What's the point of eBay's best offer if the seller won't budge?

I was trying to buy a LowePro bag today on ebay. A seller had one for 133 dollars, or best offer. I first offered 110, thinking maybe he's desperate for a sale. Okay, he declined, but he counter-offered 130. I counter-offered 120 back, and he still offers 130. I tried again at 125 and he turned me down yet again. At this point I bought from someone else for $140 just to spite him.

Are people really trying to move bags at profits this thin, for such an expensive bag? God I hate ebay sometimes.

So you spent $10 more on a bag because he wouldn't budge?

Man, you sure showed him!

That's a genius technique you've got going there.

Meh. I'd rather not give a guy like that my money.

Man, you've got issues.

First, I don't know why you're upset with someone because they wouldn't sell to you at YOUR price. Negotiating is all well and good, but why get made at someone? And your "I spent more w/ someone else to spite the guy I was mad at." rant is too much. First off, the original seller could care less. Second, if you were willing to spend $140 for it, I don't even know why you got upset w/ the first guy, and didn't just buy it for $130.

I understand paying more for something when it's available somewhere else for less, but that's usually a retail situation, and you weigh several factors (convenience, customer service, etc.) into what the 'true cost' of the item is. But to pay more for the same thing, just because you're 'mad' at one seller, makes no sense whatsoever. As I said, you've got issues.

Sometimes you have a floor and that is the lowest price you can accept due to cost. Sometimes someone will have an item that is a couple of bucks lower than yours so you do a best offer for those that want the item for a couple of bucks lower than the other guy's. I've sold stuff with a BIN price of $195 and accepted a BO of $185. But I'm certainly not desparate to go to $80 like some morons offer. I like that now I can set an automatic decline amount.

overclock, I do agree that there are some people out there who will try to get a best offer of half the price of the item to work - which is very ridiculous.

Mk1: It's not the money, it's just a waste of my time. If he doesn't want to have my money in his pocket, so be it. But just don't waste my time beating around the bush offering me $3 less than his asking price on a relatively expensive backpack. I don't see how this makes me have issues, but to each their own.

best offer doesn't mean i have to sell it if i don't want to simple

Which is true..but then why are you wasting people's time? It's like the reverse lowball. edit: I mean in the case of the best offer being like, $2-$3 less than the buy it now, and refusing all lower best offers.

actually I have lost sales for not giving in and extra 5 bucks .. I actually think the buyer is just being cheap and trying to low ball me ..

Example was 100mm Macro BNIB that I bought in CC closing sale .. I had it listed for $260 before I took them down for peoples ignorance .. but anyways thats another story ..

I had 5 of them for sale @ 260 and people was offering me $250 ship .. Like dude are you serious .. no then how about $255 and I be like no its already sold ..

then I sold a couple and I got some more and I had them listed with receipt for $400 shipped and paypal and still the same crap .. people trying to lowball for a few bucks .. screw that ... its already low as it is dont try to think people are desperate and will take anything for em when the fact is that some people might have gotten deals and are already getting a profit therefor the price ..

what? you were selling 100mm macro for 260? have any left, haha

Best Offer without budging much is just a way to get into more search results. It's the same reasoning behind having something offered as an auction at $4.95 with a Buy It Now of $4.99. It stays in the search results when people filter for Auctions Only and when people filter for Buy It Now Only.

cdifoto wrote in post #7795541
Best Offer without budging much is just a way to get into more search results. It's the same reasoning behind having something offered as an auction at $4.95 with a Buy It Now of $4.99. It stays in the search results when people filter for Auctions Only and when people filter for Buy It Now Only.

Ahhh I see. Thank you.

mikekelley wrote in post #7793031
I was trying to buy a LowePro bag today on ebay. A seller had one for 133 dollars, or best offer. I first offered 110, thinking maybe he's desperate for a sale. Okay, he declined, but he counter-offered 130. I counter-offered 120 back, and he still offers 130. I tried again at 125 and he turned me down yet again. At this point I bought from someone else for $140 just to spite him.

Are people really trying to move bags at profits this thin, for such an expensive bag? God I hate ebay sometimes.

you're blaming ebay because one seller wouldn't do what you wanted him to do?

and then you spent more for the same product?



ed rader

$20 isn't really breaking the bank to me, or anybody really on this forum for that matter. That isn't the problem. The problem is the time-wasting aspect of it. If I could get it for cheaper, that would be cool, but my panties aren't bunched over the money. It's over the waste of time that it takes to have them fake a "best offer" thing when they aren't taking any offers lower than the buy it now.

But, as cdifoto just pointed out, it's so that they get more search hits, apparently.