What is a lowball offer? How low is low?

I believe that an offer that one makes should be the offer one can afford to make and immediately pay if the offer is accepted. I also feel that a prior communication with the seller can go a long way to come to a fair tranaction that satisfies both the seller and buyer.

So many people are so afraid they might be paying too much. Oh the horror if one finds one less expensive after they buy something. And as it has been already stated, even after accepting a lowball offer, often times they still don’t buy it. I NEVER make an offer I am not prepared to pay IMMEDIATELY. And I never accept an offer I do not expect to be paid IMMEIDIATELY. So many wishy-washy types.

I have stopped bothering to list items on Audiogon because in my experience these problems are worse than on other place I list my gear.

I have had people email me for up to a YEAR about something I have for sale, trying to decide. I finally told one I would not sell anything to him no matter what. He came back that he did not understand why people (apparently he does this to others as well) get upset just sitting at a computer and answering questions. I told him people get angry answering the same questions over and over again for a year from the same person. And that HE was not the only person asking questions.

You never know why someone lists an item for sale.  Do they need to sell, do they just want to see what they can get for the item, are they thinking of upgrading etc etc.  You will not get a sense of a seller's motivation if you do not engage the seller.

I try to make sure I am never in a position where I have to sell an item.   I generally research CMV, and set my price a little higher than that.  Sometimes the item sells immediately, sometimes not.  But I always sell for my price.

Most of my equipment was purchased used.  I have no qualms about offering what *I* think is a fair price....it is my money after all.  If the seller disagrees, then we agree to disagree.  If the seller makes a counter offer then I know a deal can be made.   Everything I have purchased would qualify as a "good deal" in the opinion of many observers.  

Offer what the item is worth to you.  Be polite.  Be firm.  Be prepared to move on.  There will always be another seller.

Every situation is different. Factors that make a given offer "reasonable" vs "lowball" include:

1 - Whether the unit being offered F.S. was purchased used or new
2 - Age & condition of the unit
3 - Relative rarity and/or reputation of the unit
4 - Reputation of the seller

Let's say I purchased a new headphone for $3K, then sell it after 2-3 months, in perfect condition, relatively little use. It's a much in demand headphone. My instincts in these matters tell me that an aggressive price would be $70%-80% of list, incl. paypal & shipping in U.S. (everyone pays list for this thing when new). Given all that, if someone offered me 50% I'd laugh in their face--a clear lowball. But if I'm @80% of list and someone offers 70%, it's not lowball at all. They've done their research & we can start dickering...

If you make an offer that is 25% of asking, a vendor might shake his head at you as a time waster, but their idea of worth may decline as time passes and the item remains unsold..

I have made offers many times where I told the seller what I was willing to pay, and said that the offer was good until I found something else instead. A portion of those offers were accepted later on when the item sat without selling.

I got one classic car that way three years after making the offer...