"I paid more than that"

doog71

I find it interesting how often I hear this response when making an offer on Ebay.

I don't lowball - offer a fair price by looking at recent completed auctions for like conditioned stuff, and usually get something worked out.

I'm fine with people not taking an offer for whatever reason, but what does how much they paid for the item have to do with what current market value is?

miconelegacy

I agree. Offering someone 10-20% off of their asking price doesn't seem rude to me. But like you say they'll come back with the "I have more into it than that". If that's the case start the price a bit higher, and we can negotiate.

doog71

Exactly. It's the nature of the collectibles market that you'll sometime pay more than what you can get when it's time to sell. Happened to me plenty of times for sure!

Today I made an offer of $900 for a group of nicer items - this was on the high end of what recent items in like condition had gone for. The seller said he had to get $2500 not because it wasn't a fair offer but because "that's what I paid for them."

miconelegacy

<< <i>Exactly. It's the nature of the collectibles market that you'll sometime pay more than what you can get when it's time to sell. Happened to me plenty of times for sure!

Today I made an offer of $900 for a group of nicer items - this was on the high end of what recent items in like condition had gone for. The seller said he had to get $2500 not because it wasn't a fair offer but because "that's what I paid for them." >>



Wow that's a huge gap in price. They'll be sitting on that I bet for a very longtime.

epatmythes

Many people in the sportscard world have the compacity to be collectors, dealers & intelligent businessmen... most do not!

Most sellers (ebay, or elsewhere) like to personally consider themselves amateur businessmen, or even God forbid... entrepreneuers, but 9 times out of 10, that's simply an insult to the term (and I'll even be PC) "business person"

You'll run across this alot... and for the most part... it's baffling, but it is what it is.

Some people simply appear to hate having money... more than they enjoy making it!!!

epatmythes

PS... I actually said this to one dealer at the most recent Sun Times show in Chicago... feel free to use it at your own risk (he was visibly not happy with me after I said it)...

"Why should I have to pay the penalty for your fiscal irresponsibility?"

VitoCo1972

I just got an offer for a couple cards on SCN for 20% off. I simply said, "no thanks." What's so hard about that?

JHS5120

I think there is a fine line between a "reasonable offer" from the buyers standpoint and an "insult" from the sellers.

I admittably sell more than I collect. I never get upset with low ball offers and I'll never write anything snarky, just a polite decline. There are people who are looking to negotiate and there are people looking to bargain hunt. If it's reasonable, I will accept the offer. I have taken plenty of offers that lose me money because I know my item would be sitting for another 2 or 3 months otherwise.

Jason

WalterSobchak

As a buyer, what the seller has in to the card is 100% irrelevant to me. If a seller told me "I reject your offer because I don't like onions on my pizza", it would have the exact same impact on any future decisions I make about that card.

japhi

<< <i>PS... I actually said this to one dealer at the most recent Sun Times show in Chicago... feel free to use it at your own risk (he was visibly not happy with me after I said it)...

"Why should I have to pay the penalty for your fiscal irresponsibility?" >>



I'll pass on using that, I try to not be a complete dick. Why not just say "thanks, I'll pass"?

mygotta

I think by the nature of the business versus hobby, most people are bargain hunters. Because its a hobby, it is by and large a luxury, therefore we would hope to by low to fulfill our collections with money left over. As a seller, we are looking for the best sale possible and maximize any profit that can be had. It is not a matter of an MSRP when it comes to items that cannot be bought anymore where one supermarket is selling coca-cola cheaper than another. But a seller either has to sell the item at a price he can make a profit on, even if it means way out of bounds compared to other sellers (therefore not selling it); hold it until a time comes when it is profitable to sell (if it sees the day); or recoup any losses and make it up in the next investment.

How deep do you think this guy is in for this 1990 Topps Frank Thomas?

1990 T Thomas

epatmythes

<< <i>

<< <i>PS... I actually said this to one dealer at the most recent Sun Times show in Chicago... feel free to use it at your own risk (he was visibly not happy with me after I said it)...

"Why should I have to pay the penalty for your fiscal irresponsibility?" >>



I'll pass on using that, I try to not be a complete dick. Why not just say "thanks, I'll pass"? >>



Because I tend to care less about living in a pansy ass world where everyone has to be nice all the time, careful not to offend anyone for any reason, and to always be politically correct... mostly though, if a dealer is going to be a jerk in negotiating (which was the case in this instance)... I'm not going to simply reward that behavior/attitude by blowing it off, being nice, and moving along!

It's just my opinion, but I feel it does more damage to the hobby, than good, to simply condone (or ignore) the illogical/irrational behavior of predatory and/or ignorant sellers

MrVintage

I've never understood why people get so offended by offers they deem to be "low ball offers." If you don't like the offer simply click the decline button and move on with your life.......

Maurice

I agree that the seller's cost is irrelevant.

With that said, buyers that seem to believe they are entitled to buy an item at the same amount as the most recent sale are completely out of line.

Assuming nothing is being misrepresented, a seller can ask for any price he wants.

jmlabonner

I came across a BIN/OBO auction yesterday that I tried to make an offer on. The weird part was the seller was not accepting offers any lower than the BIN price. Whenever I put in an offer it gave the error message to put in an amount greater than or equal to the BIN price.

hyperchipper09

<< <i>I think by the nature of the business versus hobby, most people are bargain hunters. Because its a hobby, it is by and large a luxury, therefore we would hope to by low to fulfill our collections with money left over. As a seller, we are looking for the best sale possible and maximize any profit that can be had. It is not a matter of an MSRP when it comes to items that cannot be bought anymore where one supermarket is selling coca-cola cheaper than another. But a seller either has to sell the item at a price he can make a profit on, even if it means way out of bounds compared to other sellers (therefore not selling it); hold it until a time comes when it is profitable to sell (if it sees the day); or recoup any losses and make it up in the next investment.

How deep do you think this guy is in for this 1990 Topps Frank Thomas?

1990 T Thomas >>

BaltimoreYankee

<< <i>I came across a BIN/OBO auction yesterday that I tried to make an offer on. The weird part was the seller was not accepting offers any lower than the BIN price. Whenever I put in an offer it gave the error message to put in an amount greater than or equal to the BIN price. >>



Could it be that there is financial incentive to list on eBay this way? I went to list some cheap cards with BIN's but eBay wanted 50 cents per listing. However, listing at auction with a BIN option is free. I simply took $1 or 2 off what I wanted and made that my starting bid, with a BIN option for $1 or 2 more.

Mapleleaf

<< <i>I find it interesting how often I hear this response when making an offer on Ebay.

I don't lowball - offer a fair price by looking at recent completed auctions for like conditioned stuff, and usually get something worked out.

I'm fine with people not taking an offer for whatever reason, but what does how much they paid for the item have to do with what current market value is? >>



I just reply a heartfelt "Sorry to hear that". It usually means that they aren't going to sell the item for what you want to pay.

doog71

Absolutely. Agreed. All up to the seller. I just don't get a seller expecting a buyer to be more sensitive to what the seller paid for it than what market value is.

MomandPopCardShop

Seller doesnt have to say anything, just decline and move on. That being said, it goes both ways. I've found there is no perfect method to make everybody happy. Some people get mad when you decline their offer, others get mad when you counter their offer. Just add them to the blocked list and move on.

doog71

Sorry, I forgot to hit "quote" - was responding to Maurice...

WinPitcher

I think it was simply a way for the seller to say 'no'.

mygotta

There are nice ways to say no and abrupt ways to say no. Either way the buyer cant be too upset about it. There is the difference between rude and straight forward. But everyone has their levels of sensitivities. A straight shooter might come across rude to another fella and polite to someone else. Irregardless. The seller has the item and buyer wants it. I had 2 offers on the same item tonight. A card for $100, both offered $50. I simply said thanks and declined, even though one buyer came across arrogant in his approach. Incidentally, I have had buyers who are equally rude in their persuasion when they say things like "Are you out of your mind?! What a rip off! I wouldn't give you half of what you are selling it for!" etc. ad nauseam. Those buyers I ignore. It may be a ploy, but clearly they are upset as they wanted it and its out of their reach at the moment.

thenavarro

I've been selling some signed rookies since mid December and I get so tired of potential buyers trying to tell me why I ought to sell them a card for a certain amount. They pretend that they are market experts, but for some amazing reason, they don't have the card they proclaim to be an expert on, lol. My favorite is when they tell me they can get it cheaper elsewhere, then by all means, go get it. I've found most of those people come back and all of a sudden have changed their mind. I throw a couple up on eBay every now and then with what I think are too high buy it nows, and they work as great advertising pieces where people message questions and end up buying a couple thousand dollars worth of other cards. Not all pieces on eBay are put there with any expectation of actually selling them. A lot are used as simple eye candy or window dressing to drive other deals.

I've sold cards to several people here, and some people I let know what I actually paid for the card cause they are friends and I want them to know why I'm asking what I'm asking. For those people, i'm not necessarily trying to maximize every dollar, but trying to make it fair for both of us Some people that ask for prices may or may not understand that a Willie Stargell (a very COMMON autograph) signed rookie can go for $1000, and would be in shock if you gave them that price and they truly did not know the market for that card. Not every card has several comps out there, or a lot of market trading to know how to price it, and what your basis is in the card is somewhat important.

I've been most surprised at signed wrestling cards. Rob and David are spot on when they say wrestling collectors have passion. Heck, I sold Andre for $1500, Bruiser Brody for $1200, GINO HERNANDEZ for $1000, that market to me is still in it's infancy and very hard to price. A ton of people would say those are overpriced, a ton of people would say they are underpriced, but you can't please everyone, albeit all parties to the actual transactions were deeply satisfied.

There is eventually a pocketbook for most cards. A LOT of people are not price conscious only.

mygotta

I agree. People are rude on both sides of the table. At the same time you meet great people who like how you deal in the business and if they are happy and you are happy, then thats what matter in the end.

ClockworkAngel

<< <i>

<< <i>I think by the nature of the business versus hobby, most people are bargain hunters. Because its a hobby, it is by and large a luxury, therefore we would hope to by low to fulfill our collections with money left over. As a seller, we are looking for the best sale possible and maximize any profit that can be had. It is not a matter of an MSRP when it comes to items that cannot be bought anymore where one supermarket is selling coca-cola cheaper than another. But a seller either has to sell the item at a price he can make a profit on, even if it means way out of bounds compared to other sellers (therefore not selling it); hold it until a time comes when it is profitable to sell (if it sees the day); or recoup any losses and make it up in the next investment.

How deep do you think this guy is in for this 1990 Topps Frank Thomas?

1990 T Thomas >>




>>



Classic seller....this one looks to be a bargain too


Schmidt

mygotta

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>I think by the nature of the business versus hobby, most people are bargain hunters. Because its a hobby, it is by and large a luxury, therefore we would hope to by low to fulfill our collections with money left over. As a seller, we are looking for the best sale possible and maximize any profit that can be had. It is not a matter of an MSRP when it comes to items that cannot be bought anymore where one supermarket is selling coca-cola cheaper than another. But a seller either has to sell the item at a price he can make a profit on, even if it means way out of bounds compared to other sellers (therefore not selling it); hold it until a time comes when it is profitable to sell (if it sees the day); or recoup any losses and make it up in the next investment.

How deep do you think this guy is in for this 1990 Topps Frank Thomas?

1990 T Thomas >>




>>



Classic seller....this one looks to be a bargain too


Schmidt >>



At those prices, the 71 packs are looking like a bargain!

digicat

I've ran into that with cards of prospects who never panned out. Guys who bought into the hype and ended up with junk cards will seek "peak" price years after the player washed out of pro baseball or is making a career out of the minors. They're not even trying to compete on the market.