Sellers opinions: should a buyer have an idea of the price?

[buttock]

I would have guessed Robin or Jay

 

Quoted so it isn't missed. That's some solid work Bob.

[Artboy99]

I've created such a situation in more than one 'WTB' thread.

 

I tend not to list the price I'm looking to pay because I'd rather have a back and forth dialogue with any potential seller to see where we end up at. I intuitively feel like stating a price would result in less opportunities to talk about it with potential sellers, but perhaps I'm wrong here?

 

I know that part of the problem with my approach is that sellers are afraid of wasting their time with ridiculous low ball offers, so I always state I'm looking to 'pay a fair price', but for some reason, this often seems to annoy people or perhaps make them suspicious :shrug:

 

What tends to happen is that a potential buyer will ask 'how much are you offering?' to which I typically reply 'I'm looking for a fair price - how much do you want for your book?' This query, more often than not, results in the potential buyer again asking me how much I want to spend. Obviously, the answer is 'as little as possible while still being realistic'. I'm sure some buyers feel otherwise, just as I'm sure some seller's may think a 'WTB' post means the buyer is looking for a 20% markup.

 

At the end of the day I want everyone to be happy - I want to be happy with my book, I want the seller to have gotten a fair price, and I want them to be willing and happy to sell to me again in the future... I'm not sure I've figured out how to make all of this happen in an online setting, but hopefully I figure it out soon.

 

I can see that dialogue being in a comedy routine going on and on.

 

"How much is that?"

"How much do you offer"

"What's the price of the book on first"

 

Just having some fun.

[Jeffro.]

Is there no room for the impulse buy in collectible comics? Man at show with money in pocket sees something he likes and considers buying it...is that so far fetched? Shouldn't a seller of collectibles also be an educator? In the world of comic art it generally works that way; I learn more from Scott Eder each time we talk and therefore become more likely to buy his wares over time.

 

There are such buyers as well, Karl. We can also be educators. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Many folks need to be reassured that they're buying a decent book and not overpaying. A lot of times, they know the book is decent, the price isn't outrageous, yet they still need a little nudge. That's where good salesmanship becomes important. Always a good quality to have. (thumbs u

 

Who is this Karl? But thanks for the reply, Karl.

 

Sorry, I looked at your avatar and thought you were someone else. My apologies.

 

Don't worry about it, Bill

[VintageComics]

If I/We were mind readers the retail business from the dealer side would be much more lucrative than it really is.

 

What something is worth varies from person to person.

 

A dealer has his buy value.

 

A flipper has his number.

 

The Upgrader has his number.

 

The run collector may have his budget number to contend with.

 

The die hard OSPG guy may go with the "I pay 80% of OSPG" or I'm moving on. You know this buyer. There OSPG is battered, folded and has so many spine splits from being open that you wonder if they can read the numbers. Sometimes has post it notes on the most referenced pages. Makes the face when they see an Over guide price on a book they want. Shaking head or stare is made your way.

 

A collector looking for his birthday book may have another.

 

The GPA 12 month moving average guy has his number.

 

The GPA last sale guy has his.

 

The 10% less than GPA last sale guy has his.

 

There is the guy with Champagne tastes and a beer wallet. He dreams that you will take $100 for a $200 book because that is all he has in his wallet. You can generally identify them when they say "If I win the lotto I'm going to buy that book".

 

The 50% off guy regardless of condition doesn't care what the value is.

 

The "I know you need the money buyer" knows exactly what it is worth but every dollar he chews you down is a $1 more he makes. They are looking for the "What makes you cry uncle" price.

 

Easy question to answer if you can figure out which person you are talking to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well said sir!

 

+ 1000000000000

 

There should be T shirts with this on them GOD BLESS...

 

-jimbo(a friend of jesus) (thumbs u

 

Bob, brilliant post. It's probably worth stating that there are nearly as many types of sellers as there are buyers as well.

[fastballspecial]

Set your auto decline function up and then you don't deal with 80% of this stuff.

 

[blazingbob]

I would have guessed Robin or Jay

 

Quoted so it isn't missed. That's some solid work Bob.

 

, wasn't sure if anybody was getting that one.

 

I did do some work, eliminated Cockatoo, Dickcissel, Imperial Shag, Barn Swallow

[thirdgreenham]

I would have guessed Robin or Jay

 

Quoted so it isn't missed. That's some solid work Bob.

 

, wasn't sure if anybody was getting that one.

 

I did do some work, eliminated Cockatoo, Dickcissel, Imperial Shag, Barn Swallow

 

It flew right over me.

[Bird]

I would have guessed Robin or Jay

 

Quoted so it isn't missed. That's some solid work Bob.

 

, wasn't sure if anybody was getting that one.

 

I did do some work, eliminated Cockatoo, Dickcissel, Imperial Shag, Barn Swallow

 

It flew right over me.

 

Don't worry, it took me a while and I am the Birdman!

 

 

[01TheDude]

I've created such a situation in more than one 'WTB' thread.

 

I tend not to list the price I'm looking to pay because I'd rather have a back and forth dialogue with any potential seller to see where we end up at. I intuitively feel like stating a price would result in less opportunities to talk about it with potential sellers, but perhaps I'm wrong here?

 

I know that part of the problem with my approach is that sellers are afraid of wasting their time with ridiculous low ball offers, so I always state I'm looking to 'pay a fair price', but for some reason, this often seems to annoy people or perhaps make them suspicious :shrug:

 

What tends to happen is that a potential buyer will ask 'how much are you offering?' to which I typically reply 'I'm looking for a fair price - how much do you want for your book?' This query, more often than not, results in the potential buyer again asking me how much I want to spend. Obviously, the answer is 'as little as possible while still being realistic'. I'm sure some buyers feel otherwise, just as I'm sure some seller's may think a 'WTB' post means the buyer is looking for a 20% markup.

 

At the end of the day I want everyone to be happy - I want to be happy with my book, I want the seller to have gotten a fair price, and I want them to be willing and happy to sell to me again in the future... I'm not sure I've figured out how to make all of this happen in an online setting, but hopefully I figure it out soon.

 

I can see that dialogue being in a comedy routine going on and on.

 

"How much is that?"

"How much do you offer"

"What's the price of the book on first"

"I don't know"

(both) Third Base!

 

Just having some fun.

 

amended