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


I LOVE Audiogon. I have purchased and sold many items here and it is a wonderful resource for audio nuts of every variety. Big solid state, tubes, analog, vinyl? Sure it all goes.

So I see posts that are make offer but the seller says "lowballers" will be ignored, vilified, cursed and cussed. So why have a make offer sale? Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It doesn't matter what you paid for it, or how much you love it. And why be upset? Declining requires one mouse click. Countering maybe five or six clicks or keystrokes. Just curious as this is a commerce site.

I have received offers that seemed really low to me, but I am still happy to have interest and I always counter offer. I recently sold a Clearaudio TT for a lot less than I thought it was worth. But all the offers were low and I had to rethink my view. It ultimately sold as a real bargin but I'm happy and so is the buyer.

Your thoughts?
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Showing 1 response by michael457

04-06-13: Michael457
I don't particularly care for lowballing, but I also recognize that it is in the nature of all of us to try to
get a desired piece of audio equipment for significantly
less than the seller's asking price. It is also true that some seller's when they list an item have no idea of establishing a realistic selling price. If I am the bidder I do try to make my low bids realistic. If I am the seller, I reply to reasonable bids but seldom respond to offers that are obsurdly low.