After making 3 purchases here on Audiogon, and perpetually being a potential buyer, here are a few thoughts from a buyer's perspective FWTW:
1. When a seller lists an item for sale, especially with the "OBO" stipulation, I, and I believe most buyers, consider the asking price to be similar to a MRSP (manufacturer's suggested retail price) for new products. We could, if we were complete dorks, call it the SSP (seller's suggested price).
2. The seller's asking/listed price is his optimal or highest expected price. But the buyer may accrpt a lower price.
3. When a buyer asks for the seller's best price, I agree with sogood51 that he is basically saying: "I know your optimal price but let's cut to the chase, what will you sell it to me for?" Understandably, this is irratating to sellers since they are now required,in effect, to make the opening bid in the expected price and terms negotiations. The seller, rather than just denying or counter offering the buyers' bids in the expected negotiations, has lost the initiative to the buyer and must instead decide what price is actually acceptable to both parties.I think sellers should determine this price prior to negotiating with potential buyers.
4. If the seller uses the "Firm" designation, confusion is eliminated since the buyer knows the asking price must be met in order to obtain the item.
5. I take offense at the suggestion that asking What's your best price? is moronic. I am a noted and very obvious moron of the highest order and I never asked for a best price but I might have, I'm not sure. After all, I am a moron.
1. When a seller lists an item for sale, especially with the "OBO" stipulation, I, and I believe most buyers, consider the asking price to be similar to a MRSP (manufacturer's suggested retail price) for new products. We could, if we were complete dorks, call it the SSP (seller's suggested price).
2. The seller's asking/listed price is his optimal or highest expected price. But the buyer may accrpt a lower price.
3. When a buyer asks for the seller's best price, I agree with sogood51 that he is basically saying: "I know your optimal price but let's cut to the chase, what will you sell it to me for?" Understandably, this is irratating to sellers since they are now required,in effect, to make the opening bid in the expected price and terms negotiations. The seller, rather than just denying or counter offering the buyers' bids in the expected negotiations, has lost the initiative to the buyer and must instead decide what price is actually acceptable to both parties.I think sellers should determine this price prior to negotiating with potential buyers.
4. If the seller uses the "Firm" designation, confusion is eliminated since the buyer knows the asking price must be met in order to obtain the item.
5. I take offense at the suggestion that asking What's your best price? is moronic. I am a noted and very obvious moron of the highest order and I never asked for a best price but I might have, I'm not sure. After all, I am a moron.