@tetibird wrote:
What do people think of buying art on Ebay? I found a lovely painting by a recognised artist. Offered for $799, has been on a while/ few times. Did my homework & was auctioned last year at Lawsons for $260 and approached the online seller (business) politiely to see if he would be willing to drop the price or auction, giving the option of a certain/ quick sale. Response? told me to go and buy a print like the "poor people" and promptly put the price up another $200 ! I've been the occasonal seller myself but I would never treat people like that! What do you think?
I've quoted this and bolded two points because I want to point out both of those things are completely irrelevant. Whether it's art from a private seller, or electronics with common RRPs from a big chain seller, the price is the price unless Best Offer has been implemented (and even then sometimes the price is the price). Also, what someone else paid for it last year doesn't exactly mean much, if anything at all, and certainly doesn't mean anything regarding the seller's price, that it's too high, or what have you. If prices were always based on what someone else paid, the comic book that recently sold for 3+ million would have instead gone for pennies. I get that it has remained unsold for a while, but I'm sure the seller is already aware of that and most will reduce prices of their own accord when they decide to go for a quick sale. ๐
Did the seller have an attitude? Yes, their comment re: poor people was unnecessary. Being able to remain calm, polite and professional even if it's the 1000th time someone has messaged and tried to haggle is all part of the job... (but just something to keep in mind, while haggling is expected and welcomed by some, to others it's considered an insult no matter how polite the approach is, so your seller may have felt they were responding in kind).
