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What is a lowball offer? How low is low?

Recently I was looking at 2 -3 preamps. One was particularly interesting which was a Conrad Johnson 16LS2. The asking price was $3500. I have always wanted the 16LS2. But it was out of my price range. I couldn't make a serious offer. So I didn't and moved on. A few days later I see that it has sold for $2500! What? That was in my budget. But I would have considered that more an insult than a offer. And because I didn't want to insult the seller, I lost a good preamp to someone who was willing to take the chance. So what is the lesson learned here? Apparently I should insult more sellers . The seller wasn't insulted after all. he sold it for $2500. Or is the lesson that I take this stuff too seriously?Should sellers be insulted when offered 50% of their price?  I had thought that 10-15% below the asking price was a realistic offer. Now I'm not sure. So what do you consider a low ball offer? And please, I understand that a product is worth what someone is willing to pay. So no economic lessons please
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Showing 5 responses by artemus_5

artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,911 posts
 
Good responses and helpful to someone like me who really doesn't care to do the proverbial dance (dickering) without looking the seller in the eye. Quite honestly, it took me a long time to become comfortable with the process of "bargaining".I learned the art of it when I rode 450 miles to buy a car. They knew I was serious and so tried to get more than top dollar. It took a few hours but I got it for $300 more than I had set out to pay. that was on a $20K car. So I felt good about it.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback. 
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,911 posts
 
@mr_m. Its not a matter of repercussion to me. Its a matter of decorum. 
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,911 posts
 
 @jburidan  
Used gear should be priced about fifty percent of new. If you offer less than fifty percent that's prolly a lowball.
This has been my understanding. However, I think most people anticipate they will be offered less and therefore ask more than they really are willing to take. Maybe I'm wrong but I often feel obligated to offer less because haggling seems to have  become the norm. Then too, I have a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook which often forces me to haggle.
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,911 posts
 
@larry5729
I suspected that was the case. I had never seen it done by my parents. I've learned to haggle because that is what is generally expected anymore
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,911 posts
 
@mr_m 
Yes I read the last sentence. I wholeheartedly agree that respect goes a long way. However, I see respect as what you do as much as what you say. IE, if I am having a pleasant conversation with  a gentleman who is speaking with a great amount of respect to me, yet I somehow discover his hand in my pocket, I somehow find that disrespectful of him no matter how pleasant his words. This is why I asked the original question. At what point (offer) does a person's actions show disrespect? Or is it just the way one phrases his offer the insult?
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