eBay best offers.....

[Bob Loblaw]

As a seller listing cards with BIN w/BO and having them relist themselves automatically in 30 days is really really easy. As a result of that ease, its not hard to list cards now that you're aren't interested in moving at today's prices, but think conditions could change sometime soon and your price should be more in line with the market value at a later date. As a buyer I hate that, but as a seller I do the same thing. I try not to moan about sellers that do it because I do it too. It's just the nature of the beast now. Sure, it bugs me when sellers are unreasonable, I try not to be THAT guy. For example: Sebastian Valle Blue Refractors sell for less than $4...a seller has some up for BIN w/ BO at $25. I offer $4 and the guy counteroffers $20...that's just annoying as a buyer, if I were the seller I'd sooner make no counter than countering something that a buyer might consider offensive. Different strokes for different folks. The volatility of our market is such that everyone is trying to maximize their money and nobody wants to be the guy that sold at the dirt cheap price.

I offer $4.01 when that happens. Proves my point. Usually pisses the seller off. So be it.

I've had two different ebay sellers "ban" me from bidding due to my "ridiculous" offers, which really are market offers IMO on semi-rare items based on recent sales. I did the incremental bids up and now am banned. F. LOL.

So ridiculous... never know where the next sale is going to come from. It's so silly to ban a buyer just for offering low bids...

 

[SouthSideSluggers]

This was a new one for me but I have a card up now with BIN/BO...I got an offer of $40 only if the card would be shipped in a one-touch magnetic holder, with free shipping with DC and signature and he also stated that he would look at the card and if not up to his specifications he could return it.....That takes a lot of balls to dictate to the seller...needless to say I passed on the offer.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

This was a new one for me but I have a card up now with BIN/BO...I got an offer of $40 only if the card would be shipped in a one-touch magnetic holder, with free shipping with DC and signature and he also stated that he would look at the card and if not up to his specifications he could return it.....That takes a lot of balls to dictate to the seller...needless to say I passed on the offer.

Did I push it too far with the one touch?

 

[dethomas07]

I completely agree that the buyer should NEVER realistically think ANYONE would go for that.

That is hopefully an extreme case.

David

 

[SouthSideSluggers]

This was a new one for me but I have a card up now with BIN/BO...I got an offer of $40 only if the card would be shipped in a one-touch magnetic holder, with free shipping with DC and signature and he also stated that he would look at the card and if not up to his specifications he could return it.....That takes a lot of balls to dictate to the seller...needless to say I passed on the offer.

Did I push it too far with the one touch?

Yes, that is what put it over the top...now if I could ship in a yellowed out cracked semi-rigid holder with no penny sleeve we would have had a deal

 

[rainmanesq]

I used to make counteroffers as a seller, but found buyers rarely respond. I also found that sometimes, we’re just WAY too far apart (Ex., card sells for $100 usually; buyer offers $5), that making a counteroffer seems futile since it’s clear the buyer doesn’t know the market, expects a steal, etc. (or maybe they just like to haggle).

Other times, buyers make offers that don’t seem logical-

07 bowman betances gold ref (non aut). I sold a bgs 9 for $50. a buyer offers me $33 for my BGS 9.5. um, ok, a BGS 9.5 should go for LESS than a bgs 9?

07 bcdp moustakas gold ref. A RAW sold for 160 recently. A buyer offers me $100 for a 9.5. um, ok?

Other times, buyers get pushy + say things like ‘you’ll NEVER get $x for that.’ Funny, I usually do.

Other times, I find that even though I price my BINs/BOs EXACTLY @ (or lower) than the last ended 1s, I get offers that are WAY low...so, I've taken to pricing my items WAY higher in some cases + find I get better offers.

I don't mind negotiating, but some buyers must be seriously smoking some funny happy stuff to think their offers are worth taking.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

But people with bad/low feedback can still hit BINs/BOs.

BINs/BOs are a tool sellers tend to use when prices have fallen or likely wouldn't have met a seller's expectations in an auction format.

I think alot of good ebay buyers are being "punished" by the bad ones and/or wouldn't likely reach a seller's expectations in auction format.

For example, all the no-pays and slow pays make sellers hesitant to list even mid-level cards in a traditional auction format. They like the BIN/BO format so that they have more control over who is buying their cards (ie, good feedback and track record and very likely to actually pay - and not return or ask for partial refunds - on a card). However, with this also comes higher fees. On average about 3% more I think plus additional listing fees. To make up for that sellers want a little more. Or, as others noted, they hold and *hope* that someone is willing to overpay.

Caught up in the fray is the average e-bayer. There is definately a move towards more BIN/BO and less standard auction formats, and the steals/deals of the past will kind of dry up with it.

- jason

 

[dethomas07]

Rain,

Here is what my situation is/was:

Seller has a BIN/BO for $60.
Last 8 of the exact same cards have sold for an average of $25, with the most recent sales being lower than average.
I made an offer of $30.

I truly felt I made an honest/fair offer and would have been willing to negotiate with the seller.

David

 

[autocut]

Okay, my gripe......

I reviewed completed auctions for a players autos. I find a good "average" amount and I submit offers on three items using this information. The BIN on each was significantly higher than my offer and prior sales.

So far, two have been declined with no counteroffer. When I made the offers, I left a comment about prior sales values and everything. I know it is the sellers prerogative to sell the card for what he wants but I just don't understand at least making a counteroffer.

Thanks,
David

No one cares about "prior sales values". They have a range to what they want and what they will accept for THEIR item. That's what its based on. Some people don't want to counteroffer and negotiate (haggling). That's why when I submit a best offer, I offer what I'm willing to pay and no more. If they decline, I move on to the next item.

 

[chowell3fan]

Rain,

Here is what my situation is/was:

Seller has a BIN/BO for $60.
Last 8 of the exact same cards have sold for an average of $25, with the most recent sales being lower than average.
I made an offer of $30.

I truly felt I made an honest/fair offer and would have been willing to negotiate with the seller.

David

DT,

I think that in this case, it is a situation where you move on. I can see as a seller why they would not want to hear from a potential buyer "what it sold for recently", but in this case, you made an above "market value" offer, and they refused. Oh well, it will sit there for a while. I think the key as has been mentioned is to just make the offer, don't add a justification. If someone offers me a trade in fantasy football, and attached to the offer is a "hey, this guy is MUCH better than your starting RB...blah blah blah" i automatically dismiss it, as i don't need someone else to tell me what is best for me . (except my mom, she can still do that)

Anyway, the point is, not every seller is the same, and I hope you are able to find the auto at the price you are willing to pay. Lord knows you are one of the good guys

 

[bballcardkid]

I usually add at least one bidder to my blocked list per week . There is a significant difference between making a fair market value offer to a seller that the seller feels is too low (based on what the seller thinks he/she will eventually get or based on what they have in it), and making a ridiculously lowball offer that is a fraction of fair market value.

I.E., when I get an offer for a Wil Myers Blue Refractor BGS 9.5 for $100, that bidder is getting added to my blocked list because I know that that bidder isn't approaching the negotiation seriously. They are only serious about getting a steal, or they are seriously retarded since they apparently believe I can't find the completed auctions link.

From personal experience, I've noticed more incompetant buyers than irrational sellers, and honestly, you can't complain about an irrational seller because chances are, they will eventually get their price.

Signed, cardboardbeauties

 

[matfanofold]

A few words of advice....

To the buyer:
- Make your offer and move along. It's a sellers right to ask for and to seek for what he wants. Not everyone needs to sell, or studies market price(or even cares). Not everyone wants to negotiate(even with a BIN/BO) thats what auto accept/decline is for. If your getting upset with anything hobby related with regards to a sellers habbits, then perhaps your taking this hobby too seriously. The thrill is in the hunt, not soley in the aquisition. Sometimes if you want a card bad enough, you have to pay the piper.

To the seller:
- It's a buyers market, and not everything has to be done on your terms. A little communication with potential buyers can go a long way. Some buyers are just the kind that will always look for the steal first. This does not mean they will not eventually meet you at an acceptable price, but it may take some simple negotiations. Your cards are yours, yes. But there is also something called market value. And if you want to make your customers(and potential customers) happy, you will keep both things in mind. At the end of the day we are all on eBay for 2 reasons. 1. to buy, and 2. to sell. Anything that can be done within reason to achieve both things should be considered.

To Both buyers and sellers.
- eBay is like fingerprints, where no 2 members are alike and most drasticly different. What you think is acceptable for business, many others will not. What you may consider negotiations, others will look at as bothersom. What you look at as an laughable price(asking or offered) many others will find acceptance. To assume everyone will fit in your eBay 'box' is fruitless. As a buyer and seller I take pride in 3 things. First and foremost is communication. Most of all issues that lead to eBay rants threads would not be an issue with proper communication. 2. If I list a card I want to sell it. So I do my homework. I list at fair prices and accept fair offers with regards to cv. As a buyer, I also do my homework and offer what I am willing to pay. And 3. I enjoy myself. This is just a hobby for me, and most I interact with as a buyer or seller will see this, and hopefully enjoy the transaction.

 

[autocut]

I never make counteroffers because I would say at least 90% of the time they just expire without a response. I do, however, decline the offer and add a note saying what I would take for it.

See, from my standpoint, this makes absolute sense.

I work in a business environment so I KNOW that people need to make money in order to continue operations. But I also know that buyers don't want to get victimized.

Replying with "I have to have $xx for it" makes sense to me as a buyer but, as I've stated, I've never been on the seller's side.

This is turning out to be a very enlightening thread for me.

Thanks,
David

How is a buyer getting victimized? If they are offering what they are willing to pay, they are not getting victimized. One example. I had my James "Cool Papa" Bell pre-stroke autographed baseball on eBay for $500 or best offer. Buyer offered $425. I accepted. Well, it wasn't authenticated by any third party even though I do my own research before buying anything. Most prestroke autographed baseballs authenticated by PSA/DNA go for $300-$325. Sounds like he got victimized? Not according to the buyer's comment/feedback: "Received the ball last week. What a great signature!"

It all depends on how badly a person want the item at that particular time. Some people just want to fill in gaps in their collection or sets, so they don't pay attention to "prior sales values". If everyone went by "prior sales values", no item would ever increase or decrease in value since it is based off of what just sold each time.

 

[RiceLynnEvans75]

I don't really care one way or the other. When I offer, I send in the most I'm willing to pay. If it's not good enough, there is always another card I want for my collection. As a seller, I get a kick out of some of the offers so it gives me a good laugh.

My favorite is when I had a BGS 8 '93 SP Jeter recently in one of the older holders. One of the subs was a 7.5. I put a BIN of $90 as in the completed section, BGS 8's had been going for anywhere between $75-$92. So I went high in hopes of getting an offer of $80. Anyway, some guy offers me $60 and I counter with $85. He went to $65 and told me that the sub of 7.5 is what was truly killing the card so $65 is being generous. SO, I look at all of his completed auctions that he sold. Low and behold, he had sold a BGS 8 '93 SP Jeter, older holder, with the SAME SUBGRADES for $90 two weeks before. Needless to say, I canceled, told him I wasn't interested in selling low so someone else could flip, and told him that next time, make sure his completed auctions ran off the clock before he pulled that again on someone else. Then I blocked him.

 

[autocut]

I don't really care one way or the other. When I offer, I send in the most I'm willing to pay. If it's not good enough, there is always another card I want for my collection. As a seller, I get a kick out of some of the offers so it gives me a good laugh.

My favorite is when I had a BGS 8 '93 SP Jeter recently in one of the older holders. One of the subs was a 7.5. I put a BIN of $90 as in the completed section, BGS 8's had been going for anywhere between $75-$92. So I went high in hopes of getting an offer of $80. Anyway, some guy offers me $60 and I counter with $85. He went to $65 and told me that the sub of 7.5 is what was truly killing the card so $65 is being generous. SO, I look at all of his completed auctions that he sold. Low and behold, he had sold a BGS 8 '93 SP Jeter, older holder, with the SAME SUBGRADES for $90 two weeks before. Needless to say, I canceled, told him I wasn't interested in selling low so someone else could flip, and told him that next time, make sure his completed auctions ran off the clock before he pulled that again on someone else. Then I blocked him.

+1

Most people look for flips and because its becoming harder and harder, rants fly.

 

[All The Hype]

I used to make counteroffers as a seller, but found buyers rarely respond. I also found that sometimes, we’re just WAY too far apart (Ex., card sells for $100 usually; buyer offers $5), that making a counteroffer seems futile since it’s clear the buyer doesn’t know the market, expects a steal, etc. (or maybe they just like to haggle).

Other times, buyers make offers that don’t seem logical-

07 bowman betances gold ref (non aut). I sold a bgs 9 for $50. a buyer offers me $33 for my BGS 9.5. um, ok, a BGS 9.5 should go for LESS than a bgs 9?

07 bcdp moustakas gold ref. A RAW sold for 160 recently. A buyer offers me $100 for a 9.5. um, ok?

Other times, buyers get pushy + say things like ‘you’ll NEVER get $x for that.’ Funny, I usually do.

Other times, I find that even though I price my BINs/BOs EXACTLY @ (or lower) than the last ended 1s, I get offers that are WAY low...so, I've taken to pricing my items WAY higher in some cases + find I get better offers.

I don't mind negotiating, but some buyers must be seriously smoking some funny happy stuff to think their offers are worth taking.

Great post. I have also found that most buyers don't even respond to counter offers. But at the same time, I usually would love to see one from a seller when I'm a potential buyer because I'm usually willing to negotiate.

I also don't understand the extreme lowballing. I've had similar experiences as you where a raw goes for $45 and I get an offer on my 9.5 of the same card for $25. That doesn't even make sense, and in that case I usually will respond with a very high counter offer or not at all.

It's one thing to make a fair offer slightly below the perceived market price. It's another thing entirely to offer about a third of what the card is worth. Nothing is free. I don't know why people would think that a seller would basically give you free money by accepting an offer like this.

It's almost like some people think everyone should be helping them win the prospecting game and that they are entitled to a never-ending supply of eBay "steals" just so they can make quick flips. Reality is that prospecting takes some work and a lot of time...nothing is handed out for free.

 

[matchpenalty]

I always love seller that is insulted by a best offer. Get over yourself. Why bother with best offer then? Just put price on it with no best offer.

 

[blazers091]

I always love seller that is insulted by a best offer. Get over yourself. Why bother with best offer then? Just put price on it with no best offer.

just set auto-decline

 

[All The Hype]

I always love seller that is insulted by a best offer. Get over yourself. Why bother with best offer then? Just put price on it with no best offer.

Yeah I don't understand this either..obviously there will be times when you get lowballed but who cares? Just move on and wait for the next offer. No reason to throw a hissy fit because someone offered money for one of your cards.

Same thing applies on FCB...seems like too many people get too pissed off by offers. Who cares? If you don't like the offer, politely turn it down and wait for someone else who is interested.

 

[carrsallstars]

As a buyer- I often list the last open auction sales to back up my offer and show that it is a fair one. (Strangely, I find that many people on ebay are either uninformed or delusional about pricing). If the seller accepts my offer, great. If not, I don't usually accept any counteroffers as I make my first offer my best. In the last week I have done this with 4 similar cards- I bought 2, one counter offered somewhat close b/c he "needs $x for it" and I politely declined and will bid on another one. That one has not sold. The 4th card my offer was declined and it ran out with no buyers.

As a seller I just don't take ebay seriously enough to get upset at lowball offers. Usually I get a little excited when you see a BO email- and then I just chuckle when I see the offer- $50 on a $300 card! But those people are always out there- it's like the guy in your fantasy league that send you teh head scratching trade offer!? It's like if he sends out a 1,000 of those type of offers than 1 in 1,000 times someone will hit the accept button by accident, or think they are getting the other Chris Young, or whatever...then when those guys pull one of those trades off or buy a card for 25% of value I assume they get off on it...