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Lowballers

#41
Minimalist said:
How do you respond to lowballers? Just ignore them? I had somebody offer $150 on a bass listed for $700. Do these people expect a serious reply?
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I have made "low" offer before. I had a certain brand of precision style bass on my want list that showed on Reverb listed for around $7000, which was more than I was willing to pay for the bass. My best estimate was the bass was valued between 3000-4000. I made an offer for $3500. The seller almost immediate removed the listing. A few weeks went by and I received a special offer for around $3700, which I countered with $3500, which the seller accepted. To be fair the way the bass was listed was probably not coming up on peoples search query if they were looking for that particular bass.

For low ballers I typically either ignore or counter the offer.
 
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#44
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#46
My favorite thing (which was likely fake for the interwebs, but so what) was the text exchange between a seller and lowballer, where the seller agrees to meet the guy at an address.
The buyer shows up there and it's a comedy club.
He says he's there and the seller tells him to go up on stage and tell more hilarious jokes akin to his offer.

I'd love to do that.
 
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#47
Low ballers don't bother me except for the ones that have a sob story, usually something like they're in a praise and worship band and God wants them to have the pedal or whatever and they only have $75, the just had their seventh kid, hopefully not a son, dog has cancer, etc. Actually, I don't like for sale ads that attach a story as to why they're selling. Just state a price and don't try to make people feel guilty about buying the item.
 
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#51
Ostie said:
Yes, low ballers are annoying, but so are sellers that overprice their items, sometimes for more than what you can buy it new at GC. I usually don’t respond, but a couple years ago I pointed this out to a seller, and they responded with “make me an offer” and I ended up buying my G2220 at a fair price. Usually, though, it’s “I know what I’ve got.” Yes, but you don’t know what it’s worth.
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Yes, this is just as annoying to me. I'm not paying $1800 for used bass I can get new for $2000, which will arrive to me quicker with a return policy. $1500 at best
 
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#52
Beej said:
I see no one has asked yet... was it a Squier Affinity P Bass that you 'upgraded' with all Fender parts? :smug:
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SX. All decked out with Lindy Fralin pickup and John East EQ. :D

J/k. It's a sterling Ray35 string, with Nordstrand pickup and John East EQ. I realize that I won't recoup money for the upgrades, but $150 is well below what's reasonable. I don't really need the money. Just want to downsize my life and uncluttered so I'm not under pressure and if I keep 3 or 4 basses doesn't really matter. but I was up to 8 and realized some of them are nice but just not for me.
 
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#53
MultiScaleMale said:
Low ballers don't bother me except for the ones that have a sob story, usually something like they're in a praise and worship band and God wants them to have the pedal or whatever and they only have $75, the just had their seventh kid, hopefully not a son, dog has cancer, etc. Actually, I don't like for sale ads that attach a story as to why they're selling. Just state a price and don't try to make people feel guilty about buying the item.
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Just sold another bass to a pastor that didn't even negotiate. My asking price was IMO slightly to high so I voluntarily lowered the price. I don't want to be taken advantage of and I don't want to take advantage of people.
 
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#54
BigBigGuy44 said:
Low balls are conversation starters. I’ve made deals with people who initially offered ridiculously low offers “because you never know unless you ask”. Hey, I’d rather have a low offer and negotiate compared to no offer at all. Worst that happens is I waste 5 minutes and end with no thanks.
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The appropriate response is a ridiculously "high ball" counter, which is a polite way of saying FU.
 
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#55
Minimalist said:
How do you respond to lowballers? Just ignore them? I had somebody offer $150 on a bass listed for $700. Do these people expect a serious reply?
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I don’t trade gear often (like I hang on to gear for decades), but would saying a simple “no thank you” kill you?

There is a saying “nothing ventured, nothing gained” You can add that to the fact that you don’t know what you can get if you don’t ask for it. It works both ways.

Just because somebody makes a stupid offer I wouldn’t blow them off. They just may have deeper pockets than you think. Or it can be just another PITA..LOL!!!
 
#56
MultiScaleMale said:
Low ballers don't bother me except for the ones that have a sob story, usually something like they're in a praise and worship band and God wants them to have the pedal or whatever and they only have $75, the just had their seventh kid, hopefully not a son, dog has cancer, etc. Actually, I don't like for sale ads that attach a story as to why they're selling. Just state a price and don't try to make people feel guilty about buying the item.
Click to expand...
Tell them that if God really wants them to have it, God will find them a way to earn enough money to pay for it. I've got no patience for these people that use religion as an excuse to grift.

joel.jpeg
 
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#57
If it’s preposterous, just ignore them. If it’s in the range but too low, I tell them I’m not ready to go lower than I’ve listed (I used to say I’m not ready to go that low, but that just encourages them to keep making slightly higher offers that are still too low)

on the flip side-l as a buyer, if I am SERIOUS but want to “lowball” because their price is unrealistic , or if my budget is a little short, I’ll say something like “hey, I’m pretty interested in this, but the price is pretty high compared to what I’m seeing lately, would you consider something more like ____, or let me know if you decide to lower it later” or even just “hey, I’m interested in this, but it’s just a little outside of what I’m ready to spend; if you end up in a rush to get rid of it or lower the asking price a bit, I’ve got cash in hand”
Some of this makes a little more sense for older power tools, compared to the used instrument market


I’d never just randomly offer half or less and expect to be taken seriously; even if they’re just WAYYYY off about the value, I won’t hold my breath expecting them to take my suggestion too seriously; they’re either clueless or nuts, unless its just somebody who inherited some things or got ripped off and doesn’t know it
 
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#59
I just recently sold my Bongo 5 on FB. It wound up going fairly quickly to someone in one of the Bongo groups and it was a good transaction, but I had it cross listed on marketplace just in case I got a local buyer.

The best was some guy asked if I'd take any trades. Knowing he was full of it I said I'd consider a Barolo purple Bongo 5 HSp. Guy says he can't afford mine but will look to see if he can find a trade. Incredibly, by the following morning he had acquired a Barolo purple Bongo 5 HSp and wanted to make the trade later that day. I was born at night, but not last night.
 
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#60
I just hit 'decline' for most lowballs. I've also made offers on items based on how long the listing has been up and gotten good deals. Sometimes someone would rather make a sale and its win/win.
 

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