At what point is it lowballing. A poll.

[MultiScaleMale]

All offers are valid. There's no such thing as a low-ball offer. Sellers use that term to describe a price they would not entertain. So what? Decline the offer and move on. No need to be offended. The flip side of this would be a seller's unreasonably high asking price. Potential buyers get all mad about it. So what? Make an offer or don't, then move on.

Yeah, I think people try to look at a single person selling a single item on a website and want to apply the same logic and transaction flow as if it were Guitar Center and they have a warehouse full of that particular bass or pedal. Make an offer and see what happens, get an offer, consider it and say "yes" or "no". It take less time to reply with "no thanks" than to stew over the low offer and post about it two weeks later. As a seller of one bass, you only need to find one buyer. You don't need to sell it 20 times to twenty different buyers. As a buyer, if the price isn't what you want to pay, don't. In both cases, move on. It will eventually sell or you will find another from another seller.

 

[NateWin]

I would say do your homework and don’t lowball an already good deal. I think it really depends on the going rate.

 

[pappabass]

People can ask what price they want. I usually will ask if they would consider $xxxx usually a little less of asking price. I check around for prices elsewhere for comparison and a reasonable offer.

 

[chadface]

I think how one makes the offer is as, if not more, important than the % of asking price. If I'm selling something for $400 and I get a message that says “300" and nothing else, I'll assume they're jerks and ignore. I might also get a message “would you take 280?“, and be much more likely to do it. Three more words makes a big difference

 

[rufus.K]

There is no offer too low.

 

[Daniel Piper]

Who cares? We all love a bargain! You gotta be in to win.

 

[JoeWPgh]

I think much depends on how the offer is made.
If you tell someone that piece of junk isn't worth 1/2 of the asking price, expect to be ignored.
If you admit your offer is less than the item might be worth, but is the best you can do, you might get somewhere. But of course, much depends on the fairness of the asking price

 

[SteveIII]

You are all missing the time equation. Well someone mentioned it. But to add. How much is your time worth? How much will your local store give you? How many hours of dealing with people before you get 100 more, 200 more, 1000 more?
How does that time feel to you? Some people obviously get stressed out by it and others seem not to care.
If you like dealing with buyers, maybe selling things is a hobby? I like making things, if I took the time and money in parts for my bass cab or guitar amp, I could have just bought something new, and I mean like really good new. But I would rather be messing about in my garage with my kids on a Saturday than at work.
This goes for buyer and seller. If you need to sell by the end of the week, if no one wants that bass that week you are not getting what you want out of it. But you needing to sell is part of th equation. Nice basses are not mass market in that sense and are not consumables. There are not thousands of people in your area looking for over 500 basses. It can take time to find a buyer that values your bass as you do.
The other derailment here is whether or not the term lowballer is derogatory or not. And the fact that we all live in different places and cultures. I don't think we are going to reach a consensus.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

How much would YOU want for it? Then offer that.

 

[wncBass]

I have a feeling that the same people that are offended by lowball offers, are the same people that are offended when they see someone smoke some weed.

 

[JimB52]

I guess I'm thinking the attitude of some people looking to buy a nice used bass is that they're shopping at a flea market instead of buying a cared-for quality musical instrument from a fellow musician.
In my experience selling and buying gear on TalkBass I have encountered far more of the latter than the former.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

There is no offer too low.

+1
The worst that can happen is they say no.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I stopped selling on local adds because ppl just lowball everything... and the way it’s done is not the way i think bussiness should be done !....

There are no should be's...

The only way one can become at peace with ones self and their surroundings is to develop the ability to see and accept things as they really are instead of what one thinks they should be.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

regardless of the sellers feelings an items is only worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
if you dont like a price or offer then dont do the deal.
Buyers have a right to make whatever offer they want, a seller has the right to ask whatever they want for an item.
People arnt jerks if they make offers. sellers arnt jerks for pricing things at what they want to get.
Endowment effect - Wikipedia

Great Wiki read!

 

[Nephilymbass]

Another interesting thread got me to thinking... When I buy or sell a bass, I'm willing to haggle. In some cases if a bass I'm looking at seems overpriced I assume the seller is expecting to haggle. I've made offers as low as 60% below asking price and had them accepted. Usually after admitting I understand that my offer was well below what was being asked, and telling the seller it makes sense that they may want to hold off, and see if someone comes closer to their asking price. I try to come off as respectful whether I'm making the offer or if someone makes me on offer that is being rejected.

So, in a nutshell, at what percentage do you feel an offer becomes "lowballing"?

Way too many stipulations for this imo.

I see a lot of gear listed at unrealistic high prices so that would throw off the percentage a lot. Resale value actually varies a lot depending how in demand the item is. I bought a new Dingwall because the used price was so high but I’ve bought several used Warwicks because the used price was so much lower then new. A lot of sellers want to believe their item holds value better than anything else does.

Bottom line is as a buyer offer what you’re willing to pay, as a seller if you don’t like what you consider low offers then don’t except offers at all and just sell it for a set price.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

The world isn't going to stop turning if you make a low offer.

 

[JMacBass65]

It depends. If the item is overpriced, an offer coming in under asking price could simply be realistic. I’m a realtor, I deal with this everyday.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Another interesting thread got me to thinking... When I buy or sell a bass, I'm willing to haggle. In some cases if a bass I'm looking at seems overpriced I assume the seller is expecting to haggle. I've made offers as low as 60% below asking price and had them accepted. Usually after admitting I understand that my offer was well below what was being asked, and telling the seller it makes sense that they may want to hold off, and see if someone comes closer to their asking price. I try to come off as respectful whether I'm making the offer or if someone makes me on offer that is being rejected.

So, in a nutshell, at what percentage do you feel an offer becomes "lowballing"?

I see nothing wrong with asking whatever you want for a piece of gear, and find nothing wrong with any percentage of the asking price you care to offer.

It’s commerce. As owner, ask what you feel what it’s worth to you. You are under no obligation to sell it for one red cent less. It’s up to the seller to determine if it’s worth that much, and is free to make a counter offer of any amount.

What is poor form is when either or both parties try to “Steal a Deal”. I think we all know what this means without further elaboration.

Do some research and have a good idea what the market value is before going to market. Keeping in mind that a seller is entitled to ask more than market price for positive modifications, condition of said gear and such, and or normal supply and demand, and the buyer is certainly entitled to ask discount for risks associated with the purchase.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

One thing for buyers to keep in mind on TB, especially, is that shipping has traditionally been included in the selling price. If I'm selling a bass for $1200, it can easily cost $120 to ship. Add in PayPal fees and I'm probably at a 15% off price from the start. So, if you want the bass for 25% off, you're really asking for something effectively 40% off for the seller. So, if you think the seller is offended that your offer is a lowball, look past your offer and calculate the net to the seller.

 

[Double E]

Why exactly does a "lowball offer" upset a seller so much?

Is it jealousy because you wish you had paid a lower price for the item in the first place and you resent any offer that is less than what you paid?

Do you feel insulted that someone is daring to question your estimation of the item's value?

Does it bother you that someone else might be getting a good deal or just has the nerve to try?

Are you mad that these low offers are an indication that you might not close the deal with as much profit as you hoped?

I can't really think of any other reasons... none of these are really a personal affront to the seller. You're mad that someone wants a good deal... this potential buyer is not insulting you. They don't even know you, they just are extending a offer you are not obligated to honor.

Also, some make this out like it is some kind of epidemic... I have sold a fair share of stuff and sure, I have received low offers but it's hardly frequent enough to make a big stink about it. I have a theory that there are far many more people complaining about lowballers than there are actual lowballers.