Low-Ballers Need Not Apply!

[skins]

i guess it really could depend on the cue the most. advertise certain cues, lets say a Tascarella, for top dollar and the price range of the offers will be fairly tight. advertise another maker with less notoriety for their top dollar and the range for offers widens depending on all market factors. and then of course with some cues the longer it's on the market the deeper the lower range of offers goes. the cue market is a very "personal" one and to each his own. i read in another post where someone said "to me" it's worth this, well unfortunately for allot of cues out there, it's not left up to "me" allot of times but "them" in this business. it still gets frustrating sometimes though.

 

[ridewiththewind]

I am not addressing lower offers....that's haggling.

For instance, let's say a have a cue that would retail at $2500. Now, I would likely list that cue (dependent on cuemaker demand, and recent sales) at $2200. I am not realistically expecting $2200 for the cue (unless it were a high demand item). I am realistically hoping for between $1750-$1850. I have listed a starting price with a pretty fair amount of haggle room in there...I may even go as low as $1700...depending on the buyer. Now, that is for an outright sale. If there are partial trade offers being accepted....then I am going to be working a bit closer to the $2000-$2200 price point, but am also going to allow a bit more for their trade.......car dealers do this all the time.

Now, if I am listed at $2200, and I get an offer of say $1500, I am going to decline that offer, and tell them straight off the number I am realistically looking for. If it is someone I know is likely to flip the cue, I may sit a little bit higher on that figure, as opposed to if it is someone I feel genuinely wants the cue for themselves, I am a bit more inclined to come down a little bit.

I'm talking about, yes, the ridiculous offers that some choose to make.....say $1000 on a cue listed at $2200....and then the potential buyer tries to badger me into the price with, 'you won't get what you're asking for it' type remarks.

I must be doing something right, because I have never had a cue not sell, and usually right in the area of money I was hoping to get. And yes, I have received some of what I would consider, low-ball offers. But I consider there to be a big difference in a haggling offer and a low-ball offer......but, I suppose that there are those who truly do feel that their low-ball offer is a haggling offer.

I like to think of myself as a nice person....and if someone really takes an interest in a cue I may be offering, I will likely try to work with them as much as I can....but that should be my option, and not something that is expected of me.

It has been mentioned the flip side of the coin here...where there are those that feel that a cue is being listed for too much. I have seen some cues I felt were at a price I thought was too high. I try to just keep my mouth shut, and move on. I generally would not even attempt to make an offer, because my perception would be that they're not gonna move much off that price, unless it's been months of no activity.

Yes, I do feel it is bad form to discuss the pricing of an item, within the thread that the item is listed in. Just because I may not be interested at that price, does not mean that someone else might not be more motivated to pay it. I think it can really hurt the potential sale of an item, and it just shouldn't be done. If the pricing is not in line with what the market will bear, then that individual will need to make an adjustment...but let that be their decision, not one that is made for them by an open discussion in a 'For Sale' thread.

To address the comment that a low-ball offer is a potential sale that one is missing...I tend to disagree. If you are receiving a low-ball offer, the odds are not very good that they are going to come much up to the pricing you are hoping for, or they would have a made a offer a bit more in line with other offers received. Again, as I have previously stated, there is a difference in a haggling offer, and a low-ball offer.

Lisa =======> would be delusional if she expected everyone to agree with her view point.

 

[ridewiththewind]

i guess it really could depend on the cue the most. advertise certain cues, lets say a Tascarella, for top dollar and the price range of the offers will be fairly tight. advertise another maker with less notoriety for their top dollar and the range for offers widens depending on all market factors. and then of course with some cues the longer it's on the market the deeper the lower range of offers goes. the cue market is a very "personal" one and to each his own. i read in another post where someone said "to me" it's worth this, well unfortunately for allot of cues out there, it's not left up to "me" allot of times but "them" in this business. it still gets frustrating sometimes though.

I agree with this, skins. When one is selling a cue, often times, the 'worth it to me' factor has to be thrown out the window, and one has to be realistic and follow the market trend for that particular maker's cues. This is a tough one for a lot of people to swallow. Obviously, to me, with cues I have sold in the past, they were worth more on an emotional level. But I had to be realistic, and following market trends, had to set a selling price that I felt the market would bear....as that is the ultimate determining factor.

Lisa

 

[ridewiththewind]

How hard is it to type the word "No" and move on?

Geez, you do not have to take ANY offers on your cues...even if they say they will pay you full price...cause guess what? You are the seller and you have the right to refuse to do business with whomever you want. Just cause a person's post count is 5000 and they have been here forever does not automatically mean they are reputable and should get mondo respect. I personally know of several "veteran" posters that I will not do business with, just cause I been screwed over by them before.

Post count has nothing to do with whether or not a member is going to be an honest seller or not....word of mouth/feedback does. There are some here that I would not hesitate one moment to do business with, and then there are others I would steer a wide path away from.

Can I really decline offers?! Well, I don't know about that!! There are some here recently who have listed a cue at the right price that had people climbing over top of each other to get it, and because the seller did not take what was perceived as the first offer, was lambasted throughout the entire rest of the thread!! I swear, if everyone had been in one room together, I am sure a fist fight would have broken out!!!...Lol.

You're exactly right.....until monies are received on an agreed upon deal, the cue is mine to do with as I please. Just because an offer is sent matching the price asked, does not automatically mean that I will accept it....and I am not honor-bound to do so. Now, generally, I would....however, there may be extenuating circumstances which may preclude a potential buyer from the sale......the decision is ultimately mine...not theirs.

Lisa

 

[Fatboy]

i stay out of other peoples business

 

[RRfireblade]

You know . . . this issue comes up on ALL B/S/T across the whole internet. It's not at all unique.

I've recieved some of the craziest offers on product you can imagine from low ball cash offers to live animals to fast food coupons and worse believe it or not.

To this day I can not understand why getting a lowball offer is so offensive , so insulting , so life changing. I mean sheesh . . . say no and get on with your life.

For the record , people take lowballs ALL THE TIME. Great deals are had like that probably thousands of times a day on forums all over the world. Who is NOT looking for the best possible deal ? Everyone is or no one would ever by anything used. If you feel that strongly about it , only ever buy new from now on . . . at full MSRP retail . . . and pay for shipping regardless of if they offer it free.

Kidding aside , if you don't want to see lowballs , don't take "offers". Don't sell on public forums. Put your stuff on 'for sale' market places , local classifieds and/or put a "firm" sale price w/ buy it now. It's really that simple.

 

[Big Perm]

I'm split on this one....low ball is really a fairly relative term based on what you consider to be a fair offer....

If I posted a cue at $2000 obo, that I bought on this site for $2000 let say a year ago, I'd expect offers in the $13-$1500 range as a start, with which I would reply with a counter.....if someone offered $500, I just say no, I've already been offered $1500 and move on....1/4 of the value is a bit offensive to me, so while I wouldn't cause a scene, I'd recognize that individual as a lowballer and probably avoid their posts in the future....

 

[ridewiththewind]

You know . . . this issue comes up on ALL B/S/T across the whole internet. It's not at all unique.

I've recieved some of the craziest offers on product you can imagine from low ball cash offers to live animals to fast food coupons and worse believe it or not.

To this day I can not understand why getting a lowball offer is so offensive , so insulting , so life changing. I mean sheesh . . . say no and get on with your life.

For the record , people take lowballs ALL THE TIME. Great deals are had like that probably thousands of times a day on forums all over the world. Who is NOT looking for the best possible deal ? Everyone is or no one would ever by anything used. If you feel that strongly about it , only ever buy new from now on . . . at full MSRP retail . . . and pay for shipping regardless of if they offer it free.

Kidding aside , if you don't want to see lowballs , don't take "offers". Don't sell on public forums. Put your stuff on 'for sale' market places , local classifieds and/or put a "firm" sale price w/ buy it now. It's really that simple.

If low-ball offers were accepted all the time, they wouldn't be called low-ball offers...they'd simply be offers.

Lisa ======>didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday.

 

[ridewiththewind]

I'm split on this one....low ball is really a fairly relative term based on what you consider to be a fair offer....

If I posted a cue at $2000 obo, that I bought on this site for $2000 let say a year ago, I'd expect offers in the $13-$1500 range as a start, with which I would reply with a counter.....if someone offered $500, I just say no, I've already been offered $1500 and move on....1/4 of the value is a bit offensive to me, so while I wouldn't cause a scene, I'd recognize that individual as a lowballer and probably avoid their posts in the future....

Thank you! This would be a prime example of a low-ball offer!! And yes, it is a bit offensive...and no, I wouldn't make a scene either, and yes, I too would avoid them in the future.

Lisa ======> who think that some people can give a better example with less words, than she can with her long-winded self.

 

[gesan]

I don't agree.

I agree with Shanes - and the Snowman hits it dead on!

someone sounds like a locksmith!

the newbies hurt my feelings ! - send em back to Flea bay! like you don't check Ebay everyday and you never made a lowball offer.

 

[Jigger]

Some people obsess with haggling as if it were a blood sport.

I'm a poor haggler when buying or selling. What sales I make are usually quoted as a "firm" price which minimizes the silly offers. I try not to take ridiculous low ball offers seriously or personally and don't waste much time. Don't stress Lisa, it takes all kinds of people.

 

[ridewiththewind]

I agree with Shanes - and the Snowman hits it dead on!

someone sounds like a locksmith!

the newbies hurt my feelings ! - send em back to Flea bay! like you don't check Ebay everyday and you never made a lowball offer.

Actually, Mr SmartA$$ man who knows absolutely nothing about me....it's been a pretty fair amount of time since I sold a cue, or anything else here....check your facts before you go slingin' the $hit. So, no one has hurt MY feelings. Secondly, I have not purchased anything off of eBay in quite some time either, as the last two items I did purchase where woefully misrepresented, and I got back full refunds on both, and it's gone so downhill, that I am not sure that I will ever purchase again....and thats' being a member since 1999. Oh, and BTW, neither of them were pool related. Finally, I am not a big haggler...let alone low-baller. It's just easier to pay someone what they are looking for and be done with it. Actually, I just recently picked up a cue on the secondary market, and actually tried to pay MORE for it than was originally asked. Oh, and let's see, I can remember purchasing another cue from a dealer, and I paid $100 more than asked, just because they tolerated all my emails! So, I guess you can put a resounding 'smooch' on my left lower cheek!!

Lisa ======> never said you had to agree with me, but do not be insulting about it either, because I can give as good as I get!

 

[ridewiththewind]

Some people obsess with haggling as if it were a blood sport.

I'm a poor haggler when buying or selling. What sales I make are usually quoted as a "firm" price which minimizes the silly offers. I try not to take ridiculous low ball offers seriously or personally and don't waste much time. Don't stress Lisa, it takes all kinds of people.

Thanks, Dave. I am not a very good haggler either...mostly because when I do find something I just have to have, I am am way too eager to get my hands on it...and let's face it, not a very good position to start haggling from...Lol.

Lisa

 

[kvinbrwr]

On a side note, I would love to hear from Kevin some of the numbers he was offered "offline" on the Szamboti box cue. I bet it would surprise almost everyone. Especially since it went for 55k. I would gather he got some 1500 dollar offers and some other jokers trying to see if he was green.

JV

I really only got one offer with a dollar amount, that was early Sunday night before the bidding began to take off, that offer was 18K and it was from an AZ member. What I really got was a lot of was people that were convinced that I wouldn't let the auction run it's course and wanted to argue with me when I told them I wouldn't. One AZ member was very insistant that I was going to end the auction early and deprive him from his right to buy it, got quite angry at me when I kept telling him the way it was going to go, and he dropped out of the bidding at about 20K. This auction got to 20K so fast, that the low-ballers really didn't get a chance. An interesting thing was that until the auction reached 20K, all my contacts were about the authenticity of the cue, from people that doubted (and didn't have the knowledge to know for themselves) that the stick was a real Gus. After the bidding took off, the majority of my questions had to do with the procedures of paying and delivery, security, etc. Interestingly, I spoke at length with both of my top 2 bidders, and neither really had one question about the cue itself, they were very secure in what they were seeing. I don't have a hit counter on my auctions, I wish I had one on the Szam auction, I had over 1000 "watchers" at the end, and Earthlink charged me $256 extra dollars for going way over my quota for web traffic on the pictures, I had never come close to that limit before. I think had the bidding gone slower early, I would have had more "buy-it-now" offers, by Monday, with 6 days left in the auction, the bidding was already well past what the "buy-it-now" folks would have offered anyway.

My 2 cents on this sellers expectation of buyer's behavior thread. Tate weighed in with the take the "personal" out and I think that is a great advice. Disney (used to be better at it) indoctrinates their employees that they are ALL cast members with a role to play, so when they interact with a customer it is their character interacting and they should react like their character reacts, rather than how they personally would react. I'll admit, sometimes its hard, like when someone has just sent you their 15 eMail in a row claiming that you are a liar and you will end your auction early. Every offer is an opportunity to do business, why be offended?

 

[The Beginner]

Hey guys i heard efren reyes will be retiring this year..is that true?

 

[cigardave]

If a seller is offended by what she/he perceives as a lowball offer, then I'd say that the seller's skin is a bit too thin... jmo.

I mean... exactly how much energy does is take to say... "no thanks... your offer is way too low"... and if the potential buyer persists in trying to justify the low offer... just say... "you're not in the ballpark... so, goodbye... I'll wait until I get an offer closer to my asking price".

 

[RRfireblade]

If low-ball offers were accepted all the time, they wouldn't be called low-ball offers...they'd simply be offers.

Lisa ======>didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday.

They're only called low balls by the people who didn't like them.

For everyone who you ever heard say they got a great deal on something , there's someone else that would say they offered a 'lowball'.

 

[GoTulane]

I understand.

Lisa,

It isn't that you get ANGRY, but it is just a waste of one's time, when the offer is TRULY low-ball. My time is important and expensive, and while a simple "no" is good, it still can piss you off when someone wastes your time. Yeah, you might be taking it more personally than needed, but does that make it wrong? Here is my suggestion to help vent your anger (if you really insist that it must be done), though it does waste your time and is a bit moronic. After a truly LOW-BALL offer, constantly PM the person back when you get an offer higher than theirs. Now only use this when an extremely annoying LOW-Baller has accosted you, and has said one of the following statements or done the following actions:
1. You are asking WAYYYYY too much, let me help you by offering you this LOW-BALL offer.
2. Makes sure to post on your thread a negative statement about your sale.
***Anything that negatively affects your sale, that was not warranted.

If I had 2 cents given to me for every opinion I have shared here on AZB, I would have bought that Szamboti.

Michael

 

[ridewiththewind]

Personally, I have done pretty well with items I have listed for sale here. I have been fortunate enough to have been treated fairly in my dealings with individuals here, and so, try to return the same in kind. For me, it's all about respect.

I have also been very fortunate that all I have sold to have been very happy with not only the item, but with the price paid. I have been sent offers that was lower than the price asked. As stated previously, on some items, I built in the "room' to allow for haggling...but never had a beginning asking price that was out of line to begin with. And most of my sales have ended with the offered price....as I want my buyers to feel like like got a great item at a good deal...and if a few dollars will do that, then it works out for everyone involved....I get to conclude a sale on a nice item, and they get to feel good about getting something nice at a price that was comfortable for them.

But, on the other hand, if I am offering say, a really nice 1x2 case by a custom casemaker that is in terrific condition for $160, then please do not offer me $75 for it, because it's just not going to happen....I'll hang on to it until someone posts that they're looking for one....I am not usually in a hurry to sell....although almost everything I have sold has sold very quickly.

As I have already stated, I am not expecting everyone to agree with my view point. It's okay to respectfully agree to disagree. But I am allowed to my view point....and I am also allowed NOT to be insulted for having it.

Lisa

 

[ridewiththewind]

Lisa,

It isn't that you get ANGRY, but it is just a waste of one's time, when the offer is TRULY low-ball. My time is important and expensive, and while a simple "no" is good, it still can piss you off when someone wastes your time. Yeah, you might be taking it more personally than needed, but does that make it wrong? Here is my suggestion to help vent your anger (if you really insist that it must be done), though it does waste your time and is a bit moronic. After a truly LOW-BALL offer, constantly PM the person back when you get an offer higher than theirs. Now only use this when an extremely annoying LOW-Baller has accosted you, and has said one of the following statements or done the following actions:
1. You are asking WAYYYYY too much, let me help you by offering you this LOW-BALL offer.
2. Makes sure to post on your thread a negative statement about your sale.
***Anything that negatively affects your sale, that was not warranted.

If I had 2 cents given to me for every opinion I have shared here on AZB, I would have bought that Szamboti.

Michael

Exactly! I feel like it was a waste of my time and bandwidth. And, while, if the offer is really out-of-line, and I feel a bit insulted by it.....I now have to suck it up, and be nice with my reply back to respectively decline their offer. I have worked far too long in varying aspects of customer service to be rude to anyone when it comes to sales......even if they're rude to me. I can always grumble to myself later...Lol.