Does it make sense to "ignore low ball offers"?

If others want to use their free time responding to lowball offers, then by all means do it. Personally, some offers a too low to merit a response and I find them somewhat insulting really. Then again, I always try to offer what I am selling slightly on the low end of the going rate and hope for a quick sale.

"sorry, but no" or "sorry, but thanks for the offer"

I try to acknowledge.  You never know, they might come to their senses.

More than a few have comeback with better offers.

@noromance 

Respectfully, I don't believe that any realty company, no matter how large can control the real estate market. There are many factors that affect pricing; supply and demand being one of the biggest.

If the offer was a total insult I ignore it.  However, for the most part, I will counter.  What really pisses me off is when I counter and they accept and then they say I will send the money after my check clears in two days and then they go dark.  Why waste my time if you are really not going to buy the component?  This happened to me last month.  

@sbayne 

It comes down to personal style and preference, we all have our own personal operating code that works for each of us - it doesn’t need to be one size fits all.

I tried low-balling a house for sale that was 40% cheaper 2 years ago. Realtors Inc. conspired to increase home prices by ludicrous amounts after Covid. Needless to say, I got no reply.

I always respond with a sorry but this is my lowest I will go. I always respond and feel it is my obligation and courtesy as a seller.  I treat emails no different than an in person discussion. I don’t take low offers personally as an insult and have made sales this way as well.  Some sellers including me can overprice their item and a lowball offer may be closer to real market value and a compromise can be struck.   I can’t explain why others choose not to respond with a simple email. Have to ask those who choose not to explain why?

@elrod - yeah I agree with that. You respond and are open to another offer. My only difference is I give him a counteroffer. If he doesn't respond or gives me another stupid low offer then its over. 

I don't negotiate with terrorist. I'll simply say "thank you but no" and be done with it. If they have any reasonable interest at all they'll make another offer. I've found getting a second offer rare

@mitch2 - You say: "I certainly understand why others choose not to respond to low offers." Why do think it is they don't respond?  The negotiation has to start somewhere.  If the potential buyer continues to make stupid low offers then its time to cut it off but to simply not respond doesn't make sense to me.

It is a matter of personal style and preference.  I almost always respond, either stating my current price expectation or to simply say  “no.”  However, I certainly understand why others choose not to respond to low offers.  No right/wrong approach, just personal style and preference.

@roxy54 - Yeah, I agree if the offer is 30% of the asking price thats ridiculous but I would still make at least one counteroffer to see if I can get the item sold. 

@antigrunge2  - there is no "god ordained right" to much anything in this world. haha  I'm just trying to find out why people won't negotiate or at least make it clear in the ad by saying "price is firm"  

If the offer is so low as to be ridiculous, then I ignore it. Sometimes I encounter an offer that is say 30% of what I'm asking. When that happens, I ignore it.

In any sale there is a zone of probable acceptance (ZOPA) outside of which nothing will happen. Not responding to a low ball offer outside of ZOPA actually signals ‘No, I am not desperate and there is no point discussing.And someone lowballing an offer has no god ordained right to an answer

@kota1 - Yes, I know people "ignore low balls". But why? Thats the point of the discussion

Ignore low balls, period.