classifieds "Or Best Offer" Do they really mean it?

[rolloman]

When you see "or best offer" on the sites classified ads it's B.S. isn't it?

 

[Recce]

I take best offer to mean they are willing to negotiate.

 

[Milspec]

I always interpret the "or best offer" as meaning he/she inflated the price....figuire on about 10-15% less as his/her actual listing price.

 

[Boubou]

I always thought it meant the guy was offering you a little les money but was throwing in his wife in the deal

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I take it to mean they're wiling to negotiate. How smart/reasonable they are about it is a different question.

 

[soundchaser59]

I make reasonable offers, I don't lowball anyone, but I have never gotten a reply to any offer I've made......ever. And most of the items are still there listed for sale months later.

At least on ebay I "win" the item 50% of the time just by making a reasonable offer. Not here, not on any forum.

 

[8barlouie]

It an age old method of selling that is used by EBay and many other auctions. It supposed to mean that you can buy the item for the price stated- “Buy it now”, or you can make an offer and if no one pays the asking price, all previous offers are considered and the best offer wins; which is essentially a sort of auction.

I think the phrase has lost it’s true meaning over the years and people just put it on a listing intending to mean they might negotiate.

 

[schmee]

I find if I price something good or low, people still want to strike a bargain. I prefer to just have a good price and not dicker, but people aren't built that way it seems, so i inflate a bit and let them bargain. I turned down a $1000 offer on a $1350 listed item today and offered a middle ground. They went away.

 

[Mike SS]

I made an offer of $250 on a 2x12 Marshall cab that a guy had on consignment for $300. He initially turned me down, but a couple of months later it still had not sold, so he called and accepted my offer.
I think it depends on how badly they need the money, as to whether they will negotiate.

 

[Marc Morfei]

No it's not BS. It means they really want to sell the item, and they'll accept a reasonable offer.

 

[brookdalebill]

It’s pretty easy to figure out what the seller is “fishing” for.
Sellers often ask for about 10% more than they will actually accept.
It’s a good idea to know the new and used values of what you are shopping for.
Once you know those things, look for what you want on CL, and narrow down your options.
My rule of thumb is simple.
If a popular item sells for $1000 new, second hand it should sell for 50-60% of that, $500-600, roughly.
Look for reasonable prices, a lot of CL sellers are delusional.
OBO usually means another 10-15% less may be accepted.
Articles that have been available for awhile are extra vulnerable to lower offers.
Don’t lowball or “grind” sellers, it’s annoying, rude, disrespectful, and rarely works.

 

[Milspec]

I find if I price something good or low, people still want to strike a bargain. I prefer to just have a good price and not dicker, but people aren't built that way it seems, so i inflate a bit and let them bargain. I turned down a $1000 offer on a $1350 listed item today and offered a middle ground. They went away.

That is what irritates me about people, many will not purchase unless they feel like they ripped you off in some sort of ritual of dominance. I listed an amp a couple of months ago for fair market value and had 5 prospected buyers all demand a lower price by at least 30%. I waited 2 weeks and re-listed it at a 30% increase in listing price and ended up selling it to one of those same idiots after "reducing" the price down to what ended up being $15 greater than the asking price 2 weeks prior. He told me that it was a great price when he picked it up so it was never about the price, just the need to feel like he "won" in the dickering process....even though he actually paid $15 more in the process.

I don't do that sort of thing. I decide what the value is and if the price is acceptable, I buy it. Often that will include a lot of "extras" as well. If I feel it is over-priced but close, I will make a lower offer and explain why. I just don't feel that there needs to be more to it than that.