My theory on Low Ballers

[dodge man]

I'll relate a story of mine. Several years ago I sold car parts as kind of a hobby and a way to pay for parts for my 70 Challenger. I was at a local muffler shop and this guy hauled out a brand new fender for a 71 Sattelite/Road Runner. This was in the early 1990's and even at that time, I knew this fender was worth some dollars, maybe as much as $500. This guy had this fender laying around for over 20 years and wanted to get rid of it. He said "make me an offer". I tried to get him to name a price but he wouldn't, so finally I said $20. He said "sold". Ever since then, I've learned you never know what someone will take, even if they have a price on it. You can always come back with a higher offer. So don't be insulted by low offers, just say no.

 

[Stick895]

It could be a cultural thing, if the guy was Indian, Asian or from the Middle East, they offer you an outrageous price, and you tell them no you couldn't possibly sell it for that, your wife would kill you , it's bad karma for the guy he'd be stealing from you, etc.etc. It's a game. At some point one or the other starts to walk away and then it's OK my friend perhaps this much and a deal is done. But it's not the American culture so sometimes there is a diconnect.

 

[studor]

If the seller says clearly "price is firm", "no Lowballers" or "non negotiable" then I don't negotiate and will see if the item is worth the price -- if I don't think it is then I wish them luck and leave. If they do not say that then I ask them right up front whether they will negotiate -- if they say yes then I try.
I would only be insulted if I clearly set out the terms and then somebody asked me to "save it" and then did not show up or tried to dramatically reduce the price when they did. Otherwise a simple "good luck with that offer" usually kinda sets the humour for the negotiation. I have been insulted by much bigger a**h***s than lowballers and lifes too short to get upset by someone you never have to deal with again

 

[newbury]

A similar problem I see occasionally is "firm price" and later in the ad "negotiable".

 

[Soundguy]

i wouldn't drive a long way to lowball somethng.. but no matter what.. when i get there whether downt he road or the next state.. if it's not as advertised.. I don't mind lowballing or walking.

if it's a good piece.. I don't mind paying fair price.

now.. if I happen by soemthng onthe sid eof the road or at a yardsale.. or a piece I see at a dealers lot or private seller.. and I knw it's bene there months or years as they are asking too much.. I don't mind making a 'cash-sell now offer

 

[284 International]

i wouldn't drive a long way to lowball somethng.. but no matter what.. when i get there whether downt he road or the next state.. if it's not as advertised.. I don't mind lowballing or walking.

This weekend I drove over an hour, one way, to pick up a set of tractor tires advertised as "like new." After talking on the phone with the seller and being assured they were virtually new tires, I made the trip.

Upon inspection, one tire was delaminating, had chunks out of the tread, had gouges where a tire iron had ripped the bead, etc. I was NOT pleased, naturally, and all the seller could offer in explanation was a pitiful "I've seen them run a long time like that." While that may be, they were clearly not anything near "like new" condition.

I did offer a lowball price, but it was based on a disconnect between the seller's perception of value vs the reality of the tires' condition. I usually offer a little less, in cash, when purchasing things in private sales, but frequently have paid the asking price in cash, too. It all depends on the value perceived by the seller and the purchaser.

The ones that tick me off are guys driving by the yard while I'm out working offering to haul off my farm equipment, and suggest something ridiculous like $300 for the lot of it (I have 20 or so implements and a dozen tractors) to "get it out of your way." The insinuation that somehow I would be the person benefitting from that exchange infuriates me to no end. Nothing even has a for sale sign on it, so the lowball offer is entirely unsolicited.

 

[LMan1967]

I'll relate a story of mine. Several years ago I sold car parts as kind of a hobby and a way to pay for parts for my 70 Challenger. I was at a local muffler shop and this guy hauled out a brand new fender for a 71 Sattelite/Road Runner. This was in the early 1990's and even at that time, I knew this fender was worth some dollars, maybe as much as $500. This guy had this fender laying around for over 20 years and wanted to get rid of it. He said "make me an offer". I tried to get him to name a price but he wouldn't, so finally I said $20. He said "sold". Ever since then, I've learned you never know what someone will take, even if they have a price on it. You can always come back with a higher offer. So don't be insulted by low offers, just say no.

You insulted that guy. No telling how much therapy he's been through since. Hope you're proud of yourself, mister.

 

[bigtiller]

I had an item priced to sell fast at $1500. The person on the phone lowballed me at $1000. I told them no but I would take $1700 as I thought it was worth close to $2000. The call didn't last much longer.

The funny part is, the guys wife and brother came by the next week and bought it for $1500.

 

[cuoffroad]

Not saying I agree with how the "buyer" handled things but I do disagree with the idea that the buyer "made you" do anything. It got personal for you and YOU decided to not sell to him.....that's 100% "your" choice. The buying and selling experience is relative. As a seller, imho, if you're really serious about getting rid of your item then you welcome all potential buyers and weed out the ones you don't want.....but you don't ever take it personal.

Take ownership of the situation and just admit you were offended (and that's personal) and that's the reason the sale was not made.

Just say....This guy lowballed be and it pissed me off....and that's fine.

It's all good....:thumbsup:

 

[MotorSeven]

I think extreme low balling is a kind of sickness...or maybe a dented chromosome is to blame:laughing:. I have a buddy that will stand there and low ball, then negotiate for 20 min to save a couple of dollars...drives me nuts because I'm thinking; "THERE"S ANOTHER 20MIN OF MY LIFE DOWN THE DRAIN").

I had a low ball experience about a year ago. I was selling a '72 Chevy 4x4 short bed truck on CL for a neighbor. I did the research and priced it "fair". A guy called from KY and asked for more pictures, so I sent him about 2 dozen highlighting any and all negatives(rust). He called back and negotiated a price that was agreed upon. I gave him the absolute bottom dollar price on the truck and told him that unless I failed to describe something accurately, the price stands. He agreed, and pulled a trailer down from over 2 hours away. When he started looking over the truck he started himing an hawing. After a while he told me that his son(late teens) felt that the truck needed too much work. So he offered 2/3's of the agreed upon price. I asked him if there was any "surprises" or had I not represented the truck accurately...he said no, it just that my son wants something to drive with minimal work involved(sheesh...today's kids:confused3. I said I'm sorry but a deal was a deal and I can't go any lower. He drove back to KY with an empty trailer. I really think it was not the son, but that he thought I would cave because he was standing there with $. The truck later sold for the original agreed upon price to someone else.

If the asking price is "fair" in my mind for the item I want, I pay it. If someone has no idea of the value of what they are selling(run across this several times when a family member dies) I pay a fair price, not the incorrect low price. I guess, one or more of my genes are also "dented":laughing: