Ebay Best Offer Feature
jfkheat
Posts: 2,745 ✭✭✭✭✭
How do you guys handle bidders that submit ridiculously low offers on items? A few days ago someone offered me $50 on an item I have listed for $240. I declined but put a message telling them to not inslut me by submitting such a lowball offer. Just a few minutes ago I got an offer of $110 on another item that is listed for $225. I sent a counteroffer of $224.99. I tried to counter with $300 but Ebay won't let you do that. 
I don't mind offers for 10-20% of the asking price but 50-80% is an insult.
James
I don't mind offers for 10-20% of the asking price but 50-80% is an insult.James
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i sometimes submit offers that are 20-30% lower than i'd be willing to pay to try and get a counteroffer, that way i can see how serious someone is about selling
it's not unusual (and I do it too) for sellers to list things 20-30% over the max it would generally sell for, again as a way to try and get some offers
as a seller, if you don't want to mess with the lowballing, just tick the box and enter the amount that would auto reject offers - that's the easiest way i've found to do it
Personally, I am never offended to get an offer. It's not insulting: you can just decline, no harm done. As a buyer, there are many sellers who price their items at 200% and regularly accept offers around the 50% threshold, so it does make sense to start there in a lot of instances. Even if YOU don't do that, the buyer has no idea of knowing what your selling price is, so they have an incentive to start low to try to gain information to find it out.
EDIT: just saw that Bounce basically said the same thing. I agree!
Raise the low end minimum offer to a non-insulting amount. It will auto-reject all lower offers.
However, I have tested the waters on items where asking was close to 2x VCP because it was something I wanted. I made an offer of my high, and let them know VCP avg. and last few sales. On one we did ended making a deal after a few counters. On another, he just didn't reply at all the offer stayed open and it drive me nuts for a few days until I finally removed the offer. But in those few days, on several occasions I considered bumping my buy price. It sold about 7 weeks later and I never looked into what it went for, but I couldn't have offered much more than I did.
I assume you're priced fairly, accounting for fees, so those offers are indeed insulting. I'd just leave em open and let them stew on it, but probably wouldn't bother with a counter.
Good luck.
THEY ARE TRYING TO GIVE YOU MONEY. At some level, it is an offer to do business. As a seller, I want as many people as possible to try to do business with me, regardless of where they start out.
You don't have to take a lowball offer. Click "decline". Or, just ignore it.
Do you think that the buyer is trying to tell you what the item is "really worth"? No, they are trying to get a deal. And I am sure that you are confident and informed enough to know how to correctly price your items.
Sellers who block potential buyers for offering too low or who counter in antagonistic ways (a penny off, like the example in the OP) let their emotions (which are 100% irrational) get in the way of sound business practices. That is *actually insulting* to the collective intelligence of the market.
If it is really low I counter with a penny off like you did.
<< <i>If it is really low I counter with a penny off like you did. >>
Why?
<< <i>
<< <i>If it is really low I counter with a penny off like you did. >>
Why? >>
Instead of blasting off some response that indicates it was insulting I think this approach pretty much accomplishes the same thing but keeps the lines of communication open just in case.
In most cases the buyer just moves on but in a few I have gotten a more realistic offer.
Reasons this is preferable:
1. Shows you are flexible - more likely to get a higher 2nd offer from the buyer - furthering the ultimate goal as a seller (not to "win"): to get money by selling an item.
2. Avoids acting like a jerk to the buyer. Taking 1 cent off requires you to do MORE work than just declining for the same result. It is seen as unnecessary and punitive. More importantly, it is unprofessional and definitely not conducive to the image sellers want to cultivate (i.e. respectful and customer service-oriented).
3. Doesn't accept the lowball, so you don't sell the item below your desired price.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
counteroffers and probably sold the items.
James
I personally find it funny sending this person back an offer of $199.99.
<< <i>Personally, I think countering with an offer a penny off the BIN price is even more insulting than a lowball offer. If lowball offers bother you, just set the auto decline option and be done with it. >>
With an offer of 80% of asking price, the penny off counter was meant to be insulting. I'm not one of those guys that set the buy it now at 200% of market value. I look at other buy it nows, auctions and past sales and try to price my items at a little below average selling price. I mostly do true auctions with a $.99 starting price but will list a few as buy it now.
James
<< <i>James, it sounds like both you and Dpeck are a bit over invested emotionally in your listings. An offer of 80% should in no way be considered insulting, much less something that requires retaliation. Think about the purpose of why you are doing what you are doing. Are you looking to make the best (most profitable in the short- and long-term) transaction possible? Or, are you trying to feel like you are "right" and to have the accuracy of your pricing confirmed through BOs for 99% of your price? If Dpeck values the enjoyment of messing with buyers over the negotiating strategy that he knows to be most productive, that's fine, but one should at least acknowledge the purpose of the strategy. >>
I believe he meant 80% off the asking price.
You send me an insulting offer of 5% of what I am asking and I will find it funny sending you an offer back with one penny off. This isn't being overly emotional it is called having fun.
I don't believe either one of us is referring to a somewhat reasonable opening offer.
<< <i>I believe he meant 80% off the asking price. >>
Ah, you're right. Definitely. I--and I assume most other sellers--would probably decline that and not counter.
<< <i>You send me an insulting offer of 5% of what I am asking and I will find it funny sending you an offer back with one penny off. This isn't being overly emotional it is called having fun.
I don't believe either one of us is referring to a somewhat reasonable opening offer. >>
I still don't see why it is insulting. I understand that it is at a price that you are unwilling to sell it for. Why is that insulting, though?
<< <i>
<< <i>I believe he meant 80% off the asking price. >>
Ah, you're right. Definitely. I--and I assume most other sellers--would probably decline that and not counter.
<< <i>You send me an insulting offer of 5% of what I am asking and I will find it funny sending you an offer back with one penny off. This isn't being overly emotional it is called having fun.
I don't believe either one of us is referring to a somewhat reasonable opening offer. >>
I still don't see why it is insulting. I understand that it is at a price that you are unwilling to sell it for. Why is that insulting, though? >>
1/20 of my asking price. You think that is a reasonable offer and not one that would be viewed insulting?
Okay.
<< <i>James, it sounds like both you and Dpeck are a bit over invested emotionally in your listings. An offer of 80% should in no way be considered insulting, much less something that requires retaliation. Think about the purpose of why you are doing what you are doing. Are you looking to make the best (most profitable in the short- and long-term) transaction possible? Or, are you trying to feel like you are "right" and to have the accuracy of your pricing confirmed through BOs for 99% of your price? If Dpeck values the enjoyment of messing with buyers over the negotiating strategy that he knows to be most productive, that's fine, but one should at least acknowledge the purpose of the strategy. >>
Well stated and on point.
I remember Paul (perkdog) had a BIN/BO for a high-end football card a while back. He got a really low ball offer on it, but simply countered with what he thought was a fair offer. The buyer wound up accepting the offer and he got the sale.
Point being, sometimes you're better off simply taking the high road, as you never know how things will turn out in the end.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>I believe he meant 80% off the asking price. >>
Ah, you're right. Definitely. I--and I assume most other sellers--would probably decline that and not counter.
<< <i>You send me an insulting offer of 5% of what I am asking and I will find it funny sending you an offer back with one penny off. This isn't being overly emotional it is called having fun.
I don't believe either one of us is referring to a somewhat reasonable opening offer. >>
I still don't see why it is insulting. I understand that it is at a price that you are unwilling to sell it for. Why is that insulting, though? >>
1/20 of my asking price. You think that is a reasonable offer and not one that would be viewed insulting?
Okay. >>
LOL, you are far too easily insulted if you feel that way.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>I believe he meant 80% off the asking price. >>
Ah, you're right. Definitely. I--and I assume most other sellers--would probably decline that and not counter.
<< <i>You send me an insulting offer of 5% of what I am asking and I will find it funny sending you an offer back with one penny off. This isn't being overly emotional it is called having fun.
I don't believe either one of us is referring to a somewhat reasonable opening offer. >>
I still don't see why it is insulting. I understand that it is at a price that you are unwilling to sell it for. Why is that insulting, though? >>
1/20 of my asking price. You think that is a reasonable offer and not one that would be viewed insulting?
Okay. >>
LOL, you are far too easily insulted if you feel that way. >>
You never cease to amaze me with your responses.
One could offer me a penny for my most expensive card and I would say "no" or ignore it. I wouldn't be MAD at the person for trying to give me money. As a seller, I want as many people as possible to try to give me money for my items. Not all of them will be successful transactions, because I won't always agree to sell at the price that they want to buy at. But, in no way do I find that INSULTING. An insult is something that is offensive to you as a person. What is it that makes you angry about a lowball offer?
I have used the auto-decline feature before when selling and it works well. My time is valuable and I sure don't want to waste it trying to deal with unrealistic buyers.
<< <i>I just don't understand the equation between an offer--a potential market transaction--and a personal insult.
One could offer me a penny for my most expensive card and I would say "no" or ignore it. I wouldn't be MAD at the person for trying to give me money. As a seller, I want as many people as possible to try to give me money for my items. Not all of them will be successful transactions, because I won't always agree to sell at the price that they want to buy at. But, in no way do I find that INSULTING. An insult is something that is offensive to you as a person. What is it that makes you angry about a lowball offer? >>
No one is freaking out at their computer. They see a ridiculous offer and make one back. Big deal. A person I want to deal with doesn't start the negotiations at a fraction of the asking price.
You guys are acting like someone is scarred for life by using the term insulting.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>I believe he meant 80% off the asking price. >>
Ah, you're right. Definitely. I--and I assume most other sellers--would probably decline that and not counter.
<< <i>You send me an insulting offer of 5% of what I am asking and I will find it funny sending you an offer back with one penny off. This isn't being overly emotional it is called having fun.
I don't believe either one of us is referring to a somewhat reasonable opening offer. >>
I still don't see why it is insulting. I understand that it is at a price that you are unwilling to sell it for. Why is that insulting, though? >>
1/20 of my asking price. You think that is a reasonable offer and not one that would be viewed insulting?
Okay. >>
LOL, you are far too easily insulted if you feel that way. >>
You never cease to amaze me with your responses. >>
Thanks!
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>
<< <i>I believe he meant 80% off the asking price. >>
Ah, you're right. Definitely. I--and I assume most other sellers--would probably decline that and not counter.
<< <i>You send me an insulting offer of 5% of what I am asking and I will find it funny sending you an offer back with one penny off. This isn't being overly emotional it is called having fun.
I don't believe either one of us is referring to a somewhat reasonable opening offer. >>
I still don't see why it is insulting. I understand that it is at a price that you are unwilling to sell it for. Why is that insulting, though? >>
OOPS, sorry it was supposed to be 80% off. Why do I feel it is insulting? Basically, it feels like the buyer is telling me that they think I am either an idiot that doesn't know what my stuff is worth or they think I am desperate and will take any offer that comes along. If they want to negotiate make a reasonable offer to start with.
James
<< <i>
<< <i>I just don't understand the equation between an offer--a potential market transaction--and a personal insult.
One could offer me a penny for my most expensive card and I would say "no" or ignore it. I wouldn't be MAD at the person for trying to give me money. As a seller, I want as many people as possible to try to give me money for my items. Not all of them will be successful transactions, because I won't always agree to sell at the price that they want to buy at. But, in no way do I find that INSULTING. An insult is something that is offensive to you as a person. What is it that makes you angry about a lowball offer? >>
No one is freaking out at their computer. They see a ridiculous offer and make one back. Big deal. A person I want to deal with doesn't start the negotiations at a fraction of the asking price.
You guys are acting like someone is scarred for life by using the term insulting. >>
The issue is that you don't *know* that they're not a potential buyer because they made an initial low offer. I, too, have had buyers offer 30% of my BIN price, only to accept my counter at 90% of BIN.
Viewing an offer as an insult brings emotion into the equation and makes eye-for-an-eye style retaliation seem to make sense. From a selling standpoint, it doesn't, as I laid out earlier ("why not counter with a reasonable amount above your baseline selling price?").
All the "1 cent off" stuff does is make you feel good, which is fine, as long as you feeling good is more important to you than pursuing the most profitable selling strategy.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>I just don't understand the equation between an offer--a potential market transaction--and a personal insult.
One could offer me a penny for my most expensive card and I would say "no" or ignore it. I wouldn't be MAD at the person for trying to give me money. As a seller, I want as many people as possible to try to give me money for my items. Not all of them will be successful transactions, because I won't always agree to sell at the price that they want to buy at. But, in no way do I find that INSULTING. An insult is something that is offensive to you as a person. What is it that makes you angry about a lowball offer? >>
No one is freaking out at their computer. They see a ridiculous offer and make one back. Big deal. A person I want to deal with doesn't start the negotiations at a fraction of the asking price.
You guys are acting like someone is scarred for life by using the term insulting. >>
The issue is that you don't *know* that they're not a potential buyer because they made an initial low offer. I, too, have had buyers offer 30% of my BIN price, only to accept my counter at 90% of BIN.
Viewing an offer as an insult brings emotion into the equation and makes eye-for-an-eye style retaliation seem to make sense. From a selling standpoint, it doesn't, as I laid out earlier ("why not counter with a reasonable amount above your baseline selling price?").
All the "1 cent off" stuff does is make you feel good, which is fine, as long as you feeling good is more important to you than pursuing the most profitable selling strategy. >>
Do you make offers to others on EBAY of 5% or 10% of their asking price?
<< <i>Thanks for all the responses. I guess I need to rethink my best offer listings. I tried the auto-decline feature but I missed a couple offers that were just below my minimum that I could have sent
counteroffers and probably sold the items.
James >>
But if the offer you refer to in your OP was indeed a ridiculous offer, why not set the auto decline to reject an offer at that price? That way you won't even have to waste your time with such an offer in the first place, and the buyer knows immediately his offer has been rejected so if he truly is interested in the item, he'll have to raise his offer price to even have it reach you. That would be a win-win for both sides, imo.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
James
<< <i>I just went through and set auto-declines for all my best offer listings at below what I will actually sell for. That way if I get a reasonable offer I still have room to counter.
James >>
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>Do you make offers to others on EBAY of 5% or 10% of their asking price? >>
Nope. It's a waste of time, because 99% of sellers won't sell for that. And, for items I really want, I would prefer not to waste an offer since eBay limits the number to 3.
But, If I find a BIN/BO from a seller that I have not interacted with, I definitely start at like 60% of the BIN price. Sometimes you are surprised by how willing a seller will go. That's kind of the point: as a buyer, you can't know, so it makes total sense to start low. You can always go up. You can't go down if the seller accepts an offer that is higher than their selling floor.
<< <i>I just went through and set auto-declines for all my best offer listings at below what I will actually sell for. That way if I get a reasonable offer I still have room to counter.
James >>
You might want to set the threshold 5-10% below your true selling price.
1. You will get to review more offers. 5% below your selling price is an offer you want to consider. You don't want that buyer to go away because they get auto-declined and have no idea how much you are willing to negotiate.
2. 5-10% is the range where buyers are likely to outright accept your counters, because they will be close enough apart. So, in effect, you can still sell at the same baseline price. But, you get the benefit of keeping more potential buyers on the hook without dealing with true lowballs.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Baseball, read my 3rd post in this thread. These items are NOT listed at way above market value.
James
I sold some items this week that average from $50-$60. Had three offers on it, one at $20 (which I ignored), one at $40 (which I countered) and one at $55 which I accepted. To me, if you offer $20 for an item you KNOW is going for $50+, then I wont even bother with a counter. Sure, they want to GIVE you money, just like I will give you $100 an ounce for gold, but it isnt realistic.
Make decent offers or none at all.
<< <i>Make decent offers or none at all. >>
I think this post confuses the issue a little. It is what you want a buyer to do, from the perspective of a seller. Unfortunately, as sellers, we can't control what buyers do. The two relevant questions for the conversation are:
1. As a buyer, which is the best approach: start low because you might get a good deal or start closer to VCP/selling averages because it is more likely to encourage flexibility from the seller?
2. As a seller, which is the best approach: ignore, filter out, or punish offers that fall significantly below VCP/selling averages or counter them with modest reductions in price that still fall above the seller's bottom-line price?
I've laid out the case for my preferred strategy.
As a buyer, start low. Sometimes, you get great deals. Not always, but you never know what an unknown seller will accept for an item. If they decline your offer, you can always come up later. Few sellers will "hold it against you" later in the face of a solid 2nd or 3rd wave offer.
As a seller, negotiate in response to a wide range of offers. You won't know the buyer's maximum purchase price. A low first offer does not always mean that the buyer is unwilling to purchase the item for a price that you will find acceptable. There is little downside to negotiation because a low offer means nothing other than the buyer was looking for a deal--a perfectly reasonable approach (see buyer strategy above) that has nothing to do with the buyer's opinion about the accuracy of your pricing or their assessment of your knowledge of the market. Some initially-low buyers will come way up. If they don't, that's fine--you never have to sell for a price that you won't accept.
* that's really all I can afford/budget for that particular item
* how am I to know what the mindset of the seller is, or how long he's had that item sitting there, or how much he has invested in it? Maybe he bought it on the cheap and can afford to let it go for a small profit.
* the seller has no clue what the real market value of that card/lot is, but I do because I have been following said market.
I offer what I think is fair, and often have been successful. Sometimes I do ask for a steep discount. My collecting focus is narrow enough that I do know what the cards I'm chasing actually sell for, and I believe many sellers are fishing for someone to come along and snap up their (sometimes ridiculously) high BIN. When I know I'm offering what amounts to a significant discount, I simply send a short & polite note telling them that I am not intending to insult them with my offer, and always thank them for taking the time to consider it. Again, the offer is often taken, and if not it has often led to a sincere dialogue that at best results in a mutually satisfactory deal and at worst leaves the two parties leaving the negotiation on good terms.
Lastly, this is to David: I have had sellers respond to even reasonable offers with your petty $0.01 discount. To me it is the very definition of "rude" - that seller wouldn't ever get a dime of my money. It's not cute and it's not funny.
Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
My personal approach is to not set auto-declines, as I have found some super low-ball offers eventually lead to a sale or at least a connection for potential future sales or purchases. As Gordon Gekko once said (roughly), "Relax. Rule number one in business: don't get emotional about [cards]."
<< <i>Reasons to lowball:
* that's really all I can afford/budget for that particular item
* how am I to know what the mindset of the seller is, or how long he's had that item sitting there, or how much he has invested in it? Maybe he bought it on the cheap and can afford to let it go for a small profit.
* the seller has no clue what the real market value of that card/lot is, but I do because I have been following said market.
I offer what I think is fair, and often have been successful. Sometimes I do ask for a steep discount. My collecting focus is narrow enough that I do know what the cards I'm chasing actually sell for, and I believe many sellers are fishing for someone to come along and snap up their (sometimes ridiculously) high BIN. When I know I'm offering what amounts to a significant discount, I simply send a short & polite note telling them that I am not intending to insult them with my offer, and always thank them for taking the time to consider it. Again, the offer is often taken, and if not it has often led to a sincere dialogue that at best results in a mutually satisfactory deal and at worst leaves the two parties leaving the negotiation on good terms.
Lastly, this is to David: I have had sellers respond to even reasonable offers with your petty $0.01 discount. To me it is the very definition of "rude" - that seller wouldn't ever get a dime of my money. It's not cute and it's not funny. >>
I don't think there is anything rude about responding to a pathetic offer with a penny discount. It says make a real offer or get lost. If you want an item and think the price is crazy do as you said and send a polite note. If someone thinks I am going to sell a card I have listed for $200 for the price of a sandwich from Burger King they are nuts.
Most of the offers I get are from reasonable buyers and while I may want more I certainly have no problem with a lower offer then the asking price. My penny discount response is reserved for the offers that come from losers.
<< <i>I don't think there is anything rude about responding to a pathetic offer with a penny discount. It says make a real offer or get lost. If you want an item and think the price is crazy do as you said and send a polite note. If someone thinks I am going to sell a card I have listed for $200 for the price of a sandwich from Burger King they are nuts.
Most of the offers I get are from reasonable buyers and while I may want more I certainly have no problem with a lower offer then the asking price. My penny discount response is reserved for the offers that come from losers. >>
Truth. I think it is hilarious. We aren't Dean's Cards here. Most of us on this site set reasonable opening prices. So you guys can get lost with the defense that you're just offering a realistic price on a grossly inflated listing. That's clearly not relevant here.
You guys who offer up the lowballs......when you're looking to buy a car, do you offer $1,200 on the $30,000 list price? You know, "just to get negotiations started"? And when you do, what kind of "you're an imbecile" reactions do you get from the seller?
<< <i>
<< <i>I don't think there is anything rude about responding to a pathetic offer with a penny discount. It says make a real offer or get lost. If you want an item and think the price is crazy do as you said and send a polite note. If someone thinks I am going to sell a card I have listed for $200 for the price of a sandwich from Burger King they are nuts.
Most of the offers I get are from reasonable buyers and while I may want more I certainly have no problem with a lower offer then the asking price. My penny discount response is reserved for the offers that come from losers. >>
Truth. I think it is hilarious. We aren't Dean's Cards here. Most of us on this site set reasonable opening prices. So you guys can get lost with the defense that you're just offering a realistic price on a grossly inflated listing. That's clearly not relevant here.
You guys who offer up the lowballs......when you're looking to buy a car, do you offer $1,200 on the $30,000 list price? You know, "just to get negotiations started"? And when you do, what kind of "you're an imbecile" reactions do you get from the seller? >>
I about spit out my coffee reading the - You know, "just to get the negotiations started" LOL
move on...
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