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The issue of lowballing... What does that mean?

I LOVE Audiogon. I have purchased and sold many items here and it is a wonderful resource for audio nuts of every variety. Big solid state, tubes, analog, vinyl? Sure it all goes.

So I see posts that are make offer but the seller says "lowballers" will be ignored, vilified, cursed and cussed. So why have a make offer sale? Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It doesn't matter what you paid for it, or how much you love it. And why be upset? Declining requires one mouse click. Countering maybe five or six clicks or keystrokes. Just curious as this is a commerce site.

I have received offers that seemed really low to me, but I am still happy to have interest and I always counter offer. I recently sold a Clearaudio TT for a lot less than I thought it was worth. But all the offers were low and I had to rethink my view. It ultimately sold as a real bargin but I'm happy and so is the buyer.

Your thoughts?
128x128superbike
61 responses Add your response
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
certain cultures are into that sort of thing . Nothing wrong with stating facts . Not racist at all . If we want to join those culture in the haggle game everyone will have to raise their prices to eventually get to the same price . Why bother ? not fun to me ? some get a kick out of it . Dot need the thrill when buying and selling 
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
IMO I think there is a generation that has the mentality of "The worst they can say is No." so they will just ask away without any care in the world. Then there are the jaded folk who lost money on their gear and now won’t ever pay anything close to full price ever again.

As for ethnicity and lowballing. I have been lowballed by pretty much everyone through the years now that I think of it. Young, old, white, black, brown, yellow and everything in between. Lowballing isn’t based on skin color IMO. Also agree with the point above that there are a lot of different cultures where haggling and getting a deal is commonplace as well as not giving anyone a deal either. Well I'm beginning to toughen up again but still working on not getting as angry. I listed a $700 item on another site and the price was more than comparable to similar items and I get a serious offer of $100. Deleted the message and blocked the schmuck.

Thanks again everyone.
azjake's avatar
azjake
285 posts
 
thanks ml8764ag!
I will admit that it was my most "controversial" post as pertains to those section of people i referred to.

But i sure as hell am not taking it back.look Ziff, it isn't about prejudice, its about , in my case. over two dozen"audiophiles!" who pretend to have not seen that fact on my for sale items, shoot me incredibly LOW lowballs when the states NO LOWBALL OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED,Argue with you why you won't use Paypal etc, because it will help THEM, change they're mind on a deal they made  after your ad has been taken down, etc, etc, etc,,,
Where i cam from is the school of manners...and at that same school we were never taught to "cower" because somebody might not like it!
Nobody gives a rip wether you deem yourself above the crowd on contributing your opinion....
ziff's avatar
ziff
18 posts
 
Azjake......I do not deem myself anything. And i didn't ask you to retract your words. You have to live with your choices, not me. We differ..... I simply respect people regardless of their culture. I do not think it is acceptable to judge people based on their race , religion or culture.  What you and ml8764ag said is profiling and inflammatory and has no business being on this forum. You don't like lowballers. Fine. No problem. I don't either. Leave it there. As far as me being too sensitive to be on this forum, I'm not the one overreacting to lowballers. One click and it's deleted. Grow a pair? Gosh, 4 children a 2 grandchildren....don't think that's a problem. Stand up for what I believe in? Nope, can't be that either. 


mapman's avatar
mapman
22,152 posts
 
Even If all lowballers  encountered are of a particular race that does not mean all or even most of that race.are also lowballers.   It serves no purpose and adds no value other than to promote racism i.e. Judging people based solely on race.  So there is no justification for suggesting it be tolerated.   Sorry.  


Post removed 
simao's avatar
simao
1,818 posts
 
So I've re-noticed something recently which is probably old hat to most here, but...

Price is relative, right? Like, I may look at a good Easton or Worth baseball bat priced at $399 and think, "Umm, that's way too expensive." Or I may think about getting a dedicated gaming laptop, but balk at the $899 price tag. Or worry if I'm paying too much for a new Shop-Vac when I could get a better deal at Ye Olde Big Box store.

But I'll cheerfully Watch and even Make Offer on a $2000 piece of ho-end equipment after researching and/or hearing it. That much would pay for the Easton, the gaming laptop, and the Shop-Vac - with some change to spare, and yet that perspective is skewed when it comes to stuff on Audiogon - whether I'm buying or selling.

I'm toying with getting an Oppo 105 and since most of them are in the $850 range, I'd honestly feel guilty if I bid anything under $700. Like, I;d feel obligated to send a note of explanation with the bid. Same with things I'm selling, especially if I've done the Bluebook research.

I'm glad Agon has that 55% Lowball cut-off, though I think that's much too low. If someone offered me 55% of my asking price, their bid would be ignored without a doubt.
azjake's avatar
azjake
285 posts
 
Thanks ML8764AG!

Diff,

You have no idea of my intent nor do you have any idea of who and what kind of person i am therefore [since you do not like others opinions!] KEEP YOURS TO YOURSELF.I call em like i live em and I'm not about to stop at your naiveness...

knghifi
1,668 posts
 
sign of the times...Something for nothing crowd WITH AN ATTITUDE!
Thirteen years on the Gon and yes the slide has started about three years ago...
One ethnic group seems to take a particular pleasure in EXTREME lowballing or ,perhaps, they have no soul!
There, i said what a lot of you are thinking...:-)
Truth in the statement that a repost with "no offers" may eliminate SOME of the problems but still you will get those that don't read the ad for information before asking stupid questions already answered in the ad!
I've commented many times, haggling and low ball are part of most cultures.  If you travel to Asia, Europe, So America ... nobody pays full price.

If it's a lowball offer, just ignore it.   What's the big deal??  Remember internet has no boundaries and when you list something, it's a business and not a hobby.  .

Recently I sold an expensive PC, 2 offers in 1st day from CA and not Spanish speaking.  1st offer was very low so I ignore and 2nd was better, I countered and we agreed on a deal.   

That’s what’s wrecking this country...the inability to tell it like it is. Other cultures laugh at our political correctness. Grow a pair! I think you need to stay out of the proverbial kitchen if you are so easily offended.

+1

minorl
1,016 posts
 

"Grow a Pair"???  Since when does rudeness in insulting people become second nature and acceptable?

Enough of my bandwagon.

First Sellers come in many different types:

1.  Those that price items at or near current market value and won't accept offers slightly less than that number.

2.  Those that price items at or near current market value and will accept offers much less than that number.

3.  Those that have done no pricing research whatsoever and price items well above market value for whatever reason.

4.  Those that price the item based on whatever criteria they hold and are willing to negotiate the price down.

Purchasers also come in many different types:

1.  Those that want the item for themselves and know the fair market value of the item and are willing to pay that amount.

2.  Same as above, but want the cheapest price they can find.

3.  Same as above, but also believe that price negotiations is mandatory and insulting if one doesn't haggle.

4.  Those that don't really want the item for themselves, but only want to flip the item for much more money and want to buy at the lowest price and sell at the highest price they can sell at.

did I miss anyone?

I can't speak for others, but, I buy because I want the item for myself and I am willing to pay a fair market price for the item.  I research the item and determine the fair market price (blue book typically) and try to pay that amount.  I don't try to ask for less than the asking price if I know the original price is fair.  That is me. However, as I said, I can't speak for others.

When I post an item for sale on Audiogon, I research the prices first and typically post a price that is slightly below the fair market value.  In other words I price it to sell.  That does not mean that I am desperate and will die if I don't make the sale.  I've dealt with flippers and lowballers for years.  I simply ignore their offers, because Yes, it is insulting and they should know better. 

But, there is no harm if they try to get a very low price.  I just don't (fortunately) have to respond to it.

It is amazing how this society has turned insults around and try to place the blame on the person that is being insulted, instead of the insulter. Insult someone's culture and it's their fault.  Wow!  Insult a person that posted an object for sale at fair market value that was in turn insulted by the lowballed offer and decided to not respond to the lowballer's offer and it is that person's fault.  Wow! 

Maybe it's just me, but there is a large degree of simple, evil rudeness crawling from under rocks lately.

Just ignore the lowball offer or not and say no thanks.  Either way, neither is rude.

You are going to sell your item eventually to someone else that really wants it and will appreciate it.  Be patient.

enjoy

ziff's avatar
ziff
18 posts
 
Minorl......Amen to that
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