Need of some serious guidance PLEASE.

[BlasterBob]

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.
Thanks for all the attention!

[blacklabel]

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]

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...

[Ah Pook]

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.

[ray1970]

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]

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]

[cysoto]

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).

[claimbuster]

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]

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.