You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

[Danny899]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

It's not just Ebay. You get some (not many though) of the same nitwits right here on this forum doing the same garbage. Anyone who has listed something in the Collector to Collector forum certainly has had this happen to them:

1. Someone asks for you to take the time to send them pictures and then they don't even bother to respond after sending them.
2. They try to chew you down to something ridiculously low.
3. They will only buy if the item has a COA. (afterall if it has one, it must be good right?)
4. They offer something for a trade that has practically zero market value.

I've been collecting Rickey Henderson gamers for years. Everything game used of his I collect mostly vintage jerseys, caps, helmets and spikes. Now, I understand Rickey isn't the most popular guy in history, but some of the offers I received over the years weren't even worth the time spent reading them. Has this happened to you?

BTW, always looking for Rickey Henderson gamers. (no bats please)

[cohibasmoker]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

I don't understand what the term "low-ball" means. I just got a email from Steiner that read,

Have you had your eye on a piece for a long time wishing that it would go on sale, Stop Waiting!! Call Joe at 914-307-1126 and make me an offer I can’t refuse. Pick out any item of your choice and email or call with an offer. I have the right to refuse an offer but I will 100% get back to you with at least a counter-offer. **Offer ends April 6thrd at 5pm** *Only serious offers please*

So if I made a offer on a item (s) would that be low-balling?

Jim

[gingi79]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

If you only ever expect to receive communications on the Internet from intelligent, informed, insightful people, good luck - I haven't seen the filter advertised that does that.

Greatest.Idea.Ever.

[godwulf]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

Consider the really "low ball" offers as comic relief, and laugh. If a particular individual is persistent or obnoxious, or just isn't making you laugh, block and forget. It just isn't worth getting upset about.

If you only ever expect to receive communications on the Internet from intelligent, informed, insightful people, good luck - I haven't seen the filter advertised that does that.

Maybe you think this is rude and obnoxious, too, but when I see someone relisting an item for the second or third time, with a BIN or beginning bid price of, say, $60, and I've recently bought any number of identical items for a tenth of that or less, I sometimes send them links to the earlier auctions, as a sort of educational service. No, I won't insult you by offering you 10% of your asking price - but I will show you exactly how much I bought the same thing for last week or last month.

[camarokids]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

One way to solve the problem is to buy items that you plan on keeping for the long run and at good prices. I selectively buy items and rarely will I sell an item.

Let someone else pay the hyped up prices for the newest greatest player and then wait for them to sell. Kinda like new car prices, drive it off the lot and it depreciates by 5k. Just like Kylehess said about Jason Heyward, look at how his prices have gone down. I feel bad for the collectors who overpaid for his items (no I do not really ).

I see other collectors selling items only months after buying the item and selling them at a considerable loss. What is the logic in this?

Especially if you are buying from MLBauctions.com you are going to pay through the nose. Good luck getting back anywhere near what you have paid for it. It is the gotta have it now mentality that will screw you over when you want to sell the item.

Buy what you like and what makes you happy. But buy smart.

[jppopma]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

What about this situation...I have not been on either end of this deal yet, but I do see it from time to time and wonder. Say a seller has an item that is worth no more than $300 any way you cut it, but has a BIN of like $1200 with a make an offer.

Is it wrong to make an offer somewhere near what the item is actually worth, even though technically it probably would be considered "low ball" accoring to his BIN asking price? Either the seller got ripped or is trying to make a fortune on something.


Jason

IMO, no problem with that whatsoever. I also find no harm with a buyer offering only what they can afford. It's worth them giving it a try and seeing if they have a chance.

Looking at the big picture, that one buyer who was givin one "deal" may spark their interest and lead to many larger sales down the road. We need to spread interest in our hobby in many ways...sometimes cutting a deal is just one of the ways.

[stlbats]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

What about this situation...I have not been on either end of this deal yet, but I do see it from time to time and wonder. Say a seller has an item that is worth no more than $300 any way you cut it, but has a BIN of like $1200 with a make an offer.

Is it wrong to make an offer somewhere near what the item is actually worth, even though technically it probably would be considered "low ball" accoring to his BIN asking price? Either the seller got ripped or is trying to make a fortune on something.


Jason

[jppopma]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

I will at times send in a lowball offer on some items that I only have a mild interest in. If the seller declines the offer, I move on (not like there aren't other jerseys to chose from).

When it comes to different items, there are some that I have been looking for that I will BIN right away at a decent or even higher price. Then there are items that are on my radar, but need to be below a certain price to get me interested in. I know what I will pay for them and make my offer based on that regardless what the seller is asking. Finally, I have the spur of the moment or catch my eye items. Those are the ones that I am not really interested in, but would take it at a good deal (hence the lowball offer).

Through any of these, I will not pester the seller or contact them over and over. If I feel that they are overpriced, I will mention other prices that are more in line with the item.

Speaking of values, it's not easy to make offers these days. There is a fine line between not overpaying and not insulting the seller. What would people say prices have dropped overall in the last year, last 2 years, etc??

[xpress34]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

I agree with a lot of the points made here about buyers trying to low ball the sellers.

My biggest issue is that I always use BIN, I always use BO, I always offer FREE SHIPPING (in the lower 48 - outside that is charged and Ins, etc are extra) and I have yahoos sending me offers on bats that would barely cover the shipping!

Yes, let me spend my time to wrap up this bat, use my materials to protect it, pay to ship it to you and after fees and shipping, I might have made .50!

I've actually had buyers tell me that $15 - $22 DLVD for bats is TOO MUCH!!! About $7 of that will be the shipping! And with eBay and PayPal fees, you can kiss away anouth $3.00 or so... so the net low end would be $5 a bat and the high end would be $12.

I guess I'm just a greedy bastard!

- Smitty

[otismalibu]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

It's tough to know what kind of cushion the seller has between his listed price and the offer he will take.

I remember seeing this item and thinking the guy had no chance of even getting $200 for the item. Think I saw one at AMI that went for around $150.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=290653753575&si=a05NqqqFx8kJFXPpFVa1e%252FpHg0g%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AX%3AAAQ%3AUS%3A1123&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_789wt_1247

And then he discounted it considerably and sells for $375 shipped.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=360425088636&nma=true&rt=nc&si=a05NqqqFx8kJFXPpFVa1e%252FpHg0g%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_789wt_1247

And on the other end of the spectrum you can buy a couple items from BPH at their set price and try to get free shipping. Good luck with that.

[CollectGU]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

Then I would be gouging the consumer. It's set at a fair price. Anyone in the market for an item should know a fair price when they come across one....

We can't really assess this question unless we get a better idea of what you believe is a fair price. Keep in mind what you belive is a fair price is subjective, and maybe the 5/8 offer, which is 63% of asking, is fair.

For example, I sold an Ian Kinsler game worn rookie jersey on ebay for $290. I thought it's fair market value was at least $500, but I guess I was wrong. The market dictated it's value....

[frikativ54]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

I must say I completely agree with you. I frequently list items on eBay, and almost always I choose the Buy it Now option and opt to accept best offers. While the prices seem fair to me, I get a lot of offers for much lower. Instead of sending back a rude or short response I always explain to the buyer what I need for the item. If they can do that...great. If not...I move on. There are far too many sellers on eBay that get way too defensive when offers are made on their items. The worst a seller can do is say no. I see absolutely nothing wrong with offering what is comfortable, even if it is lower.

In the end, an item is worth what someone will pay. Nothing wrong with that number being too low for a seller. Just decline it and move on.

Great points. Plus, if you're not happy with the price, why not counteroffer? When I'm interested - but am not dying to own - an item, I will sometimes initially offer a lower amount. However, if the seller counteroffers, I am often willing to pay $50 to $100 more, if that's what it takes to get the item. It just depends on how much I care about that particular piece. I often put in best offers to feel out where both of us are at in terms of prices, not necessarily as the highest I will pay.

[Shipp_96]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

Remember an item is only WORTH what a buyer is willing to pay today, what you have invested does not make a difference.

That logic is fine, and I somewhat agree that if someone has the Best Offer option, of course I am going to try to get it somewhat cheaper. However, I stay within a respectful range of the BIN price. I don't go HALF.

When I list something for $220 for example, (and have no Best Offer option FYI), don't write me asking me to sell it to you for $120, then continously pester me to sell it to you for that absurd price! I have even had people write me after the auction (I touched on this on my earlier post) and say "my $120 offer still stands, are you going to sell it to me or what?" Here is where I have the issue.

I already respectfully told you my lowest acceptable price (usually within $20 of their offer) and you expect me to come down $100 but you cannot come up $20? I am just saying...

[Shipp_96]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

They don't want a fair price, they want an attractive price that allows them the opportunity to make some money on it.

+1

[otismalibu]

Re: You Know What Really Grinds My Gears - Selling on eBay!

Then I would be gouging the consumer. It's set at a fair price. Anyone in the market for an item should know a fair price when they come across one.

If there's a natural disaster and you have the only water for 100 miles and you're charging $50 a bottle...that's gouging. Game used gear is not exactly a necessity and the creation of this thread makes it pretty obvious there hasn't been a temporary spike in demand. I don't think there are many seasoned eBayers who use BIN when the Best Offer option is up, unless the item is already priced to sell.

Look how often everyone here flips items. You know these offers are often coming from buyers who plan to do the same. They don't want a fair price, they want an attractive price that allows them the opportunity to make some money on it.