eBay "Best Offers"--what's up with that

[PowderedH2O]

I often will make an offer that is probably too low. For an item listed at $100 that I think is worth $90, I will offer $60. If the seller wants to sell and needs the money right away, it is $60 they will have today and be done with it. I have offered half of the asking price on many occasions and had the offer accepted with no further negotiations. If the seller wants to negotiate, I am willing to work with them and we can hammer out a deal in the $80-90 range on the above scenario. But, if they come back at $99 as their negotiated price, I don't bother with them anymore. And, if I make a high offer and you don't accept, I never make a second offer. For instance, a fellow had a card for $14 obo. I offered $12. Only two bucks, but if you said obo, then a best offer you shall receive. He came back at $13.90. Forget him. I waited and bought the card for $11 a few weeks later at auction, and his $14 card is still sitting there two years later. I like to negotiate. Don't always think the initial lowball offer guy is not going to make a deal with you. If you don't ask you don't receive.

[caramelcard]

Greg,

As a seller, I totally get what you're talking about. I've had a couple interesting interactions lately as a buyer so just venting a bit. By the way, great price on your D304. Priced to sell.

Rob

[GregMitch34]

So buy it!

[Butch7999]

Just an anecdote, and memorabilia, not cards, but...
A few years ago, an eBay vendor put up a $40.-$50. item with a starting bid/BIN price of $200.
It sat there for year, repeatedly relisted at $200., until he added a best-offer option.
Figuring he might be losing patience with it or having realized his $200. figure was too high,
we sent him a fair-market offer of $40., which was auto-rejected.
A few days later, we tried again, offering $45.
This time we got a counter-offer: $199.99.
That was the end of our trying to negotiate.
Have to add, he got the last laugh:
it sat there for another year and a half, but somebody eventually did hit the $200. BIN.

[prestigecollectibles]

I had an item at $150 BIN and got an offer of $30. I countered with $60 and never heard from the guy again. A couple of weeks later someone else bought it for $150.

[caramelcard]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

So buy it!

Well, I already have it or I would.

[leaflover]

As a buyer to me "submit your best offer" means just that. So I submit my best offer. No need to send me counter offers because I have already sent my best offer. No sense wasting a sellers time.

As a seller if the "best offer" is reasonable and fair then the card is sold.
I usually just decline "low balls". No counteroffer.