Does Accepting Offers Help?

[bigmotormania]

Good morning, everyone.

So, I received an offer last night, it's WAAAAY below what I have the item posted for but I can also afford to accept, and I was wondering if accepting offers had any impact whatsoever on listing placements.

I know this is a stretch and more than likely not the case, but I was curious if anyone has experience with accepting offers and then noticing an increase in sales or if it generally stayed the same regardless.

With the severe draught of sales going on, and my only sales coming in small sudden bursts and then 5-10 days of no activity whatsoever, it would be nice to know if accepting some of the low ball offers might actually help me a bit or not, not placing any bets, though.

[castlemagicmemories]

So please, let us know what happens next!

[notactive2021]

Supposedly, when you have an open offer that you have not declined or accepted it will help your placement slightly, but personally I don't think it's worth it. I have it off so that I do not have to deal with the abuse from it. When the offer is super low and you decline you will have people cussing you and everything else not taking no for an answer. Sometimes if you don't answer fast enough, they will buy at full price and then leave you neg bc they wanted the item, but were too cheap to pay for it. It's really up to you. You may get more interest and you will get offers, but if you aren't interested in pretty much giving the items away then it is usually not the best idea. So yes you will sell more items, but you will be selling them for a lot less than the item is worth. People like that are also more likely to return the item for false reasons or just be more critical than the standard buyer in general. Idk what you sell either, but I personally feel like items seem less desirable when best offer is turned on. Gives the appearance that no one must want it so you are willing to negotiate 

[scstool]

Sometimes making a lowball offer is just round one of the negotiations. Round 2 is when they get the item and start nitpicking for a discount because they already softened you up.

In my experience there is a higher percentage of problem buyers with the lowball offer types. I have negotiated prices over reasonable offers with no problems. Most of my offers come from multiple unit buyers who know up front there is less work and shipping cost (usually) with a multiple purchase and we both walk away happy. Some have been repeat buyers.

The real lowball offers don't even get a response from me. I don't bother blocking them because I know they are not going to part with their money and buy from me. Some people think it is rude to not respond, I think it is rude for them to waste my time.

I had a buyer pester me for months to buy a $650 circuit breaker for $100. It's like he completely forgot what I told him the previous times. I finally sold it for $650.

One last thing is I sell industrial and aerospace surplus, my buyers tend to be more reasonable. I think some categories can have much bigger problems with the cheapskates.

[mr_lincoln]

@bigmotormania

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@bigmotormania wrote:

Hm... I see, thanks for all the replies. Didn't expect to get so many so quickly.

I'll throw out a counter offer and see where that gets me. I'm not super desperate for the sale but it would certainly help a fair bit.

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The Buyer is more than likely expecting a counter offer.  You are now "haggling" - " negotiating" - "etc-ing".  I think eBay has bumped up the number of times you and the Buyer can go back and forth  5 - 10 or something, up from 3 that much I know ... and of course their first offer will be low, it never hurts to ask right?  With a decent counter they will know you are willing to negotiate but their original offer was "below market value".

Keep this updated if possible ...

[keziak]

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@notactive2021 wrote:

Supposedly, when you have an open offer that you have not declined or accepted it will help your placement slightly, but personally I don't think it's worth it. I have it off so that I do not have to deal with the abuse from it. When the offer is super low and you decline you will have people cussing you and everything else not taking no for an answer. Sometimes if you don't answer fast enough, they will buy at full price and then leave you neg bc they wanted the item, but were too cheap to pay for it. It's really up to you. You may get more interest and you will get offers, but if you aren't interested in pretty much giving the items away then it is usually not the best idea. So yes you will sell more items, but you will be selling them for a lot less than the item is worth. People like that are also more likely to return the item for false reasons or just be more critical than the standard buyer in general. Idk what you sell either, but I personally feel like items seem less desirable when best offer is turned on. Gives the appearance that no one must want it so you are willing to negotiate 

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That is a disturbing bunch of negative scenarios. I  use BO on everything and sell constantly that way ( and also decline or counter a lot).  I can't recall a time when I've been cussed out, negged, or had returns.  

[iart]

A few weeks ago I asked Customer Service if low ball offers had an impact on search placement for that item. They said they didn't think so. But I think it might, for that item only. I don't think it impacts the rest of your items.

If you're concerned, simply refuse the offer, end the item and relist it as sell a similar item.

[bigmotormania]

It's not that I'm concerned or worried or anything, my prices I wouldn't say are competitive by any means just prices that I deem to be reasonable based on their actual MSRP value (I sell motorsports related parts and apparel) and are listed for quite a bit less usually than their retail value, so I can afford to go low when it comes to offers.

This thread was posted more of a "I was curious if" than an "I need help with" type post. Plus it garners discussion, and discussion is always good.

Everyone has their opinions on best offers, I gladly accept them most of the time, but I can also afford to do so, I understand there are sellers who hate best offers because their profit margin is only in the single digit percentile, but for others who can be looser with their prices and have a higher profit margin and less cost tend to be a lot more accepting of the concept of best offers.