TL;DR
Lowball offers are normal, not insults - answer them calmly with a firm, comp-backed counter. Some lowballers become fair buyers once you hold your ground; others you let go. Never drop to a rock-bottom number just to make the sale.
List anything on Marketplace and the lowball offers arrive within hours: half your asking price, 'will you take $20 for the $60 item,' the classic 'is this still available' followed by an insulting number. It is easy to get annoyed, but lowballing is just how a lot of buyers open. Handle it calmly and some of those buyers pay a fair price.
Do not take it personally
A lowball is an opening move, not a final offer, and rarely a real insult. Many buyers throw out a low number expecting to meet in the middle. Your job is not to feel offended - it is to counter cleanly and see if there is a fair deal in there. The buyers who make you angry are usually just testing whether you will fold.
How to respond to a lowball
Stay warm and brief. Try: 'Appreciate the offer! The price is $60 and it is firm-ish - I could do $55 for a quick pickup today.' This gives a real path forward at close to your number and rewards a fast, easy meetup. If they come back reasonable, you have a deal. If they insist on half price, you have your answer without any drama.
Tell a bargainer from a real buyer
- A real buyer asks about condition, pickup, and timing, then negotiates once - a serial lowballer only ever talks price.
- Someone who names a fair-ish counter is worth working with; someone who offers a quarter of the price usually is not.
- Buyers who push for a huge discount and then want you to deliver are often not worth the hassle.
- If a lowballer keeps messaging after a polite no, stop replying - you owe no explanation.
Know when to hold and when to let go
Hold your price when comps back it and the item is in demand - a fair item will find a buyer who pays. Let a lowballer go when they will not move toward a reasonable number; blocking or ignoring them costs you nothing. And use your price signals: if every offer is a lowball and nothing sells, the price may genuinely be high, so revisit your comps rather than blaming the buyers.
Handled calmly, lowballs are just noise between you and the buyer who pays fairly. Counter with confidence, keep your price backed by comps, and let the rest scroll on by.
Common questions
Are lowball offers an insult I should ignore?
No. Lowballing is a common opening move, not a personal insult. Many buyers start low expecting to meet in the middle. Counter calmly with a comp-backed number instead of getting offended, and some of those buyers end up paying fairly.
Should I ever accept a lowball to make the sale?
Only if the number still profits and you want a fast clear-out. Caving to a rock-bottom offer trains buyers that your price is soft. Counter with a firm number instead, and offer a small break for a quick pickup rather than collapsing to their price.
How do I respond to a lowball politely?
Stay warm and brief: thanks for the offer, the price is X and firm-ish, but I could do slightly less for a quick pickup today. That gives a real path forward near your number and rewards an easy meetup without you racing to the bottom.
How do I tell a bargain-hunter from a real buyer?
A real buyer asks about condition, pickup, and timing and negotiates once. A serial lowballer only ever talks price and often wants delivery too. Work with reasonable counters and let the quarter-of-price offers scroll past.
What if a lowballer keeps messaging after I say no?
Stop replying or block them - you owe no explanation. Persistent lowballers after a polite no are not worth your time or stress. Your energy is better spent on the buyers who negotiate in good faith.
What if every offer I get is a lowball?
That is a signal, not just bad luck. If nothing sells and every offer is low, your price may genuinely be high. Revisit your recent sold comps before blaming the buyers - the market may be telling you to adjust.
Keep going
Answer lowball offers without dropping your price
Get the other 39 in the buyer stack, plus the full FB Marketplace Resellers Club community - $9/mo, cancel anytime.
Join the Club