When somebody selling something adds ‘or offer’ to the price

What do  you imagine is the reduction likely for a private  sale if something was advertised at 3250 or offer.

Would you think it likely they’d accept 3000? Or is 3200 more what you’d be expecting?  Not particularly rare, but a big spread of prices.

What about if it was advertised at 3000 or offer- what would you think the seller is looking for then?

I tend to think a 10% reduction is probably what they’re looking for but not sure. Don’t really want to fall foul of the ‘no stupid offers’ thing.

Doesn’t ask doesn’t get, try a lowball and see what happens.

Especially if it’s been for sale for a while or you can offer something else, eg collection to save them posting it.

If it’s super rare then just show up that day with the asking price, if there’s planty of choice you can go low.

Houses seem to be the only thing where the seller says a price and then they expect everyone to offer more. I hate the Scottish system

I usually assume it’ll depend on what else you can “offer”.  Is it room for negotiation or just haggling?

If it’s been up for 5 minutes and you offer 10% less, repeatedly go quiet and don’t message/call back, can’t come and see it for 3 weeks and then need to wait for Junes payday, can they take the advert down, please honest, pleeeeeeseeeeee.  Then nope, it’s the full price and the advert stays up until you hand over the full asking price.

If it’s been up for a month, you have the cash in your pocket and can come round this evening if it’s convenient. Then yep I’d knock a bit off.

They can set it to auto reject offers that are too low. If your offer doesn’t get instantly rejected then it is within their potential range. I don’t think there is a rule for money offer. Make an offer, they can always counter.

I sell on there a lot and often have to guess a price. Sometimes its too cheap and gets snapped up in minutes, sometimes its too high and ends up going for half the starting price.

If I’d advertised at £3250 or offer I’d be hoping for £3000 top end down to £2800.
As seller (except houses or auction) you’ll only ever get less, so makes sense to start a bit higher.

If I wanted £3,00 for something, I’d probably put it on at about £3,200 but agree with @clubby – I’d probably accept £2,800 if it had been on sale for a while without any interest.

Years ago on here before the classifieds changed someone was selling some forks for £180 ono so I messaged him and offered £160. He got back to me saying he wouldn’t take less than £180. When I pointed out he’d put ono he said yes I know but I still want £180. Needless to say I didn’t buy them.

Depending on what it was and whether I thought it was a realistic price, I’d start at £2500 for something like that. That way you’re likely to end up around £2800 after a bit of toing and froing.

Is this still availible mate?

When I get my hair cut I always ask for a number 4. The barber always tells me afterwards that he’s done a number 3 because 4 is too fuzzy.

I ask him if I should just ask for a number 3 instead and he says No, because he would then do a number 2.

Point being you don’t always get what you ask for, sometimes knowingly.

If your barber was selling me a bike I’d want it hairless (or near offer)

It is tricky this though, I generally don’t want to lowball/ttp, but I find if I make a realistic first offer (generally on ebay this is) the seller then comes back with an offer that I’m never going to accept, and I’ve set an expectation of a price that I’m not willing to pay.

So, I guess what I’m saying is start low and inevitably tend to the realistic (or your willing) price after an exchange of offers.

I put or offer in my classified adds because the price I advertised is what I want for it, but if someone wants to negotiate with me I’m open to a lower price, although not low.

There advertised price therefore indicates what I’d like, the ONO that you are welcome to offer less and ill consider it.

Swop u a playstation and a feel of my grlfriends boobs?

I think that means they don’t know how to price and are keen to sell quickly.

Last week I offered (and then bought with some minor negotiation) £450 for a bike advertised for £850. From the vibe I got from messaging the seller it was clear they just wanted it sold.

I hate haggling.

“For sale, £50.”

“How much will you take for it mate?”

“Erm, £50?”

It’s all just so false.  You want £50 for something, so you have to advertise it at £55, wait for someone to offer £45, you then agree to compromise at £50.  You get what you wanted for it in the first place and the buyer gets the false satisfaction of getting a “bargain” when actually paying full price.  It’s utterly stupid.

I see it all the time in the board game group on Facebook.  For sale, [game], £30 posted.  “Will you take £28 for it?”  ****’s sake, it’s two quid.  (It’s a bit different if you’re asking for a discount if your buying multiples, “I’ll give you £60 for all three” sort of thing.)

When I get my hair cut I always ask for a number 4. The barber always tells me afterwards that he’s done a number 3 because 4 is too fuzzy.

I ask him if I should just ask for a number 3 instead and he says No, because he would then do a number 2.

Ask for a No. 5 next time?  I’d go somewhere else if I were you.

Just don’t ask the barber for a No. 2

To be honest, I consider pretty much any price given on a second hand thing an ‘or offer’ price, assuming we’re not talking a difference of a couple of quid.. Plus if it’s advertised as ‘plus postage’, then the obvious easy offer is “will you do that price including postage?”.

Firstly – knowing the ‘thing’ and what that thing tends to sell for, is the price reasonable? If it’s way off the mark, then that’s a different negotiation entirely. That’s when you are in difficult territory if you actually fancy buying it as they may be honest and clueless and just guessed at the value, or have an unrealistic idea of what it’s worth ,or just out to shaft someone. For these adverts I normally just message explaining that I think their pricing is not realistic, add evidence if you have any and leaving it in their court to come back to me if they want to. Sometimes they do, sometime they don’t.

If the thing is offered at the right sort of money and it has an ono on the price, I reckon that means there is 10% of wiggle room. Going lower than that when you know the price is about right might get you a refusal to deal with you and you’ll be labelled as one of ‘them’.

Imagine if you wanted to buy(or sell) a Winglepin.

The first thing you would do is use the awzum power of Google ( other search engines are available) to find what the going rate is for this rare and wonderful thing.

Turns out Winglepins are not rare and there are plenty new ones for sale @ £280

£300 for green ones.

Second hand they go for around £190 depending on condition.

All good so far,but wait a minute ..

What about delivery/collection costs?

Are there any for sale locally?

How quick/desperately do you need to get rid of this Winglepin?

Do you need this Winglepin next day?

Obviously ignore any Winglepins at £100 or less, they are most likely broken or stolen.

😆 🤣 😂

best price cash now

Had an odd exchange the other day.
Him: “Is it really on for £1?”

Me: “Yes, it’s been taking up space in the garage for ages, had no interest at £25 a couple of years ago, just want it gone.”

“OK, so what’s your best price?”

“What do you think?”

“I’ll give you £10 for it.”

Epilogue: I’d already promised it to someone else for an agreed £2, when he picked it up, he dropped £1.90 in my hand.

For me it depends on how much you want it, if it’s rare and you won’t see many for sale again, the. I’d offer £3k. If it’s one of many and all similar price I would offer about £2800, with the message that you can collect / do a quick no hassle payment method of their choice.

I’ve had some really good bargain following this approach.

Similar position at the moment, I’m looking at a watch on eBay, it’s £3800, I’ve offered £3300, was rejected with the counter offer of £3600. I don’t want it enough to pay the extra couple of hundred, at £3300 it would have been a very good deal.

I’m genuinely struggling to comprehend how £3,300 is a “very good deal” for a watch but £3,600 falls into “I didn’t want it that badly” category.

I bought a bike recently, advertised at £600, I went cheeky with £400. He said no, I said I could stretch to £450, if you don’t get a better offer give me a shout.

He messaged about three weeks later saying it’s yours for £450 if you still want it? Absolute steal, and it’s been brilliant (Orange Alpine Five if anyone cares)

I’m genuinely struggling to comprehend how £3,300 is a “very good deal” for a watch but £3,600 falls into “I didn’t want it that badly” category.

A switch in time saves nine.

I hate haggling so if I’m selling something, and it’s something I’ll never need again (touch wood….) I tend to price fairly low anyway just so someone will just give me the asking price fast and with minimal faffing.

But on the other hand, if I have something ‘weird’ I might price high just to see if I get lucky, but still be happy to sell at half the asking price if I get no takers.

Reminds me of buying a used car circa 2004. I went to see a 90’s Rover 214 (living the dream….). I think it was up for a grand at the garage. I drove it, ‘liked’ it but said to the guy that I can’t spend a grand on it. He asked “what do you want to give me?”. I lined myself up for 10 minutes of back and forth, so started at 500, thinking it’d bounce up and down for a while and finally settle at around 800, which I’d be OK with. He took the offer! So you never know ha ha.