eBay

stingking · ‎09-04-2017

Curious how other sellers deal with consistent low offers. Typically when I list an item I research what similar items have recently sold for and price my item at a price at and very often lower than that similar sold price. I more often than not receive offers of half or less than half of my buy it now price.

klassic*kids · ‎09-04-2017

I agree.

And I just looked over your store -- you have a lot of great items for sale. Very ecliptic assortment. You must have quite the array of sourcing avenues.

Getting ready to take off for a Labor Day BBQ. Hope I hear at last one ca-ching while I am there!

Have a nice afternoon. ~ Deana

Happy 2018! May this upcoming year be a prosperous one!

nostalgia_hunter · ‎09-04-2017

Whenever I get an offer even a lowball I make a counter offer. If they continue with a lowball I explain that I can't sell for less than my cost. Remember too that Ebay allows buying bots on the site so many times whenever an in demand item is listed you will get spammed with automated offers in the hopes of flipping the item. Ebay really needs to give us the option to disallow bots on our listings honestly. Its one of the things that is killing their rep/brand.

zzydny · ‎09-04-2017

@klassic*kids wrote:
I agree.

And I just looked over your store -- you have a lot of great items for sale. Very ecliptic assortment. You must have quite the array of sourcing avenues.

Getting ready to take off for a Labor Day BBQ. Hope I hear at last one ca-ching while I am there!

Have a nice afternoon. ~ Deana

Thanks. Actually most of my items (except bandanas that I buy wholesale) are donated to me by people who know I can't work at a regular job--I really appreciate whatever I'm given but I never know what is gonna turn up. One nice lady sometimes shows up at my house at strange hours with bags of heaven-knows-what; one night it was 6 large garbage bags of bed pillows! I've learned never to say no to anything. If I can't sell it and I can't use it, I see that it goes to someone else who has need.

This is literally how I put food on my table and kibble in the cat food bowl so I am motivated to do more and do better.

Have a wonderful barbecue! Hope your sales ring up lots and lots.

phcd1 · ‎09-04-2017

@klassic*kids wrote:
... I still will get unsolicited emails from people making an offer anyway. Sometimes it's 50% or more off my asking price + they want free shipping...

This typically happens when someone follows your item, knows it been relisted 3,4, 10 times and it still hasn't sold. They figure you must be willing to sell it now. It still amazes me how many sellers hold on to the bitter end only to sell it for less then what someone offered a year ago. After all, not many things on eBay go up in price as time goes on, especially electronics.

turquoisetulips · ‎09-04-2017

Thank you ! and yes I do have a sense of humor , it comes in real handy sometimes .

wpt05 · ‎09-04-2017

It is possible they are hoping to bargain with you and want you to send a counteroffer. It is possible they think because you are offering Best Offer that you are desperate to sell the item. I have seen some rediculous offers like $1. Were they hoping that I clicked accept by accident and then be bound to a legal obligation to sell? I don't know. There are a number reasons why they offer so low and it will drive you crazy trying to figure them all out. What I do is respond to each offer individually. If I like the offer, I accept it. If I don't like the offer, I politely decline no matter how low or rediculous the amount. Act like Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse and be nice as you walk them to the door.

dande2016 · ‎09-04-2017

After last week, I decided no more BO on my BIN items. I had an item listed for $30 plus shipping of $4. I received an offer of $10 with free shipping. I immediately declined it.

Next day the same person made another offer. It was for $15 and in the the messages they stated this This is a used item, you will accept my $15 and include shipping. Ummmm, I don't think so.

I declined the offer then ended the item. I later relisted it with a $27 BIN no offers and free shipping. It sold within 24 hours.

I was getting tired of the low ball offers so no more BO for me.

castlemagicmemories · ‎09-04-2017

I wonder if sometimes the Best Offer works in an unintended (perhaps) way.

That annoyance that a buyer feels when their best offer sits around with no answer, or is rejected, may goad said buyer into forking over the full price asked. Their frustration, or their impatience, moves them to buy. Also they may not want to lose the item to another buyer who has no problem hitting the BIN and who wants to avoid the back and forth or waiting for acceptance.

Just some thoughts.

wpt05 · ‎09-04-2017

@zzydnyYou make a lot of interesting points here. In regard to the buyer feedback left, I do the same as you. This weeds out a lot of potential problems in the future.

"Others have different (and probably better) ways of handling Best Price Offers but this works for me." It is interesting to note that klassic*kids has a very different strategy than yours, yet seems to be working fine for her. So I guess It is important for the seller to find the best strategy that works for them.

zzydny · ‎09-04-2017

@wpt05 wrote:

....."Others have different (and probably better) ways of handling Best Price Offers but this works for me." It is interesting to note that klassic*kids has a very different strategy than yours, yet seems to be working fine for her. So I guess It is important for the seller to find the best strategy that works for them.

Exactly! You have to try all sorts of different stratgies to see which ones fit--some things will fail, some things will succeed, and you may even figure out something else that is entirely new and helpful on your own.

Every seller is different. That's why it's really great to hear lots of viewpoints. Each person has something to teach someone else. I enjoy listening to how other folks get stuff done--it's okay if I don't do the same way and I can still learn from the details.

zzydny · ‎09-04-2017

@turquoisetulips wrote:
.....and yes I do have a sense of humor , it comes in real handy sometimes .

For eBay sellers, humor is often a necessity!

castlemagicmemories · ‎09-04-2017

Probably when you get a best offer of $1.00 with free shipping on a hundred dollar item!

That could be good for loads of laughs!

zzydny · ‎09-04-2017

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
Probably when you get a best offer of $1.00 with free shipping on a hundred dollar item!

That could be good for loads of laughs!

Yeah. Tons of fun. I have actually had offers of precisely that sort.

I tell them that shipping is not included in Best Offer. And then I make a counteroffer at $1 off the asking price.

castlemagicmemories · ‎09-04-2017

Seriously you have to wonder what is going through someone's head (anything?) when they make an offer like that. Hello??? Anybody home??? Are they SO special you are going to PAY THEM to take your item?? Do they think the seller is stupid or just that desperate??

Read something great once about a seller who got offers like that. Came down slightly in response. Counter offer was LOWER than the original offer. Seller countered with MORE than the previous counter.

campesinoplastic2014 · ‎09-04-2017

"Dear Ebayer. Thank you for your exceptionally generous offer. We will consider this kind offer and get back to you by June 33, 2046. In the interim, please check your local thrfit store or the neighbors rubbish bin for tantalizing items which may be within your budget. Thank you again!"