@minorl ,
What happens if only one person puts an offer in and it is for your exact price, but the person is 1000 miles away? Do you really expect the party to pick up the item in person or do you relist and hope someone closer buys it? Personally, I do not want anyone visiting me until this Covid escapade is all over. |
One thing you should take into consideration is the time of year you are responding to an item. This time of year people are traveling and involved in family gatherings (or they used to be ;-) They may not have access to thier Audiogon information. Yes, you can access it via a phone but the phone I use is a company phone and I won't use it for personal stuff. As a sailor I have changed my vacation plans due to weather and that puts me away from my access to the 'gon. I try not to list things when I am away but sometimes it is not preventable. If the seller wants to sell the item, he, she, will be in touch with you.
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What a bunch of thin skinned....
move on. |
Yeah, internet trading just isn’t what it used to be. Between shipping issues (I just dealt with one of the craziest ones EVER) a general lack of integrity in folks and a variety of other issues, it has made internet trading a PITA. In terms of offers an excepting them, it’s always a crap shoot. It’s rude to offer someone 50% of their asking... that just deserves a F-off reaction. I’ve never said that, but thought it for sure. I think the thing that burns me is when some one does make an offer on an item I’m selling, then it is excepted, and there are crickets. Happens more often than I care to acknowledge, and is technically a legal issue. Either way, it makes buying and selling less fun and sometimes more stressful than it’s worth. |
Dear seller, you do have a use for paypal. The fact that they protect the buyer gives the buyer another incentive to make the purchase. I feel safe and comfortable using paypal. You are very likely a reputable seller, but unfortunately there are some who are not, especially if they have little or no feedback. If a buyer states cash, check or wired $ only and I send them 8K, all I'm left with is to hope I get what I paid for. Credit cards give you some protection but they can get messy. Not an easy feeling... |
I just yesterday might well have seen the same listing stating price is firm/no lowball.. (playing hardball--who needs it?) So, for me I need to move on and consider that a seller may well be
entrenched in a dynamic that is only going to annoy both parties due to the rigid mind set of the seller.
I had always considered that part of the fun of this "hobby" is to haggle a bit which means a back and forth discussion on price . Not to mention --Is it not accurate to say that a seller who exhibits some flexibility in pricing is going to generate and have more interest in their product? |
Sellers who don't bother to state all the conditions, like 'in person pick up only', shouldn't be in business. IMO.
Same goes for sellers who accept $275 when $300 asked 'in a heartbeat' ((8.3% off) and feel insulted by an offer of $6000 when $6500 asked (7.7% off). IMO
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@terry9
That one sure had me scratchin’ my head! |
If I advertise something and it is sold, why would I respond to offers that might number in the dozens, or worse? I do, but why complain if someone does not. Of course, the ad should be removed before this happens.
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"Thank the higher powers for starting AudioMart."
+1
Merry Christmas!
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I just bought an integrated amp using a straight Buy it Now when there was a Make an Offer option.
It actually felt quite good?!!
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What's happened to good old fashioned manners? If somebody offered 50% of asking price I would tell them they're being ridiculous and that they need to do some research and try again.
All other offers would receive a polite answer. It takes little effort and very little time to respond.
I notice some posters are not prepared to take the time to answer different offers. Why? Just consider how much time its taken you to assemble your system, to search for your components, to visit different outlets, audition and read reviews etc. and when selling to take photographs, post them , visit the site regularly to read the offers to buy yet resent the time required to respond.
Why is RUDE becoming fashionable?
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I suspect that it's just contagious. |
I have a simple compromise solution that mostly resolves my issues with the Make-an-Offer system.
If an offer comes in that’s not acceptable to you, for whatever reason, just hit the ‘Decline’ button right away so that the person making the offer can move on.
My biggest issue was submitting an offer then hearing nothing for 48 hrs until the offer expires. That’s the ‘rude’ part, mostly.
If the seller receives an offer and is genuinely thinking about it, let the bidder know - “thanks, I’m thinking about it”, that’s common courtesy at play and not too difficult to implement.
That’s it.
Decline the offer promptly or communicate your position to the bidder promptly.
Easy peasy. |
@arizonabob. I respectfully disagree with you. The incentive for a person to buy is their own business. If they want an item, for whatever reason, that is on them. However, I stand by my statement that paypal protects the buyer and not the seller. So, I have no use for it.
If a buyer is a looky loo type that wants to try an item, find out if they really like it or not, they can tell paypal that the item is faulty or some such and paypal will require a refund.
The misconception that many have here is that many of us that sell are not in a business. we are not a store, dealership, etc. I don't have time for tire kickers. I like dealing with people that know what they want and why they want it. not experimenting.
I have no problem, having long conversations with potential buyers to discuss who I am, who they are, our interests and the item for sale. For me (pre-covid) to not have any problem with buyers coming to my home, bringing their favorite music with them, and listening to the equipment, says a lot about me. I'm not trying to hide anything. The equipment I sell (when I sell) is exactly as I described it.
When someone pays me by check, I make it clear that I won't ship until the check clears. Yes, in this case, the buyer takes a risk, but, so do I in other examples. That is where the many phone conversations and background checks come it.
I sold a classic car on the internet to a buyer in Germany a few years ago. He never physically saw the car. The advertisements, phone calls, photos, paperwork, etc. really helped. he transferred funds into my back account via wire transfer from a US bank. My bank would not accept wire transfers from overseas. When the boat arrived and the car was offloaded, he called me and told me that the car was exactly as I stated. He was thrilled.
Sometimes, you have to do your research, background checks, phone calls, etc. and take a chance. Especially if you can't physically pick up a unit.
I've bought many items on Audiogon (pre paypal) with a check that I sent to the seller.
So, I stand by my point. Audiogon is in bed with paypal (business reasons) and therefore, is limiting how purchases can be made. That is because of paypal trying to monopolize the industry. That does not mean that I have to like it or eat the paypal fee.
What if the buyer lives within driving distance? That person will come to my home (well.... not now... covid), listen to the unit, pay me and take it home. Why should we use paypal in that case?
anyway, enjoy
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No offer is an insult. Why anyone gets mad at an offer..... who knows? Just politely decline. I see most of the same stuff on here month after month. If I offer 60% after months on Audiogon you should be thrilled. The market works. People that price stuff to move get things sold.
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@arizonabob and @bubba12, "Seems many of you change your audio systems like I change my socks."
"If I offer 60% after months on Audiogon you should be thrilled."
I'm late to this conversation, but you guys took the words right out of my mouth! You expect to avoid depreciation on gear when you rotate it like I rotate my tires? Go purchase a brand new vehicle off a dealership lot, drive it home, then try reselling it or trading it in 6 months later. See how big a hit you take. |
It is patently rude to not reply to an offer. There is a lot of subjectivity in prices and offers. The person making the offer may also have entered an incorrect amount. If the offer is not acceptable to you simply say so. You have lost nothing in a reply. |
Without a responds from the seller, you are in a binding contract for 48 hours. I like to see offers with a specified time attached. This will prevent sellers to use offers coming in as leverage and tying up the buyer from making other offers. |
I always respond to all offers no matter how low. A common courtesy. |
right now I am in the middle of a "make an offer" deal. Waiting my 48 hrs. I offered full asking price. Being my first experience at this I actually sent another offer $10 higher asking how the process works to get a status. No response on second offer 14 hrs later yet either.
Trying to understand if I'm in some bidding game without knowing it? I would think offering full price would end it? No?
What does it mean if 48hrs goes by with no seller response? Start again? Seems very inefficient! |
Seems like a mix of interested buyers and audiophiles looking for advice lately. I've made some nice connections with some folks that share common objectives or brands over the decades. Some continue, some quickly split when you sell the kids. I'm grateful to be able to trade with this group here and on the Mart. |
right now I am in the middle of a "make an offer" deal. Waiting my 48
hrs. I offered full asking price. Being my first experience at this I
actually sent another offer $10 higher asking how the process works to
get a status. No response on second offer 14 hrs later yet either.
Trying to understand if I'm in some bidding game without knowing it? I would think offering full price would end it? No?
What does it mean if 48hrs goes by with no seller response? Start again? Seems very inefficient! I have gone through all the mind games when people wait a long time or do not respond. Only to sometimes later learn there was a perfectly normal reason for it. Or maybe not. You never know. Until the goods are in your room and hooked up and running you just never know. This is true by the way for every transaction. Read the guy recently who bought a brand new Prima Luna that when turned on sat there and smoked. Plenty of so-called professional retailers are negotiation horror shows, treat customers abysmally, on and on. People are people. It is what it is. Still way better than I'll trade my cow for a goat and four of your hens. |
in all times, but especially in these times we live in, it benefits all to have patience, courtesy and grace... this very much applies to buying and selling audio gear... it is a pursuit we do for passion and joy, as a hobby
we are not talking getting a kidney for a transplant here
enjoy, be nice, worry less, have capacity for your fellow hobbyist, breathe... ✌ |
Grace... not something this society has in abundance currently. |
usually
Lowballers are profesional resellers ,they are predicting you may need money badly very quickly
But if you are buisness seller selling 200 items or more,and receiving 10-20offers or more a day below market value,probably they won't answer
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My favorite is when I make a reasonable offer (within 10% of asking price), that offer is completely ignored and then a month or two later they sell the item for 30+% less than their original asking price.
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