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How much to offer the seller w/o sounding like an A$$?
DancingFire
Posts: 311 ✭✭✭
Say if the seller was asking $1000 for a coin. Am I being rude if I offer the seller $850?
I wouldn't even make an offer if the seller was asking $1000 for a coin worth $700.
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I have never been offended by an offer....particularly if it is close to the value.
$850 sounds fine.
What do they go for at auction? If you have "real data" to support your $850, the seller shouldn't have a reason to be offended.
Doesn't mean they have to ACCEPT the offer, of course. If they have "real data", (even if it's an unrealistic price guide), for the $1000 asking price, they may feel justified in holding out...and they just might get that amount from someone using the same data.
If a coin is worth $700 I would offer him $650. Now that is a good offer, So if you offer $850 for a $700 that is a very good offer and your over paying. But he sounds like a$$ if he is asking $1000 for a $700 coin and if he does not take it keep looking I bet you can find it some where else they made more then one.
Hoard the keys.
If I was selling the coin, I would not be offended. I would either accept or decline.
Fan of the Oxford Comma
CCAC Representative of the General Public
2021 Young Numismatist of the Year
I normally place a "buffer" for haggeling in most of my coins that I sell. You are making an offer of 85% of the list price, which seems like a fair offer to me...it just depends on the coin. Worst thing the seller can say is "no"...and they may even counter-offer you.
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I've found that asking about 10% less than the asking price usually doesn't seem to create any issues. Anything more than that is when tensions seem to rise.
The problem with $1000 coins, is they could be in the $800 - $1200 range for value. I have seen stuff I would value at $300 being offered for $1000.
I think most dealers are like that....assuming it's a "clean" offer. "Will you take $850?"
On the other hand, if you say something like, "What a piece of trash. Can't believe you are asking $1000. The MOST I would give you is $850, and I'm doing you a favor!"
I wouldn't blame anyone for being offended at THAT offer.
I recently offered $705 for a ebay lot (at $999 or best offer). He didn't accept that, so I offered $776 and we had a deal.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
We all have one so I guess your going to be one no matter what you offer.
I don't let offers offend me -- I either accept or decline and do not take it personally.
Just offer what the coin is worth to you. If you can (or can't) live without it, offer accordingly.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
As an eBay seller (not of coins), I never get insulted by an offer, but I do sometimes think the prospective buyer is an idiot (i.e. $4 offer for a $30 commodity item). But sometimes the ridiculous lowballers do eventually pony up with a legit offer. This is just my perspective as a seller, there are certainly sellers that are a bit more "prickly" and a lowball offer could kill a potential deal. But if a seller is that sensitive to a low offer they may be difficult in other areas as well.
Some people seem to make an unsolicited offer no matter what the price. Basically for sport. Those are the ones I turn down no matter what the offer might be if I'm selling something from my collection. That's right I couldn't care less what the unsolicited offer is.
You might send a message stating, "I don't wish to offend you with an offer I am about to make, but I am making it for the following reasons". Then send the offer a bit later.
This has served me well in the past.
Dealers like offers. They can always say no or counteroffer.
I usually offer what its worth to me.... I've never worried if I offended anyone with what I felt was my best offer!!
Successful trades.... MichaelDixon,
I have an inclination to believe that dealers act offended by low offers more often than they actually get offended by low offers.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Do your research, offering $850 for a $1000 item wouldn't offend me. Besides, I've noticed that most coin people at coin shows aren't trying to gouge dealers with offers. But when I've done jewelry shows, getting put through the ringer (especially by foreign buyers) is the norm. No matter what the sticker price is, they simply cut the price in half or worse and we go from there.
Andrew Blinkiewicz-Heritage
If some one is offended by any offer, any offer, even a dollar, i would suggest NOT dealing with them.
Same here, a few years ago when I was in the custom jewelry business. I ran three retail and one wholesale in downtown NYC. The worst type of the business buyers, typically middle eastern, were the ones who cut every offer in half first then ask for more discount hours later after the carts were filled up. No matter what serious price you gave, at the end you would be just wasting your time unless you price gouge and ended up with bad reputation.
Lets admit it everyone rather pay wholesale. It is understandable for regular consumer for not knowing the wholesale price and cost. But as business owners, offering below manufacturing price would not receive any respect unless it was a close out.
Like others said, if it's worth ~$850 based on your homework, offer $850.
But if it's worth substantially more than $1000, just pay it and run before someone else
jumps on it. I've seen it work both ways, where something I was interested in was overpriced, but the fellow with very little haggling came WAY down to make a sale.
Likewise, when something was already underpriced vs- the real world, I just wrote a check as fast as I could, no need to chisel and be greedy.
I wouldn't find an $850 offer on a $1000 coin I was selling insulting at all.
Offers 10%-20% off don't offend me. It's the idiots offering $50 for a $500 coin that offend me.
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
First off, if the value of the coin is around that level, then offering it is fair.
Secondly, some of these answers are funny given that, in the past, there have been more than a few threads by forum members complaining about offers on ebay and that they automatically BLOCK the asker if they don't like the offer. Some will block for any question being asked as well.
So, go into it with your eyes wide open....while no REASONABLE person should be offended, you may get blocked (and it may even be a forum member) if they don't like the offer.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I think that $850 is a fair offer, as it is only a 15% discount. Sounds perfectly reasonable. I would offer what the item is worth regardless of the markup. If the price seems fair; I'd snag it, now, rather than lose to someone else, while trying to get a better price.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
15% is a ball park figure within business trading with consumer products. 30% margin is more common on the retail side. Margin varies depending on the product type.
Of course, that products that sold by volume would have lower margin. Slower moving product normally comes with higher margin unless seller was cashing out.
It's always tough making the initial offer
Use your best judgement, try not to offend and do not be offended
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In that case I wouldn't even make an offer. The seller is not even in the ball park, just dreaming.
An $850 offer on a $1,000 coin is not out of line. The seller can accept, refuse, or counteroffer. It's close enough that a deal might be reached. So I suggest you make your offer, and see what happens.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
If it's an eBay item, the seller can enter the lowest offer he will even consider when composing his listing, which stops low ballers in their tracks when they try to offer any amt. below that minimum because eBay's system will auto-reject it.
- Jim
That offer would not offend me at all. I consider that a very reasonable offer. I typically list my items for more than I hope to get for them. If they sell at my asking price, I'm very satisfied. I pretty much expect to negotiate a price on my items, both selling and buying. It's what makes the transaction a little more fun.
I make offer's of around 80% of asking all the time. However if a seller's asking price is way above the price I have in mind, I skip it all together.
What I have a problem with is ridiculous low offers, I mean something only an idiot would accept. I currently have an item listed for $400.00, market on it is very solid at $350.00 - $375.00 and some guy sends me an offer of $150.00 with a note saying "These are tanking". Now had it only been an offer of $150.00 with no comment, I would simply decline it and move on. But you throw in the comment like that, and it get's under my skin. Those kind of people I do block, and so far, he is the only one I have blocked in years of selling. I don't want to take a chance selling to someone like that. Who know's if they are going to pull the "Box arrived empty" scam or some other shady move.
I think an $850 offer on a $1000 ask is generally fine and in the ballpark.
When going lower, how low you can go depends a lot on how much the coin actually trades for on the open market so it pays to know the market for the coin you're interested in. Sometimes the ask will be over 2x the market rate so even 85% will be expensive. I've been able to make deals at 50% of the ask on more expensive items because I knew the going rate and made a fair offer.
I've also paid the full price when I didn't want the risk of losing the item to someone else and the price was still worthwhile to me.
The value of any item (including coins) is what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller in an arms length transaction.
So if you think the coin has a value of $1,000 just because that is what the seller is asking, then you shouldn't negotiate at all.
Otherwise you should make an offer based on that the coin is worth to you.
The seller would either accept, decline or counteroffer.
Occasionally I forget to put in a lowest acceptable offer in a BIN/OBO, and it amuses me when the weirdos will send their ridiculous offers.
I had a fairly nice (not killer though) Franklin toner in a PC4 FBL holder.
Well above ave. color and appeal.
I priced it at $99 OBO (really wanted around 80-85) and some joker sends me an offer of $2.
Rather than blocking him, I countered with $98.99 and never heard from him again.
So to answer the OP, whenever I do a BIN/OBO I put 10-15% wiggle room simply so that buyer thinks he's gotten a deal.
I would presume most sellers do the same.
So if you offer 15% back you're probably right on the mark.
Try 17-20% back if it's not a coin you really love.......you might just get it without ruffling seller's feathers.
At shows, I would often ask the seller for his best offer (on marked product)... Often the offer would be around 12% less than marked. Knowing the range for the product, I usually felt that was fair and purchased the coin. Some said the price marked was final. Usually I walked, once I bought. On ebay, I twice made a 'best offer', and both times was accepted.... likely left money on the table, but the price was fair. Negotiating is a skill and not all have it. Cheers, RickO
As noted above, the "I don't mean to offend but I can offer xyz" works well. I doubt "hey idiot take 33% or good luck lol" would work as well.
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I once made an offer of 10% off the BIN price, the 10% was $45, on a coin I've been chasing for a decade. Then I thought I was being ridiculous, and I was afraid someone would buy it. So 10 minutes later I just bought it.
Its all in your approach to seller. As a buyer I will often share my thought process and let the numbers speak for themselves. The last few auctioned at....... I'd like to be in that ballpark. Is that something you can do?
Just started dabbling on eBay. Had a BIN. Guy sends a fair offer. But says. I can offer you x. Not Would you consider........... Price aside I didn't like his tone. I know $is $. But sometimes I just don't care
So I think if you are nice , it will go a long way. Good luck
Why? Many dealers do it all the time and make their living doing so. An offer is an offer. it's just business and not a personal insult. Sure, the one making the offer may very well be an idiot or (fill in the blank), but Just decline it and move on.
Joseph J. Singleton - First Superintendent of the U.S. Branch Mint in Dahlonega Georgia
Findley Ridge Collection
About Findley Ridge
Without knowing what the coin is, I would not comment as to whether the offer is fair or not.
I think a buyer asking for more than a 5 pct discount needs to get lost.
Sometimes I will get lowball offers for coins on eBay and many times auto rejected by computer and will see their little lame attempt to offer another $5. I wonder why these people even waste their time with their lame low ball offers. I often wonder if some of these dummies would haggle with a stripper over the price of a lap dance.
If the offer a decent one and allows me a decent profit I may accept, Others I simply reply "unless item BIN / MO it's already at my best price."
The low ballers remind me of people coming to my table with their sheet and then some lame spiel "well sheet is x and the 19xx so and so this and that." Well if I am not making money I don't care about their BS. I might ask them if they have one to sell me at that or suggest they go open a coin shop.
HAHAHAHA. Well screw you too!
Maybe this is a gimmick account and I just don't know, but It's pretty normal to offer below 95% asking price. You're just frustrating yourself with that policy.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
I personally don't get offended by low offers but sometimes the comments along with them get under my skin.
On eBay i usually build some wiggle room into my prices. I don't set to autoreject at any certain price because I want to be able to counter any I feel are legitimate.
I usually start my new items at my full retail price. After 30 days I'll lower a bit. After another 30 I'll lower again. So depending on how many times I've had to lower my price will change the amount of wiggle room if any I have. After a certain amount of time I may take any price to get out of a dead item that gets me close to even.
Also remember that many dealers do have items on consignment and we know the price may be unrealistic but we are given a minimum sell price.
I think if you have recent data to support your offer it won't make you look like a a$&. If you know it's worth the asking price and you are just trying to get a deal you may feel bad when somebody else gets it ahead of you.
My Ebay Store
What if the counter is $1,100.00 back at you from the seller? There are times when it is nice not to be greedy.
Had an offer 20% below the "Buy it Now" price on a coin on my want list accepted by a major dealer/seller on eBay.
I've accepted offers as much as 30/35% below my "Buy it Now" price on non-coin items.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
so, why is it OK for a dealer to low-ball a collector when he wants to buy from the collector.
Dealer would most certainly not offer 850 when buying a coin worth 1000 from a collector. would most likely offer 700 or less. Is it because he "has the the implied or assumed right" to low-ball because he is a dealer?
On Ebay, depending on the category, that 850 offer on a 1000 item will mean the seller will be paying 85-100+ in fees/shipping(if free) if they accept your offer. So the dealer is really seeing your offer as 750. Depending on the accuracy of the original 1000 price, the 850 may or may not make sense for the dealer to accept. The 850 might be fine for a dealer flip at a show, but it won't work losing another 100 on Ebay.
I think some people making real low offers on Ebay are hoping that a seller fat fingers an accept or wrong price when responding. With many working from phones, tablets, or other mobile devices with small touchy screens it's more likely to cause mistakes to occur.
Unless it's something that melts for more, I can't imagine too many people being offended at an $850 offer on an item listed for $1k. $850 might be less than the seller thinks it's worth, but they can (and most will) simply counter.
This seems very plausible. I also think it might happen in reverse (although on rare occasions).
A while back, I had an item on ebay listed for about 250 and received an offer for 20. I thanked the buyer for their offer, countered at 200, and politely asked if they hadn't accidently mistyped 200 as 20.
I expected the buyer to disappear, but they bought the item at 200! I still don't know if it was really a typo or someone's conscience, but a sale was made! While not the norm, it seems like a few lowball offers can turn into a positive experience.