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Is Not Responding To An Offer Just Plain Rude?

Think about it in the context of a BUYER using the Audiogon system - 

1 - “Lowballers will be politely ignored.

What constitutes a lowball offer? Is there a percentage of the asking price below which the offer becomes a “lowball”? If so, what is it? 90%? 75%? ….Is it connected to or disconnected from the length of time the ad has been running?

2 - When the only option is “Make an Offer”.

What am I supposed to do here? Am I supposed to offer more than the asking price? Less than the asking price? If less is OK, then refer to point 1 above.

3 - When the only option is “Make an Offer” and the ad says “price is firm”

What the heck am I supposed to do with that one?

If you’re listing an item with the option of “Make an Offer”, wouldn’t it just be courteous to give the benefit of the doubt to the person submitting the offer, assume he or she is a serious buyer and not a tire-kicker, and just reply one way or the other, in a timely fashion? I mean, there’s nothing lost, right? Just say “NO”. Or make a counteroffer….what’s so difficult?

I just sold a nice preamp to a gentleman who made an offer on it, it arrived with the buyer safely and he’s thrilled with it. So now I have wires hanging loose in my system where a preamp used to be, and it’s almost the Holidays. I found a suitable replacement on Audiogon in the $7K range, made an offer within 10% +/- of the asking price, and…drum roll….….nothing. 

I sat around all weekend waiting for the seller to respond, but they didn’t have the decency to just message me and say no. So I was stuck with the “Seller has 48hrs to review your offer” BS, now I’m back to square one and without the means to play my favorite Kenny G Christmas albums. 

One bandaid fix would be for Audiogon to adopt the ebay system and allow sellers to automatically decline offers below a certain amount. Then they wouldn’t even have to interact with us lowballers and their delicate sensibilities wouldn’t get hurt…..heck, I’d even take a photo of me wearing a mask as I press the ’Submit Offer’ button, if this is a Covid thang…

Whinge over…

Merry Christmas :)



128x128rooze
minorl
1,015 posts
 
Most items for sale have a blue book value.  Basically, a low, average and high sale price range for the item.  I believe that Audiogon had/has a blue book option here as well.  Same for cars, watches, etc.
So, first, in my opinion, people that are selling and buying should do their research first on the price range for the item. I typically do.
So, when I list an item for sale, I typically price it to sell.  I don't have much room for dancing on the price and don't tolerate lowballers.
They come in many forms.  There are many out there that are dealers or flippers.  They want to buy something as low as possible so they can flip it for as much as they can. 

So, I am assuming that the potential buyer did their research first.  If they come at me with a ridiculously low offer, I simply ignore them and could not care less if a person feels that it is rude.  to me their offer was not worthy of even a response.  As I mentioned, there is some room for negotiations, but lets be real here.  You have an item that is blue book priced at (average) at $10,000 and some yahoo offers $2000? , $7000 or $8000.  yeah, that's lowballing and won't get a response from me.  Offer $9,000?  I probably would respond.

enjoy
thom_at_galibier_design's avatar
thom_at_galibier_design
724 posts
 
Lowball offers are like pornography. Difficult to describe, but you know it when you see it. 10% is a reasonable (not lowball) offer, however.

Me? I’m more likely to accept a lower offer from someone who takes the time to attach a brief note. So much of this is instinct/perception of how much pain the buyer will end up being.

As far as prompt replies are concerned, people have lives and don’t hang out here 24x7. More importantly, keep in mind that Audiogon is the ABSOLUTE WORST forum architecture on the interwebz.

I’ve noticed sometimes, I have a message in my inbox that doesn’t display in the notification bar, and if I didn’t catch it in my email inbox I’d miss it entirely.

At the end of the day (as noted above), this is business, and taking things personally is no good for either your physical or mental well-being.

... Thom @ Galibier Design
arizonabob's avatar
arizonabob
86 posts
 
Day and night on this one. Seems many of you change your audio systems like I change my socks. I keep and maintain my equipment a long time. I've been on USAudioMart for several years and bought one thing. I was only looking for one specific item and purchased it. I had no transactions at the time, so what's the big deal? My money was good on USAM, made a reasonable offer and it was accepted. I have more than 2K transactions on eBay and don't even use the make offer option, I was tired of absurd 'low ball' offers. If someone is really interested they will contact me with an offer. If you have a number in mind don't solicit offers! Buyers seem to commonly think sellers always ask more just to see if they can get it. If a seller has zero transactions, that's a horse of a different color. But paypal guarantees my purchase, only accepting cash, M.O. or wired funds? I don't think so. By the way, all you sellers adding 3% to paypal payments is contrary to their regulations, but I digress. I'm now looking for 3 McIntosh pieces and again have no transactions here. I have found what I'm looking for and about to offer a bit under 10%. That's not a lowball! I'm looking to keep these as long as I have my MC2105 and C28 (many many years). I know what I want and am willing to pay for them but I'm also looking for the best condition/best price (you know retired/fixed income, blah, blah, blah). One seller has 2 of the pieces and am going to offer 9.75% under asking. Most guys, not trying to be sexist here ladies, like to do a little 'horse trading'. Hope they're not offered from a certain seller on this blog, me thinks you don't seem to grasp the fact you're not the only game in town, and apparently you don't care either. And that's OK, I can always look elsewhere. AB
big_greg
6,567 posts
 
If you're patient and informed, as a buyer you can use the offer system to your advantage.  I've had my eye on a DAC upgrade and had a couple in mind.  I made an offer on one and it was rejected. 

There were a couple of others that I've been watching for a couple of weeks.  There were two of the same item, with identical asking prices (one of them lowered their price after the 2nd one showed up). 

I made an offer to one of the sellers for $500 less than the asking price, sending a nice note with it, and the buyer accepted.  Did I "lowball" him?  Did he have it over-priced?  I say neither, we met at a place that was reasonable for us both. 

Context matters.  If I put something up for sale and they offer 80% of what I'm asking the first day I list it and use text speak, I'm going to ignore them.  If I've had it listed for a while, and someone approaches me in an intelligent way and sends signals that they'll be easy to work with, I'll be much more receptive. 

The system is what it is.  People will "work" the system in different ways.  If you'd rather just straight up pay an asking price and not have to deal with the risk that your offer might get rejected, then by all means do so.
minorl
1,015 posts
 
Just a quick response to the Paypal fee issue.  in the past, Audiogon had the paypal option, but also allowed payment via check, or other methods.  Actually, it isn't Audiogon's business at all what form of payment I prefer.  They chose to get into bed with Paypal and now Paypal is setting the rules for Audiogon.  That is well and good.  however, Paypal protects the buyer, not the seller, so I have zero use for paypal as a seller.

So, I tell potential buyers that if you chose to use paypal, they you are responsible for the paypal fee.  

Most of the items that I have sold here were sold directly out of my home.  Buyers, indicated on Audiogon that they will purchase the item.  They then came to my home and I had the unit in question connected and operating so that they can not only see it but hear it also.
Most times (actually all the time) each one stayed for over an hour listening and talking about music and equipment.  it was actually fun.
What I sell (when I sell) , it is because I either have too many pieces at home or typically, I am upgrading, purchased something else and want to sell the previous unit.

What I sell is exactly as advertised.  
But, as far as paypal is concerned, I don't appreciate Audiogon's new policy of only allowing paypal transactions, instead of cash or even checks.  I wouldn't ship the item until my bank told me that the check cleared.  Yes, there are ways that forgers can get around that, but that's on me.

Again, paypal protects the buyer, not the seller, so yeah, if the potential buyer only wants to use paypay, (not happening if they come to my home to pick up the unit, it is cash then), then, they pay the paypal fee.  

enjoy
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