Sellers - Sent a message on a fixed price item for a discount, and the buyer wants more of a discoun

[dawaguila_2]

Has anyone had fixed item prices and then get messages from buyers to get a discount?  I know the answer is yes on that, and I do too, but I am giving over 30% discount on an offer (on a fixed priced item), and the buyer wants another 15%-20% off.  I have now reached the offended point.  I know it's a business, and I thought even selling at a few under cost would be OK, but now I'm thinking - wow!  I am bending over backwards, and it's apparently not enough.  This was a discount on two items, both being 30% off my FIXED item price.  If I was a seller and marked up items over 60%, maybe, I wouldn't be so upset.  I don't mark up my items more than a small little profit, and sometimes, it's not even a profit at all after the fees, but it's a break even.  I charge the exact shipping cost, and with heavy items (like the one I'm totally upset with now), I don't charge the full shipping weight either. I can't figure out how to 'retract' an offer on a fixed item listing is my question. 

[a_c_green]

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ersatz_sobriquet wrote: 
Not unless something that could be deemed suspicious was worded in those messages.

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Well, yeah: the whole point of the discussion was to negotiate a selling price, after which the listing mysteriously... ends? 

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@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:
Otherwise ending the listing is the smart thing to do.  

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I'm not following your reasoning there. If I was the seller, I'd just ignore the lowball reply offer and let the listing continue. 

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ersatz_sobriquet wrote: 
Why sell for a loss ever? I wouldn't, I would simply open my garbage can, dump the item into it, and the garbage can gives me no flack back. 

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...or money, for that matter. How would throwing it away be better than selling for less than you were hoping for?

[fern*wood]

I agree--I'd be too fearful to end the listing now, but I did offer a way earlier to retract the offer.  I believe another offer could be entered, if desired, at a higher price. 

[ersatz_sobriquet]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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ersatz_sobriquet wrote: 
Not unless something that could be deemed suspicious was worded in those messages.

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Well, yeah: the whole point of the discussion was to negotiate a selling price, after which the listing mysteriously... ends? 

We don't have to react in fear. If no personal information such as phone or email has been sent via messages, there is no reason to fear ending the listing. Never forget these are YOUR items and you can end any listing you want, at anytime without repercussion. 

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@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:
Otherwise ending the listing is the smart thing to do.  

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I'm not following your reasoning there. If I was the seller, I'd just ignore the lowball reply offer and let the listing continue. 

Me too, but this is Post fact. The seller has already sent a counter-offer that would end in the seller taking a loss. 

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ersatz_sobriquet wrote: 
Why sell for a loss ever? I wouldn't, I would simply open my garbage can, dump the item into it, and the garbage can gives me no flack back. 

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...or money, for that matter. How would throwing it away be better than selling for less than you were hoping for?

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He didn't say "less than he was hoping for". He said selling for a loss. I was thinking selling for less than zero, like those selling at 99 cents. There is zero point in those listings except to lose money, come out in the negative, and waste time creating the listing, boxing up and mailing. In those cases, tossing the item in the garbage is coming out ahead in comparison. 

It all depends on how much the seller has invested in the item in the first place. Selling at a loss, I would probably donate to a thrift and write off on my taxes. 

In case this is confusing to anyone reading, my latest replies are all in bold. 

[d-k_treasures]

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@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@myboardid wrote:

As mentioned above, you can end your items right now and that will negate your offer to the potential buyer.  Then, first, put that buyer on your blocked bidder list, and second, relist the items. 

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Frankly, I think I'd be a little concerned about doing that, as it plays right into eBay's trap about charging FVFs on item listings that are ended shortly after an exchange of offer prices in email.

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Not unless something that could be deemed suspicious was worded in those messages. Otherwise ending the listing is the smart thing to do. 

Why sell for a loss ever? I wouldn't, I would simply open my garbage can, dump the item into it, and the garbage can gives me no flack back. 

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My guess is that they see any message from a buyer, you respond, you end listing, you get warning.

Regardless of the message.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

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@d-k_treasures wrote:

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@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@myboardid wrote:

As mentioned above, you can end your items right now and that will negate your offer to the potential buyer.  Then, first, put that buyer on your blocked bidder list, and second, relist the items. 

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Frankly, I think I'd be a little concerned about doing that, as it plays right into eBay's trap about charging FVFs on item listings that are ended shortly after an exchange of offer prices in email.

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Not unless something that could be deemed suspicious was worded in those messages. Otherwise ending the listing is the smart thing to do. 

Why sell for a loss ever? I wouldn't, I would simply open my garbage can, dump the item into it, and the garbage can gives me no flack back. 

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My guess is that they see any message from a buyer, you respond, you end listing, you get warning.

Regardless of the message.

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I haven't seen a single thread where that has happened, have you? 

Regardless, the seller could relist the item which would just negate the bad counter-offer. 

I think sellers who are going to react in fear for every little thing they do on ebay should quit. They are interpreting the relationship with ebay as abusive, and that they are willing to accept that and work "for ebay" under those abusive conditions. The relationship may very well be interpreted as abusive in some ways, but trying to guess what they next form of abuse is going to be and then put fear into people reading these threads is beyond ridiculous. 

Why don't those sellers just write-"Do everything you can imagine, even if not policy, that will make ebay happy, and while you are at it, get in position for your next beating." 

Scary stuff. 

[plumbingspecials]

To OP - block the buyer, because if your pricing is not good enough for him, you can believe nothing else will be either. Best not to do business with buyers who are TOO demanding.

[campesinoplastic2014]

...Or, if that price isn't good enough, they will get on Youtube tonight and find out how to get it for free and leave you a red donut!

[7606dennis]

If I understand correctly, a buyer made an offer and you countered with an offer of your own.  The buyer then counters your counter offer.  The ball is now in your court.  You can accept their offer, decline their offer, counter their offer (be careful not to run out exchanges in the negotiations) or ignore their latest offer and let it expire, using what I call your pocket veto.

[chrysylys]

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@7606dennis wrote:

If I understand correctly, a buyer made an offer and you countered with an offer of your own.  The buyer then counters your counter offer. 

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See Post #8:

01-19-2018 10:54:04 AM dawaguila_2 It was through the messages on Ebay. It was a fixed price listing, I received a message saying, would you accept "$__), for the item. I hit the "offer" button through the messages, and then was told they want it lower. I did it on two different listings (through messaging versus actual sales), and now I want to retract both of them.  

Buyer to seller via message:  Will you take lower?

Seller sends offer via reply message  $$

Buyer to seller via message:  Not low enough, I want lower!!

I'm just not sure if those offers sent that way time out.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

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@chrysylys wrote:

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@7606dennis wrote:

If I understand correctly, a buyer made an offer and you countered with an offer of your own.  The buyer then counters your counter offer. 

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See Post #8:

01-19-2018 10:54:04 AM dawaguila_2 It was through the messages on Ebay. It was a fixed price listing, I received a message saying, would you accept "$__), for the item. I hit the "offer" button through the messages, and then was told they want it lower. I did it on two different listings (through messaging versus actual sales), and now I want to retract both of them.  

Buyer to seller via message:  Will you take lower?

Seller sends offer via reply message  $$

Buyer to seller via message:  Not low enough, I want lower!!

I'm just not sure if those offers sent that way time out.

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All official offers time out after 48 hours. 

All unofficial offers mean nothing outside of people getting upset. 

[fern*wood]

The offers sent through a message using the "send an offer" button are official just as the ones on listings that offer "Best Offer", and they also time out in the same manner.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

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@fern*wood wrote:

The offers sent through a message using the "send an offer" button are official just as the ones on listings that offer "Best Offer", and they also time out in the same manner.

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Yes. I am talking about chit chat through messaging that do not include any offer "buttons". 

[getitright1234]

Check out similar sold items and determine if your item is pricedat or below the going rate .   Should you discover your prices are much higher, I would check out this buyer's feedback; allow the buyer's feedback  to determine if you should agree to an additional discount.    

[7606dennis]

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@chrysylys wrote:

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@7606dennis wrote:

If I understand correctly, a buyer made an offer and you countered with an offer of your own.  The buyer then counters your counter offer. 

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See Post #8:

01-19-2018 10:54:04 AM dawaguila_2 It was through the messages on Ebay. It was a fixed price listing, I received a message saying, would you accept "$__), for the item. I hit the "offer" button through the messages, and then was told they want it lower. I did it on two different listings (through messaging versus actual sales), and now I want to retract both of them.  

Buyer to seller via message:  Will you take lower?

Seller sends offer via reply message  $$

Buyer to seller via message:  Not low enough, I want lower!!

I'm just not sure if those offers sent that way time out.

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Frankly, I merely block people that send such offers.  If I haven't included the BO in a listing, which I normally don't do, I'm not interesting in receiving offers.  Of course, if a seller doesn't mind haggling that is their prerogative.

It would be nice if buyers were to understand that just because eBay now permits something doesn't mean that it's a good idea.  Of course, we still have sellers that believe eBay's suggestion to start items at 99¢ with free shipping.