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

@markpao hmmm. I think you are wrong. I have made numerous deals and I have made low offers that were sweetened as we negotiated. Not to mention a ‘no response’ makes me hesitant to go after other items a person has for sale. There is one dealer in particular that lists items over and over again. After no response 

from him a couple times I have written him off completely. 

When selling an item here on Audiogon and I make a counteroffer to a potential buyer, am I obligated to sell it to him even though I may have received a better offer while waiting for his reply?

ozzy

Dealer’s don’t have to sell.  They can always ignore low ball offers.  It takes more energy to pour scorn on a lowball offer than it’s worth.

@rhodes, still working on absorbing all that....*L*

If on the hunt, I study the market on it prior to.  If I think it's fair enough, the seller gets theirs and all happiness....  'Let's make a deal' w/ a 'firm' generally a no-start, obo begats curiousity why...

Shipping is what it is, but private party packaging can be a crapshoot.  Insist on insurance, or nogo...

No Returns?  PayPal it.

Mho....Buyer ought to beware, just 'cuz...

I'm with @mikelavigne ​​​​​​. I work in sales and price is usually the starting point the buyers use to engage and smokescreen. It's up to the seller to provide something besides price if they want to close the sale and keep their margins. I've made two fair offers to two different sellers in the last 30 days on a $4k amp and a $14k amp. Neither felt they needed to budge and both are still and will continue sitting on those items until they cut their price or offer something else to entice the buyer. I just personally won't overpay because they feel I should.