Listings in the For Sale threads

[Guest]

I tend not to have too much interest in "make me an offer" sales. I prefer a price. Also less likely to offend with a low offer.

[Bugster]

I'm fascinated by people's ways of selling. I make my living buying and selling industrial equipment every day and have done for years. From experience I know that paying for an advert asking for "offers" is just a waste of money and time - no replies. Because the potential buyers fear rejection.

When you want to buy a new/used car and look at the ads in the local paper, how many Fords/Vauxhalls/Toyotas say "make me an offer" ? Would you even bother visiting them or even phoning ? I wouldn't.

If you genuinely want to sell something checkout the ads and decide on a price you are willing to accept. Half new price is a good start in this hobby then add 10% for haggling, and go for it. Invariably it will sell.

We have all seen a neighbour, with a For Sale board outside their house for 18 months, saying houses just aren't selling at the moment. Yet we've probably also seen houses in the same road sell within weeks. So which house owner genuinely wanted to sell ?

If you are realistic everything has a price but it's up to the seller to drive a stake into the ground with a starting price.

[Mart61]

So, having read thru the replies, it would seem that most would rather see a price listed than "make me an offer".

Perhaps I'm not so alone after all...

[themagician]

what ever the price is you know your gonna offer less so does it really matter.a good barter with banter by e-mail never hurt anyone,could go on for days.

[sacko]

List it for a resonable price in the first place, fair enough a buyer may make an offer, but the seller doesnt have to accept it.

You know where you both stand when a seller makes an offer around the price the seller has listed. Look at what is happening with all the 'make me an offer' FS threads with peoples pride and joy models, someone makes an offer (maybe cheeky, but why not?) and the seller seems offended, tends to end up with threads being ruined.

[philiphenderson]

Asking for an offer opens the sale up to more people. Yeah some will offer amounts that'll get rejected but then thats when you have the option of upping it or walking away. At least you know there are people out there that are interested.

I've sometimes sold stuff for less than I would've put in the ad. Sometimes I get a touch more than I thought. As long as both parties reach an agreement then where is the harm? If people aren't interested in giving an offer then they could miss out on a possible bargain.

Phil.

[sacko]

...but people always know what they would be happy to settle for, even if they do not know the exact value of the heli.

So why not just list the price you would be happy with?

[Made2Fade]

thing that gets me is even when you list a price people will always attempt to knock you down regardless. So if people can do that then then the seller should have the right to ask for offers really. Works both ways.
Cheers
Lee

[philiphenderson]

...but people always know what they would be happy to settle for, even if they do not know the exact value of the heli.

Offer that then.

So why not just list the price you would be happy with?

You may list a price and get no replies. If you do {get offers} and the offers are lower than you were kinda hoping on you have the option of accepting one if you feel you won't get a better price. Bargain for the buyer and a sale made.

Yes you could readvertise at a lower price but then you may get lower offers on this. {Lee posted before I finished}

If you list a price thats rather high (the sellers right to do so) you risk getting the 'I can get that {here} for just £? more' posts and we're back into the problem of buying it for more from one place when it was cheaper somewhere else.

Phil.

[sacko]

Depends, I would usually put £xx or near offer, best of both worlds.

At the end of the day, you want to make it as easy as possible for the buyer? So why make them jump through hoops negotiating a price before they even consider the item?

[sacko]

You may list a price and get no replies. If you do {get offers} and the offers are lower than you were kinda hoping on you have the option of accepting one if you feel you won't get a better price. Bargain for the buyer and a sale made.

If you list a price thats rather high (the sellers right to do so) you risk getting the 'I can get that {here} for just £? more' posts and we're back into the problem of buying it for more from one place when it was cheaper somewhere else.

It is the sellers item, so the seller should be researching it. It is the sellers fault if they have overprice the item, and not had any offers.

How many car dealerships have "offers" on their windscreens?

If you saw a vehicle that was £500 more than at a different dealership, which one would you go to? Who is at fault for an overpriced vehicle? The seller!

[philiphenderson]

Depends, I would usually put £xx or near offer, best of both worlds.

At the end of the day, you want to make it as easy as possible for the buyer? So why make them jump through hoops negotiating a price before they even consider the item?

That's your choice.

What's not easy about offering a price. If that's all you're willing to pay then its simple enough. Nothing further needs to said to the seller.

Phil.

[philiphenderson]

It is the sellers item, so the seller should be researching it. It is the sellers fault if they have overprice the item, and not had any offers.

How many car dealerships have "offers" on their windscreens?

If you saw a vehicle that was £500 more than at a different dealership, which one would you go to? Who is at fault for an overpriced vehicle? The seller!

They're all overpriced. Doh!

You'll be telling me people don't sometimes pay more for items on eBay then RRP.

Phil.

[sacko]

They're all overpriced. Doh!

Agreed, but they sell items for a living, and they are obviously using techniques that work, like advertising a price.

You'll be telling me people don't sometimes pay more for items on eBay then RRP.

Exactly, but they can see a price, it shows that the 'rough' price of what that item is worth, its a good guidline.

[philiphenderson]

Surely you as a buyer needs to have a clue as to what the item up for sale is worth. If you're seriously interested in it then it's in your best interests to know this.

If you didn't then you'd look into it (i.e. find out its original retail price via website or magazine, a full 60-120 seconds worth of looking) regardless of whether the seller listed an asking price or is wanting offers.

Now you'll know if the asking price is worth it or you'll have an idea of an amount to offer.

Can't see anyones problem. Give a price or ask for offers.

In both cases the buyer needs to know the value of the item regardless of the way in which the seller advertises what they want for it.

What we're really coming down to is that the buyer doesn't know everything about what they're buying. This isn't the sellers fault.

The seller could I suppose list what the item(s) cost new then this could help the buyer but again someone will post that they've seen it cheaper somewhere else. Guaranteed.

Phil.