Haggling v. Lowballing

[PFKMan23]

Not to get into the whole interest check discussion (there are already 2 recent threads about it), in my mind if a price is listed (which is what I belive this thread centers around), then that's the seller considers a "fair" price and hence subsequent offers should be around there.

In short I think that the IC discussion and this one is different, in that this discussion center aroun where prices are more or less explicitly stated.

....

From what I've seen setting prices exorbantly high really isn't the norm, atleast in terms of common goods (like HD650s, DT880s, Gilmore Lites, etc.. A rare or discontinued good is another matter. As far as placing sentimental value on an item I really don't have any solid view on that, some do, some don't again that's a different discussion one with certain implications that I'd rather not discuss in the open. As far as a seller wanting to loose a little money as possible (or even making money), that's just economics/human nature/the nature of buisness. From what I've seen most people don't want to loose money if they if can avoid it, minimize their losses and better still if they can make money.

As far as some people who let items go becasue they want to make a quick sale, that is definitely true, but in my mind that does not legitimize offers that are lowballing or what not. That said the wholewant/need to make a quick sale doesn't apply to everyone.

That said as I stated previously I don't necessarily consider setting inflated prices to be the norm, maybe your view/experience is different.

 

[viator122]

Lowballing is insulting. The offeror is suggesting that the seller doesn't know what his/her item is worth and is stupid enough to let something go for way below it's value. The lowballer is trying to take advantage of the seller.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFKMan23 Not to get into the whole interest check discussion (there are already 2 recent threads about it), in my mind if a price is listed (which is what I belive this thread centers around), then that's the seller considers a "fair" price and hence subsequent offers should be around there.

Some people intentionally price high just to see if they can get that price (sometimes its more than what they paid). Other times, people just have unrealistic expectations of what they can get for an item or what that item is worth. Consider that from the buyer's point of view, it can often be "annoying" read through FS threads that have items priced above what is realistic.

Consider also how often prices will fall rapidly when an item is not selling. That being the case, why would you as a buyer hold out to see if it will fall. You make your low offer to see if the seller will bite.

A buddy of mine recently offered to sell me his digital camera that was in fair to maybe good condition. He paid a good price for it when he bought it, but the market value on a camera with those specs had fallen considerably and there's no way in hell I'd pay anywhere near what he was asking. The thing is though, many of us do just what he did. We consider what we paid for it, and we're willing to go a bit below that, but this is often still far above its value.

These are just the dynamics of buying and selling on the used market. If you don't like it, or don't want to go through it, don't bother to buy or sell used items.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by viator122 Lowballing is insulting. The offeror is suggesting that the seller doesn't know what his/her item is worth and is stupid enough to let something go for way below it's value. The lowballer is trying to take advantage of the seller.

As I just said, MANY times the buyer has a very unrealistic idea of what an item is worth. A low ball to him/her may be market value.

Other times, (also like I already mentioned) sellers will fish for a higher price than they even think an item is worth. The seller, in such a case is trying to take advantage of the buyer.

Again, these are just the dynamics of buying and selling on the used market. If you don't like it...

 

[raisin]

I believe in setting a fair price on anything I sell, to lower my price with haggling just admits that I was asking too much to begin with and would reflect poorly against my honesty.

 

[boodi]

(jasper) So you think lowballs are mainly due to a price that's often set too high from start .
I disagree ,
lowballs are for other reasons .
And I don't really see such higher-then-due price here really , more then often what I see here is a good deal .

 

[PFKMan23]

Sometimes prices fall rapidly sometimes they don't, that is also the inherent nature of a used market. The fact that they drop does not mean thathe seller was acting dishonestly at all. Sometimes they don't know the market value. And as far as buyers sending in low offers for a product hoping that a seller would bite or haggle, if it is that deviant from the asking price in my mind the seller woudl more often than not

Personally as I said, I don't find this whole issue of sellers setting thier prices exhorbantly high to be the norm, it is evident to me you see it differently. It is also evident that you are largely centering around the buyers mindset whereas mine is more towards a sellers mindset.

That said looking at your example that to me is someting that might be centering around something that needs to be a "quick sale".

 

[Jasper994]

Sometimes even on the new market, people are way off in their expectations of what they can sell an item for. When I bought my HD280 Pro, I found them at a little shop that sells TVs and audio equipment for the MSRP which is around $200. I also found them at PC Mall (which is a few miles from me) for $69.99, but when I went to make my purchase they had sold out. Well, there's a Guitar Center a block away from that A/V store so I went over there to see if they could match PC Mall. Wanting to give the little guy a chance I went back and offered them $70. The sales guy was a bit offeneded and said "That's below what I pay for them!" Saddly, if that's the case, he should even bother to carry them since there are several places very nearby that will sell them for quite a bit less than he pays for them. Regardless, if I didn't hold out for the lower price, I would have paid $130 too much (almost triple the value).

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by boodi (jasper) So you think lowballs are mainly due to a price that's often set too high from start . I disagree , lowballs are for other reasons . And I don't really see such higher-then-due price here really , more then often what I see here is a good deal .

Let's put it like this. I know people on this board who consistantly sell things they bought used for a profit when they themselves decide to sell it. I've also seen many cases where a seller will drop the price when the item doesn't move. I've also heard many stories from friends telling me how they scooped up a great deal with a lowball offer from someone trying to make a quick sale. From the buyer's perspective, there's no reason not to make a low offer to see if the seller will bite.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFKMan23 Sometimes prices fall rapidly sometimes they don't, that is also the inherent nature of a used market. The fact that they drop does not mean thathe seller was acting dishonestly at all. Sometimes they don't know the market value. And as far as buyers sending in low offers for a product hoping that a seller would bite or haggle, if it is that deviant from the asking price in my mind the seller woudl more often than not Personally as I said, I don't find this whole issue of sellers setting thier prices exhorbantly high to be the norm, it is evident to me you see it differently. It is also evident that you are largely centering around the buyers mindset whereas mine is more towards a sellers mindset. That said looking at your example that to me is someting that might be centering around something that needs to be a "quick sale".

I never said the seller was necessarily acting dishonestly. I also don't believe that a seller offering something for sale for more than they paid for it is wrong or dishonest. It's merely an offer, and the potential buyer does not have to pay that price. Also, as I mentioned, many times we put sentimental value and other such things into the price we ask without realizing we are doing so. There's nothing wrong with that.

On the same turn, why should a buyer pay more than they feel something is worth. Why shouldn't they try to get an item for as low a price as they can. This is the nature of the free market...

 

[PFKMan23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper994 On the same turn, why should a buyer pay more than they feel something is worth. Why shouldn't they try to get an item for as low a price as they can. This is the nature of the free market...

It is but then again when a seller doesn't respond or makes some snide comment back, in my mind the potential buyer shouldn't be that surpised at all, especially if it was a lowball offer. There's another characteristic of the free market for you.

That being sai I don't see any problems with any approach, either acting as a seller and being firm in the price, lowering it, or taking it off the market. Or as buyer who buys at that price or haggles/lowballs. But one should be aware of the possbile consequences of that.

But, I can defintely see the mindset of having nothing to loose by making a lowball offer.

 

[Jasper994]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFKMan23 It is but then again when a seller doesn't respond or makes some snide comment back, in my mind the potential buyer shouldn't be that surpised at all, especially if it was a lowball offer. There's another characteristic of the free market for you. That being sai I don't see any problems with any approach, either acting as a seller and being firm in the price, lowering it, or taking it off the market. Or as buyer who buys at that price or haggles/lowballs. But one should be aware of the possbile consequences of that. But, I can defintely see the mindset of having nothing to loose by making a lowball offer.

Agreed

More correctly, though, the buyer has everything to gain by making a lowball offer.

 

[PFKMan23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper994 Agreed More correctly, though, the buyer has everything to gain by making a lowball offer.

2 sides of the same coin

Half empty, half full!

 

[viator122]

So he didn't ring your doorbell or anything? He just waited outside hoping to ambush you?

 

[boodi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by viator122 So he didn't ring your doorbell or anything? He just waited outside hoping to ambush you?

pardon my lord ?