"What's Your Best Price?"

i had no idea my post would generate such strong emotions! in fact, i have a very strong position on "what's your best offer" buyers -- i was just looking to see what others thought. i am decidedly in the camp that any buyer whose first question is "what's your best price" is not worth responding to. to me, this kind of an opening communication suggests a very strong likelihood that the buyer is not serious, or is simply interested in "window shopping." In fact, I find this approach rude. When I list an item "OBO" it quite plainly is AN INVITATION TO MAKE AN OFFER -- either at my asking price, or AT THE BUYER'S BEST OFFER. It is NOT an invitiation to ask me to negotiate against myself. True, listing something "OBO" indicates that the seller is willing to negotiate -- but not against himself!

Goatwuss, Our complaints (well at least mine)are because, for the most part, WYBP buyers are not really interested and just waste our time. If they were serious about purchasing the item they would make an offer.

Of course the buyer wants to pay the least possible but WYBP offers ignore the other half of the equation. The seller also wants the best price they can get. When selling, I would like a little appreciation that I need to be treated fairly as well. That is why I appreciate a reasonable offer. That respects me as a seller (person) and lets me know the buyer is serious. Frequently my asking price is the price I expect to get. I have done my homework and know what the market is.

I suppose the only reason i'd send a question like that is if I think the ad is about to expire and I want to top whatever might get it when i really want it. Length of ad and such could be a negotiating point. But they don't have to agree with it.
What bugs the heck out of me, maybe my own ignorance cropping up again is the $1 start on a $12k item and "reserve not met". It makes me feel like the seller is more interested in either a marketting survey or interested in making people jump through hoops. I think it is true that many of the folks do not read thoroughly and we may see something that excites us to respond without catching something that is odd about an ad so we may send an odd question.
To this one specifically I don't use the "obo" I'll just lower my price to the next lwest need plateau so my needs are net.
But in some cultures a big part of the game is dickering.

You don't want to be insulted with a lowball offer, yet you get irritated when someone sez "I'm interested and will follow thorugh with the sale if we can agree on a price. I don't want to make a low offer and offend, I'd like this transaction to meet both our expectations. Please advise your best price and if it's acceptable (no more haggling) I'll send the money off today". What's wrong with that???

One of the classic textbook tactics used in negotiation is to get the other person to bargain with themselves. In other words, you get them to lower their price before you even make an offer of a price at all. You've then caused them to move a step without having to take a step yourself.

There's no need to be rude and brush them off, or have any emotion at all. It's just part of the game. O they may just not knoe if they are not sophisticated or experienced in negotiation.

When somebody says "What's your best offer?", one good response is: "My offer to sell is stated in the ad, what are YOU offering?" You've already committed to a negotiating figure. It's up to them to do the same so that the boundaries of a negotiation range can be established.

You're not trying to take advantage of anybody (I hope), and you're not looking to be taken advantage of by anybody else. The goal is a fair value transaction for both parties. Countering by lowering your offer before they've even suggested a figure on their part is the first step towards being taken advantage of yourself.

If they're serious, they'll state a figure and you then work from there. If they still don't give a figure, you dont need to rudely brush them off, but just politely tell them to come back when they're ready to negotiate,... if the product is still available. In the meantime you have other potential buyers to talk to.