Since the subject was raised, I thought I would post briefly on this...

First off, let us differentiate tire-kicking from lowballing. Tire-kickers are people that ask for 1000 pictures on a item but generally have little to no intention of buying the item. Annoying? Absolutely... but not so bad.

Lowballers are people that offer a ridiculous amount of money for a product, in search of that elusive SUPER deal. Annoying, AND insulting. They often do so for various reasons... abundant interest but total lack of funds, or they sense that the seller is in a pinch so they give a low offer like vultures circling a dying animal... you get the idea.

Now let us be clear, a person is not a lowballer if they PAY a ridiculously low amount which was set by the SELLER. THEN the buyer made a great deal.

But... what most lowballers seem to forget is that this is a small collector community. We kid around when someone posts a machine for sale and writes BEST OFFER or MAKE AN OFFER and we post stupid amounts like 10 bucks, but that is to give a clue to the seller to at least post what he would like for it and save everyone some time. But when you lowball a seller big-time, that seller will always remember you and often refuse to sell you anything, regardless if later on you offer the asking price or even more. THAT is what I meant when I mentioned the blacklist.

I have a few people that I refuse to sell to, no matter what. I posted one example on a post GJD started a while back, asking about a lowball offer people have gotten. That same member that lowballed me contacted me a while back, asking me to do his playfield and was offering MORE than I would charge.

I told him to ship his crap to the US.

The point is that once you are labelled as a lowballer, a lot of doors close on you. Negotiate in good faith. Contact the seller and start a dialogue. if you don't like the asking price, contact them and ask them what their lowest price is.

Be curteous, be fair. Don't forget... ultimately, the seller has the last word... not the buyer.

Just my 0.02$.

Best written post I've seen regarding this issue.

Agreed.

Once I'm insulted, call them out - refuse to deal at any price, that's about where I stand as a seller.

Quoted from Sparky

Lowballers are people that offer a ridiculous amount of money for a product, in search of that elusive SUPER deal. Annoying, AND insulting. They often do so for various reasons... abundant interest but total lack of funds, or they sense that the seller is in a pinch so they give a low offer like vultures circling a dying animal... you get the idea.

Meh. That's what the delete button is for on your keyboard.

It doesn't really affect me getting a low ball offer. I just make a mental note of the fact someone thought I might be despirate or naive enough to go for it and that they don't know me very well.

Time wasting bothers me way more then lowballing.

Nothing burns my a** more then someone committing to something and then either backing out at the last second or not even having the decency to call or contact me and tell me and tell me the deal is off.  Either way that Sh!t only happens once and then I never deal with the person again and anyone that will listen I let know what a d!ck move that person pulled so they don't waste their time either.  

However, let's turn this 180 degrees and look at highballers.  I don't see anyone telling a guy he is asking too high of a price and when we do we get censored because the guy has the right to ask for what he wants. The answer we sometimes get is "just don't buy" and that is fine.

Lowballing is not insulting and you should not take it personnally.  Just say no thank you and/or counter offer.  Bargaining is part of life and there is nothing wrong with a low offer because most people ask a lot higher to get that "big fish" or "sucker" and I don't see anyone making a thread on this.

If you ask for a fair price for a fair product you will sell but I am more insulted by people that search suckers that don't know the price of things and get sucked in then a guy who lowballs.  You are right about making a name for yourself but again if you can't handle the pressure don't play with the big boys.

So lowballing a guy that is highballing is wrong?  Don't get me wrong, if you know the guy is in a financial bind and you lowball because of that you are abusing a situation and frankly I don't want to know because I can't stand you as a person..........But if you get insulted by lowballing then you should not be in any kind of business because if I sell something $1000 and you offer $500 I will laugh a bit and tell you No and either counter offer or wait.

Lowballing is highly suggestive and frankly if you lowball me....go ahead I find it entertaining not insulting.  What insults me is abusing people.

My two cents

Gilles

I haven't sold any machines, but have sold other things.  One instance comes to mind.  I was having a Garage sale most stuff $5 - $10.  Had a toaster new in a unopened box worth about 30-40 new(I think I got it as a gift). I had it for 5 bucks.  Some joker offered me .25 cents.  This was so low I was actually offended(figure that at a garage sale). I replied I would get more enjoyment running it over with my truck then selling it to you for that, then I asked him to leave. Hell if he offered my 2 dollors I would of took it.  I know what you feel like and I pay what I can afford and if it's not in the ball park I will not even offer. Sold many cars and always get the people that think it's 1/4 of what it actually is. Usally there is wiggle room in all asking prices but not 3/4 of the asking price.  Some people don't get it.  And don't get me started on people that think thier stuff is worth it weight in gold but your stuff is worthless when they want to trade.[/RANT]

Lance

Ok here's a list of guys I refuse to deal with.

Chuckie
Spunky
Bucko
Buddy
Buster
Biff
Slick

Anyone else I will take on a case by case basis.

Quoted from Cobra99

And don't get me started on people that think thier stuff is worth it weight in gold but your stuff is worthless when they want to trade.[/RANT]

Heh.. reminds me of Carlin.  "Your stuff is mess, and my mess.. is stuff!"

Let me ask you this:  Someone asks for $100 on a project pin and you know you can get $1000 by doing nothing on it because obviously the seller is not in the know of the gem he owns.  Is this OK!  Will you tell this person that the machine is worth at least $750 or will you pay and tell yourself that you gave the asking price and it is OK!

Legally right but morally...................freakin wrong and guess what? you and I would most likely not say anything or barely hint about it after all you paid full price!  If any of you would really 100% say to the seller that he/she is not asking enough please tell us because there are not many of you and you deserve a bow.

keep on smiling I know I am!

Quoted from Cobra99

Hell if he offered my 2 dollors I would of took it.  
Lance

Agree with you that this is ridiculous and stupid but $2 on a $5 item is lowballing.........this is a reduction of 60%.  Obviously I don't understand lowballing can someone explain to me what lowballing is because an offer 60% below the original asking price is lowballing in my book and if you are asking 60% more than what you want then you are highballing...........

I guess I don't get it.

tks

Quoted from gmaranda

However, let's turn this 180 degrees and look at highballers.  I don't see anyone telling a guy he is asking too high of a price and when we do we get censored because the guy has the right to ask for what he wants. The answer we sometimes get is "just don't buy" and that is fine.

Lowballing is not insulting and you should not take it personnally.  Just say no thank you and/or counter offer.  Bargaining is part of life and there is nothing wrong with a low offer because most people ask a lot higher to get that "big fish" or "sucker" and I don't see anyone making a thread on this.

If you ask for a fair price for a fair product you will sell but I am more insulted by people that search suckers that don't know the price of things and get sucked in then a guy who lowballs.  You are right about making a name for yourself but again if you can't handle the pressure don't play with the big boys.

So lowballing a guy that is highballing is wrong?  Don't get me wrong, if you know the guy is in a financial bind and you lowball because of that you are abusing a situation and frankly I don't want to know because I can't stand you as a person..........But if you get insulted by lowballing then you should not be in any kind of business because if I sell something $1000 and you offer $500 I will laugh a bit and tell you No and either counter offer or wait.

Lowballing is highly suggestive and frankly if you lowball me....go ahead I find it entertaining not insulting.  What insults me is abusing people.

My two cents

Gilles

  Your absolutely right ( It's my opinion too ! ) It's even more insulting to see someone trying to sell a pin way too much on MAACA . Go on les pacs or on kijji but not on MAACA please.

Quoted from gmaranda

Agree with you that this is ridiculous and stupid but $2 on a $5 item is lowballing.........this is a reduction of 60%.  Obviously I don't understand lowballing can someone explain to me what lowballing is because an offer 60% below the original asking price is lowballing in my book and if you are asking 60% more than what you want then you are highballing...........

I guess I don't get it.

tks

Yes that is low and in another avenue it wouldn't be accepatable, but this was a garage sale.  I guess there is a line where it worth it to get rid of something and anything under that is unacceptable, that is why a askng price is so important.    In any other dealing I ask for what I think it's worth with some room to negotiate.  To all the users with the inflated prices I just avoid, since I think thier off thier rocker (trying to land that one big fish is plain stupid in my eyes) Southern music come to mind