Lowball: How much is too much?

[davec]

I’m sure this has been discussed, but I didn’t see a thread. At what point is an offer an insult?
I get it we all want a deal, and I know I’ve done my fair share of fishing, in hopes of a bargain.
My general rule has been any offer less than 80+% of list, has always been accompanied with a explanation, (my $ situation only allows me to offer…, I found a similar item, at…, etcetera )
It seem to be the worst on FB market place, rough on Reverb, and starting to see it here.

So what are your thoughts? Is any offer, an offer and far game?, or no?

 

[Gorn]

Any offer is less insulting than "what's your best price", IMO.

 

[turf3]

It's also regional and generational.

In Texas, old farts like me, we expect a low initial offer, then back and forth, with hopefully a final resolution on the actual price. In the Boston area people get all pi$$ed off if you don't just pay exactly what they're asking.

Also, old people tend to be far more accepting of dickering on price, whereas younger people seem to think the price is the price.

Getting offended is just BS all the way round. Waste of emotional energy.

 

[elgranluis]

it’s not insulting unless you take insult , and that completely depends on you.

I’ve been replying to lowball offers with “I appreciate your offer , but I respectfully decline”. That reply by itself keeps me calm and collected.

In the long run , it would wear me down to take offense on every lowballer. See , it’s me (or you ) vs the world.


Also , IME, low ballers never follow-up on their offers. Tell them you take their offer , and watch them ghost you waiting for their next Paycheck, or to get paid for that other item that they’re selling.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Getting offended is just BS all the way round. Waste of emotional energy.

Agreed. I see no point in being insulted. If an offer is too low, just say no thanks, without attempting to explain or justify your refusal. If someone persists in trying to guilt/manipulate you into a far-too-low price, decline maybe one more time and then block or ignore them. Then put them out of your mind. Getting up in your emotions about a price you don't like is a waste of your (that is, the seller's) energy.

 

[davec]

Emotionally, I’m fine and appreciate the concern, more of a question of at what point have you burned the bridge.
I know in my negotiations, those who have prefaced a low offer with, “Hey this is a lowball offer, but I had to take a swing” have had far more success than the “I’ll give you half” crowd.

 

[micguy]

If someone counteroffers, your offer was not "insulting". If their reply is simply "no", or you get no reply at all, then your offer (to them) probably was "insulting" - or at least not deemed as a serious offer. It works both ways - if you want the item, you have to be close enough with your first offer that they will bargain with you - if you throw in an offer where they decide you're not serious, then the bargaining never begins.

 

[nickpc]

I also see a lot of things go the other way - crazily overpriced items that the seller won't negotiate on.

A "Squier by Fender" is not a USA Fender, and I'm not stealing food from your children by making you a realistic offer based on what you really have...

 

[TheReceder]

I've been firm on offers, and typically reply with courteousy... (nearly verbatim to elgrenluis) and when I make a lowball offer I'm honest and tell them what I'm willing to pay, with no excuses. Understanding that I'll probably be told no.

I did have one buyer get rude after I told him "sorry the price was firm, but I appreciate the interest". I Let them know that it was well below what other people were asking and gave him a reference of where to find those prices. He opted to insult the bass, saying it was a piece of junk (having never looked at more than a picture) and swore at me a couple times. It was mint, and he was offering $150 for a $500 bass. I was asking $350. When he made his final offer, I eventually countered and bumped the price up to $400. Two weeks later he called back. Said he'd pay the $350. I told him I was firm at $400 even though it was still listed at $350. He showed up and paid the extra 50 bucks. All the while he was being a jerk... I maintained a calm demeaner.

 

[gln1955]

I've been firm on offers, and typically reply with courteousy... (nearly verbatim to elgrenluis) and when I make a lowball offer I'm honest and tell them what I'm willing to pay, with no excuses. Understanding that I'll probably be told no.

I did have one buyer get rude after I told him "sorry the price was firm, but I appreciate the interest". I Let them know that it was well below what other people were asking and gave him a reference of where to find those prices. He opted to insult the bass, saying it was a piece of junk (having never looked at more than a picture) and swore at me a couple times. It was mint, and he was offering $150 for a $500 bass. I was asking $350. When he made his final offer, I eventually countered and bumped the price up to $400. Two weeks later he called back. Said he'd pay the $350. I told him I was firm at $400 even though it was still listed at $350. He showed up and paid the extra 50 bucks. All the while he was being a jerk... I maintained a calm demeaner.

I wouldn't be insulted by any offer, not worth the emotional energy. But, if someone starts to be uncivil, I'm done with them, no matter the offer.

 

[Shifter_four]

I received a lot of crapy proposition. I don't take it personnal. IMO, when i put a price on something, i always think of the bargaining margin. Sometimes, it's no dealing allowed but i indicate it. Depends on the item I'm selling and the way i feel it. I always do local sell. But i'm thinking going to TB for my last bass. Yep a couple of my bass went away, i had too much for nothing. I play 2 bass primarily not 6.

What gives me goose bumps is the payment, delivery issue and insurance. Who should pay for that when it's not local?

 

[SiSoldier]

It is what it is, people take shots and get lucky getting stuff for cheap and sometimes not. We've all been on both sides. My favorite part of selling has been when a young kid is trying to buy an item and just hooking them up with a killer price. Id like to think they will treasure the gear more instead of trying to flip it like some buyers.

 

[Thegreatzambini]

I’m sure this has been discussed, but I didn’t see a thread. At what point is an offer an insult?
I get it we all want a deal, and I know I’ve done my fair share of fishing, in hopes of a bargain.
My general rule has been any offer less than 80+% of list, has always been accompanied with a explanation, (my $ situation only allows me to offer…, I found a similar item, at…, etcetera )
It seem to be the worst on FB market place, rough on Reverb, and starting to see it here.

So what are your thoughts? Is any offer, an offer and far game?, or no?

The answer to this is quite easy.. whatever offer is given to you that insults you…. and you feel like the guys trying to rip you off
Then, again, if you’re strapped for cash, then is there really a lowball offer as some money is better than no money at that point

 

[Discount Bassy]

I've sold about 600 items on eBay and had my shares of crazy, low ball offers. The latest was $2 on an item listed at $175 (local pickup only due to size and weight) with the explanation that he'd have to drive about 800 miles to get it. I responded in the usual way: "Thank you. I appreciate your inquiry regarding my item for sale. If you are interested in having the item shipped to you, I can acquire an estimate on the additional costs, but due to the size and weight of the item, I presumed that shipping would be prohibitive in the sale amount." and responded with a counter offer for $160. I never heard from him again. I've learned to keep a text file handy of pre-packaged responses to cut and paste as necessary to eliminate any trouble from responding, time-wise or emotionally.

My least favorite thing to read is "Meet me in the middle." If I state a price and the prospective buyer offers about a quarter of that, meeting you in the middle is me selling the thing for about for about half of the original price. "Best Offer" means the best offer I receive gets the sale, not your best offer gets the sale.

I had a dude irate recently that lost a sale with me because someone made the purchase at full price during the time he spent trying to haggle me down to half price (unsuccessfully) below the threshold I had set for the item. He accused me of selling it out from under him. eBay sold it out from under him and I thank them for saving me the trouble of wasted keystrokes to blind eyes. It has happened about five times now overall during negotiations, always resulting with hurt feelings and accusations of impropriety. Once specific guy had it happen three times on three different items with me in the course of a single day. All I could tell him is that perhaps my prices were fair from the get-go and folks were willing to actively paying them and that perhaps he should do the same if he wanted the items. It didn't work and I ran out of that specific sort of thing in which he was interested.

People are funny.

 

[kmon]

I don't buy much any more, but in my darker GAS days I got some absolutely insane deals with lowball offers.

Never here, these were CL deals. Especially on higher priced gear...that stuff tends to hang around and sometimes the seller just gets sick of looking at it and wants it gone.

Those were few and far between though. In general I offer 20% off, and I have a very high success rate. I don't think I've ever actually pissed anybody off.

 

[Deep Note]

I don't get insulted but I do react differently to offers of 50% or less. If it is a reasonable offer, I will counter offer and explain why I expect more but at 50%, I just say "sorry, too low".

 

[Slevage]

This is my point of view.
With exceptions of high end instruments and very current models, I expect to get things at no more than 1/2 of what a new one would cost. I have no problem offering that and take no offence if offered to me.

Trading is a whole different ball game totally dependent of the parties involved in the trade.

 

[Diplock]

I never get mad about lowball offers.
I say "sure c'mon over and pick it up" then give them the address of a cheese wholesaler.

 

[Major Seven]

I've been firm on offers, and typically reply with courteousy... (nearly verbatim to elgrenluis) and when I make a lowball offer I'm honest and tell them what I'm willing to pay, with no excuses. Understanding that I'll probably be told no.

I did have one buyer get rude after I told him "sorry the price was firm, but I appreciate the interest". I Let them know that it was well below what other people were asking and gave him a reference of where to find those prices. He opted to insult the bass, saying it was a piece of junk (having never looked at more than a picture) and swore at me a couple times. It was mint, and he was offering $150 for a $500 bass. I was asking $350. When he made his final offer, I eventually countered and bumped the price up to $400. Two weeks later he called back. Said he'd pay the $350. I told him I was firm at $400 even though it was still listed at $350. He showed up and paid the extra 50 bucks. All the while he was being a jerk... I maintained a calm demeaner.

Sometimes when a guy brought in a job to our shop and either we didn't want the job or just
plain didn't like him we would make an estimate then double it and add another %20.
More than half the time he would think briefly then say ... OK.

 

[iriegnome]

If ever something is listed "Make Offer" or "Or Best Offer" why would anyone get offended? That is the reason the item was posted that way, the seller is or should be open to offers. If the seller doesn't want the offer, cool, move on. I feel no harm no foul and you never know if you don't ask. Otherwise, the item should NOT be listed with Make Offer or Or Best Offer.