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?

[chapabargain]

I'm not playing games, I simply want to haggle on the price. 

[downunder-61]

Pay special attention to message number 5 in this thread, and welcome to mine

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/I-don-t-get-the-low-baller-mentality/td-p/31859807/jump-to/fir...

[chapabargain]

I'm not talking about extreme low balls. I'm talking about 20% less, many times with a note "make a counteroffer."

[chapabargain]

It looks like your not a seller...

[titipeo]

For me, and again, this is just my own experience, I've never have had an acceptable counteroffer that I've given to a prospective buyer that made an offer. I've accepted some offers that I find reasonable on my items, but have have never had a successful counteroffer. The other post about offering 10% is on par with what I've seen, as that is typically the amount that I'll be willing to accept.

I've received some lowball offers, that I've countered, and only one buyer was gracious enough to actually decline, most prospective buyers just let the counter offer expire. 

If you really want an item, at the very least put a respectable offer and don't lowball the seller. I know as a buyer you want to get it for the lowest prices, but at least try to make a decent offer to the seller. $400 for a $500 does not sound acceptable to me.

[chapabargain]

20% less is acceptable IMHO. 

[mkaczorsee]

20% less is generally more than a seller will discount. 

I would try 10%. 

[mkaczorsee]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  

Bottom line…the seller makes the decision on what price they can accept. 

eBay is not for everyone. 

Flea markets are for haggling. 

[titipeo]

You say 20%, I say 10%, perhaps we can meet in the middle at 15%.

[jonathankirkland]

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@mkaczorsee wrote:

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  

Bottom line…the seller makes the decision on what price they can accept. 

eBay is not for everyone. 

Flea markets are for haggling. 

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Except ebay has turned itself into a giant online flea market. These 'offers' lead to quicker sales which leads to quicker profits for ebay. Of course they're going to shove them onto unknowing and unwitting sellers at every opportunity.

I think that 'quick listing tool' that many novice sellers use is what causes A LOT of problems that people aren't even aware could be prevented if they just spent a little more time learning how to properly use the site rather just do ebays get-rick-quick come-on of "it's as easy as 1-2-3: list, ship, get paid!" or whatever garbage they're pushing nowadays.

[friskya]

When I receive an offer for a "free shipping" item and it's way below what the obvious cost of shipping (and fees) is going to be, those I don't even waste my time responding to. If it's "buyer pays shipping" and at least some amount that I consider within the realm of reality, I'll usually accept it without forcing the buyer to go through the haggling song and dance.

I prefer to see all offers made and I'm small enough that I can spend the time to do so.

On the other hand, I've also won numerous auctions by offering the seller their starting bid right off as my offer. This seems to work best with items that the revision history shows has been up for a while, or newly listed items (which might be the same thing, depending on the seller). Sometimes it's been countered with a price I considered acceptable and I accepted the counter right away. Sometimes it hasn't been responded to at all and in rare cases, the counter was still too high for my blood and those I decline. It's just too easy to click that "decline counter" button not to give the seller that courtesy. For me, it's rare that I don't get a counter, but then, I try to offer a fair amount (what they've said is their minimum - the starting bid) to begin with. 

[mudshark61369]

"...many seller wont even bother making a counteroffer. What's going on here?"

1.     Maybe the seller is using the quick listing tool which forces Best Offer on all of their listings and they do not want to accept offers. Look at their other listings, if they all have Best Offer,  that is likely the case.
2.   Timing! If there is still 25+ days left on the listing cycle, a seller may not be willing to accept an offer yet.  They might be more amenable to accept/counter an offer with less that 7 days left.
   
3.   Some sellers may already have a slim profit margin on the item. Not everyone gets their items at wholesale prices.  
4.  Using your example of offering $400 on a $500 item 20% off. If the seller counters with $450 and  it is accepted. After ebay's 12.35% fee the seller would receive $394.53 (less than your original offer) and if the listing had Free shipping, they still have to pay the shipping cost out of that amount.
5. Lower volume sellers may not have much time to deal with haggling because of work and/or family.

[releasethekraken_1]

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@chapabargain wrote:

20% less is acceptable IMHO. 

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$15 offer on a $25 item is 40%. That’s well into lowball territory.

And as you were already told (and you ignored), maybe the seller didn’t want B/O on the listing, but eBay put it on there anyway.

BTW, thanks for posting.

[1tuna]

as far as offer go I have one thing to say about those who make them

I get buyers who message me and ask me"are you open to offers"

well sir I am open to offers but you failed to make one..what kind of buyer talks about offers and does not make them

sellers can not stop an offer,if a buyer asks if you will take so much thats an offer

I get plenty of clowns who ask me if I will take an offer..stop being a  timid timewaster and just make an offer

[jameshen1]

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@chapabargain wrote:

@lamber9347 I usually include a note also. 

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

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Well, that right there says a lot about you.