Need of some serious guidance PLEASE. [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

BlasterBob

09-05-2011, 18:23

When many of our fellow CO-AR15 Shooters advertise something for sale, they will often show a notation in their ad that they want NO "low ball" offers. I am now wondering just what a low ball offer will normally consist of. If the seller is asking, for example $1,000 for his firearm, where is the cut off figure where it would be considered to be low ball? Or, if he is asking $250 for his item, at what dollar figure is it considered to be low ball?
Please, let's dispense with all the expected bull shit responses as I'm just attempting to determine what my fellow CO-AR15 members believe where the offer kicks in to be considered a low ball figure.[Help]
Thanks for all the attention!

blacklabel

09-05-2011, 18:25

I'd think that anything greater than 10-15% less than the requested price would be considered a "low ball" offer.

This is going to be very subjective.

Byte Stryke

09-05-2011, 18:35

Usually I figure the honest top I can pay for something and politely send it in a
"Hey, My situation being what it is, I Can offer $$$. This is in no means an effort to try and rip you off, just being honest about my situation, I understand if you don accept it, but I have to ask."

or something like it.

I have gone well outside of the 10% guideline and gotten it.
I think the honesty and sincerity came across.

and Yes, Momma dictates the price I can spend on many things...

SideShow Bob

09-05-2011, 18:37

There are some sellers that are offended when offered $25 less than their $1000 posted price, they should have put FIRM ! if they don't want lower offers.
As far as low ball goes it is in the mind of the seller. If I find something new for less than their asking price for used, I will politely point this out in a PM, and usually get insulted by them. Yet their price won't change, so I ignore their ad.

sneakerd

09-05-2011, 18:44

TFOGGER

09-05-2011, 18:45

I'd think a "lowball" offer is one that would be seen as taking advantage of the seller. Sometimes this is $50 below their asking price, sometimes it's half. I won't offer what I feel is an unreasonably low offer, and I'm guessing most of the regulars here are the same way. That's not to say I will pass up a great deal that appeals to me when I have the cash, but I won't grind on that person, either. I've even offered to "purchase" a weapon from someone, with the understanding that they could repurchase the item for the same amount later...

Ah Pook

09-05-2011, 18:49

I had a rifle in the FS section that got bumped a couple of times. Every bump the same person would PM me with some lowball offer. I guess he didn't pay attention to the fact that I had already "no thanksed" the previous offers. It's one thing to set a negotiation range. It's another to be insulting.

I kinda like the "no criminals" stipulation. Bet that stops all the bad guys in their tracks.:D

ray1970

09-05-2011, 18:57

I think a "low ball" offer is going to be different for different people. Usually, if someone has something way overpriced (say a used Glock for $550 when I can pick up a brand new one for $469) I typically won't even attempt to deal with them. But if they have something that I really want that I feel is only slightly over-inflated I will usually send them a PM encouraging them to keep trying to sell it but that if the price comes down to what I am willing to pay to let me know. As far as I know I haven't offended anyone with any of my offers. I know I haven't been offended by any cash offers. Can't say the same about trade offers though. But I just politely decline. Not everyone sending a "low ball" offer is trying to rip me off... some of them just really want what I have but don't have the money to spend.

TDYRanger

09-05-2011, 19:00

Okay this may be a little harsh but, here it goes... If some one puts in no low ballers it's because they don't have the stones to just say firm on the price. Say firm not OBO and the issue is solved. If they say no low ballers offer what you think is fair. If they don't like the offer; they'll let ya know. If they are a jerk about it make sure you let the rest of the community know in the buyer feed back area.

That being said I have sold and purchased over 20 guns here and have had very few run ins with jerks. 99% of the guys here are really cool

sneakerd

09-05-2011, 19:03

[Bow]

DD977GM2

09-05-2011, 20:09

I'd think that anything greater than 10-15% less than the requested price would be considered a "low ball" offer.

This is going to be very subjective.

10-15% isnt to bad of an offer.

The rifle I just had up and in the past I have had some seriously ridiculous offers for a $1000 asking price. $750 for a rifle that is technically $1100-$1200 is a lowball offer. $600 for a $1000 rifle that with all accessories is technically worth $1200-$1300 is a serious lowball offer.

I have given a bunch of folks here some smokin deals and I guess when I was in a jam and need cash, folks think that from then on I will offer my firearms up at bargain basement prices.

Its rather frustrating when folks knbow they are offering a BS offer and they still do it. This has mainly come from folks that are new to the site and have IMHO no clue how to barter.

Rooskibar03

09-05-2011, 20:18

Sometimes a little "thought process" along with your offer can let the buyer youre serious without trying to lowball.

Case in point. I found an used EoTech sight for sale on another site and was listed for $425. I explained I could buy a new one locally for $450 with tax, or one on eBay for $375-400, which wasn't enough to not support my local shop. So in order for me to excited about a used one I would want to be around $300. (BTW we ended up making the deal and it arrived Saturday. Can't wait to go sight it in tomorrow)

So while some might consider an offer of $300 on a $425 item a lowball offer sometimes people just need to understand the mindset of the buyer.

ray1970

09-05-2011, 20:27

Rooskibar03

09-05-2011, 20:36

Damn car salesman. [Coffee]

Well there goes my edge on anything listed in our Trading Post.

Great-Kazoo

09-05-2011, 20:54

As a seller, I agree with dropped71. If I'm selling a widget for $500, and someone comes back with say $300, shove it- I'll burn it 1st- as infantile as that may seem. They higher the posted cost of an item in general they'll take more off, but don't be wishy/washy and waste my time if you don't have the dough in the 1st place. I mean right now in cash. You want a discount? better have cash in hand. On the other hand, if it is a firm price, it should be posted as such. But the smaller stuff, like under $50- just buy the thing and call it a day. The seller is prob losing money already.

low ball is in the mind of the seller. I agree making an offer while you are only tire kicking is insulting. An example is a camper i am selling. Put it out front this weekend since windsor has a lot of foot traffic for the festivities. Guy calls me back and ask me what my bottom dollar for the camper is. As usual i ask if he is ready to buy it now and doe she have cash in hand, sound familiar? he's like well i want to know bottom dollar in to see if i really want it. WTF?

Step up and count out the money or don't make an offer.

KevDen2005

09-05-2011, 22:35

Isn't part of selling on here be able to do some haggling. I do post a little higher in price when I sell because I assume that I will haggle a little and am willing to drop...unless I put "Firm" on there.

Colorado Luckydog

09-05-2011, 22:48

If someone post a good fair deal and I want it, I just take it. I'm not going to offer lower if their deal is fair. Sometimes, I even pay a little more if I want it and it's a good seller.

Most of the time when they say no low ball offers, they are way over priced. If they are over priced, the crickets they hear will let them know.

There are too many guns and too many good deals, to argue or split hairs with an asshole. Just saying............

theGinsue

09-05-2011, 22:55

Excellent question Bob. While I VERY seldom participate in buying items here I look at all of the posts and often wonder just how low a particular offer was that set off the O to make the comment about insulting low ball offers coming in. As with most things, I realize that it is a very subjective decision as to what is acceptable and what is low ball.

I kinda like the "no criminals" stipulation. Bet that stops all the bad guys in their tracks.:D

Yeah, this one cracks me up too. Sorta like the idea of having more gun laws to keep the criminals from doing bad things with guns - it just doesn't make sense.

Great discussion here!

lead_magnet

09-06-2011, 01:17

Who cares if somone gives you a lowball offer. I've been given some rediculous offers, I was selling a barely used Bushmaster AR, with a 16" heavy profile fluted barrel, everything magpul you could ask for and so on, and was offering things like a S&W .38 spcl and $100 bucks. But it didn't piss me off, a simple, "Thank you for your offer, but at this time I'm going to decline" works just fine. If somone gets offended at your offer, who cares? Let them get pissed, doesn't hurt you any.

MrPrena

09-06-2011, 04:45

What pisses me off more is that they agreed to meet up, and gives me a damn low ball offer when I meet up.

brokenscout

09-06-2011, 06:37

What pisses me off more is that they agreed to meet up, and gives me a damn low ball offer when I meet up.
I've had that happen on RMGO. I've even had someone ask me for gas money so they could get home.[ROFL1][Stooge]

Glock Shooter

09-06-2011, 06:45

having worked in sales my entire adult life those that have problems with "low ball" offers should get over it. If you know your product and your pricing is reasonable then just wait for a better offer. The offers come in via PM, you don't like the offer, just write back NO and don't offer a counter price unless you're willing to haggle. I see the "no low ball" and chuckle. Just write FIRM and that's that. A great salesman once told me "low ball offers don't offend me just means they can't afford my item but they are a buyer"

n8tive97

09-06-2011, 07:32

I have bought a couple guns that were for trade only.... [Coffee]. So are guns for trade only, for trade only?

funkfool

09-06-2011, 09:03

Hey, I'll give ya $250.00 and a few hundred rounds of 'once fired' 9mm brass for that LNIB Python ya got there...

What bugs me... is when someone PM's you with "what is your absolute, rock bottom price"....
Yeah, let me do your haggling for you.
It is in the ad - unless you want to offer me something else...

BigBear

09-06-2011, 09:20

Eh, to me it's a subjective experience. If I know the guy and his situation and think he'll get more joy out of something I have for sale, I might very well just give it to them as present or a well-wish or something. If I don't know the guy, I've usually done the research and know the bottom barrel price -depending on how they approach it, I may say sure or tell 'em no thanks.

1 - "what da lowest price that u take homey?" I'd tell them to re-read the ad as reading comprehension is essential. There is no OBO or "willing to negotiate", the price is fixed at $xxx. Take it or leave it.

2 - "I'm interested in such and such, but due to this circumstance, all I can offer is xxx. Are you willing to work with me?" Most likely I'd respond with a call me and it'd be either SPF are "gone" which means I just might give it to em for a two liter of Dr. Pepper or something.

Yeah, I might be an ass sometimes, but I'm also a really nice guy and try to look out for my brothers.

Eggysrun

09-06-2011, 09:37

Haggling is all part of making a sale I think. Both parties need to be flexible and understanding.

However, as a seller you've got your price you just want to sell it and get it over with, or the haggling price and I think it's up to the both seller and dealer to do their research to see what is fair.

Comes down to common sense in the end.

cysoto

09-06-2011, 10:00

There is no such thing as a "low ball offer"; just an offer. If I see something I like, I already have a good idea of how much I want to spend vs. how much they typically sell for. With this information in mind, I send them a PM with my what I am willing to spend. It is their right as the seller to accept or decline.

By the same token, it never bothers me if some one sends me an offer that others may consider a low ball though I do my best to do my homework and price an item at the same price I would be willing to pay. I find it silly to place an ad for an item 15% or 20% higher just because I wanted to play "the haggling game". I am not a retailer so anytime I place an item for sale is not because I am trying to make a living; I do so because I no longer have a need for it and I need to free up some cash (many times because I want to buy other toys).

and Yes, Momma dictates the price I can spend on many things...

An honest man you are!! (I too am on the same boat). [Beer]

claimbuster

09-07-2011, 00:02

Never worry about a so-called low ball offer here. I'm a big boy and I have no problem saying NO. What's more, there are times when I just want to get rid of something and who knows, I just might accept your offer.

Scanker19

09-07-2011, 01:08

I don't like when people tell me where they can get it cheaper. At least with private sales, businesses are fair game with this mind set.

Its like "well then you should save a few dollars there".
Don't confuse this with something being way over priced and trying to bring them back to Earth.

BuffCyclist

09-07-2011, 01:34

I don't feel that there is any specific limit to what a lowball offer is, but on most cases, i feel a lowball offer is around 50% of the asking or whatnot, most notably offered the same day of the ad being posted or before it is bumped or even had a price drop.

For example, I was selling 3 MagPul Pmags, and a MagPul RVG. They were listed separately, but being FolGrn, no one wanted them. I dropped them down low ($35 shipped for pmags, $15 shipped for rvg) and still nothing. From the getgo, a guy emailed me saying he'd take all of them for $30 shipped. I was insulted by that, stating that the shipping would be roughly $5 and for that price he'd be buying 1 mag and getting an rvg and 2 free mags with it. He kept pming me over several weeks (on ar15.com) and finally I just had to mark the ad as being "sold" to get him to stop.

Another example, I recently bought an LCP that the guy refused to ship. He was including some SD ammo, and he ended up paying for half of the shipping since he got to keep the ammo, and I still got a great deal! I sent him an email stating that if he gets to a point in the sale where he's interested in shipping, I've got the cash in hand and can send him payment asap. He responded by saying that he would give it a few more days and then it was mine. No one else even kicked the tires and I got an LCP, 3 mags and all the factory goodies for $240 shipped ($265 after my transfer fee).

I usually have a price in mind that I won't go below ever for an item, and even if I have an item listed for months and it still hasn't sold, I won't drop below that price. That isn't to say that someone who sends me an offer lower than that price is lowballing me.

And no, that was not a "bump" for my pmags and rvg for sale, lol.

Outlaw1

09-07-2011, 01:45

I'm simple minded, so here's my simple minded response.

The way to get around lowball offers is to just list the least amount you will take and make it your *firm* price.

It's a little silly to leave the door open for offers, but then get offended when someone actually makes one.

Fentonite

09-07-2011, 08:49

Got some ammo for sale. Paid $115, selling for $80. A member offers me $70. I politely decline. No problem... Until:

The member responds to me that "I see you've had it posted for a while, and $70 in cash is better than $80 on paper"... I've already declined his offer, and he's trying to hard-sell me. It seems he's thinking that I'm hard up for cash, and he wants to take advantage of that. This is the crap that pisses me off.

henpecked

09-07-2011, 09:07

850.00 gun guy offers me 475.00

BlasterBob

09-07-2011, 09:29

Got some ammo for sale. Paid $115, selling for $80. A member offers me $70. I politely decline.

I'm going to have a very similar situation. I bought 20 boxes of the Winchester white box (40 rounds per box) 7.62X39 FMJ at WalMart some time ago for $31 per box out the door. I'll take it to the Sertoma CO Springs Gun Show this coming weekend and probably price it for about $25 for a box of 40 rounds IF the entire lot of 20 boxes are sold - (maybe still kinda high but it is brass,reloadable/boxer, NC and it is Winchester). I bought 20 boxes @ $31 = $620 and I'll see if I can get $500 for the entire lot. I wonder how many will absolutely refuse to pay any more than a couple hundred bucks for something that I paid $600+ for. This should be interesting also because this ammo has been OUT of stock at WalMart for some time! So, this weekend we'll let the attempted chiseling & low ball offers begin.[Tooth]

BlasterBob

09-07-2011, 18:03

Boy, this site is really getting tame. With the post I made just above this one, I thought sure I'd get some wise cracks (wise ass responses). Makes me wonder if no one wants to screw around with this OLD fart. Of course it could be more of a case of fear rather than respect for the elders.[ROFL2]
Geez, I'm NOT going to shoot anyone.[UZI]

blacklabel

09-07-2011, 18:10

With the post I made just above this one, I thought sure I'd get some wise cracks (wise ass responses).

I was just trying to figure out why someone would pay $600+ for less than a thousand rounds of 7.62x39. I guess it's just one of those whatever floats your boat kinda deals.

I haven't sold a ton here but with my limited experience, I haven't had to deal with low ball offers. Armslist is a whole other story. I had someone offer me $30 for 10 AK mags. [LOL]

MrPrena

09-07-2011, 18:22

Deal? what Deal? Offer? what offer?

It is like @ss clown offering $40/barrel for oil when it is $84/barrel at a currently market price.
It will show how smart some people are by asking $500/oz for Au , when it is trading at ~$1850/oz.

"Hey dude/bro! It is a nice gold 1oz coin you got bro! Let me offer you $500 for it! I got CASH CASH CASH CASH CASH in hand, and meet you asap!"

Seller will just trade their Au at a coin shop and get near the full market price.

BlasterBob

09-07-2011, 18:31

I was just trying to figure out why someone would pay $600+ for less than a thousand rounds of 7.62x39. I guess it's just one of those whatever floats your boat kinda deals.

Yeah, that price is just a tad above reasonable but the WWB is still said to be a lot higher quality than almost all of the foreign stuff. Just checked my local WalMart today and for the first time in months, found one (1) 20 round box of WW 7.62X39 FMJ for a price of $27.97 +tax = 29.90, that's $1.49 per round. Now, that's damn expensive but someone will eventually buy it. I paid right at .75 cents per round and am going to try to sell if for about .62 1/2 cents per round, which is about 1/2 of the current Walmart price but watch, someone will still try to low ball my price. The Cabelas price is extremely high (much higher than mine) for all of the DOMESTIC versions of 7.62X39. Should prove to be very interesting.[Tooth]

Byte Stryke

09-07-2011, 18:32

on the other hand you have people trying to sell their worn/used firearm with their sweaty used holsters and (disposable) reloads for more than MSRP...

[Eek3]

BlasterBob

09-07-2011, 18:36

Deal? what Deal? Offer? what offer?

Seller will just trade their Au at a coin shop and get near the full market price.

Don't most coin shops buy at current spot price less a few percent for their handling/profit?
Normally, how MANY percent less than spot on gold and on silver?

BlasterBob

09-07-2011, 18:41

on the other hand you have people trying to sell their worn/used firearm with their sweaty used holsters and (disposable) reloads for more than MSRP...
[Eek3]

+1 [Beer]
Wasn't it P.T.Barnum who said, "there's a sucker born every minute"??
We know that many will try and quite a few will succeed.....[Tooth]

SideShow Bob

09-07-2011, 18:44

jerrymrc

09-07-2011, 18:47

What pisses me off more is that they agreed to meet up, and gives me a damn low ball offer when I meet up.

The only way there should be anything like that ever remotely happening is if it a gross ms-representaion of an item like "Um, dude. Ya did not say the stock was broke in half and you just stuck it back together for the fuzzy cell phone pics.[Coffee]

As a buyer I have made errors but always upheld my end. Even when the seller offered to let me off the hook. I said I would take them and did not ask the right questions first and they were everything the seller stated. My fault so I took the hit.

The only offers that annoy me are the ones that read.
So when you built it the kits were $95 and the receivers were $55 along with the 922r kit of parts for $60. That comes up to $210 in my book so would you take $250? [Bang]

jerrymrc

09-07-2011, 18:53

TheGinsue has us all in fear of the BAN HAMMER. And we all can out run an "Old Fart".

You may want to take a look at the recent changes around here. Some have been promoted. TheGinsue and Hoser are now Admins and some of us other lowlifes moved up to fill there shoes.

And Dear OLD Blasterbob has been a good friend of mine for at least 8 years now. [Beer].

Byte Stryke

09-07-2011, 18:58

You may want to take a look at the recent changes around here. Some have been promoted. TheGinsue and Hoser are now Admins and some of us other lowlifes moved up to fill there shoes.

wow, I feel like I am back in the army again...

[Eek3]

MrPrena

09-07-2011, 19:05

Most of coin or precious metal dealers are real good with it thesedays.
I sold some of my precious metals when it was $500 , and yrs later after that at 1200.

I've seen was about 1-2% mark up at that time (2007-2008) for Au/Ag.
Some do it at flat $x dollar comissions.

Don't most coin shops buy at current spot price less a few percent for their handling/profit?
Normally, how MANY percent less than spot on gold and on silver?

BlasterBob

09-08-2011, 07:16

TheGinsue has us all in fear of the BAN HAMMER. And we all can out run an "Old Fart".

True, I'm certain that almost everyone here can easily outrun an "Old Fart" especially this one, but maybe you could find it difficult to outrun what the "Old Farts" may be tossing at you.[ROFL1]

NO! Not that but perhaps a rotten tomato or rotten egg or something of that "caliber".

10x

09-08-2011, 09:05

My experience that most of the time sellers will come off of their asking price by 10% rounded to an even number or so. If they really want to get rid of the item a maximum of 20% off.

Going below 20% I would consider a "low ball" offer.

That assumes they were asking something sensible to begin with and did not say it was a firm price. If they weren't realistic to begin with, I just walk away and usually don't point out their lack of reality.

BlasterBob

09-08-2011, 09:42

If I notice the seller has posted "Firm Price", I'd be pretty reluctant to make an offer lower than his posted price, however I may just ask the seller if he has ANY flexibility/room in his asking price. A little diplomacy may just help the cause.

BlasterBob

09-08-2011, 15:13

Just checked my local WalMart today and for the first time in months, found one (1) 20 round box of WW 7.62X39 FMJ for a price of $27.97 +tax = 29.90, that's $1.49 per round. Now, that's damn expensive but someone will eventually buy it. I paid right at .75 cents per round and am going to try to sell if for about .62 1/2 cents per round, which is about 1/2 of the current Walmart price but watch, someone will still try to low ball my price. The Cabelas price is extremely high (much higher than mine) for all of the DOMESTIC versions of 7.62X39. Should prove to be very interesting.[Tooth]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On that WalMart price I mentioned above yesterday for the 20 round WWB of X39 @ that $27.97 seemed so damn high that I went back to WallyWorld today to confirm that price. That price applied to 9m/m ammo, probably a 100 round box because the 20 round WWB box of X39 was in the wrong slot. Of course no sales person was available to check the actual price of the 20 round box so I still don't know what the real price on that 20 round box is - not that it makes any difference to me now.