offer settings on items listed

[bentley65]

Hi

I am trying to figure out the best way to set my offer settings on my items.

On the listing form (basic form as I don't have a store). 

I always use the buy it now feature add a price and then  options shows up  when i click on that it says what is the lowest price you would take for this item.

Do I have to put a price there? or can i opt out of it and still take offers? If I do put a price in there will e-bay automatically accept that price from a buyer if made and I lose my choice to ask for more than that lowest price amount I filled in there? 

Then there is the manage your offers after the item is listed - a place for putting accept offers above a certain amount and decline offers below this amount. I tried filling these in and i got some offers i would have accepted after awhile of not selling the item and didn't even know about them no message was sent to me because they were below the accept offers above this amount. 

I really find these offers confusing. I think they are a great idea but I can't seem to get the concept in my tiny brain. 

What I want is to have a price I will automatically accept but yet have the ability to look at all the offers and decide if some are too low.

In order to do that what should I fill out in these areas? should I leave the original listing form - what is the lowest you will take price blank? if i do so will i still be able to accept offers?

should i just fill out the automatically will accept offers of this or higher and leave the decline offer spot blank? how will i know an offer is made? will it show up in my messages on ebay?

I feel like my brain is melting just trying to explain this and ask a sensible question. Lol. 

Thanks for any help you can give me. I don't know what I would do on here if not for the experienced sellers here willing to answer my questions.

Sherie

[reallynicestamps · Accepted solution]

First off the simplified form is absolutely horrible. Switch to the Advanced/Business form, you don't need a Store to use it.

what is the lowest price you would take for this item.

Do I have to put a price there? or can i opt out of it and still take offers?

It's a convenience. If you use that anyone who sends a too low offer will receive a polite "nope" and you will not be bothered with it.

Any offer over that you can see and can accept or reject.

You can also (on the Advanced form, at least) set an automatic accept- a price you would be content with, that is still lower than your listed price.

Any offer between those, you will see and can choose to accept or deny.

What I want is to have a price I will automatically accept but yet have the ability to look at all the offers and decide if some are too low.

The Fixed Price is the automatic acceptance one.

If you add Best Offer, without those automatic acceptance/refusals, you will see every Offer and can negotiate from there, including making counter-offers.

There can be up to TEN!! offers made,which strikes me as overkill. But I am old and grouchy.

Don't overthink it. If it confuses you, don't fill it in.

I really do recommend the Advanced form. It really is clearer about what is happening, although it is longer.

BTW- a lot of buyers don't understand that a Best Offer does not include shipping. If you have separate shipping, be careful to say something like. "Thank you for your offer of $10 plus $5 shipping. This would /would not be acceptable." Because someone sometime will get his panties in a knot if you don't make it completely clear.

Since it confuses you, just don't fill it in. If your prices are fair, you won't get many offers in any case.

If you decide that an unsold item could be sold for less, you can go back in three or four months and add Best Offers.

There is a learning curve. Best Wishes.

[bentley65]

Thank you so much for all that great information! Have a great day!

Sherie