[Hofcollector]

I sell on eBay quite a bit. I do not use Best Offer option much, I found lowballers to insulting to do that. In a face to face environment it would be a great idea to do so. But when someone does not have to face the person to ask "what's the lowest you would go" a lot of folks will be just down right rude if you respond. That is what auctions are for. You put something up for bids, and start it at your lowest point, that way you are not disappointed in whatever it sells for.

I do not feel you were an Ahole here, but I too might have been offended if you did not even make an offer first. That is why it is call Best Offer. The seller has done their part by placing a starting point on negotiations, now it is your turn to counter. If you asked me what my bottom doller was on an item without first making an offer, I would not be very inclined to answer. I have seen so many times where a seller is actually offering at a fair price only to come down at the urging of the buyer, and still the buyer wants more. If you ask for bottomline and don't like what you are given, should you really have the gumption to ask for more. I mean after all you did ask for their bottom price and were given an answer.

The problem with eBay is that the majority of the buying public is ill informed. Meaning they do not understand the true costs involved like: eBay fees, PayPal fees, shipping costs, shipping material costs, and item protection costs. All of those have to be factored in by the seller, and unfortunately most buyers on eBay do not even think of what those expenditures end up costing the seller.

Do you walk into Walmart and ask the cashier, "what is least you would tke on this box of Bowman?"

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I just caught this last statement you made. You are absolutely correct when people come to you you have to give them a price. That is what a seller on eBay has already done by the Buy it Now price they have placed. In your line of work you truly are not the seller, you are the buyer. Your "price" is the bottomline you are willing to buy the contract for. They are offering the product you are bidding on it.

Incorrect. I Do not buy a contract so that I may also provide the goods and services. Builders and developers buy the contract if the price is acceptable. My "bids" put in on jobs are my bin prices. If they are to the individuals liking, they buy my services. If not, they may try to counter. I sell my services as an Ebay seller would sell his product. The role a buyer on ebay plays is that of a builder /contractor looking for work to be done. I'm the one selling, their the one's looking to buy and therefore they pay me. The buyer doesn't get paid.

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If the seller has a price point stated... even an unrealistic one then I think it is on the buyer to put out the next number. That could be close to the BIN number or it could be 10% of that number, but an opened question invites a less enthusiastic response.

I liked the approach of "I'm willing to pay $$$ for this card, will this get the deal done" much better than "what is the lowest you will go?"

Like I posted earlier if the card is that out of line with the market he is just fishing for a whale, or testing the market to get an idea of what people will pay. I don't think either party is out of line, just think if you put out the number you were comfortable with, he would respond with a yes or no and you can both move on from there.

He may be hoping for a super collector who wants that card to complete a rainbow or to collect all of the run and the card has more value in those terms than in cardboard value.

I have a dealer friend who does the same thing with every listing very high buy it now listing to get offers or snag a whale every once in a while, it works for him. Not my style but it works for him.

I understand what your saying but contrary to what people are reading into this I'm not asking what the cheapest he'll sell it for is. I never stated that and I don't know why people are getting stuck on that. I have most definitely used " I have X amount of dollars to spend right now. I'm interested in your card. Is it enough to get the deal done"? Most people have gotten offended or given one word replies. "No". I thought I was being offensive with that tactic. My offers were fair and I cut straight to the chase but it seemed like it bothered some sellers. I find that when I give a low initial offer sellers get extremely offended despite their cards being grossly over priced. My whole intention was to try and not offend the seller and figure out what I could give him and still have him be able to sleep well.