Seem like everytime i list something for sale i get offers within the first hour . They are hundreds less than asking price . Are people looking for flipping oppertunities here or what ? so annoying .
I'm certainly not defending their activity, but I would disagree that it is a waste of time. Obviously it is not or you would not be receiving these offers. I see it as another sign of the struggling economy. Some people will do anything to make a buck these days. I've had a large increase in door-to-door salesfolk in the last year or two as well. There are few real jobs out there any more, as more and more folks are fighting for table scraps. It's sad, but it is what it is.
So what is a "lowball" really? If I offer you 200 bucks for your amp and the market reasonably indicates it's worth the $1K you are asking, that's one thing. It is quite another if I offer you 800 bucks, especially if the market indicates your asking price is a little on the high side. Maybe I just want to pay "market" or perhaps I want to negotiate something more reasonable. That doesn't make me a lowballer. While I'm sure that some buyers make ridiculous "offers", I'm also convinced that some sellers set prices which are unrealistic, invite offers and then become offended when an offer is made. The simple solution for sellers has already been mentioned...set a price and and put a 'buy it now' on the item. If you are not able or prepared to negotiate price, don't invite offers. Merry Christmas and cheers to all from Colorado.
It is a waste of time . Those who are in support of this probably do it themselves which is fine. You do not have to actually be interested in owning something i am selling but you will not be profiting off me . I need the profits just as much as the reseller who wastes my time with lowballs .And i assume everybody wants to get fair market value . Oh sure you can get steals on CL time from time . I would not equate that into market value .
Well I feel left out. No one sends me low ball offers. What am I doing wrong? I have had a few OUS offers for US only sales, but I responded politely with an explanation and found the people to be legit. I still don't sell OUS. Its just too much of a haste. I will buy from Canada if its a rare piece. The one that really got me was a fellow who accused me of trying to rip him off after we had some confusion over who paid for shipping. At his request, I released him from the sale. Two days later, he made another offer. No thanks.
12-23-12: Tkmetz Who cares if you get lowball offers........simply reply that you are not willing to sell the unit at that price and decline the offer. Or if you are insulted by low offers, simply don't accept offers. List the unit at your bottom price and allow the buy now option only. Problem solved.
I think some prices on audiogon are actually high. I recently bought a sub locally for $350 and since have seen two of the same subs as mine listed here for $450. I got my paradigm studio 60's for $1500 from a local audio shop. They were a demo pair. Three weeks ago, a pair sold here for $1700 and there is another pair for $2200. I've come to the conclusion that in these times, the used market is very competitive and most of the time, you think your possesions are worth more than they are. A year ago, I bought a cbr 900 rr for $2800, rode it for five months and then tried selling it for $2500 with new tires, a recent valve job, oil change and new spark plugs and air filter, all factory installed. I got an offer for $1800 the second day and was insulted. Ten offers and a month later, I sold it for $1800. I actually think the initial legit lowball offers (no over seas, my uncle will pay you, yada yada) are good at making you realize your mint 1982 oldsmoble isn't worth $12,000, just because you put peacock leather seats in it. I wonder if the saying "one mans junk, is another Mans treasure" might be more relavent vice versa. I figure if I pay $800 for an amp, use it for a year and then try to sell it for $800 just because I initially got a good deal on it, well then I probably am one of those people Elizabeth mentioned!
Let's think intelligently here. A low offer does not necessarily mean disrespect or hustle. Some people are trying to get bargains because they can't afford the true cost and some people are also trying to move items quickly for whatever reason (relocating to another country). A lower offer can also serve as a bargaining tool. I'm not offended by low offers and don't mean it to anyone. It is just a point of negotiation. If you don't like an offer just let it hang or reject it.
On CraigsList, I've received form letters with a low offer and to ship the item to them and I will receive their check. This only happens when the ad is first posted. Never received any spam like this on Agon. How could anyone fall for this trick?
Who cares if you get lowball offers........simply reply that you are not willing to sell the unit at that price and decline the offer. Or if you are insulted by low offers, simply don't accept offers. List the unit at your bottom price and allow the buy now option only. Problem solved.
Agree with Maplegrovemusic. I have received some very angry argumentative responses for not accepting early lowball offers for items that fairly soon sold for much more
Everything i have listed has sold in 30 days . All at or close to my asking prices . I t just struck me that like clockwork on all listings these offers come within an hour .So it is not my asking prices .
I've received a lot of offers on my amp for ridiculous prices, nowhere close to the going rate. The people making these offers seem shocked when I turn them down. One guy wrote me an essay why I should sell my gear to him for so cheap. Lots of weirdos in the audio world.
the problem is, these people are not set in reality--the offers I have received are akin to what I would be offered at my local pawn shop. Why would I list an item here if I was willing to take Pawn Shop money? If I was that desperate to sell , I wouldn't be listing it here, i would just take it down to my local pawn shop and be done with it in 15 minutes.
At least you are getting offers but it does seem a little insulting that they are hundreds less than your asking price, hopefully you are asking a fair market price, just politely ignore any ridiculas offers. Unfortunately I used to as a seller get statements like I would love to buy this but I simply don't have the disposable income as before.
I almost always get a very low offer early on, and despite my ads saying US sale only, I always get a quick foreign offer. Often the foreign offer is lowball and asks me to check shipping prices.
Have you ever sold a car on Craigslist? First hour or two every time I list a car or motorcycle I get several silly offers that never pan out. Same thing. From experience I expect that. Just like Audiogon I ignore the first couple and then find a nice reasonable person to sell to and it all works out.
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