"What's Your Best Price?"

I respond with, "What's your best offer?"

They usually don't reply, which is for the better, IMO. The question, "What's your best price", is seldom asked by serious buyers.

The only time an OBO listed price will be met by a full priced offer from a buyer is when both buyer and seller are educated about the current market value of a component, and the seller prices the piece at the market price. This rarely occurs.

I have made full priced offers on gear, and in nearly half the cases the sellers have pulled the item off the market because the believed they had priced their items too low.

12-17-06: Unsound
Interesting points by Jmcgrogan and Tvad, I recently found that posting prices at or below current market value has resulted in buyers not purchasing because I didn't bargain.

Isn't that a fascinating Catch-22?

12-24-06: Jeffreybowman2k
Come on guys, I don't care if you are from Neptune, "OBO" means an offer LOWER than the asking price.

Greetings from Neptune, where OBO means an offer higher or lower than the asking price. ;)

11-08-10: Audiofeil
If they ask for your best price, ask for their best offer.

I've done that. One of two things has happened. Either the person has never responded, or they have responded with indignation that I'd ask such a question.

Never has it resulted in a sale.

The question, "What's you best price?" is always asked by people who have no real intention of buying, IMO.

Then I'm the exception. I only ask if I intend to buy.
Baka1969 (Answers | This Thread)

That explains why you have no feedback.

I just joined AgoN but have 47 transactions at Head-Fi. All perfect. I'd come up with a different retort if I were you.
Baka1969 (Answers | This Thread)

Welcome.

If your opening line when responding to a listing is, "What's your best price?", then speaking as a buyer and a seller with over 250 transactions, I believe you're starting off at a disadvantage.

However, we all have our own methods, and if you have 40+ successful transactions as a buyer using this approach, then I can't argue with you.

Good luck.

I'm going for the smart a-- response next time.
Markpao (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

I don't believe replying with, "What's your best offer?" is a smart a** response. I think it's perfectly reasonable if the buyer started off with, "What's your best price?".

I used to list items at a fixed price, which was my lowest acceptable price. I still received offers, including the bone headed, "What's your best price?"

Hey, if I have a fixed price listing, it shouldn't take a brain surgeon to figure out my lowest acceptable price.

Nevertheless, some people don't get it.

Now, I just list the asking price, and assume offers will follow. I'm happy to negotiate with serious buyers.

Tvad, I think this may be that if MSRP was $1200 and it is listed at $800 and you get it for $500 that is a much better deal than it being listed at $500 and paying "full price" for it. $500 is not always $500.
T_bone (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

That's pretty funny.

In your example, both buyers paid $500. Bottom line. Buyer #1 may think he got a better deal, but it's not true.

This is a game to some.

T_bone, I don't think anyone here disagrees with your point.

Has anyone reading this thread decided to alter his/her approach to negotiating as a result of the comments?

I haven't.

In my opinion, the market is fluid. As a seller (or a buyer), it seems impossible to know going in what the bottom line will be. One may have a definite price in mind, but as things progress, that number often changes if one is truly interested in buying or selling the item, and not just in getting a "deal" (recognizing that for some people, getting the deal is the end game).

In fact, for the past nine months or so, almost all of my listings have been fixed price, so one would assume that's my bottom line, right?

Not according to the offers I received.

I tend not to respond to one-sentence e-mails with no name attached....
Steveaudio (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

Agreed.

A question from someone who won't sign their name is a question from someone who is not serious about buying.