Best offer strategy

What was your walk away rate on counter offers before you started adding the shipping info? I’ve only countered a few times on low offers that weren’t too far off of my bottom line point, but I don’t usually leave a message.

i’ve started to send people offers just when they ask a question, since you can send an offer through messages now. i have had a couple people respond by accepting, but i think other people don’t realize what it is yet.

I have not had much success with counter offers. Perhaps your approach with a quick ship offer is more engaging and is more like opening a conversation, resulting in better results. I will give it a try. Thanks

What a great idea! Going to try using your message next time!

For the last few months I’ve approached the offer system like a robot. If someone makes a decent offer but I want more, I’ll counter. Some folks make a low end but maybe acceptable offer, and they immediately decline my counter. I never understand these individuals, and I had come to terms that they just were tire kickers.

Yesterday I had one and after a few hours I sent a message stating that I was not aware his initial offer was a firm offer, and that I would have accepted it if I had known. I said I would accept if he was still interested.

He wrote me back, thanked me, and then promptly resubmitted his offer. Twas an interesting experiment that actually worked out.

I like that approach RetroWV. I may give that a try. Tho I still wish they would realize that they can easily show you it’s a firm offer by countering your counter with just a penny increase of their offer.

That’s a great idea tamtam, I’ll have to try this next time. What I run into frequently is somebody will send me a message with an offer on an item that I don’t have Make An Offer enabled for, I’ll often reply to their message with my own offer but they typically don’t accept it.

Retro, I think your comment about people declining your counter offers is evidence of a theory I have that Americans in general don’t know how to negotiate. They are so programmed by the fixed-price retail environment that people get offended when you offer them a price other than what they think something is worth. I run into it a lot at garage sales where they arbitrarily pick a price on something but get very upset if I offer them something different, even if it’s only a little less than what they are asking.

That is such a friendly and upbeat reply. Love it!

I always follow Ryanne’s approach. When people ask a question I almost always send an offer with a couple of dollars or more off the price. The person you’re communicating with is obviously already interested so it makes sense to jump at the chance to persuade them to buy now. (The 48hr expiration on the offer helps with a sense of urgency).