Do you ignore lowball offers? I do

[ten_o_nine]

I used to counter offer with what I would accept, but since I had no luck with those counter offers, I decided to just ignore them, just like this one ebay sent me a reminder on today, it's listed for $49 with free shipping and the offer was $12 .

I know I can set my best offers to auto accept/decline but wanted to evaluate each offer based on product/demand/inventory, I also know I can reject but that only means a $13 offer is coming and if I reject again, it creates a "not so good feeling about transaction", so what do you do? Should I reject or Ignore?

[cherry*fizz]

I just ignore them because they are unsolicited, I don't use BO in my listings. Sometimes eBay will add it on, but I try to catch that and take it back off. I did get an offer from someone yesterday that I did accept, it was only a dollar less than what I had it listed for, and even though I didn't have a BO on it, her message was pleasant so I decided to go for it. Hopefully she will follow through. I replied today but haven't heard back yet. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

In some cultures haggling over the price is customary. In many places it is expected. So in a globally diverse marketplace like eBay, expect all kinds of opening offers to be made as the buyer settles in for negotiations. What we might consider insulting is just the beginning effort of a possible serious buyer.

One thing for certain, ignoring and blocking will insure the sale won’t take place. Countering will give it a chance.

If googled, there are lots of interesting articles about the cultural practice of haggling, for those interested it could be helpful in making the most of Best Offer.

[crosseyeboxbreaks]

I always counter offer the low ballers. Not often, but a few times, ive been able to work out a deal that I was happy with. Everything worked out fine. 

However, this past week, I've been getting multiple offers through eBay messaging from buyers in Chile and Mexico. They send me an absurdly low offer and ask how much shipping would be. I have my shipping set to Canada and USA only. 

[dougsue123b]

I just say, Nope

[ymeagainlord]

I FEEL like responding "If I wanted to sell it for $5 with FS that's what I would have listed it as"

[rolenboy01]

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@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

In some cultures haggling over the price is customary. In many places it is expected. So in a globally diverse marketplace like eBay, expect all kinds of opening offers to be made as the buyer settles in for negotiations. What we might consider insulting is just the beginning effort of a possible serious buyer.

One thing for certain, ignoring and blocking will insure the sale won’t take place. Countering will give it a chance.

If googled, there are lots of interesting articles about the cultural practice of haggling, for those interested it could be helpful in making the most of Best Offer.

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I don't want the sale to take place with such a person period, if they start that low in my experince there is a very high chance they will be a problem post sale even if they come up to an agreeable price, they love the haggle alright especially after they have your item and the threat of an expensive false snad or threat of mysterious damage.

[irinahat]

The worst is when those who offer lowball offers start messaging you, trying to convince you that your item is ultimately worthless and you'd be lucky if they were gracious enough to take it off your hands. I recently sold a vintage item for $50 and I had someone give me a lowball offer of $10 for the same item. When I declined, they messaged me, telling me that my item wasn't worth over $10 and they were offering to take it off my hands for a generous sum of $10. I blocked them. A week later, the item sold for $50 to someone who wanted it and that was that. I hate lowball offers but they're generally harmless until the person starts begging, bullying, and trying to sweet talk their way into a very low price. We've all heard it before... "Can I have this item for 90% off the original price? My cat needs dental work."

[dhbookds]

Just a heads up..........ebay is "testing" putting the message that "this seller does not respond".......in one of those little boxes right at the top just below add to the cart, if you have a history of not answering b/o.......there is some criteria to "get there" x # or % that I don't remember, but has taken a lot of sellers by surprise......

It doesn't make you look good...........          

[slideshopper]

Sorry, but as a buyer I will typically start with a lowball offer if the item in question has a "shoot for the Moon" price. I know the asking price is ridiculous so I will wait until the last day or two to make a lowball offer. I know 90% of the time it will be rejected but I NEVER expect the offer to be accepted. What I am looking for is what the seller really wants for the item, not the fantasy price posted. After I receive the counter most of the time I accept and everyone is happy with the deal. 

[irinahat]

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@dhbookds wrote:

Just a heads up..........ebay is "testing" putting the message that "this seller does not respond".......in one of those little boxes right at the top just below add to the cart, if you have a history of not answering b/o.......there is some criteria to "get there" x # or % that I don't remember, but has taken a lot of sellers by surprise......

It doesn't make you look good...........          

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Good to know. I always respond to best offers, whether it be by accepting them, sending a counter, or declining. I had no idea they started doing this, yikes. It is best to respond though, for better or worse.

[retrose1]

I don't use best offer as it contributes to the race to the basement in price.   And it encourages playing games with buyers that do not need to be played.

So if I get an offer I immediately put the id on my BBL.  If the buyer can't be bothered to take into consideration my terms in the listing, it is obvious that they will be equally inconsiderate about the seller after they get the item and the seller is in the mercy of ebay's buyercentric policies.

[rowdyboy2us]

Sadly I have found that the people that lowball me tend to be the ones that file a claim Item not as discribed or other claim trying to get me to give them more money back to keep the item, they know how to work the system to take advantage of the seller, so I now set a resonable except price and auto decline to weed out these people as I have found it is not worth risking my stats and loss of revanew and or product.

I like to welcome all sales but this has become a nasesity, If you push them to return the item then you are out shipping both ways and lucky to get back a resalable item.

[myboardid]

First, I have the lowest prices on my items to start with, or equal prices to my competitors on MAP items.   I have my Best Offers set at only 5% off, and offers below that are blocked so I never see them.  I sell a lot with BO, I never let an offer come in without a counter or a decline if I don't like the potential buyers' feedback record.  I think that's only happened once or twice. 

I find the claims repeated here about buyers who make offers being a nuisance further into the sale process as being a rumor that a few sellers have started and others have taken as gospel.  I have never had a single buyer cause a problem after I accepted their offer, and I sell a lot via this method.  I don't believe the nuisance buyer happens any more ofter when Best Offer is involved than it does when the buyer just buys without using BO. 

[aproudparent2010]

I decline and say something to the effect of your offer is ___% lower than my asking price and it cost me ___ to ship this.


Sometimes when they actually see that their offer is lets say 70% below asking price they will make a better offer.

[bigdeals.etc]

I don't have best offers on any of my listings... I still get occasional people trying to negotiate. Over 95% of them are low-ball offers. I just tell them that the prices are firm. They usually go away, end up buying it at my price, or even come back with yet another low-ball (relatively higher) price. When they try to re-negotiate I just re-state my message. They usually get the message by then.

Only once I remember agreeing to a buyer's offer. It was very reasonable, about like 2-5% off. Maybe it was a one time thing and I was in a good mood I guess. The buyer was also very polite if I remember correctly.