Bartering for lower prices - a no-no?

I don't think I've ever had a sale here where someone DIDN'T try to haggle or offer something completely opposite to what my terms were. Every single sale has had firm but I've gotten PMs asking for lower prices, trades, and one passive aggressive redirection to check out a wtb that was pointless. I know there's already a way to report flakey buyers but something to report people that can't or won't read and comprehend what firm and no mean in a sales thread would be nice as well. I'm going to start copy pasting my sales thread link to those PMs because they didn't read it the first time!

If you want what the seller is offering at the price they're offering, read their terms and follow their terms.

If you want what the seller is offering but at a lower price, read their terms and follow their terms. If the terms say firm, click back and move on with your shopping life.

It's not hard!

 

I don't think it's rude. You can always try, as long as you keep it nice, don't ask something ridiculous (extremely low price) and you really want to buy that doll.
Trying to lower the price and not buying the doll in the end is a no-no for me.
As silverholly said: try to follow the terms of the seller. They don't put that info up for nothing. Read it.
And sometimes sellers want a higher price because of certain extra's or an amazing face-up. Those things can certainly be discussed in my opinion. Those things hold extra value for the current owner, but maybe not for the future buyer.

 

I think the only circumstance that's appropriate would be if the doll is listed with the price being negotiable.

 

I agree and feel somewhat irked when I get a request for a lower price

 

I think asking for a lower but reasonable price is not too rude to the seller. I guess you just have to be sincere and ask politely, it won't hurt to ask... you can always find another one that is cheaper... if it is the only one, you can suggest a layaway if the seller cannot lower the price anymore... They will make things work out for both of you because they understand how much you want to take the doll home if they love dolls too!!

 

I don't haggle with fellow doll collectors. When I'm selling, I offer discounts if I'm selling two and tey buy both, things like that, but these dolls are an investment. i might politely make a lower offer if it was an important doll to me and I didn't have quite enough. I wouldn't be ridiculous or rude though. Like, if it's a $1000 dollar doll, and they were asking $800, I'd find that okay. If I only had $750, I would humbly offer that. I would NOT ask to pay $500.

 

I don't think it's rude to haggle with a seller. I actually enjoy haggling, and I'm trying to perfect my technique at it. I've found the best way to start negotiations, though, is to ask the seller, "Are you willing to haggle on the price?" I think just sending a new price without reaching out first could be rude, as it suggests that their price is unfair. Asking to engage in negotiations suggests that you are looking for a deal, and you want to work with the other person to ensure that you are both getting what you need out of it. Perhaps this is just me?

 

I only barter when it says OBO, otherwise I don't, I 'll just keep searching til I find a price I like.

 

This is based on many many years of online sales and flea marketing: depends on what you feel is reasonable.
-If it's at a price that seems very reasonable then just go with it. Same for if you want it badly (lock it down!).
-If it's a little high, ask for something a little bit lower to meet the seller sorta halfway between what they want and your value.
-If the asking price is way too high just walk away. I may go back later to see if the seller wises up (albeit most the time I simply move on/forget).

If you put in a lowball for an item already at a reasonable amount or good price, then the seller is either insulted or being very nice about cutting their losses. If someone offers me something I am not comfortable with I tend to give it time to mull it over and then forget/move on, but if it's a lowball I just immediately delete the message, which amounts to the same thing in the end. Occasionally I will meet the seller part way if they're nice about it and have good timing. But I tend to forgive/forget whereas some sellers take it very personal, so it could be a risk of making the seller dig in their heels on principal for all offers thereafter.

EDIT: Wasting my time has become a huge peeve, and I am not alone in this. I don't like being asked to take more photos or unwrap a brand new something if you don't know what you really want, you aren't interested in buying it, or if it's priced at like $2. Don't ask me if I want to haggle, or haggle back and forth. Do a little research--really think about what you want and what range makes sense pricewise, then either go with it or be willing to walk away. If it's already priced reasonably, then either go with it or figure out what you really want in your collection.

 

I try to work with buyers but since I already go super low with my prices, I'm a little hurt when people want to go even lower.