Lowball Offers

[Kevin S.]

Just wanted to let loose a mini-vent on the subject and give you guys a place to do the same. For me personally, I never get offended if someone acknowledges that their offer is low or explains why they're offering what they are. For example "I'm sorry I can't afford your price because ______, but thought I'd check to see if you'd be willing to sell for ____ since it's all I can offer at the moment." Even if it's half of what I'm asking, I can at least appreciate where they're coming from and sometimes I'm willing to take a big hit in such cases.

I recently had an animal for sale at $225 though and didn't have such a great experience with the offer. Someone contacted me through the ad and requested that I email them. I did, and answered a few questions. They gave me their zip code for a shipping quote, which I replied to with a shipping cost of $40. At that point, after several messages back and forth, they asked if I would take $170 shipped (and provided no reason for the low offer). Knowing that my shipping cost is $40, that's offering me $130 for an animal I listed at $225. I'm even more perplexed that they wouldn't just ask first thing if that's all they can budget-or maybe they just didn't think it was unreasonable somehow? I just don't understand why the multiple messages back and forth and asking me for a shipping quote before the low offer in this case. Maybe there's a good reason, but I'm not sure what it might be.

Anyway, this has been happening to me more and more lately and I figured some of you might be having similar experiences. Please tell me I'm not the only one? :sobstory:

 

[Pugsley]

Can't help you Kevin. I'm horrible at negotiating a price. I'll only do it if the seller asks for offers or hints they will take offers. Still, I usually don't know the going price for the snake(s) and hate to offend anyone with my offers and I rarely try to get "deals." Still, the seller can say no, counter, or never talk to me again. I try to be honest, but also, if I've got a sob story, I don't think the seller really wants to hear it. If I can't afford their price, I really shouldn't be trying to buy. Period.

I think for some, it is a cultural thing. There is an art to haggling over a price and I have no artistic talent at all. In haggling, or anything else.

Maybe the buyer was used to the antique market, where usually you can get 10% off without any trouble and 20% off with a bit of dickering. Hard bargaining may get you more. Plus in the antique business I believe it is still a buyers market.

 

[epicdoom]

I prefer a seller list a price rather then ask me for an offer in your case you had a price attached to it. In most cases I would consider it an insult to even offer 50 bucks less then someone is asking. You set a price based on a value you have placed on an item regardless if it's true value isn't what your asking its what you value it as to you personally. In such cases I would ask if that's the best you could do on the price. These are hard times I get it that everyone is trying so save as much as possible but at the same time you have to keep in mind folks list a certain price for a reason, if a buyer can't at least be in the ball park they shouldn't even waste the sellers time with an offer. JMO

 

[chris68]

Yeah had they made the offer before all the time invested in emails it would have saved some time. Some folks just aren't comfortable with doing that tho. I would have countered with an offer and tried not to get too heated about it. You know it happens all the time anyway, it's just part of doing business. $265.00 shipped vs $170.00 shipped, I'd have countered at $225.00 shipped and maybe tossed in an extra hatchling (if you had one) to sweeten the pot and maybe made it my final offer , or even come down to $200.00 shipped The economy is tough, it's to be expected...

FWIW Kevin is an EXCELLENT seller folks, his stuff is real sweet

 

[Outcast]

Chris, well said. Many of the people, that I know, that make low ball offers are wanting the thrill of haggling the price down. We live in a time where not many people do that anymore, because we all think that the price listed is final price (which is what corporations want us to believe). But, I know people who barter their final prices at Walmart and sometimes save 50+ dollars, just by haggling (no coupons). Not exactly how they do it, because the only time I have been in the position to haggle was in Afghanistan, I prefer to not enjoy doing it, because I do not like causing issues like this with people. Because I have lowballed on a sword when I was in Afghanistan and the guy got super offended...LOL...

 

[kathylove]

I don't buy a lot of herps. But when I do, I usually have a budget, and it may be below the average cost of whatever it is. I just bought a new baby bumblebee ball python male to go with my pastel females, and had a budget of only $200. Most at the show were $275 and up. So I just told vendors that their bumblebees looked really nice (I wouldn't be talking to them if I didn't think they looked nice!), but I only had a budget of $200 - did they have one they could part with for that? Most said no, but didn't seem upset. One finally said yes, and that baby has been doing great for me!

I find that most people don't get offended if you compliment their animals (you wouldn't want them if you didn't like them, so you don't have to lie). And then you tell them that you only have $___ to spend. I get customers telling me that all the time. Sometimes I can help them and sometimes I can't - depends on what they want and how much they have to spend. Of course, some people will take any opportunity to get upset - they shouldn't be in a biz that requires customer contact. But most people will only get upset if you criticize them or their animals to get a lower price, or if you waste a lot of their time playing games. Just be straightforward with your offer, and let them know it is YOUR problem as a buyer (finances, or whatever), not their quality as a seller, that is causing you to make a low offer.

Also, if you are flexible, a seller may be more willing to lower the price. The bumblebee seller had a few, similar males to sell. I could see very little difference between them, but he said he would meet my price if he could choose the male. He chose the one that he thought had the least desirable pattern and color, although the difference seemed pretty negligible to me. So we made a deal we were both happy with - a great example of small business at work!

 

[Dale]

Also, if it hasn't been stated already. Salesman will often use the "car salesman" practice of listing their items above intended price anticipating the haggling process. I understand we're talking about LOW low offers, but my point is, at least attempting to negotiate a price is a good practice within reason.

I try to stay abreast of the fair market value of anything I may be buying. If I see something I want, and it is listed at what is considered fair market value at the time, I will try to do the seller the courtesy of buying without haggling. Not everyone does this, especially people unaware of the many factors that go into determining a snake's value/price resulting in some pretty off-base offers.

 

[5 Star Serpents]

Personally, I won't low ball, if someone has "make an offer" I ask what they would like to get for it, I may offer $20-50 below that on a higher priced animal but not more than that. Like Pugsley, I don't want to offend anyone. If it's a package and I'm purchasing 5+ animals then I hope that I can at least get a little bit of a break on the price but even then I don't ask for a lot.
Of course we all have a budget, and that is great, certainly in Kathy's case where you KNOW that animal is going to have the best of care and is going to someone who is knowledgeable and has the means to provide for the animal properly, I feel it's different though if it goes to someone who doesn't understand the costs that can be involved in the event the animal needs vet care, etc. and is just after a cool pet for a cheap price. I've had people offer $50 for a snake that was $150 because that's all they could afford and I turned them down.
All in all, if it's something I really want to add or need I will usually not try to haggle too much.

 

[Christen]

I personally don't haggle with anyone. If the snake is not what I am willing to pay, I don't buy it. There has been a couple times that I have asked for a payment plan but I paid the asking price. I know what it takes to go into breeding and I just look at it as a way that we can all support each others addiction.

I not a huge fan of haggle as well. Just because I research a lot before posting a price for my animals so I know what the other breeders are charging as well. But if you let me know ahead of time that money is an issue than I will be more than willing to work with you. I know what it is like to want something and be broke. However, the thing that really drives me nuts is when someone haggles down a price just because they want the best deal, not because money is an issue then you never hear from them again. If you don't have intentions on buying, you change your mind or whatever let me know. Even if it is a response of screw off. It seems that this has become the norm. Don't send me a message asking if I will take such and such price then when I agree you don't respond. Because more than likely you will be put on my do not sell list. lol

 

[Tavia]

I get low ball offers all the time! Really drives me nuts. Mainly because I have a problem saying no. Usually I end up agreeing to a price that I'm not really comfortable with and end up regretting. But I hate the thought of offending anyone by refusing. This is actually one of my resolutions, to get a backbone and stick to the price I'm comfortable with. This fear of offending is also why I almost never ask if someone else can go lower. The few times I've haggled, I never give them a number, I always ask them how low they can go. I won't touch an ad that lists no asking price, just a give me an offer.
However, I do usually price things with a little wiggle room, so someone can get a slightly better "deal" and I can get the minimum that I wanted and we can both be happy with it.

 

[kathylove]

I am not a very good haggler, either - not as a buyer or seller. I am not a confrontational person by nature. So I have just resorted to keeping it simple. As a seller, I just say "I wish I could, but I just can't go that low". As a buyer, I just say "it is really nice, but I just don't have that much" (or say how much I do have). If the other party is still interested, they will counter offer. If not, I walk away from the deal. I can't really do a back and forth, hard dealing, haggle fest. It would just be too stressful for me. I don't like dealing with pushy people, so I usually just avoid them.

And like Christen, it drives me crazy when people email and start a deal, and then you never hear from them again. This past week I have a guy who said he wants to buy a poster, wanted me to send him an actual invoice, and I never heard from him again. I emailed after several days to see if he was still interested, but he never responded. So I deleted him. I have too many emails in my inbox and need to weed them out if they are not active. But this is so common that I have tried to train myself to ignore it as much as possible.

 

[Tom Tuttle]

I don't have time for lowballers. They usually get marked as spam & sent to the spam folder.

Lowballers remind me of a girl I dated briefly, she had a taste for expensive champagne coupled with a domestic draft budget. Needless to say that didn't last long!

Imho: There is a huge difference between a reasonable offer & a lowball.

 

[Quixotic]

Just people taking advantage of the buyer's market right now. They see a lot of sellers struggling to sell off their animals, sometimes with numerous price reductions, so they assume everyone highballs the original price. Some people just need to feel like they're getting a deal. Really lowball offers may be insulting, but I think they're just testing the waters. They expect you to come back with a higher offer so they can suggest a middle-ground.

 

[ghosthousecorns]

I made a lowball offer once because I misread the listed price and did not know what the animal's value was. Not having reading glasses on. I felt embarrassed about it too. But the seller was understanding
I am usually willing to negotiate a little, but if an offer is so low it's ridiculous I will say sorry but no. It's part of the hassle of selling snakes. TBH what bugs me even more, is when people ask me to hold a snake for them until they have the money without wanting to put any deposit. I'm not gonna tell the guy that does have cash on hand to buy snake right now no because Joe Shmoe wants to buy it at a future date? LOL and half the time Joe is out there shopping around for a better deal anyway, and you end up feeding the snake for months and then Joe changes his mind. Sorry but unless you are a really close friend don't even ask!! (Can you tell this is pet peeve of mine lol.)

 

[Outcast]

I know I have expressed interest in a snake once, but my funds were low, and the seller asked me if I wanted to put it on hold... I told them sure, but if they found a buyer before I got the money, go ahead and sell it... I do not want to tie someone else's funds up (ie the seller getting money for the snake) on a promise of buying it from them... That and I do not like owing anyone anything... It really bugs me that I have a credit card that is not paid off right now...

 

[ghosthousecorns]

Yea, someone soured me on the holding snakes thing. A token deposit shows they really actually do want the snake and not just window shopping, so that's the only way I do it anymore.

 

[Christen]

That and I do not like owing anyone anything... It really bugs me that I have a credit card that is not paid off right now...

I am the same exact way. If I do a payment plan then I usually have it paid off before the agreement. Once I had an issue come up and had to leave before pay day so I wasn't able to pay off as agreed until I came back and boy did that stress me out.

 

[Outcast]

Yeah. The only way I would ever want someone to hold a snake for me is if I have the money to send them for a deposit. Then I feel like I am at least contributing to its care a little while the rest of the funds catch up.

 

[Christen]

Yea, someone soured me on the holding snakes thing. A token deposit shows they really actually do want the snake and not just window shopping, so that's the only way I do it anymore.

I don't blame you. I have had that happen all to often as well. So unless I know and trust you I don't hold without a deposit as well.