Phil Starr Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 What's the etiquette? I'm a regular buyer of used everything but never much on Basschat. Normally I buy locally and quite enjoy a haggle, I'll decide myself if something is worth the money and try for a bargain but I'll even offer more than the asking price if I think someone has grossly undervalued their stuff. Most people will add a small margin to the asking price to allow for a haggle so it's quite fun to guess what that is. I feel differently about BC though, it feels more like buying from a friend. Everything I've bought here has been well looked after, descriptions have always been scrupulously accurate and everyone polite and helpful. We have a real community feel. So far I've been reluctant to make offers and the odd thing I've sold has been at the price I'm happy to sell at. I've often had it for sale at a higher price elsewhere. I often watch offer prices falling so do we have an informal Dutch auction system? So buyers or sellers, how do you approach things? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I once received a PM wanting to buy something I hadn't advertised as being for sale. I was happy to let it go, so I said so and gave a price. He haggled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 In general a lot of people people who have bought something from me have made offers, and I have made offers, but I have never had eBay like offers (like, being offered 40% of what you asked for), more like 'can you do the shipping in the price' or rounding things off a bit. Conversley, on more noticably cheaper things, people have just said 'I'll have that' 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knirirr Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I'm not a fan of haggling at all. Ebay's offers seems a little less bad and I've used that, but sometimes when I've listed something with offers I've received cheeky messages from "buyers" complaining that their silly low offers have been rejected. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 If something is cheap or at the market value (IMHO) I generally don't haggle but if I know that the going rate is less than a seller has something up for, I'll make offers. I think I've got a fairly good idea of the value of things but that isn't to say that a seller hasn't got a different viewpoint; sentimentality, buying 'new' or having bought something at the top of its price range and then needing to sell in a downbeat marketplace period, is generally when you have a wide range of opinion on price. There's no right or wrong, you just have to be prepared to disagree and walk away or pay what the seller wanted... and then they were right about the value. LOL I never get involved with 'vintage' Fenders etc as that is a minefield of values and authenticity + I don't like them. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorkie635 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I wouldn't haggle on here. If I feel someone is asking a fair price and I like the item, I'll buy it. If the price is a little high for me, someone else can buy it. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo85 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I think there is a difference between haggling for fun or in the hope to get a deal, or just because why not, which I do not like, and very simply making an offer if the price tag is too high for you. The latter is helpful for for the seller, who may have reasons to sell quickly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I'm not keen on the dance of haggling. I prefer to do my research before listing and list at a fair price from the get go. Of course, nobody effin' reads the "no offers" bit... 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorkie635 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Just now, neepheid said: I'm not keen on the dance of haggling. I prefer to do my research before listing and list at a fair price from the get go. Of course, nobody effin' reads the "no offers" bit... I'll give you £2:67 for all your gear. OK, £2:50 and it's mine. £2:25? ... ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I'll make an offer of what I think is a price I'm happy with. Then it's up to the seller to accept, reject, or suggest a new price. I can then accept the outcome or stop the negotiations, any further haggling I would consider rude. In this process everyone has had a chance to name their price point and that's that. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 (edited) I think it's fine to offer what you'd be willing to pay (often for me that's asking price, but sometimes less), if the seller thinks they can get more then they can just not accept the offer. I'm not really doing it for the 'game' of haggling for the sake of it. It annoys me a bit when sellers take offence at what they see to be low offers, especially if they've had it for sale for ages. Perhaps the offer isn't what they see as 'market value' but it's what someone feels is the amount they would part with at that time and they've made that offer. Take it or leave it. Edited June 24 by SumOne 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Yes I’d offer what I thought was fair. I encourage others to do that and it’s rare I’ve sold things at the price advertised. As long as it’s done in a polite and positive way and the person is interested in a sale, why not? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I try not to be in a hurry to sell anything, and if I am, no offence to BC but I wouldn't be listing it here. It's like treacle in here right now. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I don’t haggle over prices on here , if it’s marked up at a reasonable price I’m willing to pay then I’ll just buy it no question , if it’s overpriced then I may politely ask if there’s any movement, but if it’s a no then I respect their decision 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I wonder if bidding could be done in some way? Simplest being putting something up for sale with a auction closing time and people then commenting on the thread with their offers (or could be done via PM to be secret - but the seller updating the sale with the latest price). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Something springs to mind - sometimes when I list something, I go into some detail about why I've set the price I have. Does that put people off? Do I come across like a difficult person to deal with when I do this? I'm only trying to offer context and reasoned justification for why the price is what it is. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I absolute despise haggling. If I'm selling something I list it at the price I want. If someone tries to knock down the price I can't be arsed dealing with them. Similarly if I'm buying something and the price is fair I'll pay it no questions asked. If I think something is overpriced I'll just simply ignore it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 Just now, Newfoundfreedom said: I absolute despise haggling. If I'm selling something I list it at the price I want. If someone tries to knock down the price I can't be arsed dealing with them. Similarly if I'm buying something and the price is fair I'll pay it no questions asked. If I think something is overpriced I'll just simply ignore it. You're probably doing yourself out of sales/purchases with that attitude though. It doesn't have to be a big haggling ordeal, just offer what you think you'd like to pay and they might accept it or might give you another price. I mean, making/accepting offers is pretty much the done thing with anything second-hand: house, car, bike etc. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 1 minute ago, SumOne said: You're probably doing yourself out of sales/purchases with that attitude though. It doesn't have to be a big haggling ordeal, just offer what you think you'd like to pay and they might accept it or might give you another price. I mean, making/accepting offers is pretty much the done thing with anything second-hand: house, car, bike etc. Yeah I get what you're saying, and I suppose there are a couple of exceptions. Such as if I really want something but I think the seller has overpriced it, and I can give an example of being able to get it cheaper (eBay etc) then I might respectfully approach the buyer and explain that I think it's overpriced and offer them going rate. As a seller I'm also receptive to this kind of communication. But there are some people who simply will not pay going rate for anything and expect to get everything "cheap" by making lowball offers. I have no interest in dealing with those kinds of people. In fact I would (and have in the past) rather take something to the tip or smash it up than sell to someone taking the p#ss. Might sound ridiculous but I'd rather lose money than deal with those kinds of people. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 40 minutes ago, SumOne said: I think it's fine to offer what you'd be willing to pay (often for me that's asking price, but sometimes less), if the seller thinks they can get more then they can just not accept the offer. I'm not really doing it for the 'game' of haggling for the sake of it. It annoys me a bit when sellers take offence at what they see to be low offers, especially if they've had it for sale for ages. Perhaps the offer isn't what they see as 'market value' but it's what someone feels is the amount they would part with at that time and they've made that offer. Take it or leave it. Yes a simple, "No, that's the price, take it or leave it." reply is easy enough. Takes seconds. The pedals I've bought I've paid the asking price. I'm not going to haggle to change the price by £5. Anything over £200 I'm probably going to put in an offer. I don't understand how that would offend anyone. That's often what happens on the second hand market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted June 24 Author Share Posted June 24 50 minutes ago, neepheid said: Of course, nobody effin' reads the "no offers" bit... I think that's fair as is the ONO offer. If a seller makes it clear then that's fair enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 47 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: I don’t haggle over prices on here , if it’s marked up at a reasonable price I’m willing to pay then I’ll just buy it no question , if it’s overpriced then I may politely ask if there’s any movement, but if it’s a no then I respect their decision Pretty much my approach too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 I would not describe it as haggling, but when I'm selling, I have been open to someone asking if I could do the item for£ X (Where £X is of course lower than I listed it as) or include postage in the price; circumstances (How long it has been listed/the price that other similar items have sold for/etc) will guide me in saying yeah/neah or making a counter offer. I may take the same approach when buying if the circumstances are appropriate I feel it never hurts to ask but I would not "extract the urine". Sam x 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted June 24 Share Posted June 24 (edited) There's a huge amount of price experience between us on BC. At the end of the day we all buy and sell things for what we think they're worth to us as well as being guided by what others are buying and selling them for. If something seems to be on at a fair price I won't haggle (as was the case with a pedal I bought 5 mins ago!). But I'm fine with folk making me offers whether here or on eBay and I can decide whether to accept the offer or not; and I don't have any issues doing the same. If folk are fortunate not to be a forced seller then they can afford to be a little patient and hold on until getting their asking price or close to it, or simply decide it's worth more to them than what others are willing to part with and hold on to it - there's often a good reason we bought stuff in the first place?! And let's not get started on seller's regret...😅 Edited June 24 by Al Krow 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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