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

Value is in the Eye of the owner. And sometimes we get emotionally attached as human beings. 

I’ve seen on USAM that there are people who seem to just low-ball everything. Occasionally they get a taker, and then the re-sell it here. Supplemental income, I suppose. Depressing. I guess you could call it arbitrage or market clearing.

As an old dude on a fixed income I look for value in quality used audio gear. I do my due dilegence and know within reason what the product offered is worth. I also will only purchase used gear close to home that is in excellent working condition. By purchasing used local  should any isue occur it can be resolved face to face and I don't have to pay shipping. My initial offer may be 10% or 20% lower then the asking price if the initial posting is in the fairly priced range.Since I look for used as a buyer I must be flexable based on who the manufactorer is and my desire to own that product. I was fortunate in purchasing newer gear with excellent reviews at a very good price.  The components may not be an ideal match but hey I'm buying used so compromises are expected. I might also add that the audiogon sellers were beyond reproach.

My trip to the Honda dealer for service reveals a $40 k Civic with $10% ADM tacked on as the starting point…… I think Mike makes good points, good faith is essential…on both sides….

The ADM on a G wagon at the local Benz dealer was 40%. Glad i got ours when buyers had more sway……

agree this is a nice thread, speaks to the psychology and mindset of various buyers and sellers in our hobby, where used gear is a lifeblood for many who seek to experience different equipment at an acceptable cost

i personally don’t attach ego to selling any gear... you are a seller looking for a buyer, and thus welcome all interest - different folks approaching with different methods and tone of communication get different responses, some more friendly, some more terse than others - i do try to remember buyers are also audiophiles and we come in all different ages, backgrounds, experience levels, some have more money than others, some have more fear than others in buying used

i have also lived in cultures where haggling is pretty much a ritual on any meaningful purchase... so while i personally don’t care for it, i accept it as a necessary evil, if you want to sell something, you gotta play the game, even if you don’t have ego wrapped up in the sale, maybe the buyer does in his purchase, so maybe you give a little try make him/her happy?

but in general, i do as @lalitk says, on any lower or 'lowball' offer, i state what i am willing to do, and then wait for a response