The issue of lowballing... What does that mean?

Great responses - thank you all.... A couple of hypothetical questions to come!

Thanks for all the very thoughtful responses. I agree with the consensus, if you like something make an offer you are willing to pay. Simple. If the seller (including me) doesn't like the offer they are free to decline or ignore. Again, simple. If you don't want offers make the price firm.

As far is Markpao's comment... I still don't know what constitues a "lowball" offer. What is a bargin price? The prices on Audiogon for the same basic product sometimes vary wildly. Today there are two MD tuners for the same model differentiated by a 70% price variance. It's like my boss saying we need to cut expenses - does that mean I need to fire half the sales guys - or stop letting them expense Starbucks coffee?

I do want to respect peoples wishes. Many of the people I have bought from or sold to, I am still in contact with discussing music, product or life...

Thanks again for the feedback.

SB

Well there certainly is a difference of opinion. And I guess in a sense that is the joy and mystery of Audiogon.

ZYDO and AKG take offense to those who would offer less than the value they believe appropriate. AKG to the extent that he notes the offender and brands them! (I'll bet he is hoot at parties).

Both posts fail to address the original questions of the post. If you are offended by offers why not make it a fixed price sale? And please don't say because some discount is OK but more than the mythical number you have in mind is offensive. That's just silly. Either you demand a certain price or you don't. The effort in not responding is ZERO.

I love Agon and it's been a great resource for me. It allows me a great forum to sell items I no longer need and to look for things my local dealer does not have. But first and foremost it is a COMMERCE web site. You PAY to use it. It's not a secret society and your ad, nor your affinity for something you are selling makes you better or worse than anyone else.

If someone offers you 1/10th of a current model product (and I've never seen anything resembling such an offer on the items I've sold), I'd suggest ignoring it, and maybe having a nice glass of wine or an ice cold martini (or heck fruit juice). Because in the final analysis it's the internet and life is too short to be cranky.

Cheers!

So recently I made an offer on a VPI-27 record cleaner. New retail is $2200. The add was for $1675. I offered $1300. Now hold Akg_ca don't brand me yet! Let me offer my logic and then feel free to brand away. Why $1300? It was situational. I have aVPI 16.5. I didn't really need a better cleaner but I kind of want one. I figured I could get $3-400 for mine so a delta of $900-1000 seemed OK. The seller declined and sold the unit in the next few days. My point is I offered the value the VPI-27 had for ME. Is that lowballing? Do you think the seller was offended? Would it have helped for me to explain my offer - not to sell them on the idea but to be sure it was not taken as an insult?

Yesterday I purchased a Magnum Dynalab MD-90 tuner in silver on a make offer ad. It was listed at $849, no PayPal fee, shipping included. I hit the buy it now and paid full price. Why? Because I really wanted it. I love the silver, I love Prairie Home Companion, Alec Baldwin and the NY Phil, and Wait, Wait don't tell me. Yes I am a nerd. It was silver and looked immaculate. Again I bought on the value to me, not to the seller, not based on blue book. As a matter of practice, would you have offered less?

Cheers, SB

WOW, Simao that is kooky. Never had that happen. So you "ruined" it by not giving it away? That is kooky.

Thanks again to all who posted! Couple of thoughts:

There are some good ideas here and I plan to use them. If I make an offer at less than asking price I plan to send a short note along with it. Again not to sell my position but explain myself.

I have never had, or received an offer at 10% of the original retail price. I'd ignore it but I understand it would be annoying.

I am always surprised by those responses that ignore the questions or thoughts of a post and disparage people based on some weird and likely unjustified sense of superiority. The fact that someone offers less than what you want doesn't mean that they "can't afford things". Can you imagine a business concept that's "Just pay the price (reasonable or not) or just butt out". WOW, really. I am very happy not to be in that league.

I'm also surprised by the few posts that want to actively target people they perceive as a lowballer based on an undefined standard of their own making. What hubris is this? :-)

Simao - sorry man, there's no accounting for kooky people. Hope it sold and BTW I know the feeling of liquidating based on divorce. Not fun at the time (about 10 years ago) but the rebuilding has been slow and truthfully really fun. First system after the divorce was JBL 110's, a flogged Luxman integrated, and old Phillips TT and it ROCKED (metaphorically).

Isochronism - As they say on the internets... Y U NO LIKE ALEC B??? I mean I don't think I'd want to go drinking with him but as a music moderator he's pretty good... OK I probably would go drinking with him.

Anyway thanks and happy listening! Hooking up the MD tuner later today can't wait listen.

Just a note: It's always better to read and try to understand a post before responding...

You have to love people who take simple things an make them combative. Fundamentally the basic tenants of the post have gone completely unanswered by the "lowballers are scum" crowd.

The value of something is different for different people based on a variety of reasons. One persons view of lowballing is completely different than the next and we have all seen prices for the same item vary wildly. Much of what is offered on AGon is 50% of the original list and there are absolutely items on AGon at 30% of the original list. Zydo, time to quit your job and start buying!

This makes a standard for lowballing impossible to define. The easy answer is if you don't want offers don't allow them. Then you'll see if your assessment of the item your selling matches the market. Or allow offers and if you don't like an offer just ignore it or counter it but leave the histrionics and name calling out. You have a choice.

I particularly love this gem "If the price isn't worth it to them, why would they buy it for less or want the item at all?" Does this mean the poster wouldn't offer less on a house or a car, because you know if the price isn't worth it why buy at all? YIKES! I would not buy a Audi A6 for $100K but I would for $50K...

The value of things is relative. A guy recently had a Moto Guzzi Eldorado for sale for 7 months with no luck in part because he was firm on price. I had been looking for a unmolested version for years and purchased at full price. Why? Because I put a much higher value on it (both emotional and financial). I've also walked away from deals where I could not get a substantial discount. Niether of these makes me a good or bad guy just a person who sets a value based on my needs and frame of reference.

Finally I really did think she was a French model I mean I found her on the internet!

Thanks All!