Making offers on non OBO items

Metsfan1121 · 02-27-2016, 04:29 PM

What are your thoughts on making an offer (via message) for BIN items that do not have the best offer option? I've done it twice, and both times the seller accepted, so obviously some sellers are willing to lower their price. There's an item for $40 BIN that normally sells for $20, thinking of offering $25 via message but reconsidering if this is poor etiquette to some people.

Davesportscards · 02-27-2016, 04:32 PM

I don't see an issue with it. I don't recall ever doing it but I have had people do it to me. Sometimes I lower the BIN price for them, sometimes their offer is too low and I politely decline.

jewcer2k5 · 02-27-2016, 04:35 PM

Do it all the time. Usually accepted.

dlab85 · 02-27-2016, 05:45 PM

If it's fair, no problem.

Lowball offers through messages can be annoying, but I usually price my cards high, so I guess I get it. If an offer comes in at a fair price, I will usually accept. I'm generally not a fan of the guys who give me a paragraph stating what the last cards sold for, etc.

It is just that in my experience, someone will come along and pay over market value for the card. If you list something up on eBay or COMC long enough, somebody will come along and buy it. Generally I find that this happens during the season, when casual buyers with money to burn come along and pay top dollar for a player who just had a monster game.

Big35Hurt · 02-27-2016, 07:51 PM

It's a fair thing to do, but be reasonable about it as well. The items I sell on EBay are not sportscards, but something else. I always do BIN and my prices are very fair (for example I listed 3 items on Wednesday night and they all sold by Friday morning). I have had buyers message me with a lower offer, and I will consider it if reasonable but some just throw offers out there without knowing the value of something.

seabass97166 · 02-27-2016, 07:54 PM

I like it. It also prevents the most annoying question when you have Best Offer

ERRRRRRR "What's the lowest you will take for this?" (And of course They don't bother sending an offer, which is why you freakin have it available in the first place. To avoid that dumb question.

UHHHHH I don't know what's the most you are willing to pay?

At least with a straight BIN they pretty much know where you stand so they can't get too ridiculous or maybe just save a little and go direct

dhcollecting · 02-27-2016, 07:58 PM

It happened so much that ebay put in that feature to send an offer through email. 90% of the time I get offers in this way they are fair as opposed with the OBO feature where I get mostly lowball offers from people who are only interested if the item a "steal".

SaveMeTheGum · 02-27-2016, 08:30 PM

Everything in this world is available for a price, and all those prices are negotiable, whether it says best offer or not. The worst they can say is no.

bethanyb1201 · 02-27-2016, 09:14 PM

I do this all the time. I usually will do it with things that have been listed for atleast 30 days. I always offer a fair price and 90% of the time the offer gets accepted

Metsfan1121 · 02-28-2016, 08:15 PM

I was going to let this thread end but there's an update to my story that's too good not to post. The card I was interested in had no completed sales but an extremely similar (and probably slightly better) card had 3 completions, all between $18 and $21. He was asking $40 BIN and there is another available for $32 BIN. I sent the message offering $25 to the guy with the $40 card, figuring that he'd search eBay and lower his price when he realized there was a cheaper one available. Nope, he responded that 40 was his lowest price, then relisted it today for $50. And the $32 one is still sitting there... Makes no sense

jbrandonw · 02-28-2016, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metsfan1121

I was going to let this thread end but there's an update to my story that's too good not to post. The card I was interested in had no completed sales but an extremely similar (and probably slightly better) card had 3 completions, all between $18 and $21. He was asking $40 BIN and there is another available for $32 BIN. I sent the message offering $25 to the guy with the $40 card, figuring that he'd search eBay and lower his price when he realized there was a cheaper one available. Nope, he responded that 40 was his lowest price, then relisted it today for $50. And the $32 one is still sitting there... Makes no sense

Why not just buy the $32 one? Makes no sense.

CURLYW · 02-28-2016, 08:35 PM

I offer on non offer items when necessary. I see people listing /299 autos for 80 when you can get /10 for 20. They either jack it up or they're just clueless.

Metsfan1121 · 02-28-2016, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrandonw

Why not just buy the $32 one? Makes no sense.

This card is worth $25 tops, and I'm in no position to overpay for it at this point? I did offer him $25 as well but no response

IronMonkey415 · 02-28-2016, 08:47 PM

I just tell them "Let me think about it" but never do.

IronMonkey415 · 02-28-2016, 08:48 PM

Let me cover my own ass a bit...WHEN I'm on Blowoutcards and you get that message from me, I DO think about it.

For eBay people, I am lying to them and never think about it.

I get message from people asking me to turn my auction to BIN when it already have bids on it...WTF.

jubei777 · 02-28-2016, 08:50 PM

Yup lowball requests get no response. Hell, with all of these free listings that eBay provides, I just put cards up that I normally would not move at a high price just for s/g.

Rabs · 02-28-2016, 09:15 PM

I've had luck with this in the past. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Just depends on the seller and the card you are asking about. It never hurts to ask though, the worst the seller can say is no.

I've also won auction listings before by messaging the seller and offering him a set amount for a card. For example, a card is listed as an auction for $0.99 and I offer $10 for the card, and the seller sells it to me for that amount.

rocketfan86 · 02-29-2016, 03:51 AM

A buyer on ebay messaged me about a card, which already has a sizable auction price (up to $80), asking what price i'm looking for it. I don't feel comfortable canceling an auction after bids have been placed.

beaver1080 · 02-29-2016, 09:25 AM

i have done it several times usually only when the card is so overpriced just to see what the seller says. i'd say 9 times out of 10 i can reach a fair deal and in most cases end up paying a little more than wanted. my last time didn't go as well. buyer had a lower end plate auto card for sale at $50 and contenders plate auto went for $13ish dlvd but the seller wouldn't budge. I got the "i'm in no hurry to move it" response. item ended with no takers and was relisted a little lower. i ended up overpaying as i didn't want to miss out just in case someone else decided they wanted it more.

seabass97166 · 02-29-2016, 09:44 AM

This just happened to me after this thread was created -a guy asked me would I consider an offer on a lot of 2 Harper's I had selling. I said sure I raise my price on them for the best offer option for him- and we were able to make a good deal. actually probably going to turn out to be a really good contact - so definitely worth it for me

02-27-2016, 04:29 PM	#1
Metsfan1121 Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: long island Posts: 5,317 metsfan1121	Making offers on non OBO items What are your thoughts on making an offer (via message) for BIN items that do not have the best offer option? I've done it twice, and both times the seller accepted, so obviously some sellers are willing to lower their price. There's an item for $40 BIN that normally sells for $20, thinking of offering $25 via message but reconsidering if this is poor etiquette to some people.

02-27-2016, 04:35 PM	#3
jewcer2k5 Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NY, NY Posts: 37,559 pc_sportscards	Do it all the time. Usually accepted. __________________ If you have a PC Sportscards Customer Service question please reach out to litehouse17 on here and Kevin can help! PSA subs - If you are a vet can you help the new guys? Sometimes I don’t have time to reply

02-27-2016, 05:45 PM	#4
dlab85 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: MA Posts: 5,020 danes_deals dlab85	If it's fair, no problem. Lowball offers through messages can be annoying, but I usually price my cards high, so I guess I get it. If an offer comes in at a fair price, I will usually accept. I'm generally not a fan of the guys who give me a paragraph stating what the last cards sold for, etc. It is just that in my experience, someone will come along and pay over market value for the card. If you list something up on eBay or COMC long enough, somebody will come along and buy it. Generally I find that this happens during the season, when casual buyers with money to burn come along and pay top dollar for a player who just had a monster game. __________________ Follow me on Twitter @85CaseBreaks uStream link - http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dlab85-case-breaks

02-27-2016, 07:54 PM	#6
seabass97166 Banned Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,685	I like it. It also prevents the most annoying question when you have Best Offer ERRRRRRR "What's the lowest you will take for this?" (And of course They don't bother sending an offer, which is why you freakin have it available in the first place. To avoid that dumb question. UHHHHH I don't know what's the most you are willing to pay? At least with a straight BIN they pretty much know where you stand so they can't get too ridiculous or maybe just save a little and go direct Last edited by seabass97166; 02-27-2016 at 07:58 PM.

02-27-2016, 07:58 PM	#7
dhcollecting Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,497 dhsportscards	It happened so much that ebay put in that feature to send an offer through email. 90% of the time I get offers in this way they are fair as opposed with the OBO feature where I get mostly lowball offers from people who are only interested if the item a "steal". __________________ Collecting Tony Gwynn High End and Bat Barrel and Logoman cards

02-27-2016, 04:32 PM	#2
Davesportscards Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 10,837	I don't see an issue with it. I don't recall ever doing it but I have had people do it to me. Sometimes I lower the BIN price for them, sometimes their offer is too low and I politely decline.

02-27-2016, 07:51 PM	#5
Big35Hurt Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 9,633	It's a fair thing to do, but be reasonable about it as well. The items I sell on EBay are not sportscards, but something else. I always do BIN and my prices are very fair (for example I listed 3 items on Wednesday night and they all sold by Friday morning). I have had buyers message me with a lower offer, and I will consider it if reasonable but some just throw offers out there without knowing the value of something.

02-27-2016, 08:30 PM	#8
SaveMeTheGum Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NH --> CA --> SC Posts: 16,697 Cardboard_Dynamite CardboardDynamite	Everything in this world is available for a price, and all those prices are negotiable, whether it says best offer or not. The worst they can say is no. __________________ Pay fast. Ship fast. Deal with people honestly. IG: CardboardDynamite

02-27-2016, 09:14 PM	#9
bethanyb1201 Banned Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,676	I do this all the time. I usually will do it with things that have been listed for atleast 30 days. I always offer a fair price and 90% of the time the offer gets accepted

02-28-2016, 08:15 PM	#10
Metsfan1121 Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: long island Posts: 5,317 metsfan1121	I was going to let this thread end but there's an update to my story that's too good not to post. The card I was interested in had no completed sales but an extremely similar (and probably slightly better) card had 3 completions, all between $18 and $21. He was asking $40 BIN and there is another available for $32 BIN. I sent the message offering $25 to the guy with the $40 card, figuring that he'd search eBay and lower his price when he realized there was a cheaper one available. Nope, he responded that 40 was his lowest price, then relisted it today for $50. And the $32 one is still sitting there... Makes no sense

02-28-2016, 08:35 PM	#12
CURLYW Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 224 gkcardtrader gkcardtrader	I offer on non offer items when necessary. I see people listing /299 autos for 80 when you can get /10 for 20. They either jack it up or they're just clueless.

02-28-2016, 08:47 PM	#14
IronMonkey415 Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 44,118 ironmonkeyfromsf	I just tell them "Let me think about it" but never do.

02-28-2016, 08:48 PM	#15
IronMonkey415 Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 44,118 ironmonkeyfromsf	Let me cover my own ass a bit...WHEN I'm on Blowoutcards and you get that message from me, I DO think about it. For eBay people, I am lying to them and never think about it. I get message from people asking me to turn my auction to BIN when it already have bids on it...WTF. Last edited by IronMonkey415; 02-28-2016 at 08:51 PM.

02-28-2016, 08:50 PM	#16
jubei777 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,434 jubei777	Yup lowball requests get no response. Hell, with all of these free listings that eBay provides, I just put cards up that I normally would not move at a high price just for s/g.

02-28-2016, 09:15 PM	#17
Rabs Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 16,109 Rabs	I've had luck with this in the past. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Just depends on the seller and the card you are asking about. It never hurts to ask though, the worst the seller can say is no. I've also won auction listings before by messaging the seller and offering him a set amount for a card. For example, a card is listed as an auction for $0.99 and I offer $10 for the card, and the seller sells it to me for that amount. __________________ Sean Taylor/Craig Kimbrel/Brian Orakpo Collector! https://sportscardalbum.com/u/rabs

02-29-2016, 03:51 AM	#18
rocketfan86 Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 2,120 nsutrumpet08	A buyer on ebay messaged me about a card, which already has a sizable auction price (up to $80), asking what price i'm looking for it. I don't feel comfortable canceling an auction after bids have been placed. __________________ https://sportscardalbum.com/u/rocketfan86 Collecting all Houston Rockets players, current and former.

02-29-2016, 09:25 AM	#19
beaver1080 Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Glens Falls, NY Posts: 4,139 beaver1080	i have done it several times usually only when the card is so overpriced just to see what the seller says. i'd say 9 times out of 10 i can reach a fair deal and in most cases end up paying a little more than wanted. my last time didn't go as well. buyer had a lower end plate auto card for sale at $50 and contenders plate auto went for $13ish dlvd but the seller wouldn't budge. I got the "i'm in no hurry to move it" response. item ended with no takers and was relisted a little lower. i ended up overpaying as i didn't want to miss out just in case someone else decided they wanted it more. __________________ https://www.flickr.com/photos/138043903@N04/albums

02-29-2016, 09:44 AM	#20
seabass97166 Banned Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,685	This just happened to me after this thread was created -a guy asked me would I consider an offer on a lot of 2 Harper's I had selling. I said sure I raise my price on them for the best offer option for him- and we were able to make a good deal. actually probably going to turn out to be a really good contact - so definitely worth it for me