Is Haggling A No-No?

Exactly! If someone has specifically written "or best offer", "make me an offer" or "negotiable" then it's certainly acceptable!

 

I get pretty upset when people try to haggle me down over "Firm" prices on the MP. I find it quite rude when they do this over shipping and I almost always refuse to sell. If I wanted to haggle I would say the price was negotiable! I NEVER charge Paypal fees, which is illegal and also very cheeky when you consider this is a FREE marketplace. Shipping overseas, particularly when it comes to heavier SD dolls can be quite expensive from the UK, I had to pay through the nose to get the doll here in the first place (and a hefty Customs charge which I am not expecting to get back) so why should I sell it on and swallow heavy shipping costs?

The "firm" price could change anyway, after so many weeks/months on the MP, I sometimes rethink what I want or need for the doll and reduce the price, but it's MY decision. Just as often I decide I don't want to swallow a heavy loss and just keep the doll, I suppose it depends why you are selling in the first place.

So, no, I am not in favour of haggling and have only ever tried it once myself and got a polite "no", which I respected.

 

As a seller, I always specify whether or not I'm willing to haggle by saying "negotiable" or "I'm willing to be flexible on the price" or even, "name your price" etc. I expect though, that if I've stated that a price is Firm, I will not be doing so. As a buyer, I never try to negotiate prices or trades unless the seller has listed that they are interested in either. If it says firm, or no trades, I do the respectful thing and accept that. If I really want it, I'll find a way to get it without haranguing a seller who isn't interested.

 

I believe that making a "fair offer" is, well...Fair! If you don't want to negotiate, just say so. If I were selling something, I would be willing to bring it down some. I know a few people who ask a little high then are willing to haggle down (just doing so to be sure they can get what their stuff is worth) It's up to the seller, but if they do not state that they don't wish to haggle I think that it's fair game.

 

I think it is a no-no if the person specifies in their sales post that the price is firm or set. Otherwise, I see no issue with it. If someone does not like the price of something I want to sell, I prefer they haggle rather than not make an offer. We can go back and forth until we find a price high enough for me and low enough for them- worst case, we don't agree on a price.

 

It amazes me that people price their used, not limited or rare dolls at full price when someone can order a new doll for the same money and expect to get full price and indicate the price is "firm". Guess that is why there are so many used dolls for sale and that have been for sale in the marketplace for months! LOL! Certain popular dolls that are limited may allow a person to recoup what they paid or allow a profit, but I think most of us that are looking in the marketplace are looking for a good deal.

My personal experience is that I would consider and appreciate a reasonalble offer vs. no offer at all. With today's economy, I am surprized this hobby is still going as strong as it is, but do notice people have to dump dolls to pay bills sometimes, or at least say that is what they need to do in their sale threads.

 

I'm not a big fan of it. We all know how much it costs, so if it is not clearly stated that the person would negotiate, then i find it extremely rude to ask the seller to cut down the price or throw in other extras. The same works the other way around. Over charging is just as bad.

That said, used doll without any damage or yellowing shouldn't be sold by a lot less than a new doll. I take care of my dolls so there is no reason for them to be sold for 20% less, for instance. I have bought dolls for the same price as new ones in the market place because I didn't want to go through the wait or I just wanted to avoid import tax to the UK. You don't have to buy it second hand, so if you aren't happy with the price then get your doll new and wait for it for whatever months it takes them to get to you. One of the best things in this hobby is that dolls don't (or didn't) devalue, if we start demanding lower prices for perfect 2nd hand dolls then soon they will lose their worth and that worries me.

 

I think negotiating is fine if the seller says so. They're obviously not set on a certain price if they say they are open to offers. As a seller, if I didn't say a price was firm I wouldn't have a problem if someone made an offered. I always have the right to say no or counter their offer.
Now usually a price is given that the seller would like to receive so if someone offers a great deal less than the listed price it's kinda inappropriate or rude.

 

I think its rude in general. Exceptions would be damage and scalpers. In your case it sounds like both so inquire if their price is firm. I'd advise you not to encourage scalping by buying any doll from them though.

 

If I'd see that the doll I want hasn't been sold in many weeks, I'd make a reasonable offer, even though the price hasn't been reduced yet or is set as "firm".
I don't think it's rude to do that. The seller could still decide to either decline my offer or consider it, seeing that he might have trouble selling otherwise.
I wouldn't think somebody rude, when I were to sell a doll, either.

 

I rethought a little on this topic. Although I am generally against trying to negotiate down a "firm" asking price, I guess if the doll has been on the MP for months then it can't harm to just ask politely. The seller may be coming round to the idea that they actually want the doll gone now and might be rethinking their price anyway, so after the doll has been around a while I think it's not so rude to approach someone and haggle.

I'm against haggling because of some experiences I have had. Instances where people have asked about a doll I have for sale at a "firm" price (a reasonable price I might add!) and then glibly added that they expect the wig/eyes/clothes for that price too! That isn't haggling, it's just bad manners A case in point: Last year, on another forum, a member approached me about a particular doll I was selling, it had a beautiful OOAk face-up by a well known artist and I was just asking what I had paid for her a few months earlier and I was throwing in a nice wig for free. In the photos the doll was wearing a bespoke outfit by another well known artist and an expensive pair of glass eyes, they were NOT for sale and that was stated clearly in the thread. The first person who approached me quite blatantly told me that I would need to haggle as in her opinion this brand of dolls weren't holding their prices. I asked what she had in mind just out of interest and was given a really insultingly low offer and adding insult to injury she stated that she wanted the outfit and eyes throwing in for FREE!!!

Hhhmmm, I'll leave my response to your imagination. Happily the doll sold at the full asking price just a few weeks down the line and the new owner loved her. I wonder sometimes if there is some kind of haggling frenzy that comes over people that leads them to cross lines? The hunger for a bargain blinds them to how rude they are being? I guess that is what I have against haggling in general, but you seem like a pleasant person - just don't get carried away

 

Rude in general? That stikes me as quite harsh! When it comes to items that haven't sold after a few weeks, I think it can be useful as a seller to hear the counter-offers. If you don't get that kind of feedback it's hard to know if the silence if because of a general lack of interest in what you're selling or just a lack of interest at your current price point.

Do you think it's rude when people haggle at flea markets or car lots as well?

 

I've never talked down a doll price but I am a master haggler at the flea market (so my husband claims as he had no experience with the practice and was amazed when I'd talk things down) and I have negotiated on clothes in the MP.

Don't be afraid to try. If someone is selling something at a reasonable price then I just pay it but if it's used at new price or my price limit is a few dollars less then they are charging then it never hurts to ask. The worst you'll get is a "no".

 

Agreed. I was selling a doll, it was only my second bjd ever so I was still pretty new. Even though the doll was brand new and in perfect condition I lowered the price a lot, I also threw in a ton of freebies. I didn't want to haggle so I set the price as firm. I got a pm from someone, they asked if I would half the price of the already very discounted doll, and throw in free shipping. I just said, no, but I was actually very insulted. I don't know if they thought they would scam the newbie or what, but it really put me off any kind of haggling for a long time.

 

Offers don't feel rude to me. Over-bearing methods of haggling are rude. I admit I searched -- with a little trepidation -- to see if anyone I've approached with an offer was here, in the discussion, describing their deep annoyance with such behavior.

I really don't want to offend anyone. There are less people in the poll who are offended by offers. So I'd rather try to make polite offers for the sake of the people who would like to at least know if anyone is interested. Every ones sensitivity level is a bit different. HOW the offer is stated is the only issue when the listing says NEGOTIABLE or OBO. Not very smart, EVER to say why you think what is for sale is not worth the price. Who wants to send their doll to someone who approaches like that? I tend to suspect that people who really have tough things going on financially are less likely to use that as a bargaining chip. When I am selling, that always feels a little manipulative, even if it is true. The seller may have more difficulties or needs for the money than the buyer.

The question is how to treat the word FIRM. If I'm selling, I don't have a problem just saying no, or "not at this time..." If the person then brings on pressure tactics, that would make me very uncomfortable. If they want to just say, get back to me if you change your mind. That would be OK. Probably even good because it wouldn't make me feel like I couldn't go back to them if I decide I want their money more than the asked for original price.

When the word FIRM is followed by A decrease, or several, with the word firm still being attached...which I have seen...obviously firm is being used,,,loosely? ~I don't know if a seller in that position would rather be approached with the question first: "Would you consider a lower offer?" -- Or to just hear the offer and decide. Everyone feels a little different, and will feel depending on what they are selling. A pair of eyes they never liked, or a doll that feels like part of their family...

Sometimes I need the reality of the haggle to know for sure what I'm thinking, whether on the buying or selling side. When I'm selling, I try to think of it this way. If someone offers me $100 and I say no. ~ I just paid $100 for that item, because I basically had the money in my hand. I might have even tried to explain that once, I can't remember. If I did, it wasn't to manipulate, just to help the person decide what they really want more. Their item, or the money. Even if I stated firm at the beginning, some things might have changed. I guess it doesn't bother me because I don't feel bad saying no. Or saying that I'm not ready YET to lower...I would like to know who is out there with a desire to buy, even if not at my price.

I have made several offers. I hope I've been sensitive enough in the words I use.

By reading through this thread it is clear there are many different reactions to offers/haggling. I believe those are two different actions.

 

It depends on the situation. And how low you offer.

As a buyer, I would never offer lower than the amount listed unless it said "negotiable" or "make an offer". Even then, if it is a new listing, I will just pay what's listed, typically. If it's been on the MP for a long time and I want it, but the price seems high, I will make an offer but I have never asked for more than $15 off or for shipping to be included in the price. I do like a good deal, but I don't want to cheat my seller out of money.

As a seller, my prices are usually negotiable to an extent. On a newly listed item that I feel is worth the amount I listed it, I'll usually not knock off more than $5 (less for cheap items). But if it's an item I've had listed for weeks with no offers, I'm much more likely to accept a lower offer to get it out. Usually when I'm selling things, I need cash, and $100 now is better than $115 in a year. It also depends on the attitude of the offer. a very friendly "Hey, I saw your listing and really would like to buy [insert item]. I see you have it listed at $___, but was wondering if you would accept $____. Thank you!" is much more likely to get me to accept than "Your price on [nice item] is too high, I'd give you $5."

 

If the seller has it marked neogotiable or best offer I would think it wasn't a no-no.

 

When I sell, honestly I always list the price a bit more than I want to sell for because I expect people to ask for me to lower the price, even if I say my price is firm. I get frustrated when people offer something insultingly low. Most of the dolls and items I've sold are pretty much mint condition and less than a year old. Someone wanted me send them an SD doll for $30 less than I was asking, with the price including international shipping. By the time I paid the PayPal conversion fees for an international payment, the fees for receiving the payment, and shipment, I would have lost $50- more than one fourth of the asking price. That's ridiculous. Of course, I won't do business with those sort of people. Now, let's say someone had told me they had $200 to spend and I was asking $180 +shipping for the doll. If they asked me to make a deal, I'd say yes, even if that meant I got $10 or so less than I expected.

As a buyer, I would never try to talk anyone down on their price unless the price they're asking is high. So far, I've never run into someone selling something I wanted at an unreasonable price, so I just paid what was asked.

 

I would never ask someone to lower a price if it was set at "firm" but if it's negotiable or nothing written at all I don't mind. I usually like to have a reason for asking for a lowered price (how old the doll is, have faceups been added and removed, etc) instead of just saying "this is used so it should be cheaper". The worst that can happen is they PM you back with a no and say that the price is actually firm. Then you'll know where to go from there depending on your situation.

 

If they seemed open to a trade or best off of some kind, I would ask them very nicely, if it was alright if I could have some kind of a discount. If not, then work around a way that I was able to pay them in a timely manner. If it's not something I wouldn't be able to have the funds for to begin with, then I just won't even bother than person with my pestering.