What is "low ball"

I've had multiple low offers that have ended up resulting in a sale thru negotiation. As others have said, you never know. I alway leave myself some wiggle room between what I would like to get and what I am willing to accept. I pay attention to listing prices for gear I own on the chance that I may sell it. I price items near the middle of the going range and allow for condition.

I've only been low balled by one potential buyer. I had an item for sale and was asked the dreaded "What's your best price?" question. I gave an answer which was about $300 less (for a $2000 item) than what I was asking and was lower than I had ever seen it go for. This person responded with an offer that was 25% lower than my offer. I did not respond back. After several days I was asked if I received the offer. I responded by asking if my lowest offer had been received. I never heard from that person again. Certainly, that was both low ball and offensive. I have no desire to deal with people like that but realize that to a certain extent it goes with the territory of buying and selling online.

I was able to sell for between my original asking price and my offer to the other "buyer". The person that bought was happy with the deal they got, go figure.

If someone asks you your bottom line and you give it to them, then don't bother offering lower because it is the bottom line. It is called courtesy. Lack of sourtesy is offensive, period. If you don't get it, sorry. What is sad is thinking lack of courtesy is ok.

Let me put it another way. If that person opened with their offer, I would have negotiated and not had a problem with the offer. We certainly would never have reached an agreement though. The bottom line is not known until you get there. When my best offer is asked, I have already negotiated against myself. Negotiations are done at that point, period. No different than your suggestion of listing a firm price.It is exactly that, firm. If that price is too high, look elsewhere. Don't ask for a significant reduction from the lowest price. That is a lack of courtesy. I have negotiated deals many times on this site without incident. Many were successful, some were not. This was the only incident that I have felt that way, so don't tell me I have thin skin. One thing I certainly do when my best price is asked since that incident, is ask the buyer to make their offer. I will not negotiate against myself again. At that point, we can negotiate or not. If the sale doesn't happen, no big deal. If you still don't understand my POV, I don't really care.

If I bought a car I would know the price I could realistically get it for when I arrive. It's called doing your homework. I guess getting offended one time out of the many negotiations I have had should immediately diqualify me from participating in them any more. I just avoid the bottom line question and ask the buyer to make an offer. It's funny that you found my, and others, taking offense offensive yourself. I mean you found my initial comment "so foreign to me that I don't know how to respond." Yet you did and have over and over. It could be inferred from your logic that you shouldn't participate in this type of thread anymore. AMEN!