What is " lowball"

There is the obo option when a component is listed. When I respond to a for-sale with this option, I simply ask: " what is your bottom dollar" on this item...why beat around the bush.

Components listed without the obo option I take as being somewhat firm in price...an offer 75% of my asking price would be taken by me as a "lowball" offer...I would respond though with a polite no thanks and have always responded to all offers from any adds I have listed.

I would think that we all "do our homework" before we go shopping. What an item is worth and the price range that item has been selling at is part of that homework...as such, you should know if you have just made a "lowball" offer.

Dave

search the archives, this has been recently discussed ad nauseum...Cheers,
Spencer

Mthieme
You might find this thread helpful regarding your question.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr_memb.pl?&&listthrd&zzCarmantom

I agree with Dave, and would add one observation. Not all sellers price their items close to market value. It's not uncommon to see overpriced items, and in this case an offer of 75% might be very close to where these items should be realistically sold. However, there is no doubt that sellers of such items would consider 75% offers to be lowball. So, this becomes a matter of interpretation and point of reference. The educated buyer might believe the 75% offer is extremely reasonable, while the uneducated seller might believe the 75% offer is insultingly low.

In a perfect market, where items are priced accurately according to proper market value, I would consider any offer of less than 85% (15% discount) to be lowball.

An ignored offer to me is rude and inconsiderate when a simple no thanks is all that is required. I agree that lowball offers are upsetting but they are a part of the buying and selling process. I would provide a response such as "No Thank You" even if the ad is marked price is firm. Simple courtesy.