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

@jl35 Its amazing the number of sellers you will find that are overly proud of their gear.

As Eric Idle says on Monty Python's The Life of Brian "ya got a haggle"

I understand that oranda, though I think most realize this is no longer a "hobbyist" site,  but a very commercial site as well now...

There are times where low ballers will offer 30-50% but are prepared to pay much closer to ask price. I know this because when I ignore their offers they keep coming back with higher offers…but I still ignore them because IMO they are more likely to try to take advantage of me after the sale. 
 

Agon, to its credit has fewer low ballers than other market places IME. 

Actually, I do take offense at some low ball offers. Why, we both are smart enough to know what it is worth new and the depreciation value, but yet there are people who "want something for nothing" and I will respond along the lines, you are kidding...right?!

there have also been long, at times contentious threads, about what actually constitutes a low ball offer...I certainly have been watching enough items, that some do sell at very low prices, so I guess some will make many low ball offers knowing 1 or 2 will be accepted...some here care less than others what price they get, they just want to get rid of stuff...though since we don't know each other, I never think of it as personal or offensive, just business as usual...

@dabel my comment was about the reference to people getting mad about an offer that could somewhat be alleviated by them learning how to communicate better with other humans rather that being on here complaining or listening to music all of their spare time. I also don’t believe fully that music brings us together here, equipment does, it’s very different than music. Just look at all the posts here, how many are about music, less than 10%???

@mikelavigne , my first three cars were Hondas. 

I do not take offers and have a polite one word answer, no. I usually am selling something just to get it out of my way and have already priced it below Blue Book value. If audiophiles are so concerned about money they should stop buying silly sh-t that does nothing. They might even try building their own cables.

No need to go into detail. What is going on here is rather commonplace in all areas of retail business. I don't buy that much Audio online but fortunately the companies I deal with for audio have never given me any grief regarding a sale item.

That is not to say that there aren't dealers that use so called "sale items" as a come on to attract business. It's that simple

Early on in the audio game, I began inserting "No lowball offers, please" in my F.S. listings. I did so because I was often getting emails/posts offering 1/4 to 1/2 of my the asking price, usually w/no other questions about the item. That’s not a negotiation; It’s a drive-by opportunist hoping to find a desperate seller.

The other reason I put that phrase in my F.S. listings is that I’m plugged into the hobby and have a very good idea what different types of gear are selling for. Before even deciding on a selling price, I research that gear category as a last-minute sanity check...maybe things have changed for those who sell X, and I need to know that. Either way, the price I choose is carefully chosen to be market neutral (not too high, not too low), and also to reflect the condition and use pattern of the F.S. item.

I don’t get every single price right. When something isn’t selling, I’ll either reprice it, or take it off the market. Either way, I never accept low balls. Life is too short.

And it goes without saying, so I’ll say it: I also don’t make lowball offers of others.

Less than 10% sounds about right @gnaudio. 

I have to say this has been an interesting and useful thread. I made it all the way to the end so far, and that doesn’t happen very often.  So many good comments.  

I’ve been an A-goner for a while now but rarely buy much, other than accessories.  I’ve resisted the temptation to sell my old gear here partly because of the rude way people talk to one another; it sets a certain tone that makes me wonder if getting rid of something could possibly be worth the potential aggravation.  Audiophiles are such a sensitive bunch ; ).  

Communication IS key.  
If an offer is ignored that speaks for itself and I think it’s unnecessary to reply in a negative way.  However, a polite response that you are looking for something closer to asking price, continues the dialogue rather than ending it.  

I gotta say though that things are definitely different now than they were some time back.  I searched a few topics recently like subwoofer settings I think and was instantly struck by the difference in tone.  The older the thread, the more pleasant the conversation.  After reading quite a few threads from 10 - 15 years ago I realized I was not imagining it.  

My point is that while someone’s lowball offer may seem rude, there likely was no bad intent, and there’s nothing to be gained with a snarky response.  More importantly, doing your part to keep the conversation agreeable, benefits all of us.  

Now that that’s out of the way, does anybody need a 20 year old 7.1 ch AVR that weighs 65 lbs and has no HDMI switching? 
Lowball offers accepted.  
 

Woof 

I respond to low ball offers by informing the buyer I only had one at his offer and he just missed is offer being accepted 10 minutes ago. Sorry. But I have another one  at a little higher price if he wishes. It has worked.   This fun thread reminds me of the question, what is the worst thing in the world?  answer,   when 2 poor people owe each other, one can't pay and the other can't wait.  

Many different ways to go about selling but I only deal with the not offended type. It’s just as easy to reject an offer and offer up an acceptable price.

Either name your price or put it up to auction.  I don't understand why this is an issue.

Just look at all the posts here, how many are about music, less than 10%???

There are threads that are dedicated specifically to music and it's probably safe to say that many of the participants in those threads spend 80-90% of their time in the Audiogon forum there.  Who knows, maybe some of them have even banded together outside the confines of Audiogon and spend a lot more time somewhere else discussing music as well as gear.

the primary purpose of this site is to buy and sell gear...though there is discussion of music, there are many other sites more focused on music and quality recordings...

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.

@saburo I make real life offers. 

@saburo, are these PM’s standard protocol and adhered to by the vast majority of Audiogon sellers?

@dabel I’ll give you some of my stats (anecdotal). . I will have 1 - 10+ private message (PM) inquires on individual items I have for sale, call it 4 - 5 on average. Four out of 5 times the offers come over PM and not through the Audiogon "make offer" tab. Of those offers via PM, I’d say 1 in 5 turns into a sale. Half the PM offers to buy, I think, are well-meaning vacillators that back out. They almost always NEVER contact me later to say why. The other half are time-wasters. My advice to buyers: be sincere and ready to buy. I’ve never regretted not taking an offer that was low, because I don’t price anything that is out of reason. Also, I don’t have to ’make a deal’ I own everything outright and have no debt. I think the vast majority of sellers fall into the same camp. if you need back up to support your offer, use Hifishark.com. the Blue Book is dated and out of touch with current market values.

Good to know, and appreciate the heads up @saburo. The PM had me thinking though, for I’ve proposed (reasonable) offers in such a way before with no response from said sellers. These particular items I knew wouldn’t sit for long therefore I chalked them up as, “snooze you lose.” Dusted myself off and planned the next move.

As I was reading some of the responses, the sob story 'buyer' comes to mind. The 'hey, I'd like to buy it, but Hurricane Sandy took my house out to sea, we're living in a shelter and my kid was just diagnosed with rickets...would you take $250'?

I think the seller, making it clear that he feels no obligation to respond to every low ball offer is just good communication.  if the offer is close enough that he feels it's worth his time to respond then he will.  Nothing personal either way, just good communication that the seller may not deem it worthwhile to respond or counter offer.

I have a process that I follow before and during selling.This is just my opinion.

1. When pricing your item don't look at what sellers listing price.  Look for the "sold or complete" price on all websites to get your base price to list. Many sellers will list a ridiculous price and they think this is what the market pricing is. 

2. Unless the price is firm; I will accept an offer with a 15% and 20% less. This is retail sales standard practice. Some sellers believe that 10% is a great discount, but in my opinion,10% is not an exciting offer to give for items under $500. 

Negotiation is part of the process. I expect offers when I list something. I evaluate supply and demand and determine how much I’m willing to move on offers. When buying, I often make polite offers.

Those who are offended by offers are generally:

1. Control freaks.

2. Likely to keep owning the items listed for sale for a long time.

Jerry

PS  If you have to announce that you will ignore lowball offers then you aren't very good at ignoring...if fact, you have already acknowledged them before they are made and I bet most of the time you will respond to them, probably with a smart ass remark of your own.

@carlsbad I agree with you.