Post a Price..or "Make an Offer?"

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by VintageJay

Agreed. It's the seller's property so he/she can post any price they feel comfortable with.

As a buyer/customer, if you don't like the price just walk away. It's that simple in my opinion.

I agree as well, as this is how commerce is conducted, and transactions are made on an everyday basis throughout the World.

But that doesn't address the issue of someone posting something for sale...and then NOT posting a price. It's hard to "not like a price" and walk away..when there isn't a price given. Maybe the card can be purchased for EXACTLY what you are wanting to spend...but you will never know, because the seller will not give you a price.

[T206Collector]

Sometimes I am considering parting with a beautiful card. It would really have to generate an offer that would blow me away. I am concerned if I put a price down that if accepted I would have to part with, but I also want to determine a reasonable market price for the card. Sometimes I just want to get offers on cards I have so I know what market is out there if I decide to sell now or later.

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Sometimes I am considering parting with a beautiful card. It would really have to generate an offer that would blow me away. I am concerned if I put a price down that if accepted I would have to part with, but I also want to determine a reasonable market price for the card. Sometimes I just want to get offers on cards I have so I know what market is out there if I decide to sell now or later.

So, If I understand your post correctly, there are two different circumstances here for you.

1. "It would need to generate an offer that would blow you away." There's no fault here, as I am the same way. There are things that I would part with...only if it brought the right kind of money. However...whatever "that" number is..you already internally know what it would take. So, why not post that as the price? If it sells....then you're "blown away" and happy with that price.

2. "Sometimes I just want to get offers on cards I have so I know what market is out there if I decide to sell now or later." So, if I understand it correctly..you aren't actually wanting to sell the card...more or less "testing the waters" or trying to get a current value?

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Filthy

So, why not post that as the price?

Obscenely high asking prices will not generate reasonable counter-offers. And reasonable prices might get accepted.

Originally Posted by Filthy

2. [Y]ou aren't actually wanting to sell the card...more or less "testing the waters" or trying to get a current value?

Yes, but sometimes the water is perfect and you jump right in.

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Obscenely high asking prices will not generate reasonable counter-offers. And reasonable prices might get accepted.

Yes, but sometimes the water is perfect and you jump right in.

Thats kind of the whole point. If a card is reasonably priced.....there would never be a need for a back and forth counter offer. everyone would just jump right in. Buyer happy...seller happy.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Filthy

Thats kind of the whole point. If a card is reasonably priced.....there would never be a need for a back and forth counter offer. everyone would just jump right in. Buyer happy...seller happy.

The only reason I do not put a reasonable price next to something is if the market is not fully established or if I am looking to get an offer substantially above the established market price.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by Filthy

Thats kind of the whole point. If a card is reasonably priced.....there would never be a need for a back and forth counter offer. everyone would just jump right in. Buyer happy...seller happy.

Where's the fun in that? Doesn't everyone like to haggle?

[VintageJay]

I agree with that also.

No price means no sale to me as a buyer. I can't remember ever buying an item without a price so I don't understand what the seller's thoughts are behind it.

I would rather the seller at least post a price (even if it's on the high end) with an "or best offer" option.

[ullmandds]

For the most part I don't like "make an offer" sales as I agree most of the time the seller is fishing. On the other hand I have made private deals with folks on this board who asked me to make an offer which they did accept.

But on the other hand...I have a handful of cards that are very rare...some one of a kind...and previous sales info is scarce if not nonexistent...so I really don't know what to charge...seeing as all I know is what I paid for it. I am reluctant to put prices on such cards. If someone wants one of these they will have to knock my socks off...to a certain degree!

[Thromdog]

"I have a T206 Lundgren Chicago that is a Piedmont 350 back, one of the elite 8 or 12. It's trimmed on the three sides and has a touch of paper loss on the back."

Put a price on it? Tough to do. I'm all for being transparent but when there is not enough data to go with, the best way is to tell folks to make an offer on it. If the offers don't feel right, you just kindly say no and move on.

I get that kind of situation. Frustrating for the buyers? Maybe.....but it makes some sense to me from the seller's perspective.

I usually post prices when I want to sell a card. When I want to trade it, I will say that I will entertain offers, and would likely not include the price and would likely only accept an offer if it is above what I wanted to sell it for. I have had the situations above though and it's really tough to add a price.

[1952boyntoncollector]

"If you are genuinely trying to sell a card, why would you NOT post a price? Once again, being completely neutral on the subject...I'm curious to know what is there to gain, by not posting a price? It seems very counterproductive if selling the card is your true motive. By not posting a price, is it safe to say that you are automatically eliminating a good percentage of your prospective buyers from the get go?"


Basically, i dont think people are serious if they dont list a price.. and you will see on this forum that cards without a price tend to not sell like the ones with prices..

also for all the people worried about asking for too little, they can always do a price or best offer....can ask for sky high amount....you wont see people complain about people asking 10x more than perceived market value versus no price at all....plus you can still get offers in with 'or best offer'...with no price you lose some possible buyers.....

seller is free to do what they want but if they are serious in selling a card , i dont think the no price option is a good idea....

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by Thromdog

"I have a T206 Lundgren Chicago that is a Piedmont 350 back, one of the elite 8 or 12. It's trimmed on the three sides and has a touch of paper loss on the back."

Put a price on it? Tough to do. I'm all for being transparent but when there is not enough data to go with, the best way is to tell folks to make an offer on it. If the offers don't feel right, you just kindly say no and move on.

Once again, as a seller, it's your prerogative to ask whatever you want for a card. But, I don't understand the above? In regards to receiving the offers that don't feel right, vs. an offer that makes you say yes to doing the transaction.

So, if you have a card, and ask them to make an offer. If you are going to say no to $200, and are going to say no to $250..and are going to say no to $300, but if somebody offers up $375...and that offer feels right! So, you agree to it........ why wouldn't you post it up for $375 in the first place? You would already have to internally know what that threshold is.

[ullmandds]

I agree with the statement that if u want to sell a card you should price it.

BUT...if someone wants to buy a card out of my collection I am not advertising...they must make off Im ok with!

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Filthy

Once again, as a seller, it's your prerogative to ask whatever you want for a card. But, I don't understand the above? In regards to receiving the offers that don't feel right, vs. an offer that makes you say yes to doing the transaction.

So, if you have a card, and ask them to make an offer. If you are going to say no to $200, and are going to say no to $250..and are going to say no to $300, but if somebody offers up $375...and that offer feels right! So, you agree to it........ why wouldn't you post it up for $375 in the first place? You would already have to internally know what that threshold is.

That internal threshold may only be reached once he sees what offers are coming in.....in a housing analogy which i tend to use....you see someone list a house on the market for a price thats over market.....they may not accept an offer for 25% less the day after the listing..but if they keep getting offers in for 50% under listing for 2 months...they may now later accept an offer thats 25% under the listing price..

sometimes the first offer is the best offer.....usually the serious buyers know the market and jump on a newly listed item....however for some reason sellers seem nervous to deal with a first offer..

[nat]

"Make an Offer" posts can be seen as "WTB" posts. Consider: a post like the following would be unobjectionable:

WTB: 1966 Don Drysdale

I'm looking for a 1966 Drysdale, but I'm on a pretty tight budget. I could go up to, say, $20. So whoever can offer me the best-condition 1966 Drysdale for $20 gets my money. Let me know!


Now, basically, "Make an Offer" posts are doing the same thing, but in reverse. Basically, they're saying:

WTB: Money

I'm looking for money, but I'm on a pretty tight budget. What I can pay for money is a 1966 Don Drysdale. Condition of the money is unimportant, but I am interested in quantity. So whoever can offer me the most money gets my 1966 Drysdale. Let me know!


While that's meant to be silly, it's also true. On the other hand, making an offer to sell or to buy involves the risk of proposing something insultingly high- or low-ball. (Or at least that will be taken to be insulting.) And proposing something insulting doesn't feel very good. The psychological effect of this is mitigated when the sale offer is insultingly high, because it simply prevents any interaction at all between seller and (prospective) buyer. The post simply doesn't get any response. But with a make-an-offer the prospective buyer needs to do something that may end up being gauche - the seller's response may be "come on, get serious" - and there's a sort of embarrassment involved there that the buyer may like to avoid. (Which could lead to a higher offer, or could lead to not making any offer at all.)

[Pilot172000]

I put prices on the stuff I want to sell. I do this because I'm already determined to sell it and that price is what I need for it. If I am just fishing or not quite ready to sell, I try to not put it out there just yet. That's me and I totally understand what T206collector is saying so its not really a black and white subject The great thing about this site is the fact that if you don't like it you can just move on to the next thread. I am certainly not going to question someone's price publicly, but I will exercise the principles of free market and not purchase the item.

[Filthy]

I can't think of any other open market, or place of business that advertises (yes..by posting in a B/S/T forum, you are advertising) new or used products for sale, yet intentionally chooses to not openly display a price on said goods for sale. There are a few here, who have given reasons as to why they wouldn't post a price, and I appreciate the input. When it all boils down, there are only two "legitimate" reasons, why someone would seek out a For Sale forum, and post something for sale...and then NOT post a price. For the most part, any and all reasons can fit into one of these two categories below...


1. Seller doesn't know what their item is worth. An uneducated seller. Maybe they're new to the hobby, or maybe they don't eat, sleep, and breath current market trends. This is understandable, as if you really aren't informed on what somethings worth it would make sense to offer something up as "make offer."


2. Seller is being dishonest. Such a harsh word really, but still an accurate description. As a seller, you know exactly how much you have invested in a card. Whether that be from an emotional standpoint..or a monetary value..you know exactly what the card is worth to you. Therefore you also know EXACTLY what it would take for you to say yes...to selling the card. By not posting a price, you are only "fishing" for someone to pay you even more than what that "yes" threshold is. There isn't any other possible explanation, and any attempts of explaining otherwise would be seen by most as a lie. There is no judgement being passed unto you, but this is what you are, and who you are.



So with that said, those of us who post in the B/S/T forums, and choose not to post a price, that is fine...as we have many times discussed that it is the sellers prerogative to post however they so choose. But, I would ask you which of the two categories above do you fit in? The first or second? I'm not one to dictate what category most of the sellers fit into, but I personally find it hard to believe that someone purchasing/selling $200+ or especially $2,000-$5,000 baseball cards is doing so, without having alot of knowledge of the hobby/current market trends.




.

[bobbyw8469]

The thing I hate is the opposite. When I post a price and I get "what is the lowest you will take?". I already posted a price. Why is it now on me to bid against myself to sell the item?

Amen brother. Especially when it is already a great deal to begin with!

[Filthy]

bobbyw8469
This message is hidden because bobbyw8469 is on your ignore list.

Good story Bro!

[pbspelly]

The standard practice (at least in Western countries) is to list a sales price if you are offering to sell something. That's why you don't see a lot of houses listed under "Make an offer." Even for cars, where people expect that the list price is just a starting point, the list price is a starting point for the buyer to respond to. Likewise with auctions, which start at a particular price, even if no one expects the item to sell anywhere near the starting price. If you are offering to sell something, you, the seller, are expected to propose a price.

Now if you have something that you don't intend to sell, but would if someone gave you enough money for it, it's fine if you don't put a price on it and want to just wait for offers. There is nothing ethically wrong with this. But you also probably shouldn't list it on this forum's buy/sell page since it is not technically being offered for sale.


As for someone trying to determine the value of an item, the best way is simply to ask the forum what it thinks the true value is. I've done this several times. You will get a lot more responses than you will by putting something up as Make-an-offer. Sometimes you will also get offers to buy.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by pbspelly

The standard practice (at least in Western countries) is to list a sales price if you are offering to sell something. That's why you don't see a lot of houses listed under "Make an offer." Even for cars, where people expect that the list price is just a starting point, the list price is a starting point for the buyer to respond to. Likewise with auctions, which start at a particular price, even if no one expects the item to sell anywhere near the starting price. If you are offering to sell something, you, the seller, are expected to propose a price.

Now if you have something that you don't intend to sell, but would if someone gave you enough money for it, it's fine if you don't put a price on it and want to just wait for offers. There is nothing ethically wrong with this. But you also probably shouldn't list it on this forum's buy/sell page since it is not technically being offered for sale.


As for someone trying to determine the value of an item, the best way is simply to ask the forum what it thinks the true value is. I've done this several times. You will get a lot more responses than you will by putting something up as Make-an-offer. Sometimes you will also get offers to buy.

I don't agree as I think the bst section can facilitate both straight priced cards and those that members want to guage the market and take best offers. If you're a good buyer you should be able to navigate both scenarios

[pbspelly]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

I think the bst section can facilitate both straight priced cards and those that members want to guage the market and take best offers. If you're a good buyer you should be able to navigate both scenarios

I think that's true. But that doesn't change the fact that it is a buy/sell/trade forum, not a "buy/request-for-proposals/trade forum." If you are offering something for sale, the convention has always been that the seller is the first to propose a price. Even people running yard sales set prices for what they're selling, from which the haggling begins. It is only when you see something in the back of the garage--something that wasn't meant to be offered for sale--that the person says, "I don't know, I guess I might sell that. Make me an offer."

[Sean]

Quoting Jeff L.:"I find that with expensive cards, people don't like to bid against themselves and need a price."

I've been in situations where someone knows that I want a card, and asks me how much will I pay for the card. In that case I don't mind giving a figure.

But if the card is listed on the BST without a price, I don't like to make the first move.

[jfkheat]

I guess the "Noob Meddlin" was referring to me and the message I posted. As I said in the other post, it is your card, you should know what it will take to buy it. Why not post a price and not have to answer a bunch of emails or PMs asking your price? As others have said, if no price is posted most guys will just move on. If you are only accepting offers, put it up for auction. This is one of the few forums that I am a member of that doesn't require prices to be listed.
James

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by VintageJay

No price means no sale to me as a buyer. I can't remember ever buying an item without a price so I don't understand what the seller's thoughts are behind it.

I would rather the seller at least post a price (even if it's on the high end) with an "or best offer" option.

This is my sentiment as well. By not posting a price, most sellers are eliminating a very large percentage of their prospective buyers right from the get go.

[bn2cardz]

It really makes no difference to me how anyone posts something for sale. Even when it doesn't have a price I will consider it the same way I consider any purchase.

The thing I hate is the opposite. When I post a price and I get "what is the lowest you will take?". I already posted a price. Why is it now on me to bid against myself to sell the item?

Or when I don't even post a card for sale, but another member knows I own it and they ask "are you willing to sell?", then follow up with "what would you take for it?". At that point I believe it is on them to offer a price. I didn't post it for sale, so why would you force my hand to give you a price point? If you want it than make an offer.

[Bored5000]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

The thing I hate is the opposite. When I post a price and I get "what is the lowest you will take?". I already posted a price. Why is it now on me to bid against myself to sell the item?

That is the Rick Harrison move from "Pawn Stars." On just about every episode, someone will put a price out there, Rich will sigh, rub his head and come back with "What's the lowest you will take?"

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Bored5000

That is the Rick Harrison move from "Pawn Stars." On just about every episode, someone will put a price out there, Rich will sigh, rub his head and come back with "What's the lowest you will take?"

The sellers says 'whats the highest you will offer' so it goes both ways