Anyone pay 1st price, Even if it's fair ? Poll


As I peruse the ads all too much on Audiogon, I have flat out come to the conclusion, I am better off listing something higher than what it value is, than to list a fair price and list it as a firm price. All too often firm prices get views not offers.

It seems everyone wants to get a deal. I know the very term "fair" will spark some controversy, since the term alone is very subjective.

I'd like to know how others view this. Do you pay a fair price when it is fair to you, or do you still try to get a few bucks off?
Do you list higher than fair,knowing you will be asked to go to your lowere (fair) price?
Just curious,
Tom
carmantom
i have no problem buying at marked cost if its a peice ive been lookin for & i rarely ask for "a deal" unless i have seen the peice i want for a lower price & in the same condition from a trusted seller.

now when im selling im usually willing to eat the shipping costs as a gesture of good faith but normally thats as far as i go.

my perspective on most lowballers is that most are either tire kickers or new to the hobby & really think they are going to find the deal of the century.

i have in the past asked for lower pricing but every time its been for gear that was only 10% to 20% lower than the cost new.
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It depends on how long something has been listed. If I am early to respond and price is ggod I'll give asking price. If on the other hand, an item has been lingering because price is too high, I'll offer accordingly.
Most of my sales have been items bought on Audiogon so I don't feel I overprice them. I recently sold an item for what seemed fair to me ($335) and within a week saw the buyer list it for $475. He sold it. Now did I sell too low? I sold it for what I paid for it so I didn't think so.
For me this is about trying different pieces of gear for cheap. And letting someone else do the same.
I am puzzled by some of the responses to the original post...why would anyone pay asking price all the time if the seller specifically states that the seller is willing to entertain offers? Conversely, if a seller indicates that his/her price is firm, that should answer the negotiability question. The fact that "for sale" listings can be designated one way or the other makes this issue fairly simple IMHO.

I think a lot of "audiophiles" enjoy trying new/different toys, and part of the fun is trying to get a good deal, or at least a good enough deal that one can recoup one's investment when the urge to try something else strikes again.
To begin with, you have to follow the market to be an informed consumer, at least for your favourite products/manufacturers. By doing this, you will know what a fair price is. I will also assume that I'm dealing with somebody who also knows the market; at least I'll start with that assumption. With this starting point, first I'll discuss purchasing. Upon seeing an ad for what I want, if I feel the asking price is fair market value, I offer full price immediately so that somebody else doesn't grab the item. After all, it's a fair price. If the price is higher than fair market value, either the person is unfamiliar with the used market for the item, or the person is leaving some haggling room. I'm not sure which is the case. So I offer the lower, but fair market price. I wouldn't insult him by lowballing less than fair market value and assuming the person is stupid. If he doesn't take the fair price, I walk. I don't look to take advantage of another person with a lowball offer, but neither will I be taken advantage of by paying an unrealistic price or by wasting my time haggling with a person who has an unrealistic expectation as to the value of his item. Next, selling, It's a bit simpler since I don't haggle. I offer my item firm at fair market value. If the purchaser know the fair market value, it's a quick deal with an offer at the list price. Any offer for less is a lowball. The person either doesn't know the market or thinks I'm stupid. Communication ends pretty quickly. Also, as some other posts note, the market moves in cycles. Just because you don't get an offer at your price doesn't mean the price is not fair. Something that is listed for a couple of months without selling can sell immediately at another time of year. Overall, my experience has been to buy and sell at list price, with no haggling, with courteous, decent AudiogoN members. The only bad experience I had was with a guy who offered 25% less than fair market value, plus lowballed shipping costs, plus wanted me to eat PayPal costs. When I courteously told him that I couldn't sell to him, he got supremely ticked off. Having had this experience, I can understand why some listings state that lowballers will be ignored. Lowballers assume you're stupid and are most likely to be discourteous to you.