Ebay Make Offer Protocol - Help

[bnorth]

I just make an offer of what I would actually pay no matter the starting price.

[Casey2296]

Keep in mind you only get 3 offers before they lock you out of that particular item. Discovered this the hard way the other day when I was climbing the ladder on an overpriced item.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Keep in mind you only get 3 offers before they lock you out of that particular item. Discovered this the hard way the other day when I was climbing the ladder on an overpriced item.

That has been very weird for me. Sometimes I get 3 and sometimes it gives me 4 attempts. Also sometimes when the item is listed over and over because it is way overpriced. It will let me make offers every time it is relisted and sometimes it won't let me make more offers when relisted.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I just make an offer of what I would actually pay no matter the starting price.

This.

I've done this several times now...all have been well above the Starting price...just offered what my fair goal for what I wanted to pay and I am batting 100%, and some started counters that ended up well.

One example is the 1963 Sandy Koufax in strong EX+ raw. I was struggling to find the right card. I kept getting just sniped on the auctions last second, all ending around $85 to 90, and I kept being the underbidder. So my goal was $85, and all the BINs that fit my goal card were well over that, so I was being patient as all auctions were so consistent...that I kept losing. Lol. So a really nice example opened at $55 auction starting point, and had OBO. I went right to $80 on my offer, he countered with $85...bam, goal met. I was stoked. Card was listed for maybe 20 minutes...

Know what your card is selling for, be fair, and move on to another card if it doesn't work out.

[Exhibitman]

What is bad form is when the seller has an auto-reject on the listing, the bidder makes an offer substantially below the opening price, the offer is rejected, and the bidder then sends some lame-ass "what's the best you can do" email.

[Empty77]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

What is bad form is when the seller has an auto-reject on the listing, the bidder makes an offer substantially below the opening price, the offer is rejected, and the bidder then sends some lame-ass "what's the best you can do" email.

I've never done that but it's hard to see how it's any different from dealing with someone at a show who wanders by, looks something over, and asks "what's the best you can do on this?" which is overheard all the time---they have the same direct access. It could leave the impression that ebay is just a way to avoid dealing with people entirely.

But if sellers want to be in the biz, don't they need a thick enough skin for that sort of thing, and ought they ideally to have a bubbly enough personality to engage in the $$$ discussion---they are trying to coax other people to part with theirs after all.

[frankbmd]

My response to "what's the best you can do?" is to block you.

Bidding against yourself is never a good idea.

[Empty77]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

My response to "what's the best you can do?" is to block you.

Bidding against yourself is never a good idea.

I think this may miss the point ---because it's not really "bidding" at all in this case, is it?

If a seller doesn't have the stones to put an item up for actual bidding in an open auction format and just let it go for what the market decides, then it is hard to see how they can reasonably complain about having to spend effort rejecting offers, responding to emails, and blocking bidders they deem a nuisance.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Empty77

I've never done that but it's hard to see how it's any different from dealing with someone at a show who wanders by, looks something over, and asks "what's the best you can do on this?" which is overheard all the time---they have the same direct access. It could leave the impression that ebay is just a way to avoid dealing with people entirely.

But if sellers want to be in the biz, don't they need a thick enough skin for that sort of thing, and ought they ideally to have a bubbly enough personality to engage in the $$$ discussion---they are trying to coax other people to part with theirs after all.

When I'm set up at a show and somebody asks me "What's the best you can do on this?", I like to respond, "What's the most amount of money you will give me?".

Sounds rude in text, but it's actually a pretty good ice breaker, if you can say it with a smile on your face.

[G1911]

I made an offer below the starting bid on an item recently. It was accepted.

[nwobhm]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

When I'm set up at a show and somebody asks me "What's the best you can do on this?", I like to respond, "What's the most amount of money you will give me?".

Sounds rude in text, but it's actually a pretty good ice breaker, if you can say it with a smile on your face.

Smart businessman.

Blocking buyers for low offers is foolish IMHO. Been buying/selling almost 40yrs now. Never been insulted by lowball offers. It's nothing more than a starting point. Politely countered or refused is good business. On many occasion the lowballer returns and pays full price. If no deal is made, at a minimum, the potential buyer understands the seller is an adult that understands proper business etiquette.

[Empty77]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

When I'm set up at a show and somebody asks me "What's the best you can do on this?", I like to respond, "What's the most amount of money you will give me?".

Sounds rude in text, but it's actually a pretty good ice breaker, if you can say it with a smile on your face.

yes, that's exactly the sort of thing I was thinking---personality

[Bestdj777]

Deleted.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I just make an offer of what I would actually pay no matter the starting price.

This.