best offer bidding

[mini-mel76]

i realise this is probably nothing, but i have had the best offer from a seller re-buttled. they only want to take 15 cents off the price of the item

bit of a farce

[phorum_junkie*]

I too think offering less than 70% of the asking price is a bit of a cheek. When I use BO I usually set it between 10 & 15% below the asking price and have it auto set to accept or refuse offers. That way I don't have to converse with numpty buyers who think I want to give my items away.

[leader-of-the-band]

I sell with best offer feature on another eBay ID . . . . so I will hold judgement on the seller until more details of this offer are known . . . . like what the asking price was and what did you offer?

Now, armed with all the information that I need to form an opinion . . . . I don't think the seller has done anything wrong.

This seller has responded with a counteroffer.  They could have simply declined your offer outright without any communications with you.

You have no idea what their overheads are or how close the original price was to his/her absolute minimum price in order to break even.  I calculate that at $7.35 and, say $3 postage, there would be $1.13 in fees and at $7 there would be $1.09 in fees.  At $5, with $3 in postage, the fees would be 89cents.

This means that at $7.35 the seller ends up with $6.22 and at $5 they end up with $4.11.  OP, ask yourself this question . . . .  knowing exactly what the item is, if you were selling this item, what would be a fair price considering the fees involved? (not to mention any other costs the seller would incur)

[deals_of_future_passed]

Yep,I  wholeheartedly agree.IT'S A FARCE!

I recently bid on an item listed at aud27.55 b.i.n.   or b.o.

my first offer $22.00

counteroffer $27.00

my c/offer   $24.00

seller c/offer $26.80

my c/offer FOR 2 ITEMS $24.00 each = $48.00

seller c/offer  $26.50  (2 items) = $53.00

That's a concession of just $1.05 per item from full b.i.n. price.

Who's kidding who?

[2106greencat]

Sorry, but not a really good example above.

Depending on the size and weight etc, sending 2 of an item may cost significantly more for the seller hence best offer may not cover costs or allow a reasonable profit.

Make an offer really means exactly that - an offer - and an offer can be refused.

[1sweetap6v8]

@working_class_infusor..  and Mel

Yep im with you its just a con trick.

If you are not prepared to negotiate a reasonable discount there is no point in a BO listing simply for a 2 or 15 cent discount. Even 1 dollar from a $10 item seems pointless its chicken feed and seems totally pointless and should just be left at BIN.

And the discount there willing to give on BO just removed from the BIN price so it has a better attraction to the buyer in the first place. Sell it at your best possible price to start with, not inflated prices then offer small discounts in hope some will pay more than others.

Its just penny pinching at its best. If the room isnt there to move dont advertise BO in the first place.

And if its not atleast 50 bucks it shouldnt even be allowed to be offered as BO as there really is no point the discount its less than most throw in a donation bin or a wishing well.

And talking overheads and costs etc is just rubbish, If you do not have the room to move on the price there simply is no point to BO.   And if you want to run a retail outlet why bother with ebay as it was originally for the average jo,blow to dispose of his unwanted goods, But as we have seen that is no longer the case and 2 dollar chinese rubbish is rife on ebay

But remember your talking to a bunch of sellers here. 

[2106greencat]

14 replies - I count 7 buyers.

Just so you know, sellers can buy too 😉

[zanadoo_56]

If the item is being sold at a price I already consider reasonable (or I might want it in a hurry) most of the time I'm happy to accept the BIN rather than make an offer.  If I want to buy multiples and Best Offer is available then I'll give it a go.

There are a couple of other reasons I might make an offer:

# If the postage & packing is a bit higher than I wish but getting the postage lowered is not an option then maybe I can shave a bit off the item price instead, and

# When the PayPal exchange rate puts the Oz dollar at less than the US dollar then I will make an offer to kinda even things out a bit.

I buy a lot of small items and because many are from the 1960s I'm dealing with a captive market.  Sometimes you just can't go elsewhere for better postage etc....more's the pity.  I've had stuff on my wanted list for years (yes, I've got them under saved searches with notification enabled) so if one of them comes up it's often a case of sieze the moment....but if Best Offer is there I figure why not give it a go.  I may only get a little of the original price but the way I see it every little bit helps.

[putney32]

14 replies - I count 7 buyers.

Just so you know, sellers can buy too 😉

Yes, and most of the replies were posted  FIVE MONTHS ago !!

[1sweetap6v8]

Does not matter how many buyers are here there also sellers or can and do sell to,just like you pointed out the other way.

Doesnt change the fact its still penny pinching showing the desperation of a seller for every little cent they can get including 2 cents as stated.

And shows  overwhelmingly  that these boards are manipulated and used for and buy sellers with controll in mind and only ramble on about how hard done buy they are as sellers.

The sooner there closed the better they serve little to no purpose and only allow the poorest of quality people to do the work Ebay should be doing. Thats because again it saves them money and the care for there consumers really is at the bottom of there thinking.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

And shows  overwhelmingly  that these boards are manipulated and used for and buy sellers with controll in mind and only ramble on about how hard done buy they are as sellers.

The sooner there closed the better they serve little to no purpose and only allow the poorest of quality people to do the work Ebay should be doing. Thats because again it saves them money and the care for there consumers really is at the bottom of there thinking.

I take issue with this part of your post.  There are a lot of members who have come to the boards in a time of need and received valuable information to help them with thier problems.  This applies to both Buyers and Sellers alike.

You may have issues with a few members that post here, or with individual posts that some members post, but that doesn't diminish the contribution of many members over many years on these boards.

I am a buyer and a seller on eBay.  I don't take sides, and try my best to give unbiased, factual and truthful information.  Sometimes, other members have taken issue with a post of mine, and I have my share of board violations, but I would like to think that when I am able to contribute in a positive way to a discussion that that contribution is valued.