Should I block this bidder?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by jthorst75

This reminds of an issue I ran into recently. I was buying parts for my Honda on ebay. I noticed the seller had a best offer option so I made a lower cash offer. It was automatically declined so I came up a bit; once again declined. I had one offer left so I asked the seller what they were thinking on the price. They got offended and blocked me as a buyer. Confused, I asked them what the deal was but they took my offer so personally that there was no talking them off the ledge. I would've paid their full price but if the seller offers the option for me to make an offer than why take any offer given personally? They don't have to accept my offer but maybe, just maybe give the buyer an idea of the seller's price in mind and work from there. This is why Ebay allows multiple chances to offer. The situation sucked because they had the part I needed and no one else in this country did. The seller had a huge feedback score and a 100% at that so it seemed strange that they never ran into a lower offer???

Good point(s)! And exactly why in the OP's case it was he who started and initiated the negotiation process. As a Seller on Ebay, he should know that when he makes an offer like that to someone who is watching one of his listings, that offer automatically includes the "Make an Offer" option back to him by the potential Buyer/Watcher. Therefore, it most definitely is the start of a negotiation process when he originally sent that offer, whether the Seller intended it to be or not. Why get upset and mad at a potential Buyer/Watcher if that is what your Ebay options limit it you to, and you don't like any of them?

If he truly didn't want to negotiate the price, why didn't he just cancel the auction, or wait till it possibly ran its course with no bidders, and then just relist the item with a BIN or initial auction price of the $35 he said he was willing to take? And if he says he was operating that way to try and sell his item for as much as possible, over his acceptable lowest price, that is great and perfectly fine. But then he shouldn't complain and against someone who is trying on their end to purchase an item for as little as reasonably possible either. Why is he right, and they're automatically wrong?

[philliesfan]

That is very interesting, because when you started this thread that is exactly what you did, you asked people for their opinions. Yes I did. Oh, and your request for opinions was unsolicited by those who responded. They were solicited as I asked for responses. So now I get it, (no you really don’t) you weren't really honestly asking for people's opinions at all, were you? Yes I was. You were just posting and looking for people to validate you and a decision you had probably already made, so you could feel better about yourself and what you decided? Nope. Hmmmmm, interesting!!!!!

And when people do respond to your unsolicited requests, it seems in your mind that somehow absolves you from being the one who started this whole thing to begin with? Sadly, this is almost the same thing you pulled on the potential Buyer/Watcher who responded to your unsolicited offer to start this all off. I'm guessing that you may not really have wanted any alternate opinions, or a negotiation of price, at all. And if not in either case, why did YOU initiate things in both instances to begin with then? What's the old saying, "Be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it!". If the people YOU are approaching don't respond in almost exactly the way you want or expect, so what, why get all worked up and upset about it? I have no idea where you get the idea I am all worked up over it or upset about it. I couldn’t care less. I was just wondering if others here saw it as a potential problem. I got answers for both points of view which I do appreciate.

This now appears to be a second recent instance of you taking offense at the way someone responds to you, over something you initiated, started, and ASKED for responses to. In which case it could make some observers liken it to a blossoming behavioral pattern. Now that is funny. I had originally just offered some alternate thoughts and perspectives on your issue, and had not judged or condemned you at all. No you did not, nor did I of you. However, as it seems I come across in dealing with almost everybody here on this forum when there is a disagreement of opinion, I go out of my way to try and present facts and logical theories and arguments, and respond to and answer all questions posed. I listened to your responses and Yet appallingly, I rarely, if ever, get the courtesy of a similar reaction and response to my questions. So let me try asking this once again. Why exactly does a potential Buyer's/Watcher's response to YOUR unsolicited offer, and their negotiation technique in response, suddenly and automatically make them a bad buyer, needful of blocking? In negotiations, the seller has a starting point to make the sale and the buyer has his starting point to make a purchase. Normally, a seller comes down in price and the buyer goes up in price eventually meeting around halfway. That’s the normal process for negotiations.

And please don't say it is because you have a gut feeling, because that is really no answer at all. If that is the case though, then you need to ask yourself what is the real reason behind such a gut feeling to begin with.

And as for the improper use of that phrase, yes, there are instances where you could appropriately have used the word COULD instead of COULDN'T, except in the context and meaning of how you used it, that is not one of those instances. Ask your wife if you don't believe me. What! Ask my wife? So she can be right again! Ugh. I don’t need that. I’ll take your for it.

[gonefishin]

First off, the proper phrase is "I COULDN'T care less", using COULD is incorrect.

So when the potential Buyer/Seller uses a technique like offering a lower amount to negotiate back, what makes make you suddenly and automatically think and be so certain they would be a problem Buyer just because of how they negotiated?

Would all parties please report to the principal's office!

[timzcardz]

Yes, block him, be done with it, and sleep peacefully.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

That is very interesting, because when you started this thread that is exactly what you did, you asked people for their opinions. Yes I did. Oh, and your request for opinions was unsolicited by those who responded. They were solicited as I asked for responses. So now I get it, (no you really don’t) you weren't really honestly asking for people's opinions at all, were you? Yes I was. You were just posting and looking for people to validate you and a decision you had probably already made, so you could feel better about yourself and what you decided? Nope. Hmmmmm, interesting!!!!!

And when people do respond to your unsolicited requests, it seems in your mind that somehow absolves you from being the one who started this whole thing to begin with? Sadly, this is almost the same thing you pulled on the potential Buyer/Watcher who responded to your unsolicited offer to start this all off. I'm guessing that you may not really have wanted any alternate opinions, or a negotiation of price, at all. And if not in either case, why did YOU initiate things in both instances to begin with then? What's the old saying, "Be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it!". If the people YOU are approaching don't respond in almost exactly the way you want or expect, so what, why get all worked up and upset about it? I have no idea where you get the idea I am all worked up over it or upset about it. I couldn’t care less. I was just wondering if others here saw it as a potential problem. I got answers for both points of view which I do appreciate.

This now appears to be a second recent instance of you taking offense at the way someone responds to you, over something you initiated, started, and ASKED for responses to. In which case it could make some observers liken it to a blossoming behavioral pattern. Now that is funny. I had originally just offered some alternate thoughts and perspectives on your issue, and had not judged or condemned you at all. No you did not, nor did I of you. However, as it seems I come across in dealing with almost everybody here on this forum when there is a disagreement of opinion, I go out of my way to try and present facts and logical theories and arguments, and respond to and answer all questions posed. I listened to your responses and Yet appallingly, I rarely, if ever, get the courtesy of a similar reaction and response to my questions. So let me try asking this once again. Why exactly does a potential Buyer's/Watcher's response to YOUR unsolicited offer, and their negotiation technique in response, suddenly and automatically make them a bad buyer, needful of blocking? In negotiations, the seller has a starting point to make the sale and the buyer has his starting point to make a purchase. Normally, a seller comes down in price and the buyer goes up in price eventually meeting around halfway. That’s the normal process for negotiations.

And please don't say it is because you have a gut feeling, because that is really no answer at all. If that is the case though, then you need to ask yourself what is the real reason behind such a gut feeling to begin with.

And as for the improper use of that phrase, yes, there are instances where you could appropriately have used the word COULD instead of COULDN'T, except in the context and meaning of how you used it, that is not one of those instances. Ask your wife if you don't believe me. What! Ask my wife? So she can be right again! Ugh. I don’t need that. I’ll take your for it.

So what if the potential Buyer/Seller doesn't negotiate the way you like, or normally expect? Is there some law I'm unaware of that says they have to? I'm just trying to figure out what your reason is for thinking you have to ban them, and to this point you still really haven't answered that question. The only thing I have been able to take away from everything you've said so far is that for some reason you think this person is possibly a bad buyer because you apparently don't like the way they negotiated with you. But you haven't stated that exactly, and I'm not trying to put words in your mouth. I'm just trying to understand how a person's negotiation technique possibly equates to how good (or bad) of a buyer they'd be.

What I have been able to get out of you is that this person did not act as you would normally act were you in their place, in regard to how they negotiate, and that is about it. If that is the underlying reasoning, and you have a natural distrust for dealing with those that may think or act differently than you in some aspects, so be it. Was just trying to understand where you were coming from. Though you downplayed possibly being mad or upset with this individual, the fact is they still got under your skin enough to prompt you to start a thread about it. So it seems you must have had some internal conflicts about what to do after all. I was merely offering some other points of view and perspectives to possibly help you see things from both sides, and better allow you to make the right decision for yourself. I was not expecting to be told my opinion doesn't matter to you though, just because it was not what you may have wanted to hear, or expected. But clearly I am not the sole person having or suggesting a somewhat different perspective and response to what you've apparently already decided. Good luck with the sale of your item. Hopefully you'll get some bidders bumping the price up over what you expected.

[philliesfan]

OK in brief, I thought his negotiation process in lowering his previous offer was not typical of how negotiations work so I was confused by this and figured he may be a problem.
I was not sure and that is why I started the thread. I heard opinions from both sides which is appreciated and what I asked for.

When I said your opinion does not matter to me was an attempt at humor. Yes it was. I used the could / couldn't comment in my response of your correcting my English and having an opposing point of view. That is why at the end of my comment I stated that I respect everyone's opinion. I thought you may have realized that.

[Directly]

I do ban tire kickers who purchase items and after I try to communicate within 4 days asking if they still want the item then they don't have the curiosity to advise either way, I write them off!--NO PAY is now a common problem on eBay --

[Eric72]

1. Was this an auction or a Buy It Now listing?
2. If the OP was willing to take $25, he would have simply accepted that offer. The "buyer" offering $20 later in the process doesn't really make sense. The seller didn't accept a higher offer, so why send a lower one?
3. Sellers on eBay have a "Tasks" section of their seller page. Within that section, there's a "Suggested actions" item. Some people, myself included, will routinely clear this by sending offers.
4. Buyers shouldn't get offended because the offer they got was "unsolicited" and/or not a steep enough discount. Someone offered to sell something cheaper than it was before. $45 to $39 is a discount of 13.33% That doesn't seem like a valid cause for angst.
5. The seller then went down to $35, a total discount of 22.22% Again, this doesn't seem like an unreasonable thing to have done.

Candidly, I would have blocked the buyer, too. The unconventional negotiating "tactic" makes no sense to me. If I wasn't going to take $25 for that, why would I take $20? If it was a typo, then I've lost a customer...a tire-kicker who apparently loves to spend time haggling and doesn't spend time making sure they've typed their two-digit offer correctly.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Eric72

1. Was this an auction or a Buy It Now listing?
2. If the OP was willing to take $25, he would have simply accepted that offer. The "buyer" offering $20 later in the process doesn't really make sense. The seller didn't accept a higher offer, so why send a lower one?
3. Sellers on eBay have a "Tasks" section of their seller page. Within that section, there's a "Suggested actions" item. Some people, myself included, will routinely clear this by sending offers.
4. Buyers shouldn't get offended because the offer they got was "unsolicited" and/or not a steep enough discount. Someone offered to sell something cheaper than it was before. $45 to $39 is a discount of 13.33% That doesn't seem like a valid cause for angst.
5. The seller then went down to $35, a total discount of 22.22% Again, this doesn't seem like an unreasonable thing to have done.

Candidly, I would have blocked the buyer, too. The unconventional negotiating "tactic" makes no sense to me. If I wasn't going to take $25 for that, why would I take $20? If it was a typo, then I've lost a customer...a tire-kicker who apparently loves to spend time haggling and doesn't spend time making sure they've typed their two-digit offer correctly.

I can understand that logic more if the potential buyer approached the seller first and initiated the contact. But not when the seller started it. It is hilarious how some people can only see this from one side of the story, and if it isn't from their side, the party they started the negotiation with must automatically be bad and worthy of blocking. Un-effing-believable!!!!!!

Truth seems to be we don't really know the complete other side of the story as I don't believe the OP ever asked the other party why they came back with an even lower price offer. I had already wondered if it was possibly a typo and they meant to type $30. I don't know, and apparently neither does anyone else. But if some people want to rush to judgements without knowing the full story from both sides, so be it.