In past few months I've received only very low Best Offers - should I stop using Best Offer?

[suzannes8628]

I have always included a Best Offer in my listings and have gotten reasonable offers. But in the past few months it seems that I've only received very low Best Offers. Today I received an offer that was 15% of the asking price. I have a wide range of listings and believe my prices are reasonable and I spend time on providing good descriptions/pictures. Should I stop using Best Offer? I'm also beginning to think that only resellers are buying these days. Any suggestions/thoughts?

[castlemagicmemories]

It may increase the possibility of sales but when you consider that the two parties are coming from two diametrically opposed positions, buyer wants to pay the least, seller wants to get the most, it can be difficult and frustrating for both parties, to say the least.

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@southernfriedbelle wrote:

Right, but I would consider $88 offered on a $138 as reasonable. I'd probably counter, but I wouldn't consider $88 lowballing. There's a lot of room for hurt feelings in Best Offer situations. Depends how much you really WANT to get for an item and how much you're willing to ACCEPT. Also, if you're forced to part with something you're emotionally attached to, a low offer could feel like a slap in the face. Lot of factors to consider. Not easy, to say the least.

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[retrose1]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Yes, the old polioy was that if the seller did not have best offer on a listing, that meant they were not interested in a best offer, their price was firm, and you were not to message them on that.

I think it was in the last couple of years that that was changed to anyone can message any seller with a best offer even if best offer is not on the listing.

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The more desperate that ebay gets about getting sales for their Q reports - the more they push Best Offer, and allowing the sellers to send an offer to anyone that just asks them a question through an item.  ebay wants any sales, any way they can get them. 

With the recent changes in policies, ebay can now drop your listing to the middle or bottom of search if they are no longer producing views or sales to favor listings and sellers that do produce results.

[stylesngear]

 This is what I've finally settled on. Back and forth "negotiation" hardly ever happened for me and was just annoying.

[idogiveahoot]

Hi, I always respond to any offer no matter how low.  If it is ridiculously low, I counter back accordingly, now I am just mad.  It is amazing how many sales I get by informing, uninformed buyers about the acutual costs associated with selling on eBay.  I believe, as sellers, we should try an inform as many people as possible what we actually have to pay to sell an item.  Yesterday I got an offer for 3 dollars with free shipping.  The price was 14.  I countered back 12.50 and explained I had to pay 3.50 to ship and ebay and paypal get 15% which is about the percentage when you factor in everything on low priced items.    They bought it and paid $12.50.  It is a sales lead, don't be rude.  If you do it on your phone, it will take seconds.  Mine is perdictive and knows exactly what I am going to say.  Nancy