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]

Not necessarily...  

[chapabargain]

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@dariudaudery_0 wrote:

Absolutely true 😂 Had keychain listed for 10 + shipping or something like that, some fella made 1, 2, 3 usd offers and i did accept the 3 dollar offer because i just wanted to get rid of that item and he contacted me twice before estimated delivery was up asking where is his item. 

Keychain was badly scratched and was not something i should have listed as high so did not mind giving it for about what i paid for it (after fees).

As for low offers - ignore or decline, do not bother with that.

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Can someone explain that to me? 
@dariudaudery_0 

[chapabargain]

Sometimes I contact them and they say "I'm not accepting offers."

(I ask them why they had the make offer option…)

[chapabargain]

He's letting you know that its the highest he's willing to pay...

[chapabargain]

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@plymouthsales4165 wrote:

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@chapabargain wrote:

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?

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@chapabargain wrote:

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?

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Were they only going to buy it if it was used?

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This is eBay, you never know...😂

[7606dennis]

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@chapabargain wrote:

I didn't say otherwise.

But why aren't sellers making counteroffers? 

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Alas!  My psychic powers seem to be on the fritz at the moment.  Frankly, that is a question that only the sellers involved can answer.

[7606dennis]

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@chapabargain wrote:

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

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Unfortunately, eBay has been known to add the BO option without the seller's knowledge or consent.  That could be the reason.   

[7606dennis]

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@chapabargain wrote:

The whole point of offers is the haggling...

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Not all sellers are interested in haggling.  

[fashunu4eeuh]

”...What's going on here?”

Hi, a good question, i think there are several things going on. One, eBay sometimes adds Best Offer to the listing, unbeknownst to the seller, which just adds a layer of confusion. It is not fair to either the buyer or the seller. 

Two, haggling is not part of our culture on the whole. But in some cultures, it is impolite not to haggle. It is expected. Any offer is a good starting point for such sellers. 

Three, some are not flexible enough to look at the offer for its possibilities. They don’t see this as an opportunity for a sale, with the added advantage of dealing with an already interested buyer. Some sellers get caught up in feelings about the offer, especially if it is considered a low ball. They take the offer as a slight or insult, and the chance at a sale is then wasted by bringing personal emotions into a business transaction. 

Sellers who don’t have the time or the inclination to negotiate should rethink using Best Offer on their listings. It invites buyers to open negotiations on price, and then confounds them when the seller doesn't respond. I don’t see how that’s good for business.

Last but not least, there are sellers who don’t have a handle on what good customer service is. 

[mudshark61369]

@chapabargain,

You replied to my comment:

@mudshark61369 wrote:

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

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.

"Then make a counteroffer for 15% less".

You seem to be missing one big point, the option is titled Best Offer.  So instead of taking the seller on a fishing trip, why don't you try and figure out an offer price that is fair to both parties after the 12.35% fee and start there? 

In case you haven't figured it out yet, Not responding to an offer is a response.

[releasethekraken_1]

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@chapabargain wrote:

Sometimes I contact them and they say "I'm not accepting offers."

(I ask them why they had the make offer option…)

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We've explained that at least 4 times. What is it about what we've told you that you still don't comprehend?

[soh.maryl]

Again -- eBay has a habit of adding "make an offer" to listings when the seller didn't want offers.

Quite often, sellers are surprised to discover that their listings invite offers when they had no intention of entertaining offers.  

[evry1nositswindy]

You are forgetting this ever popular scenario:  buyer makes an offer, seller accepts...Then the buyer never pays.  The item is held up for 6 days while waiting for payment.  No payment is made.  Close the case, block the non-payer,  relist the item.  In the meantime, it could have sold for full price.  Waste of time.

[varebelrose]

Anyone that makes a lowball 20% or more off offer gets added to my BB list immediately, its a sure red flag sign they would be nothing but problems down the road.

This is no exception, thanks for posting. I'm sure I am not alone!

[doc-holmes]

If I was willing to accept it, I would have the first time. Sending the same offer back is insulting.