For a fairly expensive item something that’s worth “whatever someone will pay for it” (think antiques and such, not an iPhone) how low do you think a buyer could go without insulting the seller? Or is a seller that would get angry about a lowball offer not someone you want to deal with anyway?
Another question- for a store item is there a way a buyer can tell how long it’s been listed for?
Not much info here…But I never worry about insulting the seller. I offer what I want to pay.
“Insult the seller?” huh?
Either they take you offer, or they don’t. If they get insulted, they do not have the right attitude to be a successful seller, and you wouldn’t want to deal with them anyway.
I look around and see what other people are wanting for it, and also what other people have paid for it. Then I decide whether or not this is approximately the price I want to pay.
I don’t worry about insulting the seller. If s/he wants a higher price, then s/he should have put in a starting bid.
The best way is to search completed sales, and offer 10% less.
I made an offer once on a piece of junk that I wanted and the seller had a huge shipping price. I figured they’d sell it for the shipping price because that was already well over what it was worth plus shipping would have been nominal. (I don’t remember what it was.) So I offered a buck. The seller countered with some ridiculous figure and then kept pestering me with emails until I emailed to stop bothering me. What they really wanted was well over twice the value when the high shipping was included. When I realized this, I realized that they intended to rip someone off, and dropped it.
Depends on the item, depends on the seller, depends on the economy.
I mean, come on, man.
Whilst I wouldn’t worry about insulting the seller, I don’t agree with the above statement. I’ve sold a lot on ebay (privately) and have had some pretty insulting offers, frequently from people that have preceded the offer with pestering with a million questions, all in separate emails. These people are classed as timewasters, and piss me off. I am great to deal with when I’m dealing with genuine buyers who are willing to pay a fair price.
“Insult the seller” is a bit of shorthand in saying that the price is so low that it’s wasting both the buyer and seller’s time. I’ve got some friends who have been trying to sell their $16K stone and steel gazebo for $8k, which is a really good price (but talk about a limited marketplace). They got an insistent offer of $400 for it. The part that is insulting about that offer is that it insinuates that the seller is overvaluing the property.
I’ve got friends who are realtors (oops, sorry, REALTORS™) and they have told stories about people who have put in an offer too low and the sellers will no longer have dealings with those people, effective shutting the door to any future negotiations.
It depends on how long the item is listed. If its been out there for a month then the seller may be more receptive. I’d offer a price 25% off. $400 item, then my offer would be $300.
If an item is listed way over priced then I don’t even bother bidding. It seems unlikely they’ll half the price.
These kinds of offers are a waste of time and aggravating. Bottom feeders who may spoil the whole market for a home or unique product if they are given too much attention.