"Give me your best price..."

[Dunderhead]

In my attempts to sell a rifle on this and a few other common sites, I've come across a strange phenomenon. I'm being hit evermore frequently with the response of "Give me your best price." I'm sorry, what!? Maybe I've just grown old and salty as I march steadily towards the twilight of my 30s. I always thought the way to barter was if you didn't agree with the asking price for something, you proposed a counter offer and if the seller was not insulted by that offer, you negotiated back and forth until you could either find an agreeable price in the middle or, if not, go your separate ways. But "Give me your best price"?? Do people actually abide this type of exchange? So far my response to this has always been "No thanks".

Am I being unreasonable?

 

[VinceMule]

Counter back, "what is your offer?" If they make no offer,you know they are not a serious buyer. You can also post your price, then add the word, "FIRM" on the end.

Make no mistake about it, many are strapped for money right now.

 

[Dunderhead]

Counter back, "what is your offer?" If they make no offer,you know they are not a serious buyer.

I like that!

 

[crashlanding]

No, you're not, it seems to be the new way. Put your best price on what you want to sell it for and stand by it. And the easiest way to deal with that type of buyer is not to respond to them.

 

[HSmithTX]

What's more insulting, saying give me your best price or saying I'll give you 50% of your ask? The 50% number was pulled from a lower posterior orifice, could be any lowball number that would insult you based on your perceived value of the item. Personally, I am not sure where I stand on my own question? I think it's driven by people way over pricing something and bumping it daily with reductions until it sells for a reasonable number, how many of these have we seen?

I have compromised on something that I wanted and didn't think full ask was what I would be willing to pay by saying 'if you get down around $X let me know, I am your buyer at that price'. I have had no response, I have had 'thank you' type responses and some 'send the money' responses.

 

[Brathany]

Glad you posted this. I too get these messages. The best ones are the offers for less than half the asking price shipped...bottom feeders!

 

[Dunderhead]

What's more insulting, saying give me your best price or saying I'll give you 50% of your ask? The 50% number was pulled from a lower posterior orifice, could be any lowball number that would insult you based on your perceived value of the item. Personally, I am not sure where I stand on my own question? I think it's driven by people way over pricing something and bumping it daily with reductions until it sells for a reasonable number, how many of these have we seen?

I have compromised on something that I wanted and didn't think full ask was what I would be willing to pay by saying 'if you get down around $X let me know, I am your buyer at that price'. I have had no response, I have had 'thank you' type responses and some 'send the money' responses.

I think that's totally fair. You're at least putting in effort on your side and making your intentions known, unlike the ambiguous replies simply trying to scavenge an extra buck without doing any work!

 

[Nevrsummr]

It was published years ago as a way that financially smart people get discounts. Can't fault someone for using it. If you don't like games, then simply do as they asked and state your best price. If they don't like it they will move on without offending you with a low offer.

 

[Deputy819]

Do people actually abide this type of exchange?

I don't

Am I being unreasonable?

Nope

I've never actually made one dime on ANYTHING I've sold on here…..and more often than not after "I'll take it" is said funds are sent and that's it. That tells me the item was "priced to sell". Your "best price" is the one you listed…..and go from there.

 

[Dean2]

In my attempts to sell a rifle on this and a few other common sites, I've come across a strange phenomenon. I'm being hit evermore frequently with the response of "Give me your best price." I'm sorry, what!? Maybe I've just grown old and salty as I march steadily towards the twilight of my 30s. I always thought the way to barter was if you didn't agree with the asking price for something, you proposed a counter offer and if the seller was not insulted by that offer, you negotiated back and forth until you could either find an agreeable price in the middle or, if not, go your separate ways. But "Give me your best price"?? Do people actually abide this type of exchange? So far my response to this has always been "No thanks".

Am I being unreasonable?

View attachment 623353

My response to that is always, "Make me a reasonable offer, I have no intentions of bidding against myself."

 

[unclecroc]

People have lost the art of bartering and most take the pricing of everything to heart and take it as a personal offense if your price is above what they think it's worth.
Maybe I'm just weird but I love to barter and wheel and deal but some just don't care for shenanigans and I understand that.
If I am motivated to sell and I'm asked that question I'll spit out a price and like obi wan kenobi said "negotiations were short". It usually comes to head quickly.

 

[Dunderhead]

My response to that is always, "Make me a reasonable offer, I have no intentions of bidding against myself."

****, that's good!

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I think my best experience was for a camo outfit that I posted. I put it up for a fair price but got no response. I lowered the price but just heard crickets. Lowered the price again and heard more silence. Finally, I posted "I give up. Free to anyone who can use the camo".

I got an immediate response and several follow-up responses. Just to show that I wasn't sour over the deal, I shipped it for free too. True story LOL

 

[med358-boise]

My response to that is always, "Make me a reasonable offer, I have no intentions of bidding against myself."

I spent the last 25 years of my career negotiating complex technology purchases. As Dean2 said - they are asking you to negotiate against yourself.

However, many people do not understand the science of negotiating (so don't take offense) and they may be a legitimate buyer that just doesn't know the best way to determine if there is any "room" to negotiate.

So, you can:
1) ignore them
2) give them a terse response such as: "Give me the highest price you are willing to pay"
or
3) say something along the lines of: "I sense you are interested in buying this and I have already stated a price, so it's really up to you to offer me a different price at this point."