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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
iopscrl
196 posts
 
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.
desktopguy
367 posts
 
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...
wspohn's avatar
wspohn
603 posts
 
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...
lloydc's avatar
lloydc
751 posts
 
More than 50% of retail for a used item, usually with no warranty, no realistic return option, from an unknown seller, seems absurd to me. Offer whatever you want, the seller may need cash right away.  The Golden Rule: whoever has the gold makes the rules.


I don't mind paying a little more than strictly necessary for a "safe" sale - someone I know or am familiar with on 'Gon, or with a lot of great feedback, or local.  But that's not so much for the item, it's for a enhanced likelihood of peace of mind. 

    
inna
7,296 posts
 
Example. There is one particular set of used but not old cables on usaudiomart for $1300, retail about $4000. He has been trying to sell them since January. They are great cables - WyWires Diamond RCAs .75 M pair. What should I offer if I wanted them ? The price already seems more than reasonable, but he can't sell them for that. If I was willing to get into this I would offer $950 plus shipping. But I am a relatively poor man, this is all big money for me. If I was not I would buy them for the asking $1300. Let's pay our share.
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