How do you deal with low-ballers?

I think that a reply is in order unless stated in the for sale threat (low ball offers will be ignored). On a side note i have found that most prices set by the seller are reasonable and the knife sells for that price almost instantly. When ever I'm going to ask for a lower price then other wise listed i wait a full 24 hours and then ask if they will take what ever I'm willing to pay. I also wait until the seller reduces the price.
 
mquez said:
I think that a reply is in order unless stated in the for sale threat (low ball offers will be ignored). On a side note i have found that most prices set by the seller are reasonable and the knife sells for that price almost instantly. When ever I'm going to ask for a lower price then other wise listed i wait a full 24 hours and then ask if they will take what ever I'm willing to pay. I also wait until the seller reduces the price.
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That makes sense. Although there are times when I make the offer early on, but if the seller says he wants to wait a day for a full price sale I can understand. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't when that happens. There have been other times when a seller refused my offer in a rude way, or didn't bother to reply, then ended up selling the knife for less than my offer.
 
I love the emotional appeals...

"My daughter is REALLY sick. We can't afford a lot right not. Will you sell for ..."

Seriously? Stay classy.

I ignore contact attempts that exhibit little to no effort. As in, it's obvious they didn't even read the sales literature or have no idea how much a knife is worth so they troll you for info. What?
 
Here's another one of my favorites. The complaint about materials that some how leads to a devaluation.

"That steel isn't all that. I'm looking for a knife like yours but with so and so steel. So and so steel is way better. I'll offer ... "

Were you raised in a barn? What does that have to do with my listing? I'm glad you find that line of logic convincing in your head because I doubt it's ever worked anywhere else but your own head.
 
For a true low baller, reply with a $450 counter offer on a $400 original ask. That will discourage them.
 
Barabus said:
For a true low baller, reply with a $450 counter offer on a $400 original ask. That will discourage them.
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I've seen that done, with mixed results. In a pawn shop one time the lowballer just wouldn't get the hint. Pretty funny to watch.
 
This thread is still alive and kicking I see. I have started responding to low ball offers and I simply ask, why do you feel I need to lower my price to $xx? I have yet to get a response back. Most low ballers figure it never hurts to ask. But when you ask for a discussion, they usually move along.
 
Low-ballers and hagglers are part of the game. Haggling is very much a cultural phenomenon, what passes as cheeky behavior in one community is normal practice in another. It's a social dance. No need to get bent out of shape about it.

If I am not in the mood to negotiate a "no thanks" is the stock answer. If they want to tell me their life story, price match with other vendors, have lengthy discussions about the fairness of my prices, or otherwise negotiate the price down and waste my time I tell them it's a "yes, or no" question whether they want it at my quoted price. That gets rid of the time wasters.
 
Oh boy... I'm guilty of lowballing because I do enjoy haggling when I first joined. I usually don't expect my offer being fulfilled since the trend with haggling is that the buyer and seller meet in the middle. I don't like being ignored, I wouldn't mind being told that the price is firm or being replied with a counter offer. I would usually accept either. Between gun shows and flea markets, there are no real haggling going on and it seems to be a dying thing. Usually when someone lowball me, if it's too insulting I would just say no thank you. If it's somewhat reasonable then I'll send back a counter offer.
 
Hairlesstwinkie said:
................ Usually when someone lowball me, if it's too insulting I would just say no thank you. If it's somewhat reasonable then I'll send back a counter offer.
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This is how I do it, counter offer if we're in the ballpark. I recently saw an ad where the knife was listed at $450 shippig and PP fees included. I offered $400, and the seller countered with "Let's split the difference". But then he said $425 is OK if I pay the fees. He wasn't splitting any difference, he was just shifting the money around. I broke off talking with him, too.
 
I just had somebody offer me $100 for two knives that are $150 for both, shipped......I wish the mods could do something about this. I especially love it when lowballers make these offers to you like they're doing you a favor. Screwing you out of 30% or more of what the item is worth is not what I'd call doing somebody a favor, unless that favor entails making my wallet lighter. I wonder how many of these lowballers are turning around and flipping these items for MSRP on eBay or on another forum, because I recently found out that somebody on here who bought a LOT of my collection from me for cheap is flipping the same knives on eBay for full price.
 
Last week I unknowingly sent a lowball offer for a trade. I looked up the knife on bladehq and saw same model in different configurations and assumed it was a decent offer. Turns out it was actually a limited edition version that ran $400-500 (the more standard models were at or under $200). The member kindly let me know that and even asked if I wanted to trade multiples for the knife. I declined as I could hardly match that with knives I could have offered nor would I want to carry such a gorgeous and expensive piece.

The man handled my ignorance with poise. Thanks again sir.
 
Skimo said:
Low ball offers are part of selling, the range of buyers goes from other dealers, to hard core collectors, average collectors, enthusiasts, novices and some that know absolutely nothing about the business.

Polite replies mean that person may come back and spend money, ignoring a potential customer leads to them looking for someone who will at least respond. Yes, there will always be guys who have as much fun trying to get a steal as actually getting the item.

I try to treat everyone online as I would treat them in public at a table.

I've seen several sellers that are trying to charge more for items that could be picked up for a significantly lower price, it's best to treat them nicely and go buy a knife from someone who isn't trying to scalp you.
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This is the best way to handle it IMHO. If you get "insulted" because someone offers you less. You have a pretty short fuse. Again, IMHO.
People almost always offer me less when I sell. Unless it's something that they really want and they want to make sure they get it before anyone else does. Sometimes I accept but if it's less than I want. I just decline.

I do the same but I don't consider it "lowballing". To me if someone is selling an item for $100 and I offer $50, that's lowballing. I wouldn't do that BUT I would offer $75 or $80 and consider it just "an offer". I'm not trying to insult the seller or belittle his intelligence on knowing the price of things. I'm just hoping he's built in a little cushion on his price and can come down a little.

Mark T.
 
You guys talking about comeandtakeit? lol I can't stand lowballers, most aren't really interested in what you have they just want something for nothing. I sell a ton online and have been for 13yrs, this has been proven to me over and over. They're a cheap stingy scourge on the for sale forums. That said, I almost always hit delete.
 
simple6 said:
You guys talking about comeandtakeit? lol I can't stand lowballers, most aren't really interested in what you have they just want something for nothing. I sell a ton online and have been for 13yrs, this has been proven to me over and over. They're a cheap stingy scourge on the for sale forums. That said, I almost always hit delete.
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Oh yeah offering you $80 and $85 for a knife you are now trying to sell for $90 is really low balling. Grow up and quit being a troll simple6. There are plenty of options other members have already pointed out if you can't handle someone making an offer.
 
Listen up, guys:

Talk about the deals, not about each other. This is FEEDBACK, not Whine & Cheese. We have already heard about your disagreements! Enough.
 
An offer is an offer....just say no thanks. If my asking price is $100...any offer within 20% is ideal! especially if a sales thread been up for few days. If my asking is $100...coming in with $50 is low balling. But I just say no thanks. No biggy.
 
I wanted to sell a BNIB Sebenza once for $60 off the price it would cost from a store. No fees, no shipping costs for the buyer. I got an offer for $100 less than the asking price ($240 range was the offer). I counterdd at $310 and never heard from the guy again. Oh well.
 
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