THE MOTHER OF ALL LOW BALL OFFERS

[turquoisetulips]

Not really looking for advice  ,, I just thought this was too humorous  not to share . I have a  living memory locket for sale[ one of many ] for 15.65 or best offer - free shipping . Basically the same as most of my inventory . Today I got an offer  of one dollar  on it . Of course  I  politely declined  ,,  but it had me wondering what this person  was thinking . I guess its true what has been said  that a lot of people don't understand shipping charges or have any idea what they cost . I guess they  never purchase postage stamps or ship a package   so they would have at least some idea . I can't  rightfully call this person   a '' buyer '',, not just because I declined his one dollar  offer  .Mainly because it  would have cost me more than twice  the amount he offered just for the shipping  alone [never mind the cost of the locket itself ]  which in turn would have  made me the buyer  lol .  This is what I find so funny and now I'm curious . Anybody else have a story ? Tulips 

[parkersparrow]

I usually write back to those kinds of offers with: "Sorry, if I were to sell to you at that price I would end up losing money."  In hopes they will get the hint without being rude. 

[pburn]

Maybe the buyer lived in your neighborhood, and s/he thought you could just drop it off on your way to the grocery store.

[coffeebean832]

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

it had me wondering what this person  was thinking

---

They may have been thinking you won't know unless you try. A lot of stuff from China is $1 free ship so to them it could have been a reasonable offer. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[lex-talon]

A few days ago, I had a buyer make an offer of $1 on a cd that I listed for $15. Of course I declined. An hour later, the buyer replied, "Thanks anyway". 

[turquoisetulips]

---

@pburn wrote:
Maybe the buyer lived in your neighborhood, and s/he thought you could just drop it off on your way to the grocery store.

---

Yeah  LOL ,, well the shipping is only part of it . I wouldn't have sold that locket for one dollar even if the buyer paid the shipping . Some of the floating charms on the inside cost 1.50 a piece . At 15.65 free shipping  its a bargain as it is . In fact  I might remove the best offer  now that I know how silly it can get . Tulips 

[parkersparrow]

@turquoisetulips Why don't you just set it up to automatically decline offers lower than a certain amount?

[turquoisetulips]

---

@coffeebean832 wrote:

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

it had me wondering what this person  was thinking

---

They may have been thinking you won't know unless you try. A lot of stuff from China is $1 free ship so to them it could have been a reasonable offer. Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Trust me - there is nothing in China that looks like this locket  with all the completed charms , chain, theme  and side dangles  for one dollar free shipping . Not even in China .  Tulips 

[coffeebean832]

You asked what the buyer might be thinking. I suggested something. That doesn't mean I agree with them. I would never offer $1 for one of your necklaces.

[sam9876]

Best Offer is the same as shooting yourself in the foot. 

[turquoisetulips]

---

@parkersparrow wrote:

@turquoisetulips Why don't you just set it up to automatically decline offers lower than a certain amount?

---

I've done that ,,  but sometimes I just want to see if people are interested enough to even make an offer .  However this offer was never expected  truthfully ,, its the lowest I've ever received . Even obvious re sellers offer at least ten dollars ,, had a lot of those  . Tulips 

[gmcg3987]

That happened to me also.  I had an item for $15 and received an offer for $1.00.  I thought they had mistyped and left out a zero.  I countered with $10.00, in case that was their intent.  They declined my counter.  I then went and took "make offer" off my listings because the people were getting ridiculous.  I also had 2 other listings - 1 for 15.99 and a set of 3 for $15.99, with additional charges for shipping (and I will combine shipping).   Someone asked if I would sell all 4 items for $20 + free shipping AND drop ship to Oregon (they were listed as a buyer in China ( I don't sell to China).  I told them I wasn't accepting offers at this time, but in my mind I was saying something totally different!

[annasunicorns]

Haha. I had one of those awhile back. Offered me $1 on a baby carrier with free shipping that a. Ships in a priority envelope and b. Was $150 new. I declined and decided to mention in the notes, the same brand has a low end version for $26 (new!) if they wanted to search for x on ebay many of those are for sale around,$11. They countered at $11 saying mine was so much cuter. Its worth a cup of coffee to me after shipping and fees for that so no dice. It eventually sold for the $75 buy it now I had on it. Hilarious low balling people are part of the fun of this hobby!

[turquoisetulips]

Best Offer is the same as shooting yourself in the foot. sam --- 

Nah ,, actually I got a kick out of it  and my gun isn't even loaded   🙂   Tulips 

[myboardid]

I use the auto-decline with Best Offer so I never see the truly low-ball offers.  It helps keep my blood pressure under control!  But I have used a similar response to offers that are too low - that I would lose money at that price. 

When I first started using Best Offer I was very hesitant and hated bargaining, would get angry and stubborn.  Now I've learned to take it with a big grain of salt, and if I can't work out a mutually agreeable price, then to not take it personally and just move on.  I always end my counter offers with something like "If you choose to accept my offer, I look forward to completing this arrangement with you" - something positive and friendly.  And I can laugh at the offers that would be insulting of I let them.  Because of the aforementioned auto-decline, I only see those if I go to the listing itself and search for them.  With almost 1000 listings I don't do that very often.