What's with sellers not making counteroffers?

[chapabargain]

I've been shopping on eBay for a while. Recently I have noticed a new phenomenon. Lets say I make a $15 offer on a $25 item, instead of the seller countering $20 the sellers simply decline my offer  (not auto-decline).

Even on a $500 item if I offer $400 many seller wont even bother making a counteroffer.

What's going on here?

[7606dennis]

When receiving an offer the seller has the following options:

1) Accept

2) Decline

3) Make a Counter offer

4) Ignore and let the offer expire

It is entirely up to them which option the choose.

[alcoforever]

If the examples you gave are actual, I would suspect the seller's viewed them as low ball offers and so ignored them.   If I were making an offer on a $500 item, the least I would offer is $450.  More than ten percent off is quite often not workable for a seller.

[chapabargain]

I didn't say otherwise.

But why aren't sellers making counteroffers? 

[chapabargain]

$400 for a $500 is a starting point for negotiations.

Sometimes sellers think their items is worth a lot more then it actually is.

[downunder-61]

Some sellers may set a price that is more than you think it is worth, you made an offer, no reply - find a seller with prices you are happy to pay.

The seller is under no obligation to spend their time answering offers.

[chapabargain]

They why do they have the offer option on the listing?

[downunder-61]

In some cases, if you read the boards, you will find eBay is automatically adding that option - many sellers are unaware of it.

Try offering no less than 10% off the asking in your first offer. You state you expect a counter offer - well  you may have time to play haggling games, many sellers do not.

[chapabargain]

The whole point of offers is the haggling...

[downunder-61]

Seriously, you have no idea.

Sellers are in the middle of MP roll outs, listing items, I can't even be bothered explaining how much is involved in a sellers day.

You carry on with your offers, and good luck to you- if you want true haggling go to Thailand

[lamber9347]

@chapabargain I hear you. Sometimes the BO is added by eBay, sometimes the seller doesn't really understand the concept of BO, there is such a high fear of scammers that many sellers simply choose to ignore offers altogether. A myriad of reasons but bottom line is move onto another seller. 

I also send offers, and I always include a note. Sometimes that works for me to get my offer accepted. I rarely ever get ignored or flat our declined, I usually always receive a response even if they don't accept my offer. 

FYI- Recently I sent an offer for a higher amount on an auction that I didn't want to wait the 9 days for it to end. Seller sent a very terse decline saying she wanted to wait for the auction because she felt it was worth more. Well I ended up winning the auction, for $55 less than what I had offered her 9 days previously. I paid and never pointed out that I was the person who made her that offer. I half expected her to cancel the sale but I did receive it. It's a gamble and sometimes one wins and sometimes one loses but it all seems to work out in the end. Best of luck to you....

[chapabargain]

I'm a seller also, I know the whole 9-Yards.

MP sucks. I know. Deal with it and get back to selling.

[downunder-61]

I never said MP sucks, I have been on it for 18 months, I think it is superior in almost every way.

I said, (professional) sellers do not have time to be haggling with buyers who want to play games, as a seller, I would think you would understand that, apparently not.

You have a good day and I suggest you 'deal with it' when sellers ignore you

[emerald1830]

You are assuming that sellers have all the time in the world to haggle back and forth with you..If I was a seller and got a low ball offer, I would block your silly self pretty quickly.

[chapabargain]

@lamber9347 I usually include a note also. 

I would have told that seller "told you so"...after I get the item...😂