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

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.

If I really want it and the price is fair I pay it. Otherwise I loose out on something I really want , for an amount of money that sometimes gets silly. I try to list anything I sell at a Fair price becuase I feel its in the true spirit of all of us true Audiogoners. I usually do not move off my asking price by a great deal , but I know what the original poster means, everyone wants a deal. So if I feel a pair of cables for example is worth 400.00 , I do list them at 425.00 , because I find it rare that people offer the asking price. By the same token if I see a pair of cables just as an example , that rarely come up on Audiogon, and If I really want them, I'll pay the 425.00 to not loose the opportunity. To each his own I guess.

I always expect some discount, free shipping, somthing....
This is a garage sale, agreed?

The answer to your post question is yes. I have at times paid full asking price for components on Audiogon. This has only happened when the asking price is so low that I feel confident that if I want to resell the item that I will have no problem reselling at or above the price that I paid.

More often than not I try to negotiate the best price that I can on any particular component that I am interested in purchasing. I have found that whenever I list an item the same process takes place. I love lowball offers. Often times these turn into better offers that lead to sales. I do not know if any of us can really tell who a tirekicker is by first Email transmission.

My personal advice, take it for what it is worth, is that in the free market that Audiogon is it is in the best interest of sellers to never isolate any potential purchaser. You never know when that person is ready to make the leap to whatever you are selling, which may be the next item that you list. Also, conservatively grade your components on the Audiogon scale and insure everything that you ship for at least its full replacement value.

Fair price is in the eye of the two people involved in any Audiogon transaction. The free market dictates that supply and demand will meet at that juncture. That is the beauty of Audiogon.

I've always paid full asking price. After reading some of the posts I must be a wimp but I ignore obo's and just look at the list price. If it's too much, look elsewhere. On the other hand I can see considering offers as a good idea. Otherwise better get a big garage. I do wonder why after the 2nd or third listing people don't lower their price or put it up for auction.