Ah, that's what I figured.
Good call on not doing that kind of business through Paypal, I've seen them lock a businesses account right after they announced the change to the rules.
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Lowballers
- Thread starter GlennW
- Start date
Ah, that's what I figured.
Good call on not doing that kind of business through Paypal, I've seen them lock a businesses account right after they announced the change to the rules.
I always lowball offer everything I am able to budget for that item. And I never offer THAT until the item has sat for a good long while. I'm not going to lowball an item priced fairly that will easily sell. That's just silly.
But if that item sits there for a good 2 weeks and noone is interested- I believe a lowball offer of my top available funds is appropriate. The buyer can always either take the easy money or keep the item in hopes that something will change. * shrug*
But if that item sits there for a good 2 weeks and noone is interested- I believe a lowball offer of my top available funds is appropriate. The buyer can always either take the easy money or keep the item in hopes that something will change. * shrug*
I don't lowball on TB too many savvy sellers..
I agree, especially when the low Baller has sold something here on the forum for triple of what you're asking. Then comments that that is all they can afford! Lol. Sometimes I take it personal especially if the person is new here. But I try to inform them that they may want to proceed on the forum with the said low ball offers then not many here will give them audience.
I agree, especially when the low Baller has sold something here on the forum for triple of what you're asking. Then comments that that is all they can afford! Lol. Sometimes I take it personal especially if the person is new here. But I try to inform them that they may want to proceed on the forum with the said low ball offers then not many here will give them audience.
If I see something listed as "firm" and it's more than I want to give I just pass it on by. If it says "or best offer", I'll make an offer.
If someone sends me an offer lower than I'm willing to take I thank them for the offer and politely decline. It's rare if I don't get a higher counter offer from them. If you ignore them or blow them off they won't try again. I've sold plenty of stuff to people on their third or fourth offer.
Here's something else to think about. My sister had an old TR7 with a blown gearbox but otherwise in good condition. She wanted to get rid of it so she listed it for sale at $700 firm. She kept bitching about people calling wanting to give her $500~$650 for it and how this hacked her off because her price was fair, which it was. I told her to let me deal with it. I listed it for a grand OBO, then I let someone talk me down $200 and got her $800 for the car.
People love to feel like they've got over so don't get stupid with the numbers, but rig the game so you get what you want and the buyer gets the satisfaction of "saving" some cash with a little good old fashioned haggling.
If someone sends me an offer lower than I'm willing to take I thank them for the offer and politely decline. It's rare if I don't get a higher counter offer from them. If you ignore them or blow them off they won't try again. I've sold plenty of stuff to people on their third or fourth offer.
Here's something else to think about. My sister had an old TR7 with a blown gearbox but otherwise in good condition. She wanted to get rid of it so she listed it for sale at $700 firm. She kept bitching about people calling wanting to give her $500~$650 for it and how this hacked her off because her price was fair, which it was. I told her to let me deal with it. I listed it for a grand OBO, then I let someone talk me down $200 and got her $800 for the car.
People love to feel like they've got over so don't get stupid with the numbers, but rig the game so you get what you want and the buyer gets the satisfaction of "saving" some cash with a little good old fashioned haggling.
^^^This.
I don't like to jack up the price but when it's time to sell something the psychology is that the buyer really wants a break on the price, so yeah I've done this when selling on Craigslist before.
I don't like to jack up the price but when it's time to sell something the psychology is that the buyer really wants a break on the price, so yeah I've done this when selling on Craigslist before.
I buy and sell A LOT. I make some money doing it but often I loose it as well. I never lowball people. To me if its a fair price and you offer someone more then 10% less then that you are insulting there intelligence. You may disagree with me and that's cool, but I think its totally rude to lowball a fair price.
Yesterday I bought a bass, before I even said anything the guy he said "I am firm on the price". I said" that's fine with me" and pulled out the $400 right there. He then felt bad telling me it was firm when I was obviously going to pay that and I just said " I read you're ad, I saw you said firm and I totally know how annoying lowballers are so don't worry". The other day a guy had a guitar listed at $450 OBO. Obviously when its OBO and its a number like $450 the guy will take $400. He told me he needed to sell it fast, maybe I could have got it for $300 but I just said "hey would you do $400"? he didn't even think he just said yes.
I will even see stuff listed at $55 and it doesn't say OBO or Firm and I know that's a solid deal, I go out of my way to make sure I have exactly $55, I don't pull that oh will you take $50 thing. He didn't say make a offer, he said $55 so hey here it is.
So people want something for nothing. I have said firm and had guys keep hounding me to take like $5 off. Its crazy. If something is $500 and you keep haggling the guy to a point of a difference of $5 you have no shame, I honestly just pity people like that.
I have never gotten something for more then 10-15% off the listed price and I am cool with that. Treat others as you wish to be treated, in my case its don't low ball me. On tb I expect lower offers, I don't write firm in my ads but on craigslist i write FIRM in caps and then I get lowballers and this is what annoys me.
Yesterday I bought a bass, before I even said anything the guy he said "I am firm on the price". I said" that's fine with me" and pulled out the $400 right there. He then felt bad telling me it was firm when I was obviously going to pay that and I just said " I read you're ad, I saw you said firm and I totally know how annoying lowballers are so don't worry". The other day a guy had a guitar listed at $450 OBO. Obviously when its OBO and its a number like $450 the guy will take $400. He told me he needed to sell it fast, maybe I could have got it for $300 but I just said "hey would you do $400"? he didn't even think he just said yes.
I will even see stuff listed at $55 and it doesn't say OBO or Firm and I know that's a solid deal, I go out of my way to make sure I have exactly $55, I don't pull that oh will you take $50 thing. He didn't say make a offer, he said $55 so hey here it is.
So people want something for nothing. I have said firm and had guys keep hounding me to take like $5 off. Its crazy. If something is $500 and you keep haggling the guy to a point of a difference of $5 you have no shame, I honestly just pity people like that.
I have never gotten something for more then 10-15% off the listed price and I am cool with that. Treat others as you wish to be treated, in my case its don't low ball me. On tb I expect lower offers, I don't write firm in my ads but on craigslist i write FIRM in caps and then I get lowballers and this is what annoys me.
I work part time at an antique/resale shop. I lowball the heck out of some people that bring in items to sell. They need to sell more than I need to buy. If I can't turn a good profit, I don't need to take up floor space. It also leaves me room to be lowballed by my customers. They get "bragging rights" about the deal they got and I turn a profit.
I lowball all the time on places like CL and Kijiji, more times than not , it works out well , not my problem if they didn't do their diligence before selling. I dont bother with Ebay for instruments or gear, too many problems in the past , but i will buy parts if I need them. People take stuff too personally, freak out when a simple no sorry , I cant go that low , will suffice.
They annoy me when my ad says price is firm. Otherwise, they are fair game, and I don't lose a moment's rest simply saying "no". On the other hand, there are quite a few sellers here who ask ridiculous prices for things. I don't deal with them at all, because I figure even if they take less, they'll be a PIA to deal with. It's even better when they go on to hissyquit because TB is unfair to them.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I lowball people all the time, say no if you don't like it. The thing is that some people need money today, and not everybody is willing to drop cash in their hand that day. I usually watch an item on my local scene and see if it sits, the longer it sits the better deal you can get. It is not like I have never had to lower my price just to get rid of something, hell I cannot even give away my MarkBass104 for $500 CDN right now...
I never show up and low ball somebody, I always ask will you take $XXX before I even leave the house. If something is different than the ad I might bring my price down but I cannot stand when people show up with $200 when they agreed on $250 or w/e it may be. I just say no deal then. Every single time they pull out the rest of the cash, that is just rude.
I never show up and low ball somebody, I always ask will you take $XXX before I even leave the house. If something is different than the ad I might bring my price down but I cannot stand when people show up with $200 when they agreed on $250 or w/e it may be. I just say no deal then. Every single time they pull out the rest of the cash, that is just rude.
It's just business no emotions needed. Just counter with your best price in a professional manner. I reply with "Sorry $xxx.xx is the best I can do". I have even helped buyers find something more in their price range. Many people are clueless about values and mean no harm by their seemingly ridiculous offers. Nonetheless they are customers and deserve some respect if you want to keep them as customers.
i tend to throw out low offers on stuff i don't really need. i do it in a polite way and if i'm turned down i'll usually come up to what the seller wants.
on craigslist, i never just email someone any say "ill take it." i always haggle the price down a little- unless they state that the price is firm, in which case the price is the price.
the lowballers don't bug me. the weird obvious scam people annoy me, but whatever, you just don't need to answer them.
t
on craigslist, i never just email someone any say "ill take it." i always haggle the price down a little- unless they state that the price is firm, in which case the price is the price.
the lowballers don't bug me. the weird obvious scam people annoy me, but whatever, you just don't need to answer them.
t
+1 to all of this.
all negotiating happens over the phone or email before the meet. if i see it and it's not as described or whatever, we'll discuss it. but assuming your looking at a mexican strat with some basic wear and you agree on $300, and someone shows up with $250, that's just rude and not worth your time. if you show up and see it's really a squire, if you're still interested, maybe youll make a new offer.
there is, believe it or not, a professional way to deal with craigslist.
I totally hate that. When I describe cosmetic condition and we agree on a price before they come, then they get here and point out cosmetics I described and say well "whats the best you can do on this" I just reply we already agreed on a price and most then pay it but I have had some leave a item over as little as $20. I am hanging out at my house, you are the one who drove through 1 hour of LA traffic to get here.
Just business you say. Don't get emotional you say.
When you lowball me I hear you saying "This guy's either a total freaking moron who has no concept of what his gear is worth or he's so desperately strapped for cash that I'll be able to bend him over and screw him raw."
Know what? Neither is true.
But after that you expect me to give you a polite "No thank you sir"?
Sorry. I'm a nice guy. Pretty easygoing. But the next to last thing you're going to get is polite. You are going to get evil, ugly, profane advice about what you can do with that offer and your smug condescending attitude.
The last thing you'd ever get would be the gear. Not even if you met my original asking price. I'll give it to somebody else before I sell to you.
Hell I'll chop it into tiny pieces before I'd sell to you. I've done it
When you lowball me I hear you saying "This guy's either a total freaking moron who has no concept of what his gear is worth or he's so desperately strapped for cash that I'll be able to bend him over and screw him raw."
Know what? Neither is true.
But after that you expect me to give you a polite "No thank you sir"?
Sorry. I'm a nice guy. Pretty easygoing. But the next to last thing you're going to get is polite. You are going to get evil, ugly, profane advice about what you can do with that offer and your smug condescending attitude.
The last thing you'd ever get would be the gear. Not even if you met my original asking price. I'll give it to somebody else before I sell to you.
Hell I'll chop it into tiny pieces before I'd sell to you. I've done it
That sounds self defeating. And people wonder why our kids shoot each other over being "disrespected." The guy is just there to buy gear, not form a relationship. Problem today with buying and selling is that everyone thinks they're on an episode of Pawn Stars.
I honestly don't understand what is so hard about just seeing low ball offers as any other kind of spam that gets shoveled into your inbox. If its especially ridiculous I might send a simple "f*** off" response to get a point across, but really, its not worth getting all huffy about.
- Jan 27, 2010
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- 471
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- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
I had one pretty annoying one a while back. I was selling a CD burner for $100. Said in the ad price was firm, the guy agreed to it on the phone, then tried to talk me down to $75 when he came to pick it up. When I refused he paid me... With a $100 bill.
