So...hard...not to respond (eBay problems) UPDATE 09-14-20
Weiss
Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
I listed a nice, somewhat rare piece about 4 months back at what I knew was a good price with make an offer. Open for business, just hit me with something close and I'm ready to horse trade.
No bids, but it started collecting watchers like flies.
So I waited.
And waited.
No offers, but more watchers. So I dropped the price ~25%. More watchers. No offers.
And TBH, watchers who don't buy kind of bug me. So after about a month on sale, when the item went back to its pre-sale price, I bumped the price up by 25%. Raising your price is a legit eBay strategy. But I bought it right, I didn't have to sell it. And I figured what the hell, maybe I'll knock some of those watchers off.
You guessed it: More watchers. It was up to about 15 watchers by now. But hey, I got 2 lowball offers about 25% less than that sale price.
So I waited another 30 days or so, and I raised the price another 25%. Another lowball offer, and more watchers.
And yesterday I got this email:
I was interested in this item. Until you raised the price two times. More than twice the original price..
This from a buyer with 2000+ feedback.
And though I have a dozen snarky things I'd like to respond with, I'm simply not going to respond.
In a perfect world, how would you respond? What would you say to them?
--Severian the Lame
Comments
There is a cost to holding inventory.
With that said I would offer your client a discount on the coin he had been watching.
“Cool, I must have missed the offer you sent. Please re-send it and I’ll consider.”
Can we see what you were trying to sell or are you still trying to sell it?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Only if you make an offer
--Severian the Lame
I like @OriginalDan’s idea. Be positive, and see if there’s a mutually agreeable price. It might work. OTOH, if you really don’t want to sell it, you’re just playing games and that’s a big turnoff.
People are funny, sometimes if you list a nice item at a very low price they feel like there must be something wrong with it.
Wisdom has been chasing you but, you've always been faster
This is weird. Sellers unsure what they will accept and constant changes - and fellow sellers monitoring the market - are exactly why people watch. In a short time you've had the same item at 3 prices with a 2x difference. You want to horse trade but you dismiss a 25% off your price as a lowball? Why didn't you just counter and meet in the middle on that one? Now, you put people in position of having to make an extreme lowball to even get near you original sale price. Buyers aren't mind readers.
No question was asked, so I wouldn't respond. If I was determined to reply, I'd say something like "Thanks for checking out my listing."
And it's fine to put things on sale but don't put "make an offer" if you aren't actually open to any because you feel you already discounted it.
I've noticed when people think the price is to high they just watch.
eBay watchers are the equivalent of saying “nice coin” in a BST listing.
It's crazy nobody jumped on it at that low price! I'm thinking of raising the price a bit more because it is a nice piece. Thanks for your interest.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Sometimes I watch an item similar to one I own to see if it actually sells.
Sometimes I watch an item to see if I will get a special offer from the seller (which I often accept). Committed sellers often use this feature to move an item.
Sometimes I watch an item in case ebay offers a discount or Ebay bucks deal.
Interesting. I've never considered raising prices on ebay as a strategy as I generally use the auction format. But I had an experience with a seller recently on two separate BIN listings. Rather than purchasing on ebay, I went directly to their website and sent an email asking if their listed price was their best price. In both cases, the seller RAISED the price after I expressed interest. He said he had already planned to raise the price before I contacted him. That was a complete turn off.
Watchers - I am more bothered when I have don't have watchers. But I have come to understand and accept that watchers don't equal bidders or buyers. I watch a lot of listings for various reasons, many of which include no intention of purchasing. I watch some because I have a like item to sell. I watch some because I recently purchased a like item. I watch some in hopes I get a good offer from the seller.
Out of curiosity, I tracked a couple of my coin auctions recently and recorded the status every 24 hours. In this case, I lot of watchers did not translate into a bidding fury at the close:
I'd snark with, you've been watching it since Christ was a kid so if you were interested what were you waiting for?
I do change my ebay BIN prices from time to time.
I NEVER lower the price, I always raise the price.
Watchers must pay the rent as It costs me money to hold inventory.
Perhaps the person watching your item was attempting to give you valid feedback without attitude. It can be difficult to divine intention of the written word, so you never know. Regardless, I see nothing more wrong with their message than with your strategy to continuously change price and monitor how many watchers you have. It reads to me, on this end, that this might have you wound up a little more than you would like to admit.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Can you show us a link so I can send you an offer worthy of a follow-up thread?
As a more serious reply, I don't do much buying on eBay, but I do watch some items for a few reasons, which I think are legit even if I don't buy the item. I'd assume buyers do the same for items I list (though I rarely sell fixed price):
-I'm not in the market for the item now, or at least not at the listed price (I may be willing to pay strong money for something I really want, but not for an item I buy on a whim), but if my circumstances change or the price drops, I might be a buyer.
-In a month or two I don't want to forget that the item was listed, and this is an easy way to build a price history (if it's sold).
-I might think the price is a bit too strong, to the extent where I think my offer might be insulting (even if I think it's fair). When I think I'm too far off, I might not make an offer at all even if I could justify the price, but I could watch the item and see if the price drops
Perhaps the original buyer was a mix of 1 and 3 when the original sale price was showing. Not quite a buyer at the lowest price, but considering it. Then he saw it going up twice.
One more thought: as the price goes up, you might get more watchers who are interested to see if the item sells that high. Suppose you are holding a coin you think is worth $500. If you see one listed for $500, you don't think much of it. Now you see it at $750. You might think it won't sell, but if it does, the coin you own just got more valuable and maybe you'd consider listing it, too. So you watch the overpriced listing to see what happens.
"shoulda, coulda"
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
The last 2 purchased I made were because I was watching the item, and just before the item BIN or auction was to end (with no bidders) I received a “discount” email from the sellers.
Both discounts were enough for me to accept and snag a coupe of coins below past Ebay sales averages (closer to blue book prices,...I know those are average ranges and whole other discussion).
My point is I use watch function for exactly the outcome I mentioned.
I’m a buyer but only at the right price.
Reply to his message with an offer you are willing to accept. He can play or pass.
If you really want to sell, give a polite reply and include an offer price. If not, disregard and move on. Cheers, RickO
Sell the coin and move on. Be happy it is gone. You don't have to worry about "watchers" anymore.
Sorry, I can't relate to being bugged by watchers. Nor can I relate to raising prices to "punish" them for not buying immediately. As others have said, if you're motivated to sell the coin, try to work with the guy who enquired. Otherwise, list it for what you want and simply wait for a buyer, however long that takes.
Totally agree. Playing head games with potential buyers is not the way to sell coins or to cultivate repeat customers.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I see that all the time on items in my bay store many watchers on an item. They do sell but tough to predict. It’s tough getting retail in this market. I am not there (online or shows) give it away. Many I markup only 10 pct commission over inventory cost plus bay selling costs and FOH.
In your case I would contact him nail down just what he would pay, make him an offer if that works. A tire kicker kept making low ball offer emails on a cheap $35 item. I replied my standard “unless bin / mo already at my best price.” Another email from him to “educate” me on the MV of another item I simply ignored. I checked out his 2 or 3 auctions none of them a deal. Came away with impression this guy simply broke trying get whatever rip he could. Reminded me of this tire kicker at a show telling me he buys below bid to sell to other dealers (trying low ball me on item in my case) - told him laughing “well go find one.”
Don’t let these people bug you. Reply politely once if they contact you (if you want) then ignore. Many won’t pay the money - just like tire kickers / low ballers at shows. I have many items hundreds looks maybe one or two watcher no sales. It’s like the looky looks at shows.
The saving grace this year was silver going up more than 2x it’s low plus a good push on gold price made some good money on raw and slabbed bullion coins. Numismatic coins did good but not a barn burner. Currency not that much activity.
What kind of dollars are you talking about? Ask them to make an offer. What is it?
I watch items for a variety of reasons not sure why it's viewed negatively. It could be something I have minimal interest in on that day but caught my eye enough to click the button then 3 months later I see it on my watch list and purchase. That's to say watchers are positive things not negative.
In your situation if it was something you were willing to sell at the original price I'd respond "feel free to make an offer at the original price and it's yours I raised the price when I saw comparable items sell for a bit more but I'd be happy to sell at the original ask". Or let it sit longer if that price isn't what you'd accept anymore. I certainly wouldn't pass on a sale to a buyer with good feedback out of spite that they didn't purchase it sooner.
I’d do what a few others suggested. Let the person know that you are willing to hear an offer based on the original price (if you want to sell). If you want to stick to the higher price, tell them that circumstances have changed and this is the new price. In either case be polite.
Ya Snooze ya lose
is that snarky or sarcastic ? But that was my first thought immediately
Steve
Or offer it to him at the original posted price. At the worst he can decline, accept or counter-offer. If you were willing to accept that price once you should be willing to accept it again I would think.
If a sale isn't made, it's the seller who loses.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
i just look in the closed auctions to see what my item sells for and list at that price, or maybe a little above grey sheet works too
This is the perfect response. It has a hint of veiled sarcasm but just a hint and can be read straight as well.
You nailed it @OriginalDan !
That is a good read. The world has more cases of voyeurism than COVID . Just look to where the people went.
We are all busy watching others' stuff.
There is Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest , Linked In and the Hansen Watch.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Move on.
Don't respond.
If you're still stressed out, hit the links and enjoy 4 hours on the golf course.
Works wonders for me.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Despite my initial plan to snark hard at the potential buyer's message, and then my decision to ignore it and just chuckle at it, I paid heed to what my fellow PCGS board members said and decided to engage this morning:
"Thank you for your continued interest in this item. Feel free to make an offer. "
And their response followed almost immediately?
Wait for it.
...
...
**Not at this price. Good luck. **
--Severian the Lame
why do people get so butthurt about stuff like this. If I think an item is priced too high I move on with my life, feeling the need to basically needle the seller like this makes no sense to me.
Sounds like he was not only wasting your time, but his own time as well.
"Not at this price. Good luck"
I would have accepted an offer of $10
It's too bad you didn't make an offer & have been added to my blocked bidder list.
Have a nice day!
The way I interpret the original message:
I was interested in this item. Until you raised the price two times. More than twice the original price..
is as follows:
1) The sender is aware of the "original price", by which I assume he means what you paid for it.
2) If your current asking price is 200%+ of your purchase price, then even at your most discounted price, it may have been well above FMV.
3) He was probably indicating that he now finds your asking price completely unrealistic, whereas at its lowest price it was merely unrealistic. He was perhaps hoping you'd continue to discount it from there, and didn't want to annoy you with a lowball offer in the interim (some sellers block people for such "offenses").
Maybe my assumption #1 above is wrong, and the rest of what follows is bogus, but it's one possible explanation for how things played out.
I just started to watch every one of your auctions.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Please out this idiot so I can block him/her......
There are people in this world that I wouldn't sell anything to, no matter how much they beg and how high they offer. (I have a few coin dealers in NC that fit this description).
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
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I've got a "buyer" who is trying the opposite strategy. He made an offer I refused, then countered with a lower offer which I also refused and has replied with an even lower offer.
I wonder how often this works for him.
Honestly, I'd have no trouble with his/her response.
Dave
When sellers play games, I move on.
This threads makes me want to watch a few items on eBay just for kicks and giggles.
Takes all kinds.
Seller had an item listed for $69.95. After a couple roll-overs I offered $60. Expecting a counter, but just got a polite no, thanks for you offer.
So I kept watching it.
Seven more months go by rolling over every 7 days at $69.95 and he finally re-listed at $60. Instead of taking it, I offered $56 and he took up (auto-accept I think because of the speed).
Go figure... in November 2019, $60 wouldn't do it. Carrying costs from November --> August and $56 is good enough...
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
It's a mistake to judge his business practices based on one sale. You're not accounting for the ones where he wouldn't take $60 and ended up with a higher offer (or even a full price purchase) the next day. It happens.