"Feel free to make an offer" - Greed?

pacray

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I am seeing more and more of this type of thing. I am sure it's part of the "Secrets to Power Negotiating", as seen on Oprah's Best Seller list -- Never be the first person to mention a price, or you lose power in the negotiation process.

To me, this just sounds greedy. If you are a professional negotiator, or if you are selling a house or maybe even a car, then I understand that there could be thousands at stake, if not millions, so all parties concerned come to the table with that in mind.

But when you are selling a used Centipede trackball or some part off a game that is just taking up space in your garage, why not just come up with an asking price? It can be high or low, that is up to you, as it is your item. But when someone tells me to make an offer, I think "this guy wants to take me for all he can", I get offended, and generally back off and decide not to play.

It just seems like common courtesy to me to set a price that is fair. Then if you want to negotiate, then go for it, but refusing to set a price when it is you that has something that someone else might want, just seems wrong.
 
It just seems like common courtesy to me to set a price that is fair. Then if you want to negotiate, then go for it, but refusing to set a price when it is you that has something that someone else might want, just seems wrong.

I've seen people do this when they have no idea something is worth, and hope that the first offer they receive (in theory, from a knowledgeable person) will give them an idea of its value.
 
on the flip side, it could be a part that was gotten for free and the guy doesn't know what he should charge, or whatever, so make an offer of what you'd pay. i think on smaller shit like trackballs, buttons, joysticks, whatnot i would accept an offer, but on stuff like chassis, pcbs, etc, i'd have more of a fixed price.
 
I hate it. I'll pass on a 'make an offer' post even if it's something I've been looking for.

+500.

As KLOVians, we are obligated to offer $5 whenever someone posts this kinda shit.

This ain't eBay. eBay is eBay. And actually, even eBay isn't even eBay anymore...
 
Sometime the value of an item is just unknown.

We all heard of the stories of the few arcade game just went to bulk trash becuase the person didn't know it had any value. It was just taking up space. It was left in the rain becuase it was just too big.

Now you have to think. Do you want someone who doesn't know the value of his or her parts posting trying to sell said item(s) or do you never want this person to post at all? I wonder what things will we miss the chance of buying? Some of these items are just rare and tring to guess a price is just too hard.

just my opinion.
 
I absolutely despise this type of sale. Oh well, I don't feel bad about low balling the hell out of someone that can't put start price on THEIR OWN merchandise.
 
The value of an item is really what the individual is willing to spend.With that said many get a case of the ass when they say make and offer and its not in the sellers ball park.That is when all the finger pointing and name calling comes out. If you have a clue what its worth and state give an offer then do not get your panties all tied up over it.
Now when an individual has no clue what an item is worth I can see the make an offer theory.
It is the individuals that know everything who seem to get all tied up over an offer.
my 2 cents.....
 
If I have extra time, I will generally offer $.50 when I see make an offer posts. I might as well start it out for what I would really like to pay.

If I see a make offer option on ebay, I will usually offer half. Quite a few take the offer.
 
When I don't know the value of something, I search the For Sale section of KLOV, or eBay's completed items. If I still don't know I will generally ask someone what they think something is worth. Exidy's price guide can be helpful for complete games, and people like Jon himself can also be helpful by letting you know what a thing is worth.

When I see or hear someone say "make me an offer", it conjures up a picture the fox character in Pinocchio, or a used car salesman. Maybe it is just my bias.
 
offer considerably less than you are willing to pay and quit bitching.
 
If someone says "make me an offer", how bout just making them an offer!
Its not always a money grabbing db... sometimes it is just someone who doesn't have a good handle on what to ask. Of course, sometimes it is the former too... but remember...

life's too short to drink cheap beer
:D

/Tim
 
I tend to use "make a reasonable shipped offer" on items that my be lower value or unknown value. This makes it real easy when several statements of "i'll give you $10 shipped" come in via pm. I just put it in the trash.

On the other side, i have many hundreds of times accepted the first offer that's come through when it is truly reasonable.
 
My problem with "make an offer" is when they're offended at the offer.

If someone had a Star Wars CP and told me to make an offer, I'd offer $1k-$1.5k. I like the game but *to me* its not worth the $2-$4k that they can command. If they're offended, thats not my fault, they should have said "make an offer over $2k" or something and then I wouldn't have made an offer.

Its always going to turn people off, I'd say what others said, just pass on it.
 
I will be posting a bunch of Auctions on Greed Bay with a Buy It NOW, and make a offer
Deal. I Know what the game is worth If you come close to it you are the winner.
If the guy low balls me 100. bucks on my Buy It Now price he is the winner.
See how it WORKS.
 
I definitely agree with you. I cannot stand "make an offer" sales.

I still do reply to them, because you just never know. So far, about 5 or 6 have completely failed. But once, I offered $50 for a GORF machine - and got it!
 
I am seeing more and more of this type of thing. I am sure it's part of the "Secrets to Power Negotiating", as seen on Oprah's Best Seller list -- Never be the first person to mention a price, or you lose power in the negotiation process.

To me, this just sounds greedy. If you are a professional negotiator, or if you are selling a house or maybe even a car, then I understand that there could be thousands at stake, if not millions, so all parties concerned come to the table with that in mind.

But when you are selling a used Centipede trackball or some part off a game that is just taking up space in your garage, why not just come up with an asking price? It can be high or low, that is up to you, as it is your item. But when someone tells me to make an offer, I think "this guy wants to take me for all he can", I get offended, and generally back off and decide not to play.

It just seems like common courtesy to me to set a price that is fair. Then if you want to negotiate, then go for it, but refusing to set a price when it is you that has something that someone else might want, just seems wrong.

I have gotten VERY good deals on things like this because many people choose not to play. The seller is not always out to make a ton on something, sometimes they really have no clue what to price things for and just want them gone.
 
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I say make on offer on things I don't know what they are worth. If you give a price way to low, you get screwed. Way to high, you get flamed. But as I tell people when I'm buying, "I can't buy this and sell it too."
 
"make me an offer" has yet to work for me. I stopped trying as I've noticed that although "make me an offer" has been stated, the seller has a number in mind. I'm always way off.
 
People on ebay tend to pay more for a product. So searching on ebay may result in people posting a high price here. Asking people here how much something is worth when you don't know anyone is rough at best.

Example saw someone who had a Neck n Neck someone is selling one for 525 on ebay.
I bought a same game cheaper for parts. Someone was interested in the parts here. Let see I could sell the whole machine on ebay and make more from it. I did put it up for trade for one 25" crt and one coin door (here). I had no takers so the game is in parts and the buttons and cables are in a neat bundle. If I was running my hobby as a business I would be buying from here and reselling items in the Los Angeles market or on ebay but I collect games I love not to make maxium profit.
 
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