Low-Ballers Need Not Apply!

the TRUTH is........

low baller is Human Nature. It happens to anyone of us and if it have not happen to you, I guess you're not NORMAL.

I think this forum is created to have better communication (Especially selling)between us people who loves pool. I do understand however, that there are times of which you will encounter an offer of which is like (so called) a slap on the face but, keep in mind that you can always decline.

All of us here have recieve and offered an offer to one of our fellow AZER. I myself will admit that I have fallen to that same failure (LOWBALLER) here once and every once in a while. but, i dont think that its a reason for me not stay and communicate here.

I have sold and bought things here (pool related) and I am very happy how everything ends up so far (exclude my error of course) and for me AZBilliard Forum is one of the best thing that happened to the Industry for LOWBALLERS or NOT (if there is some).
 
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half fast bankr said:
"some of us (most) will list a cue at a price that leaves built-in room for negotiation....that is often part of the fun"

That's just BS! Your selling anything to either make, or recover money. Not have fun! Jesus, go write a Hallmark card or something.

I do agree with absurdly low offers are just a nuisance, but it's that 'built in room' that invites that crap. For whatever reason you are selling a cue (or most things) pick a price and stick with it. If it doesn't sell (because of lack of demand, or more often, an overly optimistic idea of it's value), be prepared to meet the market.

Again, if you are the one leaving room for hagglers, don't whine when they come knockin'. That's the other 'part of the fun'...
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Hmmmm....let's see, truth be told, I have not owned a cue by a cuemaker that would have allowed me to MAKE money selling a used cue (well, until now maybe...lol). At any rate I am not one of them 'come here while I bend you over without the benefit of K-Y' types. And I rarely sell to 'recover' money....I usually sell to 'raise' money for another prospective cue. I did once sell a cue because I had another obligation which needed to be dealt with....but I still not MAKE money on the cue.....but I did come pretty close to breaking even.

And why is it BS that sellers leave a 'little negotiating' room in their pricing?! Is it smarter for me to, if I want $750 for a cue, to list the cue for $750? Leaves no room at all for haggling...which is completely different than low-balling...but you seem to have confused the two points. I am not over-valuing a cue!! I obviously do not have the same view point to dealing with others that you apparently do. I am very forthright and honest about what I am selling....I do not want any surprises for either party...and I try very hard, by watching what a particular cuemaker's cues may be currently bringing, to price my items very fairly...everyone seems to have been very satisfied in their dealings with me......never not had an item sell, and have never had to 'take a bath' on a single item either. It would seem that I am doing everything right.

Lisa
 
as everyone knows i find it very offensive to get a low ball offer. not all the time but some cases. when you are in the industry and you offer 1/4 the cues value (which is obv wrong) that to me is offensive. i think if a person constantly lowballs others it should be known. a cue by one of the hottest cuemakers around and all of the sudden they dont move...lol give me a break.
 
hhmmm...

ok.....if the Low baller is out of here, who's going to make the offers???

I'm not depending anybody but, in my stand point I think we do have to start with something right???

If a cue cost 1200 will it be reasonable to offer 800?? because I think in fairness it should be a legitimate offer specially here on AZ and I do understand that somebody can offer some serious annoyment to some of us here who is trying to sell their cue but, what can you do??? (decline of course and let another day pass thru)

Just look at that Jerry Olivier that Mr. Bama bought from one of our fellow here (Forgot the name) Mr. Olivier makes some great cues but, is ended up hhmmm.....what 30% of it's value. Low Ballers are ok sometimes. It helps out getting rid of things that we just wanted to get rid of.
 
I don't mind the lowballers as much as the 'tire kickers' who make a straight forward buy offer, as a seller you accept, then you never hear from them again or the ole "sorry another cue came up" in the few hours between they made their offer and your reply.....those are the ones that really get my goat. In fact, just had one today. :)
 
m.libre10 said:
If a cue cost 1200 will it be reasonable to offer 800??
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Depending on if the cue is new or used.....but that is not necessarily a low-ball offer, to me anyways. That is a haggling offer. By low-ball, I mean 50% or more of the cue's relative value/listing price. This is all dependent, again, on if it is a new cue or an used cue...and, of course, condition of the cue, in the case of a used cue. If it is a used cue that was originally $1200, then I would think, again with the variables, that it should be listed somewhere in the $800 range. And by variables....condition, cuemaker, quality.....there are a lot of factors to consider when pricing out a cue.....some $1200 new cues will barely reach $600 or even less, if it is not a well known, or well liked cuemaker.

Lisa
 
cueaddicts said:
I don't mind the lowballers as much as the 'tire kickers' who make a straight forward buy offer, as a seller you accept, then you never hear from them again or the ole "sorry another cue came up" in the few hours between they made their offer and your reply.....those are the ones that really get my goat. In fact, just had one today. :)
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I totally understand about 'tire-kickers', Sean. That is why I now never consider an item as sold until the money is actually in the hand, and the item is delivered...at this way, there are no surprises.

I realize that for a dealer it is a bit different, as you are a business, and as such, expect a commitment to be just that, a commitment....you base your business' reputation on being a good business person with ethics. However, the customer sometimes does not feel bound by the same high standards...unfortunately.

Lisa
 
m.libre10 said:
ok.....if the Low baller is out of here, who's going to make the offers???

I'm not depending anybody but, in my stand point I think we do have to start with something right???

If a cue cost 1200 will it be reasonable to offer 800?? because I think in fairness it should be a legitimate offer specially here on AZ and I do understand that somebody can offer some serious annoyment to some of us here who is trying to sell their cue but, what can you do??? (decline of course and let another day pass thru)

Just look at that Jerry Olivier that Mr. Bama bought from one of our fellow here (Forgot the name) Mr. Olivier makes some great cues but, is ended up hhmmm.....what 30% of it's value. Low Ballers are ok sometimes. It helps out getting rid of things that we just wanted to get rid of.
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Trust me....some sellers would take offense to that scenario.


Snowmon34<------- was wondering when was the last time Lisa sold anything publicly on this forum? He can't really recall ever seeing a public offering where she might be exposed to such business practices...:rolleyes:
 
snowmon34 said:
Trust me....some sellers would take offense to that scenario.


Snowmon34<------- was wondering when was the last time Lisa sold anything publicly on this forum? He can't really recall ever seeing a public offering where she might be exposed to such business practices...:rolleyes:
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Since you asked. :)

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=45096&highlight=murnak

Sold within minutes, if memory serves.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=44679&highlight=murnak

Sold within roughly 24hrs, give or take.

The cue was a very sad sale for me, as I designed it from the woods used to the design, order of veneer colors....just about the whole darn thing. It was my 'baby'...but stuff happens in life, and this was an unfortunate casualty. Have not owned a high end custom since.

I am guessing that this was just prior to your joining AZB. These were the last two items that I publicly sold here. I have sold a few other items since, but none have made it to listing....likely because of my fair pricing and general good nature ;) ...Lol. I just happen to have some nice things that people wind up looking for is all. :) Nothing recently, however.

Lisa
 
Please note that I did previously state that while I have received low-ball offers in the past, it has not been a huge issue with my sales. This was more related to those whom I call friends here who have conveyed to me that in recent sales here, or attempted sales...that all they were receiving were insultingly low-ball offers, and that this was not as viable a forum to liquidate assets (cues/equipment) as it once was.

Lisa
 
Lisa, you are completely right.

The thing is, if as a seller you know the fair market value of your cues (and that might be a big 'if' for some AZ'ers), you will put a price on it to begin with (none of this 'make me an offer' crap) and you will stick to your guns. If you don't get what you are asking, either keep it or put it up for auction. And when a repeat low-baller sends you a PM, you generally don't even need to open it.

On the other hand, some sellers do not offer cues at fair market value, and they expect lower offers. This has been beaten to death, so I'll leave it alone.

Another clue as to why getting fair value on AZ is difficult: AZ'ers want to 'win', and if they know what you paid for a cue, regardless of how fair your price is, they will offer less - winning to some of them means you taking a 'hit'. In addition, a lot of people low-ball you because they are clueless as to what cues are worth - they assume all prices are set by the seller to make an unfair profit, so they automatically make a lower offer. I don't mind those types, but I'm not selling them my cues below market value.

Ultimately, I find AZ'ers to not be very knowledgeable about the cue market, so when I offer cues here at fair prices, I really don't expect to get what I ask. The last round went on ebay and I got MORE overall than I asked here, plus I only sold a few cues here. Can't even begin to tell you how many times I got low-balled.
 
One more thing: there are a few sellers on AZ who are SO FAIR and accurate with their prices, that if they have a cue I want, and it is in the approximate price range I think it should be, I just give them the money. You know who you are, because I buy cues from you repeatedly.
 
I really do not agree. If I have the money to buy something, I will generally make a reasonable offer, assuming some haggling room. If I only have half the money, I generally will apalogize for a low offer, but say that I will buy it for said amount if agreeable. If you really do not want to entertain all offers, then list a firm price, otherwise you really can not complain about people looking for the deal of the century. Sometimes people really need money and will sell something for whatever they can get.
 
An item having a fair market value is subject to change when item is being sold in the off season and or economic conditions change. At this time of the year you have the off season and economic conditons are certainly changing. If you read about the gyrations in the stock market, it is going down. So investment money is being lost. This along with costs rising for fuel, medical, housing, TAXES, and many job losses the market has changed for pool cues along with a host of others items that we may spend our "disposable" cash on. Many people are in a position that doesn't allow any or as much normal income to be spent on non-essential items. Pool cues being one of them. Most guys and gals have a pool cue or two and will buy in order to move up in the prestige arena of pool cues. This type of buying is not essential. They can still play pool with the cue(s) they have. A 2k cue is not one of life's necessities.
 
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