@ham*i*am46 wrote:
I am so tired of responding to low ball offers on my items that I would like to include a statement in my ads to say something like "I do not have make an offer as an option and am unable to respond when one is made". I am not sure if that would generate more offers just to make me crazy or if ebay would pull my ad. Some of these offers are unbelievable like today I received an offer of $16.44 for a $63.00 dress and free shipping. I know I can block the person but I have had a few instances where I declined and the person bought the item anyway and there were no problems. Any help would be appreciated.
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yes, i have experienced the same thing. i remember when 'best offer' first started, almost no one made any offers at all, and just bought it at auction or the price listed. then, when buyers got used to it, they would timidly ask for 2 dollars off or maybe 5 dollars off...or use it to offset the shipping fees. but now, it's totally reversed...even when there is no BO available, they STILL will message with offers.
just so you know...as a buyer, for years i never asked in a mssg for a lower price -- i thought it was obvious that the seller would list a BO if they were willing to accept lower offers. silly me! there have now been several items i was watching and waiting to see if the seller lowered the price...when it suddenly got sold for a lower price anyway. and now, not wanting to lose out yet again...i have started to inquire when i have a price-point at which i know i will buy.
i think ebay's 'send offer,' within the mssg system, has spawned a lot more of that, as well. now, don't get me wrong...i REALLY like that we can make a legit offer within the messages, but that has solidified the practice even more. so now, buyers are regularly making offers within the mssg system.
NOTE - it has become so bad within the trading card community that a majority of the sellers are listing items for ridiculous prices. i don't know if that is supposed to be a mssg to the buyer that they don't intend to go any lower than normal, or if they are just feeding the buyers' need to ask and get a cheaper price than what is listed--knowing they will only accept the normal price.
and, it's not just buyers...it's mostly OTHER SELLERS who contact me to ask for a low-ball type price!
one other note to consider... if i send an offer via the 'best offer' that is lower than the seller wanted, they do not tend to make a counter-offer. however, if i engage them within a message, they will much more readily counter. that is (excuse the pun) counter-intuitive. and get this...when one of the sellers let my official 'best offer' expire, i bought from someone else. then, when interacting with him later on another transaction, he actually told me i should have emailed and discussed my offer, and he would have taken it. ugh!
so you see... there's many perspectives and many reasons why there are so many messg offers now.
as to how to reduce them... i have indeed seen some sellers state that they are firm with their price. as a buyer, that did not bother me when done factually, without emotion. it is then the equivalent of, 'that's my bottom line.' not saying it would stop mssg offers, but it would prob stop those who are considerate.
