How do you deal with low-ballers?

Is it that hard to politely say "No Thanks"? I don't understand why anyone besides the knife maker would take a lowball offer so personally?
 
I guess because if you have something priced at a good price to begin with, a low ball offer can be construed as insulting to some people.
 
When you are going to sell things - house, car, knife - whatever; it's just part of the game. No reason to take it personal or get upset. Just say sorry - or counter offer and move on. Take the high road and be happy. I mean who cares?
 
I don't sell because my Gold Membership lapsed, but what irks me is when a trade party says more than once, during communication, that they are interested, then disappear. Maybe they found a more suitable deal? That's perfectly understandable, but I'm not used to people just evaporating.

This wouldn't even cross my mind if it hadn't happened on more than one occasion recently.

One other thing, please don't make a cash offer if the trader isn't a Gold Member. It's not that you annoy me or whatever, I just think it's unfair to Spark. I'm not calling out anyone specifically, it's possible that they didn't notice, but I want to play by the rules. If I'm honest, when it's a very good price it's hard to say no, and I'd just rather not be put in that position. Hopefully most people won't take the deal, or will upgrade their membership then take a deal.
 
If you want 650 and if 650 is a good price...and some ding-dong offers you 400 in an email or text or by phoine or in person..--- tell him ...'650 is a great deal..and there's no tax'...'you snooze you loose'.
and then just shut up...either he comes back w/ a 600 offer or he was broke or not serious anyway...wait then for a serious buyer...everything sells...if you are going to knock off something on the price start w/ 10 bucks and tell the serious buyer 'that is only to help him out on gas money'... your item will sell if it is slightly less and better than the competition...research your pricing...people have money to buy if they want and need...don't fall for the bad economy BS...the economy is doing fine...they got the money!
 
you simply DO NOT REPLY or to the point reply "No thank you"
Its no biggie
WOW Dont personalize..Move on..
Everyone wants or DREAMS of a GREAT deal on a blade!!!
You INCLUDED..--
If you dont ask the seller/trade
You will never know what they will lower too.
Due to varying situations call for different tactics..
I have had car repairs out of the blue in the past ..Posted XX price and accepted a lower price.
 
I have only been low-balled by folks with low post counts and no feedback. Never by an actual member here who contributes in other areas and is not just here looking for a good deal.
 
craytab said:
I have only been low-balled by folks with low post counts and no feedback. Never by an actual member here who contributes in other areas and is not just here looking for a good deal.
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That right there, says a great deal about when a deal will go smooth as glass or not.
 
Most of us that have been involved in this hobby for awhile, know what things sell for. If we are going to sell a knife, we do a little research to see what that particular item has been selling for...
I don't recall seeing a member here post a knife for sale, that was grossly overpriced. We all know that we will probably lose a little money buying and selling, but nobody wants to lose a lot.

The old saying, " You don't get if you don't ask" is very true. However, there is a big difference between asking the seller to drop the price a small amount, and blatantly trying to screw someone.

I always try to price my stuff fairly, and will sometimes go down a little in price, but I have even had one member tell me he couldn't pay my price, because he wouldn't be able to make any money on it.
Even as much as that pissed me off, I simply replied telling him I wasn't selling stuff so he could re-sell it and make money.
 
Like many of you, I really do find it insulting to be lowballed. Especially when it's something like "hey man, I'll give ya $150 for that Sebenza". Sometimes it's really difficult for me to let it go and simply ignore it.

Replying with a negative or downright angry response is worthless despite wanting to do so. It does more damage to you than the lowballer on the receiving end of your rant. What I like to do is respond with something that will mess with their minds a bit. I'll respond with something like "do you know how much a bond costs for 1st degree murder? With offers like yours, my mom will be in prison for good". Another good one I've used is "with what you're willing to pay, I may as well just keep the knife and use it to give myself the sex change surgery I've been saving up for. Who needs to pay a surgeon anyway". So yea, twisted and unexpected stuff like that. If the lowballer is actually half human, he will see the humor and we all can have a good laugh. If not, who cares.
 
I seem to be getting many more lower offers lately than I remember getting in the past. I don't ever take it personally. Depending on the tone of the email, some get a polite no thanks, others get no response at all if I feel their tone was rude. I always get a kick out of the guys that feel they need to help teach you how to sell your stuff. The're just trying to help out while they ask you to drop your price. I am always very careful with how I price stuff I am selling. So I know out of the gate my stuff is priced competitively. It's a hobby for me pure and simple. No reason to take any part of it personally. When that day comes, I guess I will stop BST.

For those out there haggling for the ultimate discount, watch your tone or enjoy the silence. ;)
 
Greedy friggin' lowballers try to save money at my expense so they can frigging eat my shorts!:grumpy:
Damn it felt good to get that off my chest!:D

I usually sell at a loss or at least at a reasonable price with all things considered, plus I cover all fees so a lowball offer, to me, is an insult.

Actually though, some offers I'll accept if I know the person, some I'll counter with--sure, I'll accept your offer if you'll cover the shipping/handling and PP fees.
And some I'll just ignore.(the really dumb ones)

If you're perusing the exchange looking to buy a knife or knives chances are you have money to burn so pony up & stop being a cheapass.Geeze!
Bladeforums is a great place to hang out and to do a deal and we don't need greed dirtying it up.
 
arizcowboy said:
At what point is an offer considered lowball? 5% less than the asking price? 10%?
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When I list something for sale, I will search the forum and/or completed ebay listings to get a baseline for what I am selling. If I know my price is good and/or already steeply discounted, it can be annoying if someone comes in and offers significantly less, say 30% or more. I don't think 5% to 10% off is considered a lowball offer, but it's subjective. While I may consider an offer taking 5-10% off my asking price, that may be considered low-balling to some other seller.

IMHO, low-ballers are always to be expected when selling something. You can have thick skin and not let it bother you, or get aggravated. I'd rather just ignore it and move on.
 
If you think a low offer is an insult, you're the one with the problem. You can ignore it or say no, or counter offer with a higher price :) no skin off your nose. In some cultures, not bargaining is considered an insult and you always start way too low. It's part of the game, all over the world. I was taught that by a belizean in a market in guatemala. Lucky for me he spoke spanish and i still have the machete and tourist sheath :)
 
brownshoe said:
If you think a low offer is an insult, you're the one with the problem. You can ignore it or say no, or counter offer with a higher price :) no skin off your nose. In some cultures, not bargaining is considered an insult and you always start way too low. It's part of the game, all over the world. I was taught that by a belizean in a market in guatemala. Lucky for me he spoke spanish and i still have the machete and tourist sheath :)
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This I can 100% agree with you on. Anyone who would get angry at a lowball offer has some personality issues.
 
The Cumaean Sibyl had her own method of dealing with low-ballers.

The story of the acquisition of the Sibylline Books by Tarquinius is one of the famous mythic elements of Roman history. The Cumaean Sibyl offered to Tarquinius nine books of these prophecies; and as the king declined to purchase them, owing to the exorbitant price she demanded, she burned three and offered the remaining six to Tarquinius at the same stiff price, which he again refused, whereupon she burned three more and repeated her offer. Tarquinius then relented and purchased the last three at the full original price and had them preserved in a vault beneath the Capitoline temple of Jupiter. The story is alluded to in Varro's lost books quoted in LactantiusInstitutiones Divinae (I: 6) and by Origen.
 
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