Lowballers

[Joe Nerve]

Where is the line drawn between a lower offering and lowballing?

IMO anything less than an offer 0f 20% less is lowballing.

Calling Webster now to make it fact as opposed to opinion.... .

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

IMO anything less than an offer 0f 20% less is lowballing.

Calling Webster now to make it fact as opposed to opinion.... .

I remember reading that anything less than 90% of an offer is considered a low-ball. Mind you, this was about homes specifically.

As far as getting low-balls, I do not get offended and I hate when people do, just say no. I have low balled people plenty of times and I have gotten tons of deals for it. Sometimes people are in need of cash quick, when I message somebody with an offer I am offering cash in their hand today.

 

[Stewie26]

I always offer less than the asking price under the assumption that the seller assumes I'm going to do that and has set the price at more than he will accept. I don't lowball as a general rule.

I agree. You have to leave a little wiggle room when you set your asking price. If my bottom line is $300 for something, I would set the asking price at $340 to $350. When buying, I don't Lowball either as I don't enjoy haggling for something.

 

[ChrisB2]

Where is the line drawn between a lower offering and lowballing?

This was also my thought as I read the thread.

That's going to vary from person to person.

Making a lower offer is perfectly okay as long as the seller doesn't say "firm."

I never get offended by an offer, even a lowball. Someone is offering to give me money... how can that possibly be offensive?

Using lame excuses IS mildly offensive however, like, just make the offer.

IMO a "lower offer" would be anything up to around 15%, maybe 20% less than asking price. Lower than that is lowballing.

And I always ask "what's your best price" or "are you firm" to try and get the seller to reduce the price on their own. But if I'm selling I always make the buyer give an offer and never reduce the price myself.

You see, in the first case, the seller may reduce more than you would ask off, and in the second case, the buyer may offer a higher amount than what you would reduce to.

Negotiating 101: Whether buying OR selling, always get the other person to state their price first, which includes something offered for sale as "Make Offer"-- I always make the seller price their item.

 

[fdeck]

Negotiating 101: Whether buying OR selling, always get the other person to state their price first, which includes something offered for sale as "Make Offer"-- I always make the seller price their item.

That's the purpose of the lowball -- to put it back in the other person's court. And anything is negotiable, including the idea that the price is "firm."