What is a reasonable counteroffer?
I sent an offer to a buyer. It was $100 off my listing price.
Item is rare, out of production for many years, and is unavailable elsewhere from what I can tell after extensive searches online.
Buyer responded with a counter offer that was $100 lower than my offer.
Normally I block buyers who make such lowball counteroffers.
The reason is that such a counteroffer tells me that the buyer is a cheapskate / is prepared to nickel and dime / is probably a reseller and wants to make the same profit that I do.
And those are the sorts who, post-purchase and delivery, in my 25 years of selling here will prove problematic.
Would welcome any perspectives because I am interested in learning. Thanks.
36 comments
femmefan1946
·2 years agoWe can put Accept/Reject parameters on our Best Offers and never see the lowballs beneath the Reject parameter.
EBay will send a polite "try again" letter automatically.
I often see, when the Offer meets the Accept, or even "consider", level that the buyer has made two or three lower offers.
When sending specific Best Offers we can decide whether to accept counteroffers or not.
Again we never see those unaccepted counters.
No stress.
I suppose that this is why I reflexively block buyers who lowball. They are signaling, to me anyway, a certain mental or behavioral instability. Cannot put my finger on it... it's more of an instinct on my part. Better safe than sorry. The sale can wait.
Yep.
Not every sale is worth having.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoPersonally you may want to stay away from customers like this. JMO They may need more hand holding than what you may be willing to provide. If you are confident in your pricing/piece, counter with the same offer you originally offered with a message to have them contact you via messages if you want to establish a better way of communication. Again that may require more back and forth so it might be best to block and move on.
Of course it always depends on the piece/price. If you have a $2500 item that they offered $100 less, it would not be as much of a big deal as if it was a $300 item.
onlinecentral
·2 years agoHere is the backstory to numerous discussions. A series of offers and counteroffers takes place. The buyer caves in and sends payment, grudgingly and secretly intends to pursue a discount that they are not entitled to later on. After delivery, the buyer contacts the seller claiming some fake flaw with the merchandise, looking for a partial refund.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoBingo. THAT is my principal concern, as I allude to in my original post.
And that is precisely why, as others here have noted, it's best practice to block these sorts of buyers.
Had he replied with a sincere counter that was $10, $20 or even $30 less, I would have sold it to him, confident that he was happy.
I'm sure that there are textbooks out there on buyer psychology, but I find it more useful to hear real world experience.
sextons-sweet-deals
·2 years agoBefore I can respond, what was the item, and did you review your potential buyers' profile? Anything stick out on the profile that could be concerning?
fbusoni
OP2 years agoThe item is rare, not-electronic, easily shippable. No unusual storage or handling requirements.
I did review his profile -- all positive feedback, perhaps 75 transactions as buyer. No selling. Could not see feedback he left for others.
He had purchased from sellers whose IDs suggested that he is a reseller (another ID) of the item I have listed.
That led me to conclude that he wanted to purchase my item at an appropriately low (for him) price.
I certainly understand his thinking.
714ricki
·2 years agoIn some cultures, the first offer from the seller is always deemed as "high". Therefore, don't be surprised if the offer is lower than your initial offer. It isn't necessarily a lowball offer its just part of the bartering culture. ðŸ™ðŸ˜ŽâœŒï¸
fbusoni
OP2 years agoUnderstood... lower than my initial offer is almost always ok. I can tell when a buyer is being sincere.
But lowball ( in this context anyway) is disrespectful (I'm not selling garbage) and suggests a certain buyer mindset that I have studiously avoided here for 25 years and want no exposure to.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoRespect is a scarce commodity in today's world and the internet in particular.
And if you engage in make an offer, you will signal to many that you do not expect respect. Sad but unfortunately true.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoYou're right. But believe it or not, the vast majority of those to whom I do send offers are grateful and respond positively.
Fortunately sellers can isolate and quarantine the lowballers.
And eBay, to its credit, knows that there are millions out there; why else do we get a whopping 5,000 names to add to our best buddies lists?
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoAfter a few weeks of bargaining in souks in the middle east and north africa, I developed a strong distaste for bargaining over purchases.
At the flea markets I frequent in the US, many of the sellers have come to know that when you give me a price for an item you are selling, I will either take it or leave it, but I will not negotiate further.
I stopped adding listings with make an offer to Ebay. I rarely send a watcher an offer. I entertain offers solely from my repeat buyers and they are usually reasonable and the price is acceptable.
If you want to sell in a souk-like environment you might find the behavior on Ebay close to dealing in Marrakesh and unlike less aggressive sites. My advice to you is NEVER SHOW WEAKNESS,
fbusoni
OP2 years agoAfter a few weeks of bargaining in souks in the middle east and north africa, I developed a strong distaste for bargaining over purchases.
Yes, it's disgusting actually.
One reason I liked Amazon so much was that all you had to deal with was re-pricing software. Annoying, but not personally distasteful.
I was at a shop the other day and a guy came in and was haggling with the owner about having to pay sales tax. ðŸ¤
my-cottage-books-and-antiques
·2 years ago@fbusoni Well, it would depend to some extent on two undisclosed factors: the initial asking price and what I actually paid for the item (along with any other associated costs, if, for example, I paid for some restoration, etc).
But, generally speaking, if $100 off was basically my best offer, then I would counter offer with my original offer and note that $100 off is my best offer. Buyer can then either accept it , decline/ignore, of counter, perhaps with something much closer to your original offer. I would then decide whether I was willing to go just a bit lower to make the sale, or not. I have often said "x" is my best, and then accepted a counter a little below my "best"....some buyers just need to feel they "won", and if the price is still good, I'm happy to let them feel that way. Other times, I haven't. It's always a case by case basis for me.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoThank you. I often do as you suggest in your second paragraph, and it's a painless exercise because most of the time I am communicating with a sentient being (and this I attribute to the fact that I sell in categories that appeal to wealthier and older buyers).
My only concern about too much back and forth stems from the possibility that such a buyer will ultimately give in to me and give me what I want in terms of price, only to come back later and seek "revenge" by filing an INAD or demand some special dispensation. We all know the type.
I suppose that this is why I reflexively block buyers who lowball. They are signaling, to me anyway, a certain mental or behavioral instability. Cannot put my finger on it... it's more of an instinct on my part. Better safe than sorry. The sale can wait.
Regards
lux.ra_14
·2 years agoYour offer is the offer.
Don't allow counters, or you're just encouraging lowballers.
femmefan1946
·2 years agoWe can put Accept/Reject parameters on our Best Offers and never see the lowballs beneath the Reject parameter.
EBay will send a polite "try again" letter automatically.
I often see, when the Offer meets the Accept, or even "consider", level that the buyer has made two or three lower offers.
When sending specific Best Offers we can decide whether to accept counteroffers or not.
Again we never see those unaccepted counters.
No stress.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoBeen selling here numerous years as well. Some of my worst experiences are with low ball offer people. You are not alone.
dhbookds
·2 years agoIt's a game..........you offer, they offer, you offer..........etc. Buyer didn't start the process.....you did.......so blaming them for an offer lower than you think is acceptable doesn't make sense to me, since you lowered the goal post to start...... I would counteroffer, but leave enough room to accept a lower offer from that, as some buyers "just want to win" and letting them win is always a good thing.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoNot blaming anyone... just seeking insights into how others respond.
You're right... it's a game, but that's not how I approach it.
I make an offer that I reckon any sane person would welcome, but that is of course an inherently faulty assumption.
Even after selling here for so many years, there are times when I forget that I am dealing with an unknown quantity on the other end of the line.
I make an offer maybe once a week and they are usually snapped up. Which tells me that the buyer and I share a rough idea of what something is worth.
Wouldn't it be great if all buyers were that way. Thanks for your reply.
buyselljack2016
·2 years agoNot understanding the "lowball" labelling of the counter.
but, as others posted........... we don't know how many $$$ the item is listed for.
Depending on the starting price another $100 off may not be what some would consider to be in the "lowball" range.
10% more, 20% more, 30% more.
Without actual $$$ (which are not really any of our business) $100 off is relative, and just speculation on our part about how reasonable/unreasonable that is.
$100 off a $1000 10%. Asking another $100 off......... just 20% off. Not totally unreasonable. Haggle, or reject with cause.
a_c_green
·2 years agoAgreed; without knowing the initial asking price (regardless of exactly what the item is), it's difficult to see whether the counteroffer was really lowballing.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoI can assure you that it was. Obnoxiously so.
I've sent offers to buyers in the past; some have written back and said this:
"Thank you for the offer... the item is still out of my price range, and I do not want to be disrespectful by making what may seem to you to be an excessively low counteroffer."
For these buyers, I will usually make exceptions and give them the price they want because in the final analysis I'm here for the experience and the joy of sending nice things to others. The money is fine, but I don't need it to live.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoNever appear desperate on here. Unless, you really are desperate.
bonjourami
·2 years agoYour offer was great, his counter offer was crummy.
fbusoni
OP2 years ago😂
I expect fairness. I usually get it in my dealings with buyers.
For some reason I am always mildly disappointed when these things don't work out.
Sort of like, "human beings... is there any hope for us?" 😊
klhmdg
·2 years agoI would never offer $100 off but the "buyer" most likely figures you are desperate.
SO they came back even lower.
I would decline and add to the BBL.
The reason for the BBL add is because the "buyer" may buy at full price and be an issue.
If the item is really that rare it will eventually sell and most likely for more than the original offer you sent.
I dont do Best Offer -
I dont go to any store and say "Id love to have this steak, can you give me 25% off"
Its a race to the bottom ...
fbusoni
OP2 years agoYes, agree... it really rubs me the wrong way, to be honest.
I have added to BBL and won't bother responding.
Thanks for your reply.
fern*wood
·2 years agoI generally do not allow counter offers. If I offer something off, it is usually my best offer.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoYes, that is also my preferred strategy. I should stick to it.
Thanks for your reply.
titipeo
·2 years agoYou counteroffer to what you want to accept. Buyer will of course counter back or accept. It is up to you to accept or not. There is no much science involved, either you accept the price or not. Simple. No need to respond to the counter received, it will disappear in a couple of days. Buyer will then decide if they really want the item and may increase their counter.
Its a waiting game. The fact that item is not easily available should be taken into consideration for the price.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoThe fact that item is not easily available should be taken into consideration for the price.
Yes, agree fully... that is a truism that can be overshadowed by desperation to sell, which is not something I am afflicted with.
It's been up for about 2 weeks and has numerous watchers and views. I suspect it will sell in good time at my asking price.
Probably to a buyer in Europe... my best customers are from Europe. No haggling, no messages.
mtgraves7984
·2 years agoWowzer. A $100 discount (your call) seems like a huge discount to me. Maybe the prospective buyer leaned toward 'desperate to sell' and tried to cash in on that determination. I take it that the item is pretty expensive?
doc-holmes
·2 years agoTo be fair, it depends on the starting price of the item.
mtgraves7984
·2 years ago@doc-holmes
Agreed. I wish I could see the listing.
fbusoni
OP2 years agoYes, I believe you are correct.
And yes, the item is expensive but for the right buyer worth every penny because it is simply no longer available anywhere online.
(Sorry for not being more forthcoming, trying to preserve my anonymity here.)
regards
mtgraves7984
·2 years ago@fbusoni
I respect everything you just typed. Some of my best sales were rare, OOP items. I never thought for a single minute that I (and any prospective buyer) didn't recognize the item's value in relation to my price. Hold out for the long dime. Good luck.