IYO, am i a low baller if i offered you..

[Dancing Fire]

15% < your asking price?

 

[MissGotRocks]

Depending on the item, I don't think 15% is unreasonable. . . what are you trying to buy?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

It all depends on how the item is priced. If it is priced around retail, then my offer would be much lower then 15% off. But if the item is already priced say 30% off retail, then I would offer closer to the asking price, depending on the item, of course. Certain things hold their value more than others and wil command a better price. But I am sure you know that well, DF.

 

[marymm]

To me, a "low ball" offer is one that is unfair or unreasonable or ridiculously low - generally speaking, I would not define an offer of 15% below asking price to be a low ball offer (even if the asking price is below market/retail pricing).

 

[isaku5]

15% < your asking price?

It depends on the item. Can you.. uh... sort of clarify....a bit

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I am of a different mind. First I hardly consider 15% reduction off retail "lowball"--depending what you are buying retailers, themselves, offer you that! I don't care what store I am in--I always ask for a discount--doesn't hurt me at all. And if I see the same item on the secondary market--and it is priced close to what I can purchase it for in a retial store--then of course I will buy at the latter.

If you are buying on the secondary market--the buyer, who sets their price, chooses to sell the item or not. Full stop. You have the option to offer what you want or think is reasonable (to you); offers can be refused! Ebay has the "make an offer" option: works well, you make an offer--and if is refused then you are SOOL. (or you can make a higher offer....)

cheers--Sahron

 

[davi_el_mejor]

15% < your asking price?

No

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

No!

Annette

 

[VRBeauty]

No - 15% in my book 15% off is not a lowball offer. Of course that doesn't mean the seller will agree! Sellers vary, as Kenny would say.

HI:

If you are buying on the secondary market--the buyer, who sets their price, chooses to sell the item or not. Full stop. You have the option to offer what you want or think is reasonable (to you); offers can be refused! Ebay has the "make an offer" option: works well, you make an offer--and if is refused then you are SOOL. (or you can make a higher offer....)

cheers--Sahron

Ditto that! If you know what you'd be willing to pay for an item and it's not unreasonable, why not make the offer? The seller can always say not or negotiate with you. In either case, you've saved both of you some time (and who knows, you might be paying them more than what they would have re-listed the item for if forced to do so.)

I've only used ebay's "make an offer" option a few times, and I was surprised both times that the offer was accepted. One was accepted right away - I assume ebay give sellers the option of automatically accepting offers above a certain minimum? - and it was probably about 40% below the asking price. Based on the asking prices I've seen for some items, I'm assuming the sellers built in a 30-40% cushion and would automatically accept a bid in that range.

In a second case my offer was about 15% below the opening bid price. The response did not come right away, but my offer was accepted. I was really surprised because the auction was ending in just a few hours and they could easily have gotten a full price offer in that time - I guess they were considering the possibility that they would have to re-list... or maybe they were just feeling generous that day? FWIW it's one of my favorite and most-worn pieces of jewelry, so I could honestly say that piece went to a good and appreciative home!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Depending on the item, I don't think 15% is unreasonable. . . what are you trying to buy?

nothing ,just wondering,b/c on watch forums some members say "please don't waste your time with low ball offers" when they post a watch for sale.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Based on that DF, no I don't think an offer within 15% is a "lowball"
They may not accept, but it's not an insulting offer.

 

[tyty333]

Nope...not low ball.

 

[Gypsy]

Nope. 40-50% is low ball.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

After years of absence--I have returned to ebay. They have a new option (or new to me) "make an offer". I did--apparently lower than "lowball"--and won a gorgeous Tiffany bracelet. I will continue to use this option, and if the vendor wants my bottom basement lowball offers, then they will accept them. They can, and have, rejected my offers just the same. It all works out. It is not personal!!!!

If I make an offer in the pre-loved forum here and it is considererd "lowball", the seller can use their perrogative--just say NO. Nothing personal!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Dancing Fire]

Nope. 40-50% is low ball.

i wouldn't make an offer if we were that far apart,just too embarrassing..