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The issue of lowballing... What does that mean?

I LOVE Audiogon. I have purchased and sold many items here and it is a wonderful resource for audio nuts of every variety. Big solid state, tubes, analog, vinyl? Sure it all goes.

So I see posts that are make offer but the seller says "lowballers" will be ignored, vilified, cursed and cussed. So why have a make offer sale? Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It doesn't matter what you paid for it, or how much you love it. And why be upset? Declining requires one mouse click. Countering maybe five or six clicks or keystrokes. Just curious as this is a commerce site.

I have received offers that seemed really low to me, but I am still happy to have interest and I always counter offer. I recently sold a Clearaudio TT for a lot less than I thought it was worth. But all the offers were low and I had to rethink my view. It ultimately sold as a real bargin but I'm happy and so is the buyer.

Your thoughts?
128x128superbike
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I am in total agreement with you and don't understand the comment of ignoring offers when it is so easy just to decline the offer and move on. Don't take offers low or otherwise personally it is what it is buying and selling. Actually the comment (ignored) turns me off but that's me. I have sold a few things on this site and I just figure offers (low) are just a part of the game of buying and selling.

Chuck
malcolm02
43 posts
 
I agree, I don't know why people get upset at lowballers. Ignoring them requires even less than one mouse click. A lot of lowballers (not so much on Audiogon but more on Ebay and Craigslist) are people who want to pick up your item at a low price, then flip it at a higher price. Nothing wrong with that as such, but it's not the kind of buyer I want to deal with. What does annoy me somewhat is people who string you along for a while like they are really interested but you can never quite close the deal with them. I wish these people would be a bit more decisive.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
I have wondered about that myself. If a seller wants a certain price and doesn't wish to field offers all he has to do is put "Firm"! in the ad. Otherwise how can a buyer possibly know what the seller means by "reasonable offers only" and the ubiquitous low balls will be ignored (or worse)?
I started a thread just like this on Audio Asylum and it was well recieved. You are not the only one wondering how low is low, people had a bunch of ideas but none of it was clearly logical. Thanks for bringing it up here.
BTW The next time you are about to give away some good stuff send me an email first.
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sidssp
1,077 posts
 
In general I agree that staying "lowballers will be ignored" doesn't make sense but I wouldn't get upset over it. Please realize that many people here aren't professional sales. They most likely do buying much more often than selling. I know I am. Sometimes they may put in words without thinking too much about the net effect. So don't take that too seriously. If you like the item, just make an offer for the amount you are willing to pay. Most members here are very nice people. I am sure they won't send you a nasty email. If they did, well, at least you know who not to do business with.
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