How do I handle a negotiation where the buyer keeps citing a "market price" I can't independently verify?
Short answer: Ask the buyer directly for their specific source or reference point for the market price they're citing, and independently check a current price reference yourself before the negotiation, so you have your own verified number to compare against rather than relying entirely on the buyer's unverified claim about what the market is doing.
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List Free →Why an unverifiable market claim is a weak basis to negotiate from
If you can’t check the number a buyer is citing, you have no real way to know whether it reflects genuine current market conditions or is simply a convenient justification for a lower offer — this asymmetry favors the buyer unless you do your own independent research first.
What to do before the negotiation, not during it
Check a current market price reference for your specific metal yourself, ideally close to the time of your planned sale, so you walk into the negotiation already knowing a reasonably accurate figure rather than depending entirely on what the buyer tells you in the moment.
How to respond if the numbers don’t match
If a buyer’s cited “market price” is noticeably different from what your own independent check shows, it’s reasonable to mention this directly and ask them to explain the discrepancy — a buyer citing an accurate figure should be able to reconcile it with your independent reference without much difficulty.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Checking real current offers from multiple buyers on ScrapTrade gives you an independently verified sense of actual market pricing, rather than relying solely on one buyer’s claim during a negotiation.
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