Ebay BIN or BEST OFFER '?'

bobbyw8469 · April 1, 2010 10:13PM

When you have a card with a BIN or BEST OFFER, why would someone email you and ask you what is the lowest you would take? Is that their version of a snipe (expressing interest without triggering the offer count), and if so, have you card sellers had much success selling that way?

buymovieposters · April 1, 2010 10:17PM

a lot of times the seller can give the buyer a better deal if the sale is done off ebay, so as to avoid ebay and paypal fees.

bobbyw8469 · April 1, 2010 10:40PM

oh.....so when they say that, it is assumed the deal is done off Ebay?

WinPitcher · April 1, 2010 10:53PM

No, not always.

Some buyers simply want to know what is the lowest the seller will sell at.

Nothing wrong with that.

Steve

mrmint23 · April 1, 2010 11:04PM

Asking before bidding, saves both the seller and buyer time. This way the buyer wont have to submit up to 3 bids and the seller wont have to keep checking to see if they have any offers. Also keeps the bidder from making a "lowball" offer and "insulting" the seller.

Kirk

jeff8877 · April 1, 2010 11:37PM

I do that often so that I can take advantage of Bing savings. It does not work with best offers.

Jeff

onebamafan · April 2, 2010 12:59AM

I do that sometimes because if i have my eye on several cards and i am looking for the best deal i do not want to submit a BO and wait sometimes 48 hrs for a response (sometimes no response). I would rather feel out the seller (s) and go from there, i do not want to waste my time or theirs.

digicat · April 2, 2010 1:34AM

I've run into this a few times with folks asking for the "lowest" price:

Shopper: "What's your lowest price?"

Me: "$50."

Shopper: "I offer $30, and can pay right away!"

Boopotts · April 2, 2010 1:39AM

When someone asks for the lowest price you'd be willing to sell for, what they're really asking is 'What is the price at which you would be completely indifferent about selling this card'? For obvious reasons, that kind of information should usually stay in-house.

When I get asked this question I usually respond by asking what's the highest possible amount the buyer would be willing to pay. Nine times out of ten our correspondence ends there, which is just peachy with me.

storm888 · April 2, 2010 1:56AM

<< When someone asks for the lowest price you'd be willing to sell for, what they're really asking is 'What is the price at which you would be completely indifferent about selling this card'? For obvious reasons, that kind of information should usually stay in-house.

When I get asked this question I usually respond by asking what's the highest possible amount the buyer would be willing to pay. Nine times out of ten our correspondence ends there, which is just peachy with me. >>

/////////////////////////////////////

Ditto.

I lost all patience with cheapskate, bargain-hunting EBAYers
a looooooooong time ago.

mtcards · April 2, 2010 3:11AM

Its kind of a ridiculous question when you think about it. I like the response of what is the most you would be willing to pay.

Best offer is just that...What is YOUR best offer.

swartz1 · April 2, 2010 3:21AM

I would never poison a potential sale...

DeutscherGeist · April 2, 2010 3:54AM

While one does not want to poison a potential sale, one should also avoid potential problem buyers. Problem buyers come in many shapes and sizes. Some do not pay, others make up excuses, some expect next day shipping, some ask too many questions (even if a card is graded) and some never seem to be satisfied. You do not need the money of a problem buyer--spare yourself and the buyer lots of pain and block them.

I like reading everyone's perspective on BIN. I am usually at the buying end of things. If an item is selling for $100 and has been on the market for several weeks or months even, should a seller necessarily be insulted for an offer of $50? Some may be offended, others may welcome it since its been on the market for a long time and the recession is still affecting people's spending.

I assume most sellers with BIN will easily accomodate 20% off (or at least not be offended if refused) no matter how recent the listing....

When I sell miscellaneous items on Craigslist, I do experiment with various prices to see what I can get away with. Many do haggle or make an offer, and I just politely respond one way or another. There was one that kept persisting with a lowball offer, so I can understand the annoyance of that, but I just simply told them that I do not need to sell immediately and rather wait for the right price. Later on, someone else did buy the item closer to what I wanted.

onebamafan · April 2, 2010 4:19AM

<< Its kind of a ridiculous question when you think about it. I like the response of what is the most you would be willing to pay.

Best offer is just that...What is YOUR best offer. >>

The problem with that is if you have your eyes on several cards, but may only be able to afford one, you cant wait around for sellers to wait 24-48 hrs to respond , If they respond at all which has happened. If i make multiple best offers and they get accepted, well your toast because you could only afford one card. Some sellers respond quickly, most take their time. It is a buyers market and when i am the buyer (on a particular day) i need all the information ahead of purchase time so i can determine which is the best deal for me. As a seller (on a particular day), i have no problem with someone asking me my lowest price on a card, i pitch the bottom line and they can take it or leave it......................their decision.

waxpack · April 2, 2010 4:51AM

Everyone wants to buy for as low as they can. A few times on high dollar cards I emailed the seller asking the bottom line. I figure this is more up front than low ball offers and wasting the sellers time.

Out of the 8 to 10 times I've done this... I ended up buying 5 or 6 cards.

No crime in asking

WinPitcher · April 2, 2010 4:53AM

<< i have no problem with someone asking me my lowest price on a card, i pitch the bottom line and they can take it or leave it......................their decision. >>

Exactly. Then if I don't like the way they react I can always block them.

Also, I'd prolly never tell them the absolute lowest I'd take anyway. It would depend on the item and what I have in the item.

Steve

Kneel · April 2, 2010 5:00AM

<< I would never poison a potential sale... >>

Well said..

cardbender · April 2, 2010 2:40PM

<< 

<< When someone asks for the lowest price you'd be willing to sell for, what they're really asking is 'What is the price at which you would be completely indifferent about selling this card'? For obvious reasons, that kind of information should usually stay in-house.

When I get asked this question I usually respond by asking what's the highest possible amount the buyer would be willing to pay. Nine times out of ten our correspondence ends there, which is just peachy with me. >>

/////////////////////////////////////

Ditto.

I lost all patience with cheapskate, bargain-hunting EBAYers
a looooooooong time ago. >>

I totally agree. When a seller has a BIN listed and then gets asked by a potential buyer, 'what's the lowest you'll take', it's insulting to the seller. The BIN is my price as a seller. That price is usually derived by SMR, VCP, past sales, etc.... by most reasonable sellers. If the buyer wants to pay less than the BIN, they should counter offer with,' I'd be willing to pay X amount for your card, lmk' .

Then it's up to the seller to agree to the offer, counter back, or ignore the low baller. I usually choose the later when it's a lowball or one of those stupid , '$50?' wordless offers. Whatever happened to people actually signing their name to their inquires? Or at the very least forming a complete sentence?

corvette1340 · April 2, 2010 2:56PM

On the ridiculously priced BIN's I sometimes offer VCP average and then state that VCP is x amount. Most of the sellers counter with "what is VCP?, SMR is y amount and that's the only true price guide", lol.

CDsNuts · April 2, 2010 3:04PM

I would never poison a potential sale...

Clearly you've never worked in the restaurant industry.

Ebay BIN or BEST OFFER '?'

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