Why do so many sellers take offense to offers on their listings?


If you have the 'offer' feature activated then what's the problem with any offer. Comments like 'lowball' offers will be ignored just gives me a bad vibe. If your item has been up for sale then there is no insulting offer. I've made deals with people starting far apart and coming together. If you haven't noticed the audio market seems to have come to a standstill. Any opinions?

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Since this is a used gear site, the art of bargaining and negotiating is in full swing. If I list a unit for, say, $2K, and someone offers $1100. I'm not insulted; I just counter with $1950. That either silences them or they climb the steep hill and offer something closer to the asking price. 

But if I want $2K for my unit, then I'm not going to list it for $2K.

I can’t remember ever “taking offense” to a low offer or being inundated by low offers to the point of irritation.  You list something for sale, you should expect responses.  At least they are looking at the ad.  I might not take an offer on day 2 that I would take after 3 weeks.  It is a simple yes or no, and “thanks for your offer.” I am usually more interested in the quality of the buyer so as to avoid the risk of problems after the sale, which is a practice that has served me well here for over 20 years.

I don’t get offended by any offers, instead I respond by stating the lowest price acceptable to me. I am usually in no hurry to sell so i don’t get discouraged by not getting any digs on my sale items, sometimes for months.

This is a great thread. I'm considering making an offer on a pair of speakers. It's good to know how people think.