What is the lowest you will take????

[MansGame]

I don't have time to read all the replies at this time but I thought I'd give me two cents and later today/tonight jump through and hear everyone elses thoughts....

I have got this question A LOT but I have also asked it A LOT... I can't explain why other than we've got to a point in society where everyone is money hungry and wants to maximize their return, etc.... let's face it, everyone selling wants top dollar, if not more than the fair value... everyone buying wants lowest price, if not a complete steal... if this weren't the case, then all BIN auctions would never go un-purchased... only in a perfect world...

I don't blame people for asking the question because it breaks the ice I think and gets dialogue started... if it bothers you, just ignore the messages! It's really that simple... but you don't ignore them because there is an intrigue of a potential buyer, him showing interest, etc.... let's just say it's a vicious circle IMO

Anyways, that's my two cents... either ignore all PMs and inquires regarding your auctions [or] pay attention to them and play "the" game back.

 

[jbrown]

I don't have time to read all the replies at this time but I thought I'd give me two cents and later today/tonight jump through and hear everyone elses thoughts....

I have got this question A LOT but I have also asked it A LOT... I can't explain why other than we've got to a point in society where everyone is money hungry and wants to maximize their return, etc.... let's face it, everyone selling wants top dollar, if not more than the fair value... everyone buying wants lowest price, if not a complete steal... if this weren't the case, then all BIN auctions would never go un-purchased... only in a perfect world...

I don't blame people for asking the question because it breaks the ice I think and gets dialogue started... if it bothers you, just ignore the messages! It's really that simple... but you don't ignore them because there is an intrigue of a potential buyer, him showing interest, etc.... let's just say it's a vicious circle IMO

Anyways, that's my two cents... either ignore all PMs and inquires regarding your auctions [or] pay attention to them and play "the" game back.

I would agree with this but the question needs to be a little different than just coming out and saying give me the best deal possible. If I email someone to end an auction early, I always ask "I'm interested in your item, do you have a buy it now price in mind that you would consider? Thanks for your time". That seems a lot more decent than "What's the lowest you will go?". So as a seller, if I was asked in a decent way, I would have a decent response.

 

[MansGame]

I would agree with this but the question needs to be a little different than just coming out and saying give me the best deal possible. If I email someone to end an auction early, I always ask "I'm interested in your item, do you have a buy it now price in mind that you would consider? Thanks for your time". That seems a lot more decent than "What's the lowest you will go?". So as a seller, if I was asked in a decent way, I would have a decent response.

This is exactly right. I will NEVER just write a seller and come straight out with a rude comment like "what's the best you can do" or something. I usually go with something similar to what I've quoted above. I usually don't try and work a deal off eBay or at least that's not my angle personally but I konw people do it... I feel like you can get really burned.

 

[D-Lite]

I would agree with this but the question needs to be a little different than just coming out and saying give me the best deal possible. If I email someone to end an auction early, I always ask "I'm interested in your item, do you have a buy it now price in mind that you would consider? Thanks for your time". That seems a lot more decent than "What's the lowest you will go?". So as a seller, if I was asked in a decent way, I would have a decent response.

I agree with this as well. Basically, if a buyer just drops a curt message I reply as others have said, along the lines of "fair value" or if I'm feeling a longer response, "recent sales are $X.YZ, something in that range". I pretty much find that most buyers that ask the question like that are not buying anyways as they want a steal.

I have asked the question before, sure, but I will ask a specific price that I know is in the range of fair. "Hey, I'm interested in your Joe Showalowicz /5. Recent sales have been around $22 but your BIN is $40. Would you take $22?" So basically I'll only ask if I think a fair BO is something the seller would find low based on the inflated BIN part of the listing. As a buyer and seller I think it's more palatable to both parties to be reasonable and give specifics. The whole "best you can do" thing makes the seller disinterested in a lot of cases since you just know there's a low likelihood of a sale.