"What's Your Best Price?"

My "best price" is the most I can get.

But circumstances change.There are a lot of Americans who would gladly sell their house today for 20% less than a number they would have laughed at 4 years ago.

Asking a seller "what's your best price" as your first communication -- without expressing any independent interest or making a counter offer to the seller's asking price -- is ALWAYS an a-hole move. Period. It should be ignored or responded to in-kind. The question is an insult to the seller b/c it suggests that you think the seller stupid enough to negotiate against himself. The fact that the seller might be willing to take less than the asking price is no defense to this strategy and doesn't relieve the buyer from making a counter-offer to find that out.

it suggests that you think the seller stupid enough to negotiate against himself. The fact that the seller might be willing to take less than the asking price is no defense to this strategy and doesn't relieve the buyer from making a counter-offer to find that out.

That says it all, Jeffrey. Never negotiate against yourself. If your ad says OBO, then its up to the buyer to make an offer.

After making 3 purchases here on Audiogon, and perpetually being a potential buyer, here are a few thoughts from a buyer's perspective FWTW:
1. When a seller lists an item for sale, especially with the "OBO" stipulation, I, and I believe most buyers, consider the asking price to be similar to a MRSP (manufacturer's suggested retail price) for new products. We could, if we were complete dorks, call it the SSP (seller's suggested price).
2. The seller's asking/listed price is his optimal or highest expected price. But the buyer may accrpt a lower price.
3. When a buyer asks for the seller's best price, I agree with sogood51 that he is basically saying: "I know your optimal price but let's cut to the chase, what will you sell it to me for?" Understandably, this is irratating to sellers since they are now required,in effect, to make the opening bid in the expected price and terms negotiations. The seller, rather than just denying or counter offering the buyers' bids in the expected negotiations, has lost the initiative to the buyer and must instead decide what price is actually acceptable to both parties.I think sellers should determine this price prior to negotiating with potential buyers.
4. If the seller uses the "Firm" designation, confusion is eliminated since the buyer knows the asking price must be met in order to obtain the item.
5. I take offense at the suggestion that asking What's your best price? is moronic. I am a noted and very obvious moron of the highest order and I never asked for a best price but I might have, I'm not sure. After all, I am a moron.