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Responding to "Will you end your auction early for $~?"

  1. krogerfoot Dec 20, 2018

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    I got a message yesterday from an eBay buyer, saying "Would you end your auction early for $[roughly 30% of your watch's value]?"

    Should one offer only a disdainful silence in response, or instead reply with some variant of "Would you like a box to stand on, the better to kiss my ass?" Please your advice.
     
    Hnansen likes this.
  2. Sherbie Dec 20, 2018

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    Well to be fair, the seller has a point. Everyone likes to get a bargain once in a while, but if the seller knows what he has, why would she/he accept a low ball offer?
     
  3. CaptainWinsor Dec 20, 2018

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    Deafening silence
     
    merchandiser, Noddyman and Mark020 like this.
  4. krogerfoot Dec 20, 2018

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    I'm the seller, and that is my point, yes.
     
  5. BenBagbag Dec 20, 2018

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    You should say, "I'm not looking for that much, please offer me only half the value of the watch. Thank you!" :rolleyes:
     
  6. CaptainWinsor Dec 20, 2018

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    I never respond to ridiculous offers on anything. Silence is just easiest and move on
     
  7. base615 Dec 20, 2018

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    Happens all the time. I always just say "I let all my auctions run the course"
     
  8. krogerfoot Dec 20, 2018

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    In all seriousness, is it better to give some reply? Ebay has some odd carrots and sticks for sellers regarding customer service.
     
  9. 124watchfan Dec 20, 2018

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    If there is a BIN number u would accept throw that to him But otherwise maybe tell him thanks but that offer is ridiculous.
     
  10. BenBagbag Dec 20, 2018

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    Why not just say, thank you for your offer, feel free to put that in now as your maximum bid and wait till the conclusion of the auction as I will let the auction run it's course.
     
    marco, Syrte, Spacefruit and 10 others like this.
  11. shaun hk Fairy nuffer Dec 20, 2018

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    I'm not an eBay seller, but I would go with something along the lines of "I am prepared to end the auction early for xxx, and please do not reply with any further offers less than this"
     
    gatorcpa likes this.
  12. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Dec 20, 2018

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    This
     
  13. valkyrie_rider Dec 20, 2018

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    I believe is not your case, but I've seen a few omegas for sale asking 2x to 3x what is the market prices (i.e. search results in ebay and chrono24 for watches in similar state).

    The other day I saw a good (but not perfect) Seamaster chrono cal 1040 for sale and the seller wanted 3.4K USD for it (and he is not even in the USA).

    A found a better looking one for 1.9K USD in the East Coast. That would be a case where I would offer 30-40% of his asking price given that I would have to pay shipping + insurance + import taxes/duties plus sales taxes (in California that is about +7%).
     
    gatorcpa likes this.
  14. boogedyboo Dec 20, 2018

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    I don't think there is any harm if the buyer makes a reasonable offer but 30% is too low. I think 70% and above deserves a polite response but 30% is termed a "lowball" and there is no point to expend effort to reply.
     
    Alphasports likes this.
  15. Huus Dec 20, 2018

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    Some where along these lines is the best. A little politeness doesn't hurt as that is the way most of us like to be treated.
     
    Lonestar, arcadelt, Kmart and 4 others like this.
  16. lillatroll Dec 20, 2018

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    I think then the buyer should explain his rationale, atleast it does not come across as an insult.
    As to the OP either just ignore the offer or politely decline. In some cultures it's just a way of starting a process on the road to a deal where both sides are happy.
     
    kingsrider and valkyrie_rider like this.
  17. Dan S Dec 20, 2018

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    I always pretend that the offer isn't ridiculous, politely thank him for the offer but decline, and wish him luck in the auction. There's always a chance that a lowballer like this might actually really want the watch, and there's no upside to making an enemy of a potential bidder.
     
    marco, Lonestar, drhex and 16 others like this.
  18. krogerfoot Dec 20, 2018

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    Thanks for everyone's suggestions. An icy silence is more my style, but I was mostly wondering if eBay penalizes sellers somehow for not responding to buyers' questions. Selling from a non-eBay country, as it were, we're under a lot of extra scrutiny from eBay and they drag their feet in releasing payments and so forth.

    Obviously it won't kill me to politely tell the inquirer "no," but that's me, I'm just a petty guy.
     
    Steve88M3 likes this.
  19. wristpirate Dec 21, 2018

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  20. Tempus Dec 21, 2018

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    I wouldn't waste energy or time responding...at such a low point they are not likely to be serious buyers.