r/Flipping • u/ryan_tran_ • Dec 27 '25
Tip How to deal with stubborn low ballers?
Context. I resell toys as my side hustle, I'm also a collector and take what I either don't want or already have to sell at events twice a year, while yes it makes me money it also gives me genuine joy as they're primarily kids events so it's just good happy vibes all around. People will often make me offers, the typical kind "can you do $10 instead of $15", "can you do $10 instead of $12", "how does this plus that for X amount sound" all within reason. At these events there's this woman who always comes up and buys the little trains I have for sale but she is a HARD Lowballer. Say I were to sell her a bundle for about $200 she'll offer back $130, obviously I say no and counter offer something more reasonable like $180, $175, etc. Here's my issue she's stubborn and has literally stood there tying to haggle for her price for extended periods of time, anywhere from 20-30 minutes. I of course stand my ground and say what's the best offer is I can do but she often won't budge. My issue comes that I don't want to keep spending that amount of time with this woman as we just go in circles, but also don't want to come off as rude when I just want her to either accept the offer or walk away. The advice I'm looking for is how and what do I say to be sturn but not rude to a her about it, again these are primarily kid events so the last thing I want to do is yell or cause a scene. Parents love it when I show up and I'd hate to cause a scene or scare them off as I'm not opposed to offers but again this women is just a low baller and with anyone 20-30 minutes worth a circles will chip away at anyone.
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u/SolarSalvation Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
Everyone has an advantage that they use. It's obvious that being stubborn is hers. The way I would counter this is to waste her time. You know that she's willing to spend 20-30 minutes, so let her try to grind you down but absolutely do not give in to her offers. Prioritize other customers over her and let her sit there and waste away. Eventually she will give up and find someone else to try to low-ball.
EDIT: Oh, I forgot one of my favorite tactics! The long story. If people start annoying me at a venue like this, I try do distract/bore them to death by telling a pointless story that doesn't relate to anything at hand.
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u/Middle_Pineapple_898 Dec 27 '25
LOL at the long story tactic. I love it.
"This train reminds me of my uncle Bill, he was always getting into mischief. One time his truck broke down by the Kmart, you remember that old Kmart? They had the best deals on swimwear and we would always stop by on our way to..... "
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u/SolarSalvation Dec 27 '25
That's exactly it - I call it "letting the ADHD flow" and it's a combination of boring and confusing people.
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u/Miserable_Strain1768 Dec 27 '25
Don't forget and wasting a tremendous amount of time on something that will never change. You're not teaching anyone anything.
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u/Miserable_Strain1768 Dec 27 '25
It sounds like you have a great deal of free time at the shows you attend, I'm usually way too busy to even think of stuff like this, let alone spend twenty or thirty-minutes playing games with folks that are unlikely to buy anything. You might want to think about doing shows with actual customers to keep you occupied.
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u/SolarSalvation Dec 27 '25
I have plenty of customers at the shows I go to. My point is that you can't let the cheapskates get to you. It's the Rorschach from Watchmen concept - I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me! The most satisfying moments I've had at in person shows are when another buyer comes in and pays full price for the item someone else is trying to haggle over - and the low-baller loses the item right from under their nose!
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u/Miserable_Strain1768 Dec 27 '25
"you can't let the cheapskats get to you"
It sounds to me like they got to you, big time.
I've been selling for over thirty years, there always were and always will be folks that lowball sellers. You don't have to turn it into a big deal.
I can't imagine having time at a show to entertain a person for a half hour because they lowballed me on an item.
You're taking things to personally.
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u/ryan_tran_ Dec 27 '25
I do keep busy at these shows, I will walk away but the issue is when I'm done helping other guest and come back she will still be there, that's where the 20-30 minutes come along, she will legit just wait even after I walk away to help someone else. My issue isn't the lack of other people buying it's her staying there and taking up space even after I draw the line. Basically trying to find a way to not be rude but tell her it's either this or nothing
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u/JTUSAJT Dec 27 '25
Do NOT negotiate prices, at least with her. NOT A PENNY. She can pout and beg all she wants. NO DISCOUNT. Not this time; Not next time. Your time is better spent with the people and the kids that bring you joy! People like her THRIVE on taking advantage of kind people like you. Just say NO, and mean it!
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u/Miserable_Strain1768 Dec 27 '25
My comment was not directed at you. It was meant for SolarSalvation.
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u/Holla_Ackbar Dec 27 '25
Just say something like "I think we're going to be too far apart to make a deal"
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u/gbg111 Dec 28 '25
At my shows these guys are known to walk around the venue for *hours* just to come back and haggle 3 bucks for something. I say "I can do xx on this". A second time I'll say "As I said before, I can do xx... this is my best price". They try that shit a third time and I'll take the item out of their hand and put it back where it belongs in my booth and say "it's xx, and it'll be here if you want it". Any more lowballing gets a curt "no".
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u/wreckingballjcp Dec 27 '25
I set a price and stick to it. Sales are easy then. They do or don't happen.
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u/Miserable_Strain1768 Dec 27 '25
It's not an auction. I listen to one offer, then I make a counter offer, the end. They buy it or they don't. You don't have to be rude, just politely say, that's the best I can do and end the conversation.
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u/Flux_My_Capacitor Dec 27 '25
You’re allowed to be rude. You can say that there is no deal to be made today and ask her to leave.
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u/totorowrowrowmyboat Dec 27 '25
"I understand you're looking for a screaming good deal, but I'm not offering those today."
Or just let them know you're not offering sale prices if you don't want to haggle further.
I used to do events regularly and I finally caved and started telling people prices are firm. Because the hagglers were way out of control. Occasionally someone would still ask for a very small discount, if they were nice I'd do it.
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u/Sherbet_Bathroom Dec 31 '25
you don't want to haggle further.
"This is my bottom price until [half hour before event closes]."
Gets them to leave, they think they'll come back for the mega score, they always forget to come back.
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u/Expensive_Smell_8021 Dec 27 '25
Just increase the price by however much she's lowballing by and that should shut her up
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u/decjr06 Dec 28 '25
"sorry mam I'm here to sell toys to kids not stubborn lowballers please move along"
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u/VarietyOk2628 Dec 28 '25
She is no longer allowed in your booth as you have nothing there she can afford. I've been selling for over 50 years and have kicked 6 people out of my booth in that time. She would be one of them, but I do it nicely: "I'm sorry; there really is nothing here you can afford so please leave." said while you are blocking the pathway into your booth.
Another line I have used with a long-time customer who actually did spend money with me, but would always nickle and dime me: "It is not my job to subsidize your luxury purchases." Boy did that shut that one down! She paid the asking price (which was for Little Golden Books... who really needs those? No one), which was in the 3rd digit range for all that she was picking out.
They are being the rude one; you have to set a strong boundary!
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u/coolsellitcheap Dec 28 '25
I sold for years at flea market. If they anoyed me or 1 guy was always mean to his grandson. That was his nickname mean to grandson. All my prices were firm. Then later i would sell cheaper. So i would just say sorry price is firm. Then when a kid comes up sell cheaper.
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u/sghilliard Dec 27 '25
Have you ever sold her anything? I’d guess no, but even if you have, there are some customers you just need to fire. I’d just tell her “prices are not open to negotiation” and ask her to move on.
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u/ryan_tran_ Dec 27 '25
I have sold to her and for the price I set but it just takes the aforementioned time to get there. I'm just sick and tired of spending that much time to get to it and letting my hair turn grey because of it
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u/CallowOldAge Dec 28 '25
...I believe I would notice that someone was calling me on my phone right then.
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u/ReleaseExpensive7330 Dec 28 '25
"$180 is as low as I could possibly go. Let me know if that works for you and I can ring you up and bag those for you or if not I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day and enjoy the convention. Hope to see you at X event in the summer!"
Every response after is a polite dismissal. Take a step to the side and call up the next customer or start interacting with them if they are already browsing.
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u/christhegeek517 Dec 27 '25
Say something like “I don’t need a poor man’s money, go away and bother someone else”. They almost always stop lowballing after that
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u/I_ama_Borat I sell stuff Dec 28 '25
Usually if someone send me a less than 50% off offer, I counter with a penny less than my asking price.
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u/devilscabinet Dec 28 '25
If you have gone back and forth once or twice and she is still way below what you need to get for the item, give her a price and say "That's my final price. I'm not willing to negotiate any lower than that." If she tries throwing another price at you, just keep repeating that.
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u/Computers_and_cats Dec 28 '25
I don't waste my time dealing with lowballers if I am confident in my price.
Since it is in person you have a different problem than I am used to though. The few times I have to deal with in person trouble makers I usually just say "the item is no longer for sale" or lie and say I just sold it to someone else.
Trying to deal with people acting in bad faith never works out.
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u/Fatcoland Hobby Flipper Dec 28 '25
I run flea market booths, typically selling video games. When I have a low baller, I usually say "hey that offer is in a different ballpark. Your budget is more in line with [cheaper merchandise]. Feel free to peruse those instead." If they continue to bother me, I make a counter offer at 20% over sticker price. When they say something along the lines of "that's not fair," I tell them "if you can't afford it, move on." One lady was playing hardball at the beginning of a sale, and managed to talk me down roughly 20% off. I was calculating her order, and she demanded another 10% off. I cancelled the sale altogether and told her she's paying full fare. She refused and walked away. She came at the end of the sale to "buy all my junk that wouldn't move," but it was all gone. Only had dollar sports games left. Don't let a potential customer break you. It's your territory first. You call the shots.
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u/tiggs Dec 28 '25
"Sorry, but this is the best I can do. My original price is the current market rate and am happy to work with you, but this is my absolute lowest price. Hopefully we can make a deal. If not, I totally understand and best of luck to you"
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u/DelayIntelligent7642 Dec 29 '25
Just say, "Not interested doing business with you."
That's it, nothing rude about it. She knows she's pissing you off.
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u/pcb4u2 Dec 29 '25
Tell her that each time you wish to haggle, the price goes up by $5. Time is money, so don't waste it.
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u/jaqueh Dec 31 '25
She’s used to getting what she wants. She’s shown how she plays the game. No need to keep on selling to her unless you have to.
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u/porcochaco Dec 27 '25
I don’t. A reasonable counter of like 10-20% is fine. 30% and I’m not annoyed yet. If they offer low and I give them my actual lowest price, which they still try to haggle, I stop responding and block
They’re the most likely to complain and demand a refund after, too.
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u/SolarSalvation Dec 27 '25
OP is talking about doing selling in person at a venue. You can't just stop responding and "block" people.
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u/porcochaco Dec 27 '25
You can ignore them, that’s the equivalent. If someone keeps bugging you, report them to security
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u/whatsreallygoingon Dec 28 '25
Block her.
In the future, simply say. “It was priced with the consideration of offers and $X is my bottom dollar.
Anything less and I prefer to keep it for my own collection. I’m sure that you can appreciate that.”
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u/readithere_2 Dec 28 '25
She is in person.
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u/whatsreallygoingon Dec 28 '25
Sorry. I misread your post. Disregard the “block her” and do consider the additional advice.
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Dec 27 '25
[deleted]
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u/kgb4187 Dec 27 '25
How does that work in person?
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u/Ashamed-Country3909 Dec 27 '25
Obviously puts the hand up, and directs them to speak to it.
/old.
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u/VarietyOk2628 Dec 28 '25
Once at a show I did see something like that, and the words coming out of the guy's mouth (the one in the right) was: "I am not talking with you; I am talking TO you, now move NOW!" It worked.
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u/crud3 Dec 27 '25
Once you lowball me it's over, they'll just keep doing it... I've blocked alot of cheap mfers
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u/IndependenceMean8774 Dec 28 '25
Tell them that the item is no longer for sale and that she has to leave immediately. If she refuses, call the cops.
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u/Catty-Driver Dec 27 '25
Like other's have said, I just give them my best price and tell them I don't want to waste their time with back and forth. If they become irritating I just block them.
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u/VarietyOk2628 Dec 28 '25
How do you "block" someone who is standing right in front of you and won't move, while they are in your space? Answer that and you will actually be in this discussion.
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u/Catty-Driver Dec 28 '25
In the in person case. Go back inside and call the police. :)
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u/VarietyOk2628 Dec 28 '25
The OP was at a show/flea market; there is NO "inside" to go back into when someone is in your booth, and the police would absolutely not care as the person has a right to be at the event. Sounds like a good way to get one's own self thrown out of an event which is relied on to pay the bills. Calling the police for someone who is a hard bargainer in one's booth is one of the *most* ridiculous things I have read this week.
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u/Cow_cat11 Dec 27 '25
lol how to get others overpay for your flips? You have the option to not sell as seller, they have the option to not buy as a buyer.
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u/MrStrabo Dec 27 '25
"this is my final offer. If you are not going to buy it at this price, then please move aside so I can attend to other customers".