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Is Not Responding To An Offer Just Plain Rude?

Think about it in the context of a BUYER using the Audiogon system - 

1 - “Lowballers will be politely ignored.

What constitutes a lowball offer? Is there a percentage of the asking price below which the offer becomes a “lowball”? If so, what is it? 90%? 75%? ….Is it connected to or disconnected from the length of time the ad has been running?

2 - When the only option is “Make an Offer”.

What am I supposed to do here? Am I supposed to offer more than the asking price? Less than the asking price? If less is OK, then refer to point 1 above.

3 - When the only option is “Make an Offer” and the ad says “price is firm”

What the heck am I supposed to do with that one?

If you’re listing an item with the option of “Make an Offer”, wouldn’t it just be courteous to give the benefit of the doubt to the person submitting the offer, assume he or she is a serious buyer and not a tire-kicker, and just reply one way or the other, in a timely fashion? I mean, there’s nothing lost, right? Just say “NO”. Or make a counteroffer….what’s so difficult?

I just sold a nice preamp to a gentleman who made an offer on it, it arrived with the buyer safely and he’s thrilled with it. So now I have wires hanging loose in my system where a preamp used to be, and it’s almost the Holidays. I found a suitable replacement on Audiogon in the $7K range, made an offer within 10% +/- of the asking price, and…drum roll….….nothing. 

I sat around all weekend waiting for the seller to respond, but they didn’t have the decency to just message me and say no. So I was stuck with the “Seller has 48hrs to review your offer” BS, now I’m back to square one and without the means to play my favorite Kenny G Christmas albums. 

One bandaid fix would be for Audiogon to adopt the ebay system and allow sellers to automatically decline offers below a certain amount. Then they wouldn’t even have to interact with us lowballers and their delicate sensibilities wouldn’t get hurt…..heck, I’d even take a photo of me wearing a mask as I press the ’Submit Offer’ button, if this is a Covid thang…

Whinge over…

Merry Christmas :)



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bubba12's avatar
bubba12
436 posts
 
No offer is an insult. Why anyone gets mad at an offer..... who knows? Just politely decline. I see most of the same stuff on here month after month. If I offer 60% after months on Audiogon you should be thrilled. The market works. People that price stuff to move get things sold.

allenf1963
333 posts
 
@arizonabob and @bubba12,

"Seems many of you change your audio systems like I change my socks."

"If I offer 60% after months on Audiogon you should be thrilled."
I'm late to this conversation, but you guys took the words right out of my mouth!  You expect to avoid depreciation on gear when you rotate it like I rotate my tires?  Go purchase a brand new vehicle off a dealership lot, drive it home, then try reselling it or trading it in 6 months later.  See how big a hit you take.  

bobspets1
28 posts
 
 It is patently rude to not reply to an offer. There is a lot of subjectivity in prices and offers. The person making the offer may also have entered an incorrect amount.  If the offer is not acceptable to you simply say so. You have lost nothing in a reply.
norm's avatar
norm
52 posts
 
Without a responds from the seller, you are in a binding contract for 48 hours.  I like to see offers with a specified time attached.  This will prevent sellers to use offers coming in as leverage and tying up the buyer from making other offers.  
audition__audio
1,462 posts
 
I always respond to all offers no matter how low. A common courtesy. 
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