Anyone else receive low offers right away ?

So what is a "lowball" really? If I offer you 200 bucks for your amp and the market reasonably indicates it's worth the $1K you are asking, that's one thing. It is quite another if I offer you 800 bucks, especially if the market indicates your asking price is a little on the high side. Maybe I just want to pay "market" or perhaps I want to negotiate something more reasonable. That doesn't make me a lowballer. While I'm sure that some buyers make ridiculous "offers", I'm also convinced that some sellers set prices which are unrealistic, invite offers and then become offended when an offer is made. The simple solution for sellers has already been mentioned...set a price and and put a 'buy it now' on the item. If you are not able or prepared to negotiate price, don't invite offers. Merry Christmas and cheers to all from Colorado.

Just ignore it ... what's the big deal and why take it personally? Everybody wants a STEAL. If they are serious, they will offer again or initate a conversation.

Several buyers ask why no counter when I never thought their initial offer was serious. Gave a FIRM counter and some accept it.

Ladies and Gents: It is the art of negotiation! Btw, it does not have to be a reseller who is offer a low price. I look at it this way: I walk to into a Car Dealership to buy a new car. She/He tells me the price, $30, 000. I listen to the pitch and then I say $20, 000! Why because it is a starting point and I need to give myself room to adjust. In either case, your complaints are laughable. Tantamount to the butcher complaining his apron is dirty with blood. It's the nature of sales. Take it or leave it.

12-24-12: Rebelindiskyz
Ladies and Gents: It is the art of negotiation! Btw, it does not have to be a reseller who is offer a low price. I look at it this way: I walk to into a Car Dealership to buy a new car. She/He tells me the price, $30, 000. I listen to the pitch and then I say $20, 000!

OK, would you listen to the pitch and then say $3000? Yes, that is how absurd some of these offers are. They don't offer you 60-80% of your asking price, I've had some offer 10-25% of my asking price. I've been buying and selling for over 10 years on Audiogon and over 20 years altogether, and there is no doubt in my mind that these silly offers have increased in the last few years.

I really don't mind, I don't get upset, I actually find a lot of them quite amusing. For me, it adds entertainment to what otherwise can become boring, ordinary exchanges.

I recently had to change my mind and renig on a prospective purchase of two mono amps that I have been looking for forever because of a tragic turn in my life that demanded my immediate attention and made it so I could not focus or afford the amps. The seller was first very upset when I backed out, but later sent his sympathy and understanding. Not the same as low offers but just thought I would say this.

For low offers, when I try to sell equipment I first, typically price at or below the current market value to ensure a quicker sale. So, typically I don't have much float on my price point for sale. So, I respond to the potential buyer that either my sale price is firm or counter with another price.

However, you all are aware of the art of negotiations. reading this subject post and subsequent responses, I noticed that many are acting as if they have never tried to purchase a car. Do you for one minute believe that dealers are actually listing the car for sale at the correct or lowest sale price? Of course not! So, you investigate what the sale price should really be by doing your homework. How much did the dealer actually pay for the car? Did the factory give the dealer some kickback incentives that if you knew about you could exploit in your negotiation? etc. there are many more. So, what makes me believe that the seller is listing their equipment here for a fair price and didn't escalate the price? There are just as many flippers on Audiogon as with any other site. They buy as low as possible and raise the price to very high prices and try to get as much as they can.

This low baller complaining goes both ways. I will pay only what I feel is a fair price and it is up to me to determine what that is. If I don't like the price (because I know the equipment isn't worth the listed price), I either walk away or offer something lower. That is not low balling in my opinion. The seller (many times me) can either accept the offer, negotiate something different or walk away also.

an item is worth what a person is willing to pay for it. It is really as simple as that. Look at the $150,000 cars out there. Or amps priced at $60,000 or higher. Speakers and other equipment also. Do you really feel they are worth that? and then look at the prices a year or so later on the used market for the same equipment. many times at least half of the price. So, we all know they weren't worth what the dealer was trying to sell them for. So, you negotiated a lower price. This isn't low balling, this is fair negotiations.

enjoy and Happy Holidays.