Low ball offer on Craigslist?

Axtman · #1 11-21-2009, 08:28 PM

What should I do if I get an insultingly low offer for an item that I am selling on Craigslist?

It seems like there are trolls out there fishing for great bargains. They probably don't even want the stuff it is just a game for them. Anyhow I have received a few lowball offers. I politely turn them down. Should I just not respond?

In one instance I took the guy up on his offer a month later and he got all upset that I responded so late to him! Idiot.

kesslari · #2 11-21-2009, 08:33 PM

I don't respond to those. That's just me, though, but it safes wear and tear.

**jmattbassplaya** · #3 11-21-2009, 08:43 PM

You can`t really be that surprised by low offers. CL is typically the place where people sell things they need to get rid of fast, and buyers typically try and take advantage of this by making ridiculous offers in the hope that a seller will bite.

Axtman · #4 11-21-2009, 08:43 PM

Probably the best policy. My idiot was probably hurt because he wanted it immediately and had to go pay full price, instead of waiting for me to lower the price.

It is amazing that these idiots will offer you exactly 1/2 price of what you are asking.

dangnewt · #5 11-22-2009, 08:22 AM

My approach is that of Michael Corelone - "Its business"

Don't take anything personally and if others take it personally that is thier problem. I would politely turn down low balls; but would consider a counter-offer to something that was low but not insulting. If someone, came back to me with something that I offered at before, I would say "Thanks for thinking of me" and then either - yes or no depending on whether I was still interested in the purchase.

That said - when something is already priced pretty low - I'll just pay the money. I just paid $100 for a 80's CIJ Westone Spectrum in good condition - no need to dicker when it is that low.

**baba** · #6 11-22-2009, 08:26 AM

Just respond with no thanks, that's too low. There is absolutely nothing wrong with lowball offers.

playinpearls · #7 11-23-2009, 06:11 AM

i have found that there are lowball offers....and there are stupid offers. Like, i had a pearl soprano snare on there for 80 bucks, in brand new condition...and this guy came along and ofered me 30 bucks for it. He got deleted. I just assume people like this have no idea what they are emailing about...

I always price high to have some room, but if the offer is just too low, i just delete.

Thunderitter · #8 11-23-2009, 06:26 AM

Better the low balls offers than the "hello, i want to know if your item is still available cos i want to buy it for my west african friend who is about celebrating his birthday party as a present. so get back to me asap. have a nice day" type of reply, which is usually followed by the e-mail asking for all your details, bank account, etc so the can send the cashiers cheque!

coreyfyfe · #9 11-23-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playinpearls

I always price high to have some room, but if the offer is just too low, i just delete.

+1. Around the Boston CL there is a guy who sends you a low ball offer on anything nice because he runs a pawnshop that sells on ebay and CL and will resell it for an outrageous price. He used to sign his name at the end of his posts and used similar locations but now he tries to cover things up because people keep flagging his ads. Usually I just delete the emails if I think they're beyond negotiating. No need to put my name out there to some dipstick who doesn't appreciate the quality of my goods

.

Seriously though, in the past I put up my Sterling 5 for $1200 expecting around $10-1100, got an offer of $600 which was ignored and a guy bought it the next day for what I wanted. I put up my Thumb BO limited edition for I think like $1300 and the guy I mentioned above emailed an offer of $550, I didn't bother replying and a week later ended up trading the bass.

A friend of mine a few weeks ago had his alembic up. The pawn shop guy sent him a lowball offer, with a whole bunch of BS about how 4 string fretted alembics were going for cheap money on ebay because of the economy so by extension his 5 string fretless should only be worth so much, etc, etc and gave him a lowball offer. My friend was not the type to just ignore it though, he called the guy out and told him what he was looking for and to otherwise buzz off.

I'm all for negotiating, and have thrown out a low offer or two, but there are lowball offers, and there are just plain stupid offers.

Bongolation · #10 11-23-2009, 08:16 AM

The sad truth is that most of these "lowball offers" are probably far closer to a legitimate price that the figure the typical CL seller is asking.

What should I "do" about some moron who's asking in excess of current new retail for his beat piece of junk?

Seller overpricing is a far more insulting to more people's intelligence and a more prevalent practice than "lowballing."

Look: It's CL. It's free. It's absolutely full of morons and half-bright grifters. You don't have to respond to any of them. If you can't handle it, find a new planet.

Seriously.

Pilgrim · #11 11-23-2009, 09:40 AM

It's just business. Exercise a little patience but don't burn bridges. You can always counter-offer.

coreyfyfe · #12 11-23-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

The sad truth is that most of these "lowball offers" are probably far closer to a legitimate price that the figure the typical CL seller is asking.

What should I "do" about some moron who's asking in excess of current new retail for his beat piece of junk?

Seller overpricing is a far more insulting to more people's intelligence and a more prevalent practice than "lowballing."

Look: It's CL. It's free. It's absolutely full of morons and half-bright grifters. You don't have to respond to any of them. If you can't handle it, find a new planet.

Seriously.

Point taken, but at the same time, would you offer half of the current going price of a bass as a starting point for negotiation?

Bongolation · #13 11-23-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

Point taken, but at the same time, would you offer half of the current going price of a bass as a starting point for negotiation?

No, you didn't take my point, which was that if you don't like an offer, you don't have to respond, much less get in a self-righteous huff over it. Blow it off and move on with your life.

If you don't like taking offers, post your lowest firm price you'll accept and save everyone some time.

It's what I do and it works great.

MJ5150 · #14 11-23-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axtman

In one instance I took the guy up on his offer a month later and he got all upset that I responded so late to him! Idiot.

You waited one month to respond to someone? Not saying you are an idiot, but one month is a long time to leave someone hanging for a reply.

As for the lowballs, this is CL shoppers after all. People are always cruising for steals and deals on CL. I get those lowball offers all the time. I reply back with the lowest dollar bill cash price I will accept.

-Mike

Jonyak · #15 11-23-2009, 11:31 AM

everything on the craigslist around me is so overpriced, and anythign good sits on it for months.

bass player 48 · #16 11-23-2009, 11:38 AM

You just don't respond. When you post on Craigslist, you are anonymous until you reply to the emails that you have received in response to your ad. So, even if it is rude to ignore replies, so what – you are anonymous.

coreyfyfe · #17 11-23-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

No, you didn't take my point, which was that if you don't like an offer, you don't have to respond, much less get in a self-righteous huff over it. Blow it off and move on with your life.

Maybe you should read my first post, where I said that this is what I do? Where is the self-righteous huff of which you speak?

Pilgrim · #18 11-23-2009, 01:36 PM

A month is WAY too long to respond, unless you have had an ongoing dialogue during that time.

If I get a lowball offer, I politely respond saying that I'm not interested at that moment, but I may get back in touch with them in the future. Then I've preserved my options...and I seldom pursue it. If I do follow up later, it will be within a week or so and I won't accept half of what I asked for, but I may very well make a counter-offer.

But NO WAY would I wait a month, then pursue a lowball offer.

HogieWan · #19 11-23-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Look: It's CL. It's free. It's absolutely full of morons and half-bright grifters. You don't have to respond to any of them. If you can't handle it, find a new planet.

Seriously.

maybe not a new planet, but if you don't want this behavior, don't use CL