Paintball

[paintballedbackin88]

I see many threads where a seller lists a particularly high price for the item(s) in question, relative to other similar items at a lower price. They sometimes offer very limited circumstances in which they would consider a trade. Days will then go by followed only by repetitive bumps from the seller. They make it clear low balls will not be tolerated. They also state they are in no rush to sell, yet repeatedly bump and ask for offers. This seems contradictory to me.

Eventually, some sellers will state, "no offers?" followed by more bumps for days with no response.

Is Low balling sometimes subjective from the sellers perspective because they justify higher selling points based on what they've invested time and/or money-wise, regardless of the item's average selling price?

I thought low balling was offering a price well below what the known market value of the item is, versus offering a price closer to true market value based on other similar items available.

That said, is it more insulting to receive a low ball offer versus no offers at all?

Does a lack of offers also suggest that maybe the seller should consider that they may be asking too much for item in question?

Back in the day, selling something used meant I was going to take a loss. It seems here that some people expect to break even or even profit on a used item.

I understand these dynamics don't apply to rare, highly desirable items in near mint to mint condition, but those are the exceptions.

Am I way off in my thinking?

[Deuce]

Yes, on many accounts. No, on a few.

You have a better grasp of things than many sellers.

[ScrapIron]

Originally Posted by paintballedbackin88

...Does a lack of offers also suggest that maybe the seller should consider that they may be asking too much for item in question?

Back in the day, selling something used meant I was going to take a loss. It seems here that some people expect to break even or even profit on a used item.

I understand these dynamics don't apply to rare, highly desirable items in near mint to mint condition, but those are the exceptions.

Am I way off in my thinking?

Two of the times that I would consider lowering my price on something, would be...

A) like you mentioned, its been numerous bumps and no offers were made.
B) someone like a fellow greenie posted "welcome to MCB and good luck with your sale" at least that used to be code for "your prices are unrealistic" but I guess we don't do that as much anymore, either way seeing it coming from a fellow greenie I'd get the gist.

[bigbthebenji]

Personally, I'd rather get no offers than lowballs. Lowball encourage more lowballs. Obviously, it all depends on how motivated a seller is to sell. Does he need money badly? He'll probably be more tolerant of low offers and will potentially even take some of these low offers! If the seller feels his item is quality and isn't of dire need of funds, there is no reason for him to price his item lower than he feels he wants. Obviously, if the item is priced higher than buyers will pay, he won't get any buyers, and the only one that loses is him, but then again, he may not hate the idea of keeping the item if it doesn't sell.

The way I see it is, its the seller item, he can price it where he wants. If its too high, don't buy! If he says no lowballs, don't bother offering something not close to his asking. If he says offer up, toss your offer in, but don't feel hurt if he rejects your offer, it is his item after all.

[Jkoselka]

As a seller you are free to ask whatever you want and expect to get it if there is someone equally as insane as you. Me my personal beleif is if it used I tend to price it at about 50% to 60% of retail pricing, less if it is beat up or not up to my standards. Generally I try to give somenone a break or deal on things. Sometimes I price things high just to see if I can catch a bite at that price.

[Stitch]

also market value tends to swing with the wind

At the moment it is very much a buyers market for most types of markers - some are in high demand thus commanding better prices - but most are at record lows in average sale prices.

That having been said - some things are obvious like

A bone stock 2001 PGP is certainly not worth $500 for most folks

Other things are less obvious
Pedigree and parts in a Sniper2 may have its perceived value swing anywhere from $80 to $800 (some rare parts or one of mods or pristine condition on a rare body etc)

at the end of the day if you feel the value is way off - pop a pm with your offer and your thoughts - the place where folks usually get touchy is if the offer is in the reply where it sits there like omg thats not worth what you want here is 10%

/salute

[paintballedbackin88]

That clears things up a bit from that perspective. I was watching a marker being offered at $300 and there were a few other models with comparable parts going at $250.

Someone offered $250 based on the avg asking price of the other available markers and the seller stated he didn't appreciate the low ball. This was after a period of receiving no offers at all. He then asked people to offer up, and when the first offer for $250 came, he blasted the guy.

This did not occur here, but it seems that "low balling" is entirely subjective at best and not based on any kind of average market value. Low ball is what the seller thinks it is, not the buyers perception of fair market value.

[Jaccen]

I don't feel there's an issue with "lowballs" as long as it's done through PM's. I expect to take a loss on most of my items and consider that my "lease fee" for using them.

"The first loss is the best lost."

[ScrapIron]

Originally Posted by paintballedbackin88

Someone offered $250 based on the avg asking price of the other available markers and the seller stated he didn't appreciate the low ball. This was after a period of receiving no offers at all. He then asked people to offer up, and when the first offer for $250 came, he blasted the guy.

IMO...
that seller is a fool then, there is no reason to claim that 250 on something 300 is a "lowball" a smart seller would have countered with something like "$275 and its yours" or "$250 + actual shipping and we've got a deal."

[paintballedbackin88]

I agree, thus prompting me to write this thread. I was confused by his consideration of what a low ball is. Unfortunately, there seem to be quite a few sellers like this on other forums.

I should just stop visiting those forums.