our long term goals faster, but we're not swimming in debt and the extra money isn't a desperate need.

He has worked for this company in the past, and they're good people. If there were no other factors, taking the job would be a no brainer.

But there are other factors:

I'm about 5 months into a new job. It's at a company that people in the industry would kill to work for and a HUGE name to have on a resume. Unfortunately, there are no branches where we would be moving, so leaving for this new job would definitely mean quitting.

I'm not 100% happy here (I just don't dig the industry) and honestly see this job as more of a stepping stone than someplace I want to be 10 years from now. By the same token, the idea of quitting after 5-6 months seems insane. I cringe at the idea of leaving projects on the table that I had solely been working on, or leaving my boss in the lurch and with a bad taste in his mouth.

On skills alone, I could probably easily find something else, but I don't know how a 5 month stint at a company looks on a resume, even in the Design/Development field where people seem to switch jobs all the time. This is my second "real" job (I had freelanced for years priors) and I had been at my last job for 4 years prior to resigning and taking this job to reduce commute time.

So, hive mind, I could really use some opinions to help us make the best decision.

Juggling job offers?

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:08:40 -0800

Juggling job offers? (wordy, follow-up) I'm this guy. Since posting that question (and thanks so much for the helpful responses), I have indeed been searching for jobs. Two of the resulting leads are coming to a head, and I could use some tips.

The background:

Company A is an extremely prestigious software development firm in NYC (to which I'd love to relocate). It would be a full-time position, and really offer me a fresh start with a highly-visible, interesting project. I've passed two phone interviews, and next week I'm flying up for a final interview in person. I'm optimistic about my chances based on my feedback so far, but of course anything can happen. I would definitely prefer this job, to the point where I would turn down Company B based only on the chance of working with Company A if it came down to it.

Company B is local, sounds like a good job with good people at a good pay rate. However, it's a contract job (which I've never done before) and may end up disappearing or becoming something else entirely in 5-7 months (or, it could turn into a full-time position for all I know). This opportunity was brought to my attention through a headhunter, who told me today that they got positive feedback and expect an offer by close of business.

Which brings me to my inquiries. The first one is obvious: assuming I get an offer from Company B today, what can I tell them that might give me time to wait for a response from Company A? If I don't get the A job, I would certainly accept B, but clearly that would not be a very diplomatic thing to say.

The second question is this: Company A's recruiter told me, a long time ago, to let her know if I started to come close to an offer with another company. I assume that was so they could expedite the screening/interview process, but given the logistics of travel and scheduling, the steps that remain can't really be expedited any further. However, perhaps their response to me following next week's interview would be more prompt if they thought they were going to lose me to another company. This would put me in the ideal situation of hearing from Company A before I have to respond to Company B, if I manage to get some leeway in responding to the latter.

On the other hand, I'm not very savvy at job searching. I don't want to say something to Company A that's going to make them look upon me less favorably, and I wonder if "I'm about to get an offer from another company" so late in the process would sound like I was trying to play them, or whether they'd decide I wasn't worth fighting over.

Certainly, there are worse positions to be in, but any advice you all might have to help me make the most of this conundrum would be greatly appreciated!

How can I capitalize on a job offer I received but won't accept?

Anonymous — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:21:23 -0800

How can I capitalize on a job offer I received but won't accept? I am pleased with my current job at a major telecommunications company, but a couple of weeks ago I received an offer to join what seemed to be a great early stage start-up as a CEO. However, as negotiations progressed, I saw that the amount of risk I was going to take wasn't worth it, since 1) the salary + benefits they are offering are exactly the same I currently have (of course there are options, but there lies the risk) and 2) as I said I really like my current job and I feel I haven't been here long enough (1 1/2 years) and I would like to use it to build a stronger resumé.

So, negotiations are still taking place but I am pretty sure I'll pass on this one. Given that, I would like to use this to make me look good on my current job. :-) This is my ideal scenario:

I would informally tell my boss what happened and that I have rejected the offer because I see better opportunities in our unit etc. He would then be very pleased, appreciate the honesty and recognize me as a valued professional that is being sought in the market. My name would be marked for future promotions and success would ensue.

Is this possible? Is there any way to pull that off and not look like an asshole (that part is important)?

Is this normal?

phoenixy — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:54:44 -0800

Job offer timing--is this normal? Are they trying to screw me over? I am currently employed. I recently interviewed for an entry-level job at another company and they gave me an offer on the spot. The job seems like a pretty good fit, although with its plusses and minuses, as jobs are wont to have. They wanted me to decide about the offer within 24 hours, but I asked if I could have 72 hours. They said okay.

47 hours later, I get a call from another company offering me an interview in two days. The next hour, I get a scheduled call from the first company. I tell them about the call from company number two. At the end of the call, they say they realize I am not enthusiastic about the salary (I'm not) and offer a small increase, saying it's the best they can offer, but that they won't try to get me the increased salary if I decide to interview with the other company. I say I'll think about that. A couple of hours later I call them back, telling them that if I have to choose between the possible salary increase and having more time to decide about the job, I'll take more time. They inform me that they weren't actually giving me a choice and that they won't give me any more time to consider the offer. They never at any point give me a reason why they need me to decide so soon, although to be fair, I don't ask.

Am I right to think that I'm not being treated decently? Is this normal behavior? I think this job would be a good fit but the company's actions are putting a very sour taste in my mouth.

I should note that this is *not* an issue of the company needing me to start immediately--they were willing to put off my start date by several weeks.

Job Interview - Salary & Benefits Discussion

gov_moonbeam — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 14:29:11 -0800

Finding Salary Information for Internet Project Management work. I had a preliminary job interview earlier this week that I think went really well. The hiring manager is supposed to contact me early next week (fingers crossed for a follow-up interview with more of the staff). Two things I've been trying to research/figure out during the intervening time:

1) The issue of salary expectations was brought up with the comment of making sure their expecations are on the same page as mine. I'm taking that to mean he might think I'll want more money than he has budgeted. The position is doing project management for an online media site, so I'm trying to find good sources of salary information (especially for my not so urban area) so that I can have a range that's based on reality instead of guessing what they'd be likely to pay. It doesn't require actual certification from the Project Management Institute, but I'm looking for sources of salary range information for that type of job title, especially be region.

2) Near the end of the meeting, the hiring manager started telling me about the work environment having flex hours, casual dress, benefits and said that I could talk to the HR director if I had questions about compensation. I know as a job seeker, the golden rule is to not bring up anything related to compensation until *after* you have the offer in hand. I'm not counting on anything until after I've been asked to a 2nd interview and got through it okay. But the fact that he started telling me all of this, that's a pretty good sign, right? Or does it just mean I was dealing with somebody who jumped the gun a little early in the game?

Job offer basics

messylissa — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 16:49:09 -0800

What are things I need to know to ask and say when I receive a job offer? And, conversely, when I don't? I had a second interview for my first professional, post-college, "Welcome to the Real World" job on Friday. They're calling tomorrow with their decision. I feel good about the interviews, and want to be prepared if when they call to offer me the position. What do I need to know to ask?

The job would involve me moving across the state, to a much bigger (and thus, more expensive) city. This is a lower paying job (the range they gave was $20K-$30K), so I imagine some salary negotiation might need to happen. Is it out of line to ask, and HOW do I ask for them to pay to move me? What are all the things to consider?

Obviously a rather open-ended question, but any career advice sites only give very specific advice, as well as other AskMeFi questions.

Oh, and, if it matters, this is for a project coordinator position in the alternative energy industry.

Getting it free

beammeup4 — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 01:52:08 -0800

Looking for alternative methods for getting referrals for a "free ____ " program. So I signed up for a MacBook Pro website that requires 20 referrals, but I'm having a lot of trouble getting them. (I know since Ask MeFi isn't an advertising site, I'll leave it at that and if you want to be awesome and help me out, email me)

Anyway, I saw sites on the internet that sell "guaranteed signups" for a certain amount of money. While I realize and accept that if I buy signups, it's not guaranteed that any of them will actually complete an offer and "go green", anyone have any experience with this type of thing?

Does anyone have any success stories or advice on how to most effectively get people to sign up and complete an offer, besides asking family, paying 1 person $25 to sign up and complete an offer, and (il)legally spam your referral link everywhere?

Is it wrong to quit a new job if another offer comes through?

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 08:15:47 -0800

Is it wrong to quit a new job if another offer comes through? So I've been interviewing with Company A and Company B for the past month or so. I last met with Company A on this past Wednesday. They are still making a decision.

Company B offered me a position that met my salary requirements and the position seemed perfect for me. I accepted their offer and started work this week. Since starting there, I am still very happy with my position and compensation, but I have discovered a few things that lead me to doubt the company's ethical standards and their future. This worries me, and yes, I know I should have done better research before, but the fact is I am now concerned about job security.

I started so quickly because they were hiring a pool of employees and training was to start this week, meaning I would be playing catch-up or would have to start much later (which I really couldn't afford to do.)

Company A is a much more well-known company and the position is probably on an equal level as the other one, as far as how well I like the job, but there is also a much greater opportunity for growth and promotion there. And, unlike Company B, I am fairly sure they will be around for a long time.

Should Company A contact me and offer me the position, what would be the consequences of quitting Company B to take the job at Company A?

I've read that it's really not good to accept an offer and then not follow through with it because of the time and money they put into you. Well, technically Company B wouldn't really be out anything because they wouldn't only be training me, but also the other new employees. Also, when I was offered the position, I was told that they were only planning on hiring X amount of employees, and had already hired X people, but that they liked me and would offer me the job anyway. So I'm not actually taking anyone else's spot. Also, I am on a 90-day probationary period with Company B--does that make a difference?

Job negotiations

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:51:00 -0800

I've got a job offer out of state, but I'm not quite ready to move the whole family. Does anyone have suggestions on how to negotiate a "commuting" setup? I'm in the southwest and the job is in the southeast.

Giving away four free downloads from Musicmatch

emelenjr — Sun, 04 Jul 2004 17:08:06 -0800

Who wants some free music? Papa John's gave me a code for four free downloads from Musicmatch with my four non-free Cokes. There's no Mac version of Musicmatch, so the code is useless to me. What to do, what to do?

At least I'm not trying to pawn off another Gmail invitation.

Bad timing!

SpecialK — Fri, 18 Jun 2004 07:54:59 -0800

A job in hand... I graduated from Portland State University's School of Business a week ago, and I've had a healthy number of interviews since I graduated. I interviewed on Monday for a position I'm really interested in -- and unfortunately, they told me today that they wouldn't get back to me until after next week, since they're still talking to candidates as of today and the hiring manager is taking a vacation next week. In the meantime, I have accept/decline decisions that need to be in *before* then for other jobs that will pay just as much, but won't be as challenging, interesting, or use all of my skills. So, is a job offer in hand really worth two that are still off in the aether, or should I hold out for the one I really like? It should also be said that my lease on my current place is up on July 8th (HA! I thought a month to find a job would be enough!) so I need to be working, relocated, and have a new place to live by that point... or shift my stuff into storage temporarily and go bunk with a friend while the job-dust settles.

The jobs I have offers for (an another interview in ... 1 hour) are sales jobs, while the other job is in the field I graduated in and am fascinated with (transportation operations management).