eBay Question - Looking for Perspectives

[Fred Bear]

I list everything BIN/BO. I list with a relatively high BIN because I think I'm realistic with my expectations of an acceptable BO, but am not necessarily looking to make a ton of short sales.

In the last couple of days, I've gotten offers on cards for $5-10 less than where completed auctions are ending. Now, don't get me wrong, I like a deal as much as the next guy, so I try not to get mad. I do decline offers that are 50% of auction pricing or worse, but I typically counter with a price a couple-to-few bucks over completed auction pricing and explain that I won't beat the auction prices. 'OFFER DECLINED' by the potential buyer, every time...

So, here's the question, are these buyers looking for re-sale and I'm simply weeding them out? Are buyers put off by 'honest' answers?

If you have an opinion, help me understand what I'm missing about 'fair' pricing... Thanks!

 

[ncm7772]

I think you answered your own question when you said "I like a deal as much as the next guy."

Most people (myself included) are looking to get cards at the lowest possible price. If I see a card listed as BIN/BO that I want but don't "NEED", I will often shoot a somewhat lowball offer. Not insultingly low, but what I think would be a good deal. Sometimes the seller takes it, but they usually don't. If it's a card I really need, I will give an offer that's closer to the BIN price.

Some sellers purposely put their BIN/BO higher than they actually expect to card to sell for, hoping for a supercollector or set collector who badly needs the card will pay big bucks for it, and it sometimes works.

And yes, I think some buyers are put off by honest answers. But a lot of the potential buyers you're dealing w/ are just looking for a good deal, I don't think they're put off by your offers, they just don't wanna pay "full" price.