Does the *groveling for a sale* thing work for you?

[dubiousgain]

And by that I mean, sending a watcher of ones listing, a lesser price offer; And to be sure, call it what you will, but in my opinion, that IS, groveling.... and I don't think it has ever panned out for me. I think that 80% (if not more) of my watchers, are chronic watchers, for various reasons.  And by the same token, as a warcher, I don't think I've ever accepted a seller's offer)  So back to my  original question, how many times has sending a watcher an offer, resulted in a sale for you?

[gracieallen01]

Now, where in the rules does it say something has to make sense?  Besides the fact that something may make perfect sense to one while another is completely in the dark.

[u_cant_take_it_with_u]

😊

[chapeau-noir]

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@dubiousgain wrote:

I'd imagine you are pretty spot-on with that.  I guess we all enjoy being tossed a fish, so to speak.  It just boils down to who is the one selling their soul... the buyer or the seller?  And we all know the answer to that question . 😊

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Think of it as throwing the buyer a hook and reeling them in if that helps.  Don't overthink this - haggling has been part of buying and selling since probably the stone age.

[dubiousgain]

Haggling ...Yes... Circus barker, No.  With a haggle, the  buyer persues the seller.... NOT the other way around. Does the shop keeper run out in the street, and grab a pedestrian and say: "Hey, I noticed you glanced in the store window at those socks" ?? AB---surd. 

[moondogblues]

I love the offers and have bought many things because of it!

Cute dog.

[moondogblues]

'bow down'? I would never have thought that way at all. I sell at a local Flea, and haggling is a great part of the fun....groveling or bowing down never enters anyone's mind.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@dubiousgain wrote:

Haggling ...Yes... Circus barker, No.  With a haggle, the  buyer persues the seller.... NOT the other way around. Does the shop keeper run out in the street, and grab a pedestrian and say: "Hey, I noticed you glanced in the store window at those socks" ?? AB---surd. 

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So because YOU don't like it, the ones that DO like the feature and use it (oftentimes successfully) are fanboys and girls.  Gotcha.

That's not how life works. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean other people can't like it and take advantage of the feature.

It's just another tool for sellers to use to try to sell something. Why is that so horrible?

[lovefindingtreasures2]

Hmmm... I remember when I was a kid, Kmart used to announce "blue light specials" with instant deals in the stores. When I was in Europe, same thing, this deal is good for the next 10 minutes kind of thing.
Flash sales happen in other stores too.

eBay and other sites like to be known as a place you can get 'deals'. This is just another way for a seller and a buyer to come together and make a 'deal'. Many people are shy and won't make an offer. They sure love them when they get them their way though. Who doesn't want a few more dollars off? A simple ignore or decline and it's over if they are not interested.

I'm here to sell. A good friend of mine and a highly successful entrepreneur with his own company has a motto I stand by to this day. "If you don't ask, the answer is always no."

As I am here to sell, I ask. I prefer to do the asking (i.e., I do not have best offer enabled on my listings) because then I, the seller, do not have to deal with low ball offers. I make the offer. They accept or they don't.

I've been doing quite well with it. I currently am making the bulk of my sales on 2 ID's from sending watchers offers.

Your mileage may vary but I find it a very useful selling tool. Desperate? No. Smart business. Yes.

I am here to sell. I want to keep items moving out the door. I also offer watchers on other platforms a discount and the bulk of my sales come that way as well. Buyers seem to like it. I have never gotten a nasty gram from anyone but I have gotten several, "Thank you!!!" notes written to me for offering it to them for a special price.

Sell it! If you don't ask, the answer is always no 🙂

[dubiousgain]

Are you defending your argument, or your methodology? I never said anything about fanboys. I just simply asked if anybody has any luck selling by first propositioning a watcher... PERIOD. That's it...... My post was not intended to be arbitrary, don't digest it as such, and don't try to put words in my mouth. It infringes on your credulity.

[this*old*attic]

I’d say it works about 30% of the time.

As a buyer, I just received my first offer a week or so ago - I took it.

[hawkwind5454]

I, for one, will call a spade a spade, and I'm not ashamed to do it... It is a type of groveling (get out your Websters...it is) and I don't partake of it.  Usually, most of my listings are OBO, so it seems like it would be moot and redundant.  I might try it, to see what happens.  When it comes to making a nickel, I guess I can grovel (oddly enough, I don't take that term personally) with the best of them. 😉

[ekmadonna]

They have resulted in many sales for me and I use it often at certain times of the month, I like it and it does produce sales. I also buy many items at a reduced price when sellers send me offers using this tool. I just purchased 2 music cd's one today and one yesterday at 50% off original listing price because they were on my watch list and the sellers sent offers. these being on my buying account not this one. It is a win win for both buyers and sellers and it is the best new feature we have gotten in years!

[ekmadonna]

You can't see who is watching BEFORE the offer is sent but you can see who the buyers ID is AFTER the offer has been sent in the "REVIEW OFFERS" tab

[chapeau-noir]

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@dubiousgain wrote:

Haggling ...Yes... Circus barker, No.  With a haggle, the  buyer persues the seller.... NOT the other way around. Does the shop keeper run out in the street, and grab a pedestrian and say: "Hey, I noticed you glanced in the store window at those socks" ?? AB---surd. 

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Good grief, yes - in fact, it's almost worldwide behaviour.  In Australia I see shop employees in doorways advertising their wares and inviting you in, like you, yourself - it's an old sales trick.  In England, I've had booth owners come around their counter and greet me and tell me about the deal they can make me.  Here in the US, I've had small merchants tell me that, for me, I get a deal.  I do a lot of buying for my own business and I travel a lot.

So what happens when you throw your hook into the water and the fish don't bite? Have you groveled to the fish?  Have the fish rejected you?  Send the person an offer - if they want it, they'll take it.  If not, you haven't 'lost', you're not left with dirt on your knees and tears in your eyes.  You just move on - making anything more of it is what's really absurd.

[chapeau-noir]

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@dubiousgain wrote:

Are you defending your argument, or your methodology? I never said anything about fanboys. I just simply asked if anybody has any luck selling by first propositioning a watcher... PERIOD. That's it...... My post was not intended to be arbitrary, don't digest it as such, and don't try to put words in my mouth. It infringes on your credulity.

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Yes, probably a 30% success rate - it will be items that I'm ready to put on sale, anyway, so I before I do that, I send out a few offers first to those who have troubled to come and check out my store and signal possible interest.  First, though, I put on lipstick and a little eau de joy - gotta keep that edge.