Why do so many sellers take offense to offers on their listings?

People get too emotionally invested in the gear.

People frequently overvalue what they have.

No one is forcing you to sell at the lower price. Be a grown up and ignore it if you don’t like it.

It is business after all not personal.

Unfortunately there are resellers who will offer you an amount that guarantees that they will make a massive profit when they sell at your current asking price.

I think it's fair to call these lowball offers and not develop kind feelings for them. 

"If you haven't noticed the audio market seems to have come to a standstill" 

No, I have not.

Whatever I am buying. If the initial asking price is not realistic I move on.

If the asking price is over what I think is a fair price, based on model, age and condition, then I assume the seller has built in a buffer so I offer a little under his price and see where it goes.

If the price is fair, I don't quibble and pay the asking price so I don't screw myself over a few dollars.

On average, I believe more problems start with the seller, than the buyer.

@tony1954

nailed it ! Point, set, and match …in tennis jargon.

But with a qualifier IMO that problems created in ad communication is not necessarily tilted more towards some Sellers,, but rather equal in number and in poor form with unrealistic 1st steps of some Buyers .

I have sold quite a few pieces through CAM/USAM and at the bottom of my ad I always state, "please, no trades or low ball offers, those that do will be ignored", and yes, people still email with stupid offers and I just ignore or I will respond if it is truly ridiculous.

What I truly dislike is when people ask, so how much is that in US or Euro funds? Umm, it’s called an "online currency converter" its free and readily available online even...