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What is a lowball offer? How low is low?

Recently I was looking at 2 -3 preamps. One was particularly interesting which was a Conrad Johnson 16LS2. The asking price was $3500. I have always wanted the 16LS2. But it was out of my price range. I couldn't make a serious offer. So I didn't and moved on. A few days later I see that it has sold for $2500! What? That was in my budget. But I would have considered that more an insult than a offer. And because I didn't want to insult the seller, I lost a good preamp to someone who was willing to take the chance. So what is the lesson learned here? Apparently I should insult more sellers . The seller wasn't insulted after all. he sold it for $2500. Or is the lesson that I take this stuff too seriously?Should sellers be insulted when offered 50% of their price?  I had thought that 10-15% below the asking price was a realistic offer. Now I'm not sure. So what do you consider a low ball offer? And please, I understand that a product is worth what someone is willing to pay. So no economic lessons please
128x128artemus_5
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
You're not going to be incarcerated, flogged, or executed. Just tell the seller what you can afford and ask them if they would kindly consider your offer. A little respect is the key. IMO
snapsc
669 posts
 
@elizabeth 

i more or less feel that audio has become like many other products... bring out new models every few years and hype them as though they are better... even if they are not... Many new products are better... some are not. 


I’ve offered products for 70% and had to drop to 60%... and I’ve offered products for 40% and had to drop to 30%. 


Where does that leave us?  Ultimately, the market sets the price... if I offer a product at 60% thinking it is a fair offer and buyers don’t agree, then my product won’t sell.     


If im buying a product, frankly, I’m thinking as much or more about what I can resell it for down the road../ hoping to keep my cost of ownership below 20%.... sometimes it happens... sometimes not. 
jburidan
803 posts
 
Used gear should be priced about fifty percent of new. If you offer less than fifty percent that's prolly a lowball.
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,924 posts
 
@mr_m. Its not a matter of repercussion to me. Its a matter of decorum. 
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,924 posts
 
 @jburidan  
Used gear should be priced about fifty percent of new. If you offer less than fifty percent that's prolly a lowball.
This has been my understanding. However, I think most people anticipate they will be offered less and therefore ask more than they really are willing to take. Maybe I'm wrong but I often feel obligated to offer less because haggling seems to have  become the norm. Then too, I have a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook which often forces me to haggle.
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