What is a lowball offer? How low is low?


Recently I was looking at 2 -3 preamps. One was particularly interesting which was a Conrad Johnson 16LS2. The asking price was $3500. I have always wanted the 16LS2. But it was out of my price range. I couldn't make a serious offer. So I didn't and moved on. A few days later I see that it has sold for $2500! What? That was in my budget. But I would have considered that more an insult than a offer. And because I didn't want to insult the seller, I lost a good preamp to someone who was willing to take the chance. So what is the lesson learned here? Apparently I should insult more sellers . The seller wasn't insulted after all. he sold it for $2500. Or is the lesson that I take this stuff too seriously?Should sellers be insulted when offered 50% of their price?  I had thought that 10-15% below the asking price was a realistic offer. Now I'm not sure. So what do you consider a low ball offer? And please, I understand that a product is worth what someone is willing to pay. So no economic lessons please
artemus_5

Showing 1 response by minorl

I'm not sure I agree with many of the responders.

There is such a thing as the "blue book".  just like other blue books out there, one can find the high, low and average sale prices of items.

This gives a very good idea of what items are worth and what they are typically selling for.

When I buy and sell, I try to have a good idea of what the item is "worth" or what they are selling for.

I typically list items for sale at slightly below average blue book sales price.

Because I don't like to haggle.  i understand other countries and cultures.

I sell for what I feel (after research) what the item should be priced at (actually, slightly lower).

I try to not be desperate to buy or sell and I have a firm commitment to walk away or not respond if the offer is stupidly low.

Another thing, people some times feel that your listed price is one that they can dicker over.  When in many cases, it is already below blue book and it is what it is.

Also, not every used item should be and is listed at 50% below new.  That makes no sense to me.

If it is rare, it may be priced at higher that new or higher than blue book.  If it is still in production and not old at all, then no way will it be priced at 50% of new. 

my prices are slightly lower than blue book based on the condition (that I list honestly every time).  So, I don't really haggle much on the price.

enjoy