How to Handle Lowball Offers

You listed a jacket for $65. Someone offers $20. Your instinct: ignore, block, or send a snarky reply. None of those make you money.

Lowball offers are part of reselling. How you handle them determines whether they're annoying noise or potential sales. Here's how to respond strategically.

Define "Lowball" First

Not every low offer is a lowball. Platform culture matters:

Poshmark: Buyers expect negotiation. An offer 20-30% below asking is normal, not insulting. Build this into your pricing strategy.

Mercari: Price-sensitive buyers. Offers 25-40% below asking are common. The platform's culture rewards deal-seeking.

eBay: Best Offer submissions vary wildly. Collectors often pay full price; casual buyers test with low offers.

A true lowball is 50%+ below your asking price with no justification. Below 50%, it's just aggressive negotiation.

The Counter-Offer Strategy

Counter-offers convert more sales than declines. Always counter unless the offer is absurd (under 30% of asking).

The Standard Counter

They offer $20 on your $65 item. You want minimum $50. Counter at $55—leaves room for one more negotiation round while anchoring higher than your floor.

Many buyers test with initial lowballs but are willing to pay more. Your counter signals you're negotiable but not desperate.

The Split-the-Difference Counter

They offer $35 on your $65 item. Counter at $50 (splitting the $30 gap). This feels fair to buyers and often closes the deal.

When to Accept Low Offers

Sometimes taking a low offer makes business sense:

Stale inventory: Item's been listed 60+ days with no other interest. A $30 offer on a $50 item beats $0 in three more months.

Cash flow needs: You need capital for a sourcing trip or bills. Profit today beats theoretical profit later.

Storage pressure: Your death pile is overwhelming. Moving inventory creates space for items that actually sell.

Low-cost items: You paid $2 for something listed at $25. A $12 offer is still 6x return. Take it.

When to Decline

Decline (don't ignore) offers when:

Fresh listing: Item just went live and you're getting good engagement. No need to discount before testing market response.

Rare item: You know the market. Similar items sell at or above your price. Wait for the right buyer.

Below cost: After fees, you'd lose money or break even. Not worth it unless you're desperate to clear space.

Never Do This

Don't Ignore Offers

Ignoring offers tanks your response rate (affects search visibility on some platforms) and leaves potential sales on the table. Even absurd offers deserve a counter or polite decline.

Don't Get Emotional

The buyer isn't insulting you personally. They're testing if you're desperate. A $15 offer on a $100 item isn't rude—it's a buyer seeing if you'll bite. Counter professionally, move on.

Don't Lecture

"This is worth WAY more than that!" doesn't sell items. It alienates buyers who might have increased their offer. State your counter, not your feelings.

Don't Block Lowballers

Today's $20 lowballer might come back at $50 next week—or buy something else at full price. Blocking over negotiation burns bridges for no reason.

Platform-Specific Tactics

Poshmark: Use Offer to Likers

Instead of waiting for lowballs, be proactive. When someone likes your item, send an OTL at your true floor price. You control the negotiation start point.

Mercari: Price Higher Initially

Mercari buyers expect deals. List 25-30% above your floor knowing that first offers will be low. Your counter feels like a concession even when it's your target price.

eBay: Auto-Decline Settings

eBay lets you set automatic decline thresholds for Best Offers. Set your floor—offers below auto-decline, saving you time. Counter offers above your threshold manually.

Reframe the Lowball

Every lowball offer is information:

Lots of lowballs, no sales: Your price is too high for the market. Adjust.

Lowballs on new listings: Initial price might be fine—some buyers always test first.

Zero offers at all: Bigger problem than lowballs. Check your photos, title, and search visibility.

Lowballs mean buyers are looking. That's better than silence.

The 48-Hour Rule

For offers that frustrate you, wait before responding. Not because they don't deserve a response—but because your emotional reaction won't help.

Reply within 48 hours, but not immediately if you're annoyed. A calm counter sells. A defensive reply doesn't.