General Trend I'm seeing with buying and selling these days.

[Atari The Jedi]

So I got to say I've had some really great sales both as a buyer and seller lately, however, the book of people are just dreamers, Tire kickers and thinly disguised flippers. On this form it's pretty good actually but you go elsewhere oh, and you're really going to pay for it. Just for one example I was selling a Lee Trevino PCP. And I get these messages from people asking for things like Star Wars, Dragon's Lair and Donkey Kong. And then I get other people's saying they want those things but they don't want to pay for him. I even had a couple people want to pay me less than it would cost to ship something let alone the price of the item itself.
I mean this is always happen since the beginning of time but I'm getting a lot more of it these days. Why did people with no negotiating skills. If I'm selling the item that normally goes for $100 for $80 the first thing they say is 40. Or they'll say give them my lowest price. To me that's not how you start a negotiation off and that's actually a turn off. I might ask them what their highest price is. Play no stay on this form it's pretty good.

 

[jericso]

When you've priced an item you've already made the first move in negotiations. It's on the buyer to make the next move.

 

[Wyo]

Everything should be free nowadays....that really would solve a lot of problems.

But only when buying, not selling.

 

[Hoppy2021]

So I got to say I've had some really great sales both as a buyer and seller lately, however, the book of people are just dreamers, Tire kickers and thinly disguised flippers. On this form it's pretty good actually but you go elsewhere oh, and you're really going to pay for it. Just for one example I was selling a Lee Trevino PCP. And I get these messages from people asking for things like Star Wars, Dragon's Lair and Donkey Kong. And then I get other people's saying they want those things but they don't want to pay for him. I even had a couple people want to pay me less than it would cost to ship something let alone the price of the item itself.
I mean this is always happen since the beginning of time but I'm getting a lot more of it these days. Why did people with no negotiating skills. If I'm selling the item that normally goes for $100 for $80 the first thing they say is 40. Or they'll say give them my lowest price. To me that's not how you start a negotiation off and that's actually a turn off. I might ask them what their highest price is. Play no stay on this form it's pretty good.

If someone comes in with a ridiculous lowball offer, I counter offer with a figure double the original asking price. Seems to get their attention, and they become a little more sensible. If not, then at the very least I got some entertainment value out of a sale that was never going to happen in the first place.

 

[osver]

Just for one example I was selling a Lee Trevino PCP.

Well, if you're selling PCP, of course the weirdo buyers are going to show up.

 

[80scoinops]

Well, if you're selling PCP, of course the weirdo buyers are going to show up.

 

[tstone]

For some reason, this hobby, buck more than others, seems to attract these crazy lowballers.

For some incomprehensible reason, in this hobby, people seem to think they're entitled to buy what they want from me at their price. And they get offenced when I won't sell them things at their price. Crazy.

I just expect it and ignore people who send me lowball offers, shrug.

 

[LyonsArcade]

When you've priced an item you've already made the first move in negotiations. It's on the buyer to make the next move.

Yup all you have to say to them is "I can't sell it AND buy it"

Another cool way to negotiate is to just raise your price and let them figure it out, lol

$1000

They offer $600

Say "Nah, I couldn't do that, I could 1050 though"

I think the reason this is getting worse, is because of Facebook Marketplace. It's so easy to put crap on there, and everybody already has a facebook page, that you get everybody and their brother thinking their crap is worth a fortune, so they put things on there for 10 grand or whatever. Then eventually they know they can't sell it for that, so they actually WILL take 2 grand or whatever...

Which leads to everybody thinking all the prices are really a fifth of what the asking price is. That's my theory at least.

 

[clewis]

Number 2 rule of negotiating anything:

If you don't ask, you don't get.

If you put the word "firm" in your posting/ad that makes it pretty clear that there isn't any wiggle room. I've sold stuff where the low ball offer was the only offer I got. You can negotiate from there for sure but at least you have a buyer lined up.

Tire kickers are such a waste of time though.

 

[ida34]

I'm a cheap bastard and I will hit you hard. I'm sure some on here will back me up on this. Having said that, I have paid up for some stuff lately. Most of the time I want someone to make me buy it with a great price. Having said that I have no problem with someone wanting the top-of-the-line price. I usually like to get broken and fix it so I get stuff cheap usually. My problem is, I see too many broken games on Facebook and the price makes me buy it. That is why I now have over 40 games with several doubles, triples, and more. I generally take the best from all of them and make a super machine for me while getting the others working and sell them. Having said that, I usually get another project and only the stuff I play gets fixed and the doubles and such just wait for me to get to them. Vehicle projects have been killing me lately.

 

[ThatArtGuy]

I call it "garage sale mentality." It doesn't even matter if the item is worth $10,000, if you put a sticker on it asking for $5.00 someone will invariably offer a single dollar for it.

 

[80scoinops]

I call it "garage sale mentality." It doesn't even matter if the item is worth $10,000, if you put a sticker on it asking for $5.00 someone will invariably offer a single dollar for it.

Exactly ^^^. Not specific to this hobby, that attitude has been around forever, in every buying/selling transaction. The more things change the more they stay the same.

 

[ida34]

Even though I am cheap when I see a no haggle price I just smile and pay the man.

 

[Hoppy2021]

Even though I am cheap when I see a no haggle price I just smile and pay the man.

So you are saying it's up to the seller to say "firm/no haggle" ? Someone else mentioned lowballers are ignored. I price things at a fair value, taking market, shipping/delivery, possible repairs, and warranty all into account.

So, if you feel it's your right to offer lower, and lowballers are to be ignored, how does anyone ever make a deal?

 

[jericso]

None of this stuff is Yeti where the price is set in stone by the Lord.

 

[K3587]

This is my standard reaction picture I send when a lowball offer comes in. I send it with no words. They usually get the message. I also have quite a few pre-recorded responses in my phone for generic FB Marketplace questions and that has saved me a lot of time. Things like "I only offer lower prices for repeat customers and bulk purchases" or "Yes it is still available, do you have any questions about how you can buy it?"

FB marketplace is a cesspool for certain, but 75% of the deals I stumble across come from there, and quite a few of my new customers are found there. Wade through the garbage; it'll eventually be worth it.

 

[ArcadeTechGW]

Some of this may be from watching shows like American Pickers, where they try to get the most out of the seller.

The average guy thinks that will work, but they neglect to note that:
1. The AP guys are making offers on usually unpriced stuff.
2. It's a SHOW. So chances are good some of it was pre-arranged.
3. What works on TV doesn't work necessarily in real life.

But hey, that's just my opinion. The other thoughts could be just as valid.

 

[j0novision]

There is nothing wrong with lowballing, it's more American than apple pie.

 

[JamBurglar]

I don't tend to ask for a price significantly below asking unless I think the asking price is too high or unless I really don't "need" the part and don't know the value very well.

The thing is, it's not always easy to tell what's a "lowball" offer and what's not. It's not like there's always a clear "going price" for parts and things fluctuate based on geography. If you're a seller, and your first reaction to what you see as a "lowball" offer is to get offended and respond negatively (raising the price, etc.) you might be missing out on a deal that is otherwise workable.

I do a lot of negotiation in real estate and litigation and rarely have I seen any serious business person raise their asking price in response to what they perceive as a lowball offer. If they feel the price is too low they'll either respond in good faith or say "I'm sorry, it looks like we're too far apart". This type of response preserves reputations and leaves the door open to potential transactions in the future that are on more acceptable terms.

I get it though, a constant barrage of low ball offers will start to grate on you and it's hard to keep your emotions in check sometimes.