Best Offer Feauture

[jwnova1]

Why do so few buyers make use of the Best Offer feature? I sell most of my fine art photography books under Buy/Best Offer but very few buyers offer a lower price. Most of those who do underbid drastically (I assume they are resellers). Can someone help me to understand this phenomenon? Thanks.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@jwnova1 wrote:

Why do so few buyers make use of the Best Offer feature? I sell most of my fine art photography books under Buy/Best Offer but very few buyers offer a lower price. Most of those who do underbid drastically (I assume they are resellers). Can someone help me to understand this phenomenon? Thanks.

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@jwnova1

A lot of people find what they want and don't want to go through the back and forth that a best offer may involve, only to lose out on the item to someone who comes along that is more than happy to pay the listed price.

Then there are others who don't mind trying and may, as you say, really low ball the seller.  If they get it, fine, if not, oh well.

Good prices can also spur the buyer to just buy it now.

Your buyers must like what they see and want what you are selling so they just go ahead and BIN.  Then they know it is theirs!

[slippinjimmy]

I don't waste my time with Best Offer, I got fed up with sellers who either wouldn't accept anything less than 95% of their asking price and/or blocked me because I had the "audacity" to make what they considered a bottom feeding lowball offer.

Pretty much unless I'm desperate for an item I won't even buy (at full price) from sellers that use Best Offer. Although there are many who use it as intended there are too many that are into game playing which makes me skeptical of their customer service skills.

[jwnova1]

Yes, there are many who think eBay is a yard sale and expect bottom prices.

[dhbookds]

some people don't like to dicker......I don't, but have learned to using best offer as a seller........

Odd thing is, I will "make an offer" at a g sale.

[rw011164]

I'm sure it varies greatly with the types of items and category. For us we use the make offer feature often and value having this option. It allows us a lot of room for negotiating, often selling multiple items to the same buyer, quote shipping options as well as vet the buyer in advance of doing business with them. It's a win win for us

[fashionsandbeauty4u]

I have never used "Best Offer" because I simply do not have extra time to go back and forth with a potential Buyer.  In other words, a Best Offer listing is more high maintenance. Plus, everyone is in a rush these days, so I'm also getting away from auctions. Many Buyers don't want to wait seven days to buy an item.

[pingpong517]

my 2 cents here:  you can put auto accept and decline on them...so you can limit the lowbal offers and accept anything in your range...without going back and forth...so for those who didn't know that or use it...

as far as why buyer use it or don't...that's just buyers...some do..some are reasonable and some not...

waist of time,,,not at all...can be a sale ...and can be worth it....I have accepted offers...and they buy a few more things...so...it is an option to be used.

for those who never buy from a seller who has it there..poop poop on you....and those who never use it, and never this or that..poop poop on you too... I personally don't like auctions..for some stuff it works , but not for me...do i like to bid and wait ..nope...so i like BIN on a listing...and a best offer...I throw some out there....

i say never say never, and if you can get interest on an item...and they offer....you can counter offer...and maybe make a buck..if not..decline and hope for the next person.

like fishing... it may not be a big one, but a bite is a bite and a small fish is better and more fun than NOTHING!... 

[pingpong517]

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@fashionsandbeauty4u wrote:

I have never used "Best Offer" because I simply do not have extra time to go back and forth with a potential Buyer.  In other words, a Best Offer listing is more high maintenance. Plus, everyone is in a rush these days, so I'm also getting away from auctions. Many Buyers don't want to wait seven days to buy an item.

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the key word is Potential buyer... look into andn trying the auto accept  /auto decline part of the best offer...you set it for a range...and maybe a close range, but you may get a sale without the effort.

[southern*sweet*tea]

I have best offer on most of my stuff, but most of my sales are straight BIN without any offers made. I figure I've set my prices at an acceptable sweet spot when that happens. 

[livewiredealz]

From what I understand, the eBay market is NOT looking for High Priced items, so when they see yours at $40 or Best Offer, then they don't even care about Best Offer and just move on. They'd rather see $20 BIN than $40 BIN OBO. 

On top of that, but people are generally scared to do things. They don't like making a Lowball offer because either the Seller will hate them for it, the Seller will act rash, or it'll make them feel guilty. You ever go into an Icecream Shop and ask if they'll take $3 for a $5 Icecream Cone? If so, how did it make you feel? Were you joking about it or serious? How did the owner respond? If not, why not? Afraid of something?

Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer, then come back and realize that, maybe, BIN OBO is not the best idea.

[rw011164]

There really is plenty of high priced merchandise that sells well on eBay. There are also bargain hunter deals available.

Many buyers from both avenues are wanting to negotiate. It can be a good deal for both parties

[jwnova1]

But why would any seller drastically undervalue their product?

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

As a buyer I largely buy two things, vintage collectibles and clothing.

If the item is something I want and is hard to find I'm likely not going to risk losing it by waiting to hear from a seller.

If the item is clothing and I can buy something similar elsewhere I may make an offer.

[vintageista]

I stopped using BO because almost all of the offers I got were 1/2 price or less! I try to list my items at reasonable prices to begin with & I don't like to play games. Some buyers are realistic but there seem to be many that are just trying to see how low they can get an item for, I prefer not to deal with all that. Even when I don't have BO in my listing, some people ask....had one the other day....relisted an item I had had around a long time at a rock-bottom price of $3.99 + shipping, had a request asking if I would sell the item for $3 with free shipping! Don't buyer's realize that it cost over $3 to ship ANYTHING? Add in .30 for PP & 10% FVSF and you are over $3 even for a 4 oz package.  Why would I want to lose money on a sale, just to satisfy a stupid buyer?? I just don't get it!!