Steve M.
Veteran
I listed a few low priced photography items on eBay recently and it's been a crappy experience. I seem to have caught an annoying wave of low ball offers. The first ads were ended because three different people sent me messages trying to make low ball offers on ads that clearly had no such options. It's BIY or go home, which is how I sell everything. The second time I relisted things, well, it's happening again.
I put these guys on my blocked bidders list, but is this a trend these days? I'll bet these are the sort of people who go to Walmart, grab a package of briefs marked $10, and tell the cashier "I'll buy these for $5 if you want to make a quick sale, and could you ship them to my place for free?" These are not normal offers I would consider even iif I were listing a Best Offer ad, they're stupidly low.
Here's an actual example of how this goes. I have two cameras listed for sale, so someone messages me and asks if I can lower the price and they'll buy them both. So I give him a great price, and he then wants free shipping. I explain that things have been priced low already, and free shipping isn't going to happen, but I'll meet him halfway on it. We agree on that, and as I'm redoing the ad I see that he's messaged me again, and now he wants a Fair Trade Warranty included, whatever the !&#$! that is (on a $40 year old, $40 film camera!!!), and by then I decide this is NOT who I want to be dealing with and I pull the ads.
I put these guys on my blocked bidders list, but is this a trend these days? I'll bet these are the sort of people who go to Walmart, grab a package of briefs marked $10, and tell the cashier "I'll buy these for $5 if you want to make a quick sale, and could you ship them to my place for free?" These are not normal offers I would consider even iif I were listing a Best Offer ad, they're stupidly low.
Here's an actual example of how this goes. I have two cameras listed for sale, so someone messages me and asks if I can lower the price and they'll buy them both. So I give him a great price, and he then wants free shipping. I explain that things have been priced low already, and free shipping isn't going to happen, but I'll meet him halfway on it. We agree on that, and as I'm redoing the ad I see that he's messaged me again, and now he wants a Fair Trade Warranty included, whatever the !&#$! that is (on a $40 year old, $40 film camera!!!), and by then I decide this is NOT who I want to be dealing with and I pull the ads.
B-9
Devin Bro
It is a trend.
Along with buyers not reading description before buying and buyers ultimately not paying.
I’ve had to dig into my settings to restrict bidders left and right.
eBay is on the slope down.
Along with buyers not reading description before buying and buyers ultimately not paying.
I’ve had to dig into my settings to restrict bidders left and right.
eBay is on the slope down.
joe bosak
Well-known
I've had lowball offers accepted on ebay (not often, but it has happened) and as a buyer don't know what the seller might consider. By lowball I mean 25 percent of asking price. Not photo gear though, but second hand stock from dealers.
What pisses me off are sellers who won't counter-offer. To me, offering 50 percent of your BIN price is saying - too high, how about something lower - your turn. And that's how it's designed to work, offer, counter-offer and so one until we run out of the bids we're allowed. And in my opinion sellers who only will accept a 5 percent discount might as well not use best offer.
What pisses me off are sellers who won't counter-offer. To me, offering 50 percent of your BIN price is saying - too high, how about something lower - your turn. And that's how it's designed to work, offer, counter-offer and so one until we run out of the bids we're allowed. And in my opinion sellers who only will accept a 5 percent discount might as well not use best offer.
B-9
Devin Bro
I agree Joe,
If your gonna use OBO you need to actually consider fair offers lol.
Although I love Roberts (UsedPhotoPro) they are guilty of using Best Offer only for at best a 5-10% discount. Still... they tend to have the best prices anyway.
If your gonna use OBO you need to actually consider fair offers lol.
Although I love Roberts (UsedPhotoPro) they are guilty of using Best Offer only for at best a 5-10% discount. Still... they tend to have the best prices anyway.
Jack Conrad
Well-known
This is what I do. Put the item up as Buy it Now at a rather high price
with a make offer option, but place a minimum on the offer that matches
what you wanted for the item to begin with.
If the buyer doesn't meet the minimum you'll never see the offer.
It works for me.
with a make offer option, but place a minimum on the offer that matches
what you wanted for the item to begin with.
If the buyer doesn't meet the minimum you'll never see the offer.
It works for me.
benlees
Well-known
Low balling is just part of the process of selling stuff. Annoying but best to ignore and forget. The real inconsiderates come out for free stuff. Happily, they never show up.
enasniearth
Well-known
counteroffers
counteroffers
a 50% offer is not really a serious offer
some of us were brought up haggling and consider it fun
for others its just too personal and a pain in the butt
in the 1970's I went to look at a 1950's ford pickup
the seller kept saying make me an offer I won't be insulted
I offered about 70%
he closed the garage door and said that I insulted him
counteroffers
a 50% offer is not really a serious offer
some of us were brought up haggling and consider it fun
for others its just too personal and a pain in the butt
in the 1970's I went to look at a 1950's ford pickup
the seller kept saying make me an offer I won't be insulted
I offered about 70%
he closed the garage door and said that I insulted him
filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
I've run into the same problem. I even added in the description that if you contact me with an "offer", I will in turn make fun of you, then ban you so I never have to deal with you again and I get the last word too.
This way I get some amusement out of folks who are wasting my time. End of story.
This way I get some amusement out of folks who are wasting my time. End of story.
Corran
Well-known
Is sending an offer of $20 to someone selling an Argus C3, listed for $200 BIN, considered low-balling?
Sometimes (well, a lot of times) people list stuff at ridiculous prices, and then complain when people "low-ball." Just last week I contacted someone who had a camera for sale on a Facebook ad which they had received no interest for, and offered 1/8th the price, as I thought that's what it was worth and was willing to pay that. They came back at a bit more, which I agreed to after inspecting the item. That's how it works. If they said no, then fine.
If you find it troublesome, put a minimum offer on your "Make Offer" sale and you'll never get a "low-ball" offer again. That said, I've seen $500 items that auto-rejected offers at $475...so at least be realistic.
Sometimes (well, a lot of times) people list stuff at ridiculous prices, and then complain when people "low-ball." Just last week I contacted someone who had a camera for sale on a Facebook ad which they had received no interest for, and offered 1/8th the price, as I thought that's what it was worth and was willing to pay that. They came back at a bit more, which I agreed to after inspecting the item. That's how it works. If they said no, then fine.
If you find it troublesome, put a minimum offer on your "Make Offer" sale and you'll never get a "low-ball" offer again. That said, I've seen $500 items that auto-rejected offers at $475...so at least be realistic.
Huss
Veteran
Exactly. I lowballed a perfect condition Leica R9, because I did not need it and figured if he'd go that low then I need it..
He coulda said no. He said yes..
I love ebay. I get most of my stuff from it for excellent prices. If you don't like low ball offers, don't give the option to make offers.
filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
Here's teh thing, if you click on "Contact Seller" ebay will give you the option for "Offers" even though the Seller isn't actually taking offers. low ballers know this play on that (even though you're not taking offers).
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
OK. your intro shows something else than your example.
So, my take is:
1. on your intro: this is ebay. if you sell a second hand stuff, it is worth as much exactly as someone wants to pay for it.
Your "low ball offer" definition is possibly someone else's max budget.
If you get an offer that is too low, no need to be offended, annoyed, irritated, no need to whine about it, to ban anyone, to call the police, to write to sante: just reject it and that's it. If it annoys you then don't use ebay as buyers using ebay are entitled to use all services ebay offers them (including making an offer on a BIN item through messages, if they feel like).
2. On your example, my opinion is fully agreeing with yours. These are just guys who keep pushing their luck. At some point a good deal is just that, a good deal, and you have to take it. The enemy of good is "best".
I am highly annoyed by sellers who say something like reasonable offers accepted, or i will disregard low offers, or -the most annoying of it all - the knowledgeable buyer will know what this is worth. Typically they expect top price for old junk and they don't accept that a buyer is not obliged to offer what they have dreamed up.
There's no such thing as universal "fair offer".
For example i have seen a crazy dude asking 99 bucks for 6 rolls of expired film from 30 years ago (and not special film at all). And marked shipping at 30 bucks from Holland to Holland. So i was like *** and made him a 1$ offer just for fun
He made a counteroffer of 98$.
So i wrote him OK look it's old junk and you know it, i can give you 6 bucks plus reasonable shipping which would be around 4-6 more. He said no he can't ship it for that much.
End discussion. Nobody banned, i made my point, he made his choice, all civilized.
But it was an "OBO" type listing.
We all take our chances.
Crazy "high baller" sellers might hope for crazy buyers with more money than brain.
Crazy "low baller" buyers might hope for striking gold form an attic find with a "i don't know" or "i don't care" type seller.
Jack Conrad's strategy above is good.
So, my take is:
1. on your intro: this is ebay. if you sell a second hand stuff, it is worth as much exactly as someone wants to pay for it.
Your "low ball offer" definition is possibly someone else's max budget.
If you get an offer that is too low, no need to be offended, annoyed, irritated, no need to whine about it, to ban anyone, to call the police, to write to sante: just reject it and that's it. If it annoys you then don't use ebay as buyers using ebay are entitled to use all services ebay offers them (including making an offer on a BIN item through messages, if they feel like).
2. On your example, my opinion is fully agreeing with yours. These are just guys who keep pushing their luck. At some point a good deal is just that, a good deal, and you have to take it. The enemy of good is "best".
I am highly annoyed by sellers who say something like reasonable offers accepted, or i will disregard low offers, or -the most annoying of it all - the knowledgeable buyer will know what this is worth. Typically they expect top price for old junk and they don't accept that a buyer is not obliged to offer what they have dreamed up.
There's no such thing as universal "fair offer".
For example i have seen a crazy dude asking 99 bucks for 6 rolls of expired film from 30 years ago (and not special film at all). And marked shipping at 30 bucks from Holland to Holland. So i was like *** and made him a 1$ offer just for fun
He made a counteroffer of 98$.
So i wrote him OK look it's old junk and you know it, i can give you 6 bucks plus reasonable shipping which would be around 4-6 more. He said no he can't ship it for that much.
End discussion. Nobody banned, i made my point, he made his choice, all civilized.
But it was an "OBO" type listing.
We all take our chances.
Crazy "high baller" sellers might hope for crazy buyers with more money than brain.
Crazy "low baller" buyers might hope for striking gold form an attic find with a "i don't know" or "i don't care" type seller.
Jack Conrad's strategy above is good.
steveyork
Well-known
At one time Ebay represented great deals for buyers of rangefinder stuff. That was fifteen - twenty years ago, during the dark days. Now most of the stuff offered is terrible overpriced; more expensive then you would pay at a legitimate store. Occasionally you'll have a sprinkling of folks who just want to get rid of stuff. Low balls offers, I think, are maybe people trying to re-capture the past when ebay was full of good deals.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Put the highest price you want to sell in BIN.
Enable OBO and put lowest price you want to sell.
Low ballers will send their offers , not messages and will get rejected automatically.
Enable OBO and put lowest price you want to sell.
Low ballers will send their offers , not messages and will get rejected automatically.
brbo
Well-known
You don't have to respond to such offers. Just ignore it. Educating buyers (or sellers) on eBay is not really productive or rewarding...
css9450
Veteran
Here's part of the problem: Ebay automatically activates the "Or Best Offer" option even when you don't want it. I list everything I sell as "Buy It Now" and I have to turn OFF "Or Best Offer" once when I list the item and then a second time several days (a week?) later when Ebay silently turns it back on.
I don't think it used to be that way; this is new. But I didn't sell very much prior to these past couple years, so maybe I never noticed it before.
So if you're a seller and you're suddenly getting offers you never anticipated getting, or you're a buyer but for some strange reason the sellers you buy from won't accept your offer, no matter how reasonable, this might be why.
I don't think it used to be that way; this is new. But I didn't sell very much prior to these past couple years, so maybe I never noticed it before.
So if you're a seller and you're suddenly getting offers you never anticipated getting, or you're a buyer but for some strange reason the sellers you buy from won't accept your offer, no matter how reasonable, this might be why.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I hate selling. It's definitely not for the fainthearted, even more so on eBay.
As buyer I try not to offend with offers, but when I don't desperately want an item
I will occasionally make what I consider a low offer. Sometimes I get lucky.
Chris
As buyer I try not to offend with offers, but when I don't desperately want an item
I will occasionally make what I consider a low offer. Sometimes I get lucky.
Chris
Out to Lunch
Ventor
Seems like a good solution.
People in the northern hemisphere have forgotten how to bargain. I suppose that today the majority will only have some bargaining experience when buying a car or a house. Otherwise, all prices are fixed. In many countries in the south, you still have to bargain for almost all items.
goamules
Well-known
For common items there is an average price they sell for. That is "the going rate". To sell a common item, it has to stand out among all the others, or it will sit for months unsold because of the competition. So its price or your guarantee or your shipping have to be better than the others.
The problem is there are buyers like the OP encountered, that want it all. A "low ball" offer is any at half your asking price, if you are at the going rate. They think that "the buyer is always right" and that a seller should be either intimidated by their unreasonable requests, or just give in out of frustration. They have lots of time on their hands to surf and constantly try to find someone who will sell that $40 camera for $10. They may ask 50 people a month, but eventually get one.
It's different with uncommon or rare items. There are fewer comparable items so you will sell faster. You do not need to lower your price or offer free shipping. But some think they are in the same situation as the common item. I used to sell a lot, but have gotten out of it. I had a guy on a lens group post that he wanted a particular 1800s French wetplate lens. I connected, and he gave me an offer about half the going rate. When I told him they sell for double that, and that I wasn't planning to sell, but figured I'd help him out, he said "what's a few hundred among friends?" He tried cajoling me, bullying me, lying to me. Said "Oh...sorry, I just don't know anything about these old brass lenses, what are they worth?" I looked him up, and he's been buying and selling antique brass and wood cameras for many years, including that maker. Has shelves full of Alpas with Angenieux lenses too, dozens. Deal was off, and he's on the "I will NEVER sell to you" list.
Too many con men out there trying to rip people off on eBay.
The problem is there are buyers like the OP encountered, that want it all. A "low ball" offer is any at half your asking price, if you are at the going rate. They think that "the buyer is always right" and that a seller should be either intimidated by their unreasonable requests, or just give in out of frustration. They have lots of time on their hands to surf and constantly try to find someone who will sell that $40 camera for $10. They may ask 50 people a month, but eventually get one.
It's different with uncommon or rare items. There are fewer comparable items so you will sell faster. You do not need to lower your price or offer free shipping. But some think they are in the same situation as the common item. I used to sell a lot, but have gotten out of it. I had a guy on a lens group post that he wanted a particular 1800s French wetplate lens. I connected, and he gave me an offer about half the going rate. When I told him they sell for double that, and that I wasn't planning to sell, but figured I'd help him out, he said "what's a few hundred among friends?" He tried cajoling me, bullying me, lying to me. Said "Oh...sorry, I just don't know anything about these old brass lenses, what are they worth?" I looked him up, and he's been buying and selling antique brass and wood cameras for many years, including that maker. Has shelves full of Alpas with Angenieux lenses too, dozens. Deal was off, and he's on the "I will NEVER sell to you" list.
Too many con men out there trying to rip people off on eBay.
Steve M.
Veteran
No, low balling is the about buying stuff, not selling it. I'll always accept a reasonable offer, but what I've been getting is, like I said, stupidly low offers. It's something that never used to happen on my auctions, and that's about 3,000 of them over 15 years on my account. So I certainly know how to word and sell something (hint: it's all about taking good pictures). Shoot, I sold our condo on eBay years ago in Galveston. That was so much easier than dealing w/ realtors.
All I can say is that I'm glad that I seldom buy or sell anything there anymore because eBay has have ruined it for small time sellers and the buyers are often royal PITA now. The problem isn't me, it's them. And the fees that eBay charges! How can they charge me a percentage on shipping fees! That's legal? But that's all besides the point. Selling is always a certain amount of hassle, and eBay gets used because that's where the buyers are, even if they are idiots. Life is too short of this sort of aggravation for so little return after all their fees are taken out.
Next time I'll just donate the stuff to someone that's interested in photography but is strapped for money. That's a much better use of my time.
All I can say is that I'm glad that I seldom buy or sell anything there anymore because eBay has have ruined it for small time sellers and the buyers are often royal PITA now. The problem isn't me, it's them. And the fees that eBay charges! How can they charge me a percentage on shipping fees! That's legal? But that's all besides the point. Selling is always a certain amount of hassle, and eBay gets used because that's where the buyers are, even if they are idiots. Life is too short of this sort of aggravation for so little return after all their fees are taken out.
Next time I'll just donate the stuff to someone that's interested in photography but is strapped for money. That's a much better use of my time.