My theory on Low Ballers

   / My theory on Low Ballers #1  

Cat_Driver

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
2,359
Location
Coachella Ca.
Tractor
2016 Kubota 4060, 2017 Tackeuchi excavator TB260
I had a guy come out over the week end to offer to buy some equipment from me. My price was already on the low side of what the equipment was going for, plus I told him on the phone, I knew he was driving a long distance so I'd back of that for his gas.

He agrees looks at the equipment then offers me almost 50%. I said nope. He came up to only 25% off, again I said Nope, he offered again pretty close to my price, I again said nope. We parted with no sale.

After thinking about the negotiations I could have easily took his last offer as he had cash, and was pretty close to my price, but what I realized is he ticked me off with his low ball offer.

Yes I get negotiations etc Yes, I get why not I may have gone for the low ball. But what low ballers don't get is they are insulting the seller. By low balling me he insulted me and I think at that point I knew I would not sell to him. I made it so difficult for him to buy because he insulted me.

I was fair on my original price even more fair by lowering my price without him even asking, then he has the stones to low ball me.

So I learned something both as a seller and as a buyer. Don't insult the seller. Yes business is business and don't take it personally, but human nature does kick in regardless.

Had his first offer been reasonable I would have done more back and forth and he would have gone home with the equipment. He made it impossible for me to negotiate any further, when in reality I would have, could have, but he will never know.
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #2  
Negotiations are negotiations and should not be taken personally. Ridiculously low offers can be counterproductive though.
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #3  
The best rebuttal to an insanely low offer is to ask what they are basing their offer on. If they say something like "I can buy them online for..."
or
"I saw one on the side of the road for..."
Then you can say "well then you should go buy that one instead of mine because that's a great deal."

This will put the buyer off balance and you can wait for them to make a reasonable offer. It's all part of the sales game.
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #4  
I have done the same thing as you. I price my items fair and expect some people to negotiate. But when someone comes in and talks your stuff down to try and devalue it or just plain offers you a price extremely low then you lose incentive to sell it to that individual. I really dislike the guys who rip things apart and try to make you feel like their doing a favor even taking the piece of junk off your hands. I don't hide anything, make sure people know any issues well before they come look at it and price things according to my area (which is a rather poor area all together so prices are cheap).

I have only ever made one low offer on an item and even then I thought it was still fair. A local dealer had a tow behind brush cutter (a Swisher brand) to pull behind an ATV. I had been toying with the idea of getting one to mow under the trees in my orchard but it wasn't something I needed bad or was even real serious about. So I had been watching as the dealer kept trying to sell it. They have had it for around a year and I had some extra money but I couldn't see paying more then $500 for it as that is all it would really be worth to "me". It wasn't something life or death, it was just a toy basically, something just to give me another option for maintaining under the trees. So I put a number on that option. I explained to the dealer what I was thinking, what I was planning to do and that I wasn't really needing it. So I told him what I offered and why and that if they were able to accept it then great and if not then that is fine as well as I understood. So it wasn't really a low ball offer. They couldn't sell it at my price but did come within $250 which was still $150 more then I could justify since I didn't really need it. I just wanted it. It would have been a toy. So I thanked him and told him if things changed on my end I would be in touch but I tried to be fair and friendly in my approach.

The price I offered was in line with the low end of some of the used units I had seen before but his machine was in almost new condition.
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #5  
It doesn't cost the buyer anthing to offer a lower price. Sometimes you can get it, and if not, you're not out anything. If it was something I really wanted, I might make an offer close to the asking price if it was a deal, but if it was something that there where plenty to chose from, then I'm going to try and get it for as little as possible. Nothing personal, but the less I spend, the more I have for something else.

Eddie
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #6  
I had a guy come out over the week end to offer to buy some equipment from me. My price was already on the low side of what the equipment was going for, plus I told him on the phone, I knew he was driving a long distance so I'd back of that for his gas.

He agrees looks at the equipment then offers me almost 50%. I said nope. He came up to only 25% off, again I said Nope, he offered again pretty close to my price, I again said nope. We parted with no sale.

After thinking about the negotiations I could have easily took his last offer as he had cash, and was pretty close to my price, but what I realized is he ticked me off with his low ball offer.

Yes I get negotiations etc Yes, I get why not I may have gone for the low ball. But what low ballers don't get is they are insulting the seller. By low balling me he insulted me and I think at that point I knew I would not sell to him. I made it so difficult for him to buy because he insulted me.

I was fair on my original price even more fair by lowering my price without him even asking, then he has the stones to low ball me.

So I learned something both as a seller and as a buyer. Don't insult the seller. Yes business is business and don't take it personally, but human nature does kick in regardless.

Had his first offer been reasonable I would have done more back and forth and he would have gone home with the equipment. He made it impossible for me to negotiate any further, when in reality I would have, could have, but he will never know.
If I think somebody is asking way too much I state "What's the least you will take? If he is within my range we make a deal. Some people will tear what you have apart just to try and make you come down; I've gotten so I will politely tell them that I won't waste more of their time.
If I'm selling I want a fair price; if I'm buying I will take a good deal but am also willing to pay what it's worth if I want it.

Have you ever refused to sell something to a kid because he didn't understand there was a reason that truck was only $150?
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #7  
What do you care what the guy offers as a starting price? Are you trying to sell or make a new friend? Why is a low offer an insult?

The potential buyer does not know you, does not know your circumstances etc. The buyer can always increase his offer if he really wants the item.

Who cares if you think your price is "fair?" For example, lots of guys think their motor home has the same value as their outstanding loan. They refuse to admit they are badly up side down on the value. The item is worth what someone is willing to pay and what someone is willing to accept.

Why do sellers take the view that an offer - no matter the %% of asking - is a personal insult. It's a negotiation between total strangers. Some people are good at it or lucky and often do get items for 50% of asking. That's why they offer 50%. First tractor I bought was for 50% of asking price.

If you are looking for a friend - get a dog.
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #8  
The last several things I've bought off Craigs list I've paid full asking price. Some things (like some pallet rack) I offered significantly less because the asking price was a lot higher (almost the price of new rack) than identical rack I had purchased before. When the seller got indignant I emailed him the previous ad. I noticed he continued to try to sell it for 2 months at his almost new price.

Often I'll see items saying "firm price", then another ad several days later with a lower "firm price" for the same item.

When I bought my truck the seller started out with a "firm price" of $24K. It finally got down to a "firm price" of $18K, which was in line with other prices.

I don't generally like to dicker on price, but having been to Korea, France, Bosnia I realize that there are cultures where NOONE pays the first asking price.
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #9  
Alot depends on how someone comes off with an offer. It's a tough economy. Everyone is trying to make ends meet. Well, many anyway. Some people even if not intentional come off as jerks.

I have also had sellers come off that way. Easy enough to walk away.

I don't care for those that offer the low ball over the phone when they have not even seen what I have. And, I usually try to price things fairly. But then that keeps me from a face to face situation.

I might make a low offer if I am only casually interested in something. But I don't whine if declined. I just thank the person for their time and go on.

I don't buy on a whim. If I need something, I educate myself on going prices.

When you offer something for sale, you sometimes open the door to the devil so to speak. You get the hagglers and god forbid, you get people just wanting to check out your property.
 
   / My theory on Low Ballers #10  
I have been on both sides of the equations, as has most everybody here. If I don't really want to sell it, I ask above market and if I don't really need it I make a low offer.
The best deals are when I meet someone half way between what they want and what I think it is worth.
However, I remember when I made a guy a great deal, delivered it and his side kick started picking it apart. It made me so mad that I told him that since his partner was insinuating that I was trying to F him that I would just keep it.
As I started to load, the money started flowing...:D
 

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