Sellers Obligation To Respond

Macm - Right on! Equally frustrating is when you (as a seller) make a reasonable counter-offer and then hear nothing else from the prospective buyer. The point about reading and understanding ads as posted is critical. I've had folks make me offers on equipment I had on auction whihc were well below the posted minimum opening bid, and well below the going "market value". I have recently subscribed to Audiogon's Blue Book, and I find it quite useful to set fair prices. By now, I am mature enough not to let "lust" for a new component force me to lose my shirt on a sale. For the most part, a lot of us sell to "upgrade", but what we are selling is perfectly functional equipment with a lot of life left in it.

Luc, I empathize with the frustration that prompted you to begin this thread. It's easy to see from some of the responses that sellers are equally frustrated as well. Can't we all just get along? Seriously though...I've been a member of AudioGon since week one. And in that time I've bought and sold regularly from this site and others. Suffice it to say that I've bought and sold a fair amount of components, and have some experience at this.

By listing components for sale regularly, it doesn't take anyone very long before they come to a quick realization that the majority of email inquiries on for sale items, are nothing more than folks looking to get something for nothing. I like a great buy on a component as well as the next person, however, over time, repeated ridiculous offers conforms a seller to ignoring the ridiculous offers altogether. You all know what type of offer I'm speaking about. The one that is 25% of retail for a current model item in mint condition. Get real! Sorry, but this type of offer merits no response from me, and is hardly worth the time it takes to delete it from my inbox. Does that make me discourteous? I've not given any thought to that, nor have I given thought to the buyers motives by sending it my way...frankly, it's not worth my time to reply to ridiculous offers, and it doesn't do one any good to become emotional or frustrated about the situation. I simply see it as the cost of doing business on the web...nothing more.

Bottom line. A fair offer for an advertised item deserves a prompt reply. A ridiculous offer deserves nothing, IMHO. If your listing is priced competitively, a QUALIFIED buyer will step up to acquire it eventually. Patience is a prerequisite for selling any used gear.

For the record, a vast majority of the ridiculous offers I've received in the past have been sent by individuals inquiring from AudioGon. Over the years, we've all observed reserve auctions on items that don't generate enough bids that come close to meet a sellers respectable reserve price. I suspect this same mentality carries over to many members making inquiries on classified ads. My belief is, one can ask what they will, but I'm not OBLIGATED to reply out of some sense of courtesy. Why dignify a ridiculous (lowball) offer with a reply? I won't waste my time with it.

Enjoy!

I agree with Coltranel and very well put This site was put together for serious audio people and not for kickers If it was not for audiogon and most of its good members I never could of put together my system I do agree that a person should respond to serious offers only but the low ballers why waste the time Thanks

I agree with you folks. Wierdos come in buyers and sellers form I guess. Since we're sharing seller's horrors stories, here's mine. I put an for sale ad for a 1998 forest green toyota 4 runner. Soon after, I recieved 3 calls from potential buyers. After taking time off of work to show these idiots the car, they all said the didn't like the color and they were all looking for something lighter like silver or white. For god sake, I posted my ad saying that the color is green. The funny thing is that I also included some pictures. I can't believe share the earth with so many morons.

I dont respond to cheap bottom feeders.