Why do so many sellers take offense to offers on their listings?

I wouldn't get my "undies in a bunch" over an offer that I'd consider "low ball", when I've gotten them, it's usually someone contacting me through the email feature, so they are not really "committed" to making that offer.  I usually respond with a price I'd consider and leave it at that.

Speaking of using the email feature, I'd not at all consider an email contact as an "offer", I'd insist that the potential buyer make a formal offer on the site.  One time the potential buyer asked for my cell number, as he said he had some questions, I gave it to him and what he really wanted to do was negotiate, we came to an agreement on the price, but when he arrived at my home for the pickup, he said he thought about it during the drive and said he'd only offer $600 less than we'd agreed upon.  "No Thanks".  After that experience, I've insisted on the buyer making an offer on the site.

You're not dealing with sales professionals, for the most part. Most of the time they're inexperienced in dealing with 'customers' and way too emotional about what they think the value of their special DAC or turntable is. If I got insulted every time someone gave me a ridiculously ill informed offer, I would have been broke many years ago.

When I see the phrase "Make an Offer" my interpretation of that is the Seller is attempting to encourage dialogue. The person wants to sell the item, knows that it is used, but feels that his item deserves consideration at a specific price but is also open to considering another price.  I see noting wrong with this.  I take no offense when I receive a price that I think is too low.  I have sold at least 2 or 3 items where the buyer started out lower than I expected and we were able to eventually come to an agreement on a price that we both felt was fair and we completed the transaction.  Its called Negotiations.  Neither party gets exactly what they expected but at the end of the day each agree on a price that they both are satisfied with.  

When I see the phrase "Make an Offer" my interpretation of that is the Seller is attempting to encourage dialogue. The person wants to sell the item, knows that it is used, but feels that his item deserves consideration at a specific price but is also open to considering another price.  I see noting wrong with this.  I take no offense when I receive a price that I think is too low.  I have sold at least 2 or 3 items where the buyer started out lower than I expected and we were able to eventually come to an agreement on a price that we both felt was fair and we completed the transaction.  Its called Negotiations.  Neither party gets exactly what they expected but at the end of the day each agree on a price that they both are satisfied with.  

well said

"Why do so many sellers take offense to offers on their listings?"

How are you making your offer, is it binding through the Audiogon system or is it a weak-ass, noncommittal PM where it means nothing? I can handle low ball offers and respond in kind. I have nearly 300 transactions on A’gon and have been here 20+ yrs (in spite of my profile saying 11-yrs). What I do here is purely hobby related, in my professional life I sell for a living and know what pre-qualifying a buyer is all about. If you contact a seller through PM you are def relegated to tire kicker status (i.e. time waster). I can’t tell you how many times someone said "ill buy it at X price" through PM and not follow through. The PM function is for asking questions, not making offers to buy.