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]

Contact eBay?

[releasethekraken_1]

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@transamcc wrote:

Additionally I must add that all of my replies are based on logic, reason and FACT, not who can shout the loudest on the playground!!

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This from the person with the stuck ‘!’ key:

”Happy New year to the sellers who IGNORE offers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

ROFL!

[glasser]

I think a couple of things are going on here. Not sure what categories you are buying in so that makes a difference. However, I believe in some antiques and collectibles categories the idea of haggling, which was basically part and parcel of the whole experience back in the day, may be  an unknown experience for some sellers. When I make offers, I have a final amount I am ultimately willing to pay and offer below that assuming a negotiation will take place. Sometimes, if an item is so grossly overpriced and I am sending what the seller will likely think is an insult, I provide the reasoning for my offer. Like where I think the market is right now and any comps I may be aware of. Many sellers really don't know what they have or don't have. Yeah, that's not a $15K piece of glass more like $1500 :).

I have never heard of BO being added without seller requesting, but also think people sometimes put in BO without really understanding. I also think even with auto rejects below sellers min. eBay should send a notice to the seller with an option to reconsider and counter. If the offer is only a few dollars under the min. maybe on that day the seller is yeah, let it go.

As a buyer, with an auto reject the seller doesn't even know someone has expressed interest. As a seller interest might possibly lead to a sale even if we are starting low.

[doc-holmes]

Oh, absolutely. I let out one or two choice words, and then get on with my day. 

[7606dennis]

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@chapabargain wrote:

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

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Alas!  Not all sellers are willing to haggle so if that is what you want, you may need to look until you find one that is willing to oblige you.

[7606dennis]

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@chapabargain wrote:

20% less is acceptable IMHO. 

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That is fine if the seller shares your opinion.

[chapabargain]

And many do...

@7606dennis 

[downunder-61]

Some do - some don't - lucky you ''Many Do''

So what was the point of your post?

[whattheactualfox]

Seller Here, it all depends on what the asking price is for me. You are more then welcome to send me an offer, but I can choose if I want to negotiate or not. If it way too low and I feel like I'm being lowballed, I will decline and end of story, sometimes I get an offer and It may be a bit low so I submit a counteroffer. Sometimes I have my listing to set up to auto decline offers.

Now this is just my reason, in reality, there is no set reason sellers are declining and not counter offering. And you'll get mixed reasons if other sellers follow up with my answer.

[7606dennis]

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@chapabargain wrote:

And many do...

@7606dennis 

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Those that do, fine.  For those that don't, that is fine also.  I see no reason to question them on their decision to choose one option over another.

[deontaknot-0]

I known this is an old post but for future reference to hopefully help a seller down the road.......eBay will definitely allow you to adjust your listing settings so that you can:

1. Remove the best offer option altogether and simply have a "buy it now" price

2. Have a minimum best offer amount (which IMMEDIATELY auto rejects any offer below that amount)

3. Leave the best offer option on the listing with no floor for the minimum offer amount allowing you to entertain all offers (or not)

I simply don't understand why so many of the posts I've read in here demonize someone for using the feature that eBay provides and the seller chose to leave on.  If the seller is unaware that the "best offer" option is....optional then that's not the buyers fault. 

The buyer is simply trying to begin a conversation that the seller insinuated they were open to by putting up a listing that literally says "hey, make me an offer".  And if you don't have best offer as an option a buyer can still message you directly to negotiate.  

Personally as a seller and as a buyer I approach this the same way.

If I'm selling and someone lowballs I'll decline immediately so that I can entertain better potential offers since eBay locks up the "send offer" feature once you send an initial offer or counter an offer. Sometimes I'll respond with a counter to see if they are serious or if it's an item where I'm not as sure about the value and I'm gauging interest.

In this same scenario as a buyer... eBay allows you to make up to 5 offers.  If it's an item that I really want I'll send another offer if my initial is declined or ignored. However, I do so with trepidation because it may be a sign that I'm dealing with a seller who may be too lazy or too busy to process my order to my standards.  

Lastly if I'm worried that my offer may be too low I'll almost always message the seller even before sending an offer to either ask what is the lowest or to tell them the amount I want to offer and see if they'll recommend somethingore acceptable form them.

[wes-4507]

I don’t think sellers are, or should be expected to be, happy when eBay makes decisions for them, especially without telling them. I’m tired of having to revise listings to turn off BO.

[kh-laura]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.