Make an Offer

[oldschool63]

Out of curiosity, when a seller offers "make an offer" yet declines what I would consider a reasonable offer on their need to be fixed item, or is only willing to move a couple dollars, what is the point? 

Solution:  List as a buy it now, for the bottom dollar price, and move on.  You sellers waste potential buyers time like this, and considering eBay has a 3 offer your out policy, is a bigger waste of time. I always feel if someone wants an item, they'll contact me with a reasonable offer, and we can work it out.  I think some sellers are hoarders, that overprice their stuff, so they can hang on to it, but want to show everyone what they got.  Just my opinion.

[labs118]

Are you sure the seller added best offer?
ebay adds to so many sellers items that don't want it & they may just ignore any offer

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/UPDATED-eBay-is-Helping-Boost-Conversion-with-Best-Offer...

Also Best offers have been extended to allow up to 5 in most categories not just 3 anymore.

[dhbookds]

Just for info.........Ebay puts BO on some listings without the sellers permission......or knowledge in some cases, especially newer sellers.  There's no way to take it off except to cancel the listing and relist using a different, longer form.    So sellers either decline offers or ignore them......... not the best answer, but not the best situation either for  the buyer or seller.

That said, understand that "reasonable" in your eyes may not be in the sellers eyes.  I certainly agree, if a seller has voluntarily put BO on a listing, they should be willing to "deal", but some are afflicted, as you say, with problems on how to handle BOs.........and take umbrage at those offers they consider to be insults.........

Best just to move on when you run into something like what you describe. 

[fuzzface50]

Because they didn't accept an offer doesn't  mean they won't accept the same offer or even less from someone else. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

@oldschool63 wrote:

“...Solution:  List as a buy it now, for the bottom dollar price, and move on...”

Well, the idea is to try to get the most profit one can achieve, so what you suggest is not a solution for sellers, though it would be a boon for buyers.

Sellers are free to set their prices at their own discretion, for whatever amount they choose. That includes setting it higher than what the market might bear. Sellers with inflated prices will experience the consequences of such a strategy, because buyers are free to pass those listings by.

[cashvaluerecovery2011]

We sellers have talked about best offers countless times here. Its nice to get a buyers prospective so thank you.

That being said, your opinion is exactly what many of us assume about buyers and using best offer. There is more that goes into just what "you" feel is fair and reasonable. Did "you" consider how much the seller is going to pay in fees? What about free shipping? How was the item you wanted priced in comparison to anywhere else it may be purchased?

As a seller who uses best offer I would like to share my opinion/experiences with you. Maybe it will shed some light. I have the same problem with viewing it as a waste of time............a lot of time...........most of the time. I will use my car parts for example. Ive been selling them since 2014 when I bought out a ford store. I still have some for sale today. These are new in box for old mustangs and trucks but its old parts. Many of these are hard to find. Even taking that into consideration I WANT them GONE. So when I list them here I make sure im the cheapest, not just on ebay, but on the planet. I search anywhere I can find it for sale and I beat that price by 10% -50%.

Guess what happens next? Im already the cheapest anywhere. On something you will NOT find in stores. With free shipping to boot (parts are heavy and very expensive and you dont know if your buyer is 1 state or 12 states away). Yep you guessed it. I get offers instead. Offers usually so low that the amount wouldnt even cover the free shipping. In 2017 I averaged 17 offers for every 1 sale made. 2018 was 19 offers. This year has been better so far at just 13 offers before a sale. Of course the offers im receive this year are so low it makes me want to quit all together.

Oldschool its like life in general yesterday vs today. We use to shake a hand and mean it and could haggle with one another respectfully. Not only is that not done here very often but its a complete shift from civility across the board. Every one for themselves it seems sadly.