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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 :)



rooze
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,582 posts
 
The Audiogon rules are the seller has 48 hours to respond and if they don’t, then you don’t get the item. It is pretty simple. When you put your offer in, you are agreeing to Audiogon terms. You shouldn’t whine afterwards that you didn’t get a response.

Once I posted an amp for sale and I got over a dozen offers and none met my price range. I was not about to write to all those people to say “no”. The poster who offered 6K on an item that was going for $6500. I would never be willing to drop the price $500.00 on something I was selling unless it was a fire sale. That is insulting to the seller and I wouldn’t reply either. Had you offered a couple of hundred less, if I was the seller, I may have gone for it.

What about the person who lowballs the item and then wants free shipping and insurance too? I have come across that many times. I won’t sell to them because I am pretty sure they will be trouble even after the sale. Bottom line, if you don’t like the Audiogon rules, buy elsewhere.
raysmtb1's avatar
raysmtb1
811 posts
 
You never know who you’re talking to, the safest bet is to use proper manners no matter how goofy the other person on the other hand acts. If you were rude to them it would give them reason to post some thing and your profile. I just as soon be nice, you sleep better at night.
unsound
7,395 posts
 
12  “no” return e-mails would take about a minute.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,582 posts
 
@unsound ,

If you actually read the Audiogon rules regarding making offers, it speciffically states "if you do not hear from the party within 48 hours, consider your offer rejected." Perhaps you need to go over the rules of service again? When I get 12 or more low ball offers, my obligation to the other party is zero, nada, zilch.

If you are offended you do not get a response, go elsewhere to buy, no one is stopping you. You have very few sales here so you probably haven’t run into many lowball offers compared to me with well over 100 sales and all positive feedback. If you want changes made, take it up with Audiogon management. No need for all the whiners to continuiously whine about it here.
rooze's avatar
rooze OP
656 posts
 
@stereo5 You seem to take a very "black and white" stance to buying/selling online, where some might consider the exchange of goods for cash between two complete strangers to be more of a process.
My point is, as a buyer, we've little idea what's in the mind of the seller unless he or she specifically tells us - "Price is Firm" - "Make me an Offer" etc. So all we can do is pitch in with what we believe to be a subjectively fair offer, assuming there's a 'Make an Offer' invitation.

I can't see the hardship in saying "NO" to a dozen people. It releases them from the obligation of buying from you, and, more importantly, they don't have to sit around for two days waiting on a message from someone who has no intention of conducting business with them.

"Bottom line, if you don’t like the Audiogon rules, buy elsewhere" - No, I don't like Audiogon rules, nor do I like the rules imposed on me as a buyer and seller at Amazon and eBay. That doesn't mean I should pack-up and leave.

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