Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "firm"?

[MissStepcut]

And also, if you put "price firm!" in your listing, would you consider offers?

edited for clarity!

 

[missy]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

My guess is that the seller probably doesn't want anything but the asking price however, you have nothing to lose. I would approach it very politely and make sure they know you do not want to offend but this is what you are willing to offer and perhaps you will be successful. It all comes down to how badly the seller wants to sell/how quickly they want to sell and if they have received any other offers. Good luck!

 

[iheartscience]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

My guess is that the seller probably doesn't want anything but the asking price however, you have nothing to lose. I would approach it very politely and make sure they know you do not want to offend but this is what you are willing to offer and perhaps you will be successful. It all comes down to how badly the seller wants to sell/how quickly they want to sell and if they have received any other offers. Good luck!

My thoughts exactly! It's worth a shot, and a bird in the hand and all that might tempt a "FIRM PRICE" person to change their mind.

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

In this particular case, it's been on the market for a while, and so I am wondering if the seller just keeps refreshing the listing but hasn't edited it.

Another question... how do you value used handbags?

 

[cellentani]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

If you put "price firm!" in your listing, would you consider offers?

Well, this is different than the question in your title. As a hopeful buyer, I probably wouldn't make a lower offer if the seller stated price was firm, but if I REALLY wanted the piece, I would at least acknowledge the terms but might respectfully offer a lower price, 'just in case the seller changes their mind."

If you are the seller, I wouldn't feel obligated to consider a lower offer, but would definitely think it's your prerogative to do so.

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

If you put "price firm!" in your listing, would you consider offers?

Well, this is different than the question in your title. As a hopeful buyer, I probably wouldn't make a lower offer if the seller stated price was firm, but if I REALLY wanted the piece, I would at least acknowledge the terms but might respectfully offer a lower price, 'just in case the seller changes their mind."

If you are the seller, I wouldn't feel obligated to consider a lower offer, but would definitely think it's your prerogative to do so.

I am asking both things

 

[decodelighted]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

Everything is negotiable. As long as you're strong enough to tolerate a potentially pissy reply! People want to stay strong & ward off temptation & a slew of low-ball pie-in-the-sky offers by stating "firm" etc ... but there's always that stinging credit card bill or $$ vet appt. or something that can stir up timely MOTIVATION.

 

[Maisie]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

We have a saying where I grew up. ' Shy bairns get nowt'. Its always worth asking. You never know.. they might just decide to accept your offer

 

[iheartscience]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

In this particular case, it's been on the market for a while, and so I am wondering if the seller just keeps refreshing the listing but hasn't edited it.

Another question... how do you value used handbags?

Hmmm...have you checked the sold listings on eBay and see what price items actually sold for? That's my favorite way to value used stuff.

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

In this particular case, it's been on the market for a while, and so I am wondering if the seller just keeps refreshing the listing but hasn't edited it.

Another question... how do you value used handbags?

Hmmm...have you checked the sold listings on eBay and see what price items actually sold for? That's my favorite way to value used stuff.

Interesting, good idea.

 

[that_someone_special]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

It never hurts to ask.

However, just because you think that they should sell it for $xxx doesn't mean that they can. So, like, I buy a new camera and barely use it. If I try to sell it for $800 but other used ones are going for $500... maybe I would just keep it instead of losing an additional $300 on it.

So don't be offended if they say no.

If there is one bag online, there will be another! (I used this logic for diamonds on ebay).

 

[maplefemme]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

We have a saying where I grew up. ' Shy bairns get nowt'. Its always worth asking. You never know.. they might just decide to accept your offer

Are you Scottish, Maisie?! I haven't heard 'bairns' in forever!

I have bought a number of used purses and I'm pretty picky about the whole thing.
I'd not just shoot out a lower offer without a personal, friendly, message to go with it. You have nothing to loose, especially if it's collecting dust, there may be wiggle room to negotiate.
I think approach is everything when someone has a firm price specification.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

In this particular case, it's been on the market for a while, and so I am wondering if the seller just keeps refreshing the listing but hasn't edited it.

Another question... how do you value used handbags?

Now the real question MissStepcut... what type of handbag is it?

 

[iLander]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

We have a saying where I grew up. ' Shy bairns get nowt'. Its always worth asking. You never know.. they might just decide to accept your offer

What?

 

[iLander]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

No, if it's listed as firm, it's firm.

I've listed stuff as firm, and if someone offers less, it's just annoying.

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

In this particular case, it's been on the market for a while, and so I am wondering if the seller just keeps refreshing the listing but hasn't edited it.

Another question... how do you value used handbags?

Now the real question MissStepcut... what type of handbag is it?

Kate Spade

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

No, if it's listed as firm, it's firm.

I've listed stuff as firm, and if someone offers less, it's just annoying.

Would it make a difference to you how long it has been sitting on the market?

 

[maplefemme]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

We have a saying where I grew up. ' Shy bairns get nowt'. Its always worth asking. You never know.. they might just decide to accept your offer

What?

Bairns = kids
It's old Scottish slang...which could fill a dictionary in itself!

 

[maplefemme]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

We have a saying where I grew up. ' Shy bairns get nowt'. Its always worth asking. You never know.. they might just decide to accept your offer

What?

Bairns = kids
It's old Scottish slang...which could fill a dictionary in itself!

And nowt = nothing

 

[Rhea]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

I assume that I shouldn't make an offer when it says firm, so I don't. I'm not sure I would be bothered if someone did offer on an item of mine as long as it was close to my original asking price. If it's been sitting there for a bit and hasn't moved then you, and she, have nothing to loose.

 

[decodelighted]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

So .... what happened???????? Did you? Did they? Spills it!

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

So .... what happened???????? Did you? Did they? Spills it!

I didn't. When I checked eBay for comps I decided that her "firm" price was significantly above what I saw bags selling for (though well below what they're listed for at BIN prices) and I decided it would be a waste of her energy and mine. Unfortunate, but maybe she'll find a buyer yet.

 

[decodelighted]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

Thanks for the update. So often threads like this peter off w/no conclusion to the original quandry! I'm just a nosy nancy!

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

When I say firm I mean firm.

When I see firm I assume the seller means firm.

BUT if I DO approach the vendor with an offer anyway I say, "I KNOW your listing says your price is firm, but if you are open to negotiating, I may be interested. Best, Gypsy." I think it's more respectful that wyay.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

So .... what happened???????? Did you? Did they? Spills it!

I didn't. When I checked eBay for comps I decided that her "firm" price was significantly above what I saw bags selling for (though well below what they're listed for at BIN prices) and I decided it would be a waste of her energy and mine. Unfortunate, but maybe she'll find a buyer yet.

There are so many people (at least on eBay) who do this! I don't understand?! It's EBAY, not a damn fancy retail store. BE REAL. I'm probably at the opposite end and list things too cheap, but I like to SELL stuff, not to have stuff sitting around!

 

[Mara]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

I would. You can definitely email and be respectful about it and say you know they said firm but that if they are interested in considering an offer of XYZ (or even a range) you would love to speak with them about it.

I also think it's so bizarre when I see people pricing things WAY above (like 2x) what the market seems like it would bear. I guess it only takes one buyer--there is someone for everything I think.

 

[MissStepcut]

Re: Would you make an offer when a seller says price is "fir

I would. You can definitely email and be respectful about it and say you know they said firm but that if they are interested in considering an offer of XYZ (or even a range) you would love to speak with them about it.

I also think it's so bizarre when I see people pricing things WAY above (like 2x) what the market seems like it would bear. I guess it only takes one buyer--there is someone for everything I think.

I guess some people would rather not take the loss and keep the item than realize a loss but walk away with cash.

At first I thought the price was pretty fair, it's just not what I have to spend on a bag right now. But then I did a little more research. Seller says she got the bag at a sample sale. I found out from some blog posts that this particular bag was sold 2 years ago on some websites doing "sample sales" for $199. Seller is asking $175. I dunno, something about a 12% discount on a 2 year old bag that's now used seems ridiculous to me. But for someone who has the money and likes the bag, that may seem like a great deal.