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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
orelayer's avatar
orelayer
59 posts
 
Polk432
"People that can't afford food are not on this site"....you my friend are a genius!
polk432
1,142 posts
 
Sorry I meant Orelayer about food. Again, I will not back up lowballers. Like I said, let them try that at the gas pump, retail and grocery stores. If the sale is buy it now, the price is buy it now. If it is make offer, make one...just not lowball. You will not get the item, so please move on to an auction. I'm all for a good deal and set prices accordingly. Find a complaint on here or ebay as far as feedback goes from a buyer or a seller.
taters
1,149 posts
 
Lowball-highball, If you don't like the offer decline it!
zydo's avatar
zydo
242 posts
 
Orelayer, you are of course correct. I did waste more time typing my opinion than ignoring 100 "lowball" offers. The difference is, I chose to do so. When I get a prompt from Agon that says "buyer offer" I'm inclined to stop and read it. If its ridiculous, that wasted my time. I can't and won't even try, to define a lowball offer. That's impossible. Some sellers think everything they have is made of gold. An item that should be $2000 is listed for $2800. (just an example) in that case, an offer of $1800 might realistically be acceptable. On the other hand, say I list something at $2000, and it normally goes around $2200. If an offer of $300 comes in, what would you call it? I don't think I have to explain. I don't have any problem with offers. I've made many deals that started that way. All I can say is that if you make an offer, I assume, you know about what its worth. If your price is realistic, we open a dialogue. I may take your offer right off the bat, it depends. No one can put into words, much less a % of the asking price, what a "lowball" offer is. I know it when I see it. They know it when they make it. I can honestly say, I don't know of anyone that has ever bought anything on this site making a crazy low offer. I usually try to get something for a little less, most people do. Nothing wrong with that at all. All these deals start somewhere. REALISTIC is the key word.

Wow, just look at the time I've wasted typing this. The next 500 "lowballs" will be ignored with a smile so I can get even.
bg1968
118 posts
 
Polk432 you seem to be very "fair and balanced" fight on!
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