watcher emails asking "what's cheapest price i can get?"...how to respond?

[jack_bucks_ghost]

i listed my first expensive item yesterday ($800)--a short printed, autographed sports card--as a buy now with best offer.  almost immediately, i received an email from a potential buyer asking, "What’s the cheapest I can get this for".  how do you respond to such a question? do you respond?  i don't want to be snarky to the buyer, but it seems like he's asking me to make him an offer instead of vice versa.  is this sort of question common with higher priced items?  any thoughts or input are greatly appreciated...thanks.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Maybe he thinks he's at a flea market, asking "What's your best price?"

[bar-29368]

Personally, if was sent with that tone I'd just ignore it.

[mattheld]

’Thank you for the inquiry. I’ve listed the item for the price I would like to receive for it.  The Best Offer option is so I may entertain offers lower than I would like. At this point, I would like to sell the item at the listed price, but please feel free to place an offer.  I assure you I will consider it.’

[mtgraves7984]

My kneejerk reaction is to ignore the message.

I don't think it's more common with higher priced items, but I do think it is more common with 'funky' buyers.

Good luck!

[wiboi]

I get that question ALL the time since I have best offer on 90% of my listings. I would definitely respond. Think on the best offer you planned on taking had the offer been made, and tell him that. If $5 off was the best you’re gonna do, tell him, so your time and his are not wasted negotiating. 

[bar-29368]

And block as well

[jack_bucks_ghost]

i was thinking something along those lines--if i do respond at all...something like "I guess that will pretty much be determined by the offers I get. Thanks.", but i guess that's kind of snarky, isn't it?

[dhbookds]

I get that on lesser priced items and tell them the lowest I will take.... I send the offer with that verbiage and some will take it......

I don't know why anyone objects........some people want "something" off....but don't want to dicker about it..........

[wiboi]

Block a buyer for asking a question? Huh? 

[fern*wood]

Since you listed with offers accepted, I would just respond that I am considering all reasonable offers.  That way they know they have to make one and that you won't just throw out a price.

[*madison]

"What’s the cheapest I can get this for".

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If that's the whole message, I would block.

Some messages can be very telling.

By the way, be careful of scammers, new seller, with a high priced item is like a magnet.

[*madison]

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@wiboi wrote:

Block a buyer for asking a question? Huh? 

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It depends how they ask.

A buyer sent me this message.

"will you take less mate GET BACK TO ME ASAP!"

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I almost fell over myself in the rush to block that person.

[jack_bucks_ghost]

yeah, that's the entire message. i did receive an offer from a buyer with zero feedback--it was a lowball offer, so i didn't consider it, but would have been hesitant to accept on a high priced item (i understand being new, but i've read too much about scammers on the forums to take a chance on big ticket sale). 

[buyselljack2016]

@jack_bucks_ghost 

Buyer wants to get the best price that they can get without making the mistake of offering too much to start with, and without the back, and forth offer, counter offer, counter offer, counter offer, counter offer.......................

You have it listed with "offer". I would expect that you know how much you are willing to accept.  Reply with that amount.

Oh, and do not hit the "reply with offer" blue box.  Use the plain reply. The reason for that is, if you are using immediate payment required (IPR), it does not apply on offers.   If you reach an acceptable price you can change the selling price to the new amount, and still have IPR. That will keep the listing active until a buyer pays.