What exactly does "OBO" mean?

[richardycc]

where are you?I am selling my old front load washer and dryer as I've Just bought the samsung steam washer and dryer from bestbuy at 50% off.

$300 OBO.

 

[AVAFREAK182]

They're simply trying to get you to one-up the "buyer" who offered $220.

 

[purbeast0]

I agree with you, it is $200 OR best offer. Meaning, no one wants to pay $200, you get an offer of $150, no one else wants it, so best offer of 150 gets it. Or if someone does want to pay $200, then its theirs.

so if someone said they'd buy it for $200, and you also you get an email from someone saying they'd buy it for $220 (cause who knows maybe it is a steal and someone knew that and was willing to pay a little more than asking price), you would turn down the $220 because in your listing you said "$200 OBO" ?

 

[aigomorla]

so if someone said they'd buy it for $200, and you also you get an email from someone saying they'd buy it for $220 (cause who knows maybe it is a steal and someone knew that and was willing to pay a little more than asking price), you would turn down the $220 because in your listing you said "$200 OBO" ?

no but id think the guy who offered me 220 on a 200 listed item was crazy.

If i was the buyer, i would think he's trying to bait me.. which is what he is doing and would walk away going LOLz... humming to myself with the original 200 dollars and walk away to a bar.

 

[yhelothar]

Tell them "Have fun sending it to Nigeria"

:awe:this:awe:

 

[darkxshade]

so if someone said they'd buy it for $200, and you also you get an email from someone saying they'd buy it for $220 (cause who knows maybe it is a steal and someone knew that and was willing to pay a little more than asking price), you would turn down the $220 because in your listing you said "$200 OBO" ?

Someone offering more than the asking price on the initial offer thinking it was a steal is a bit far fetched. If anything, you would offer $200 first and then offer higher after finding out it had already offered to another party.

 

[zebano]

Yes, I know it means "Or Best Offer"... etiquette-wise, when someone lists something for $xxx OBO, I've always been under the impression that if someone offers you your full asking price, that was it. Apparently, OBO is synonymous with eBay, as I found out today.

Long story short, found a decent washer & dryer listed on CL for $200 "OBO". My wife emailed, said we'll take it for the full $200, to which the selling party agreed and asked when we would be by to pick it up. My wife replied saying we'd be there around 6:30pm tonight with cash in hand. The next reply from the seller was the puzzling one. It was a simple reply stating that they just had someone offer $220 for it.

It was at this point that we put principles before anything here, and while we were willing to match the offer my gut said this would end up being a bidding war even it it were against a fake party (my notion is that the seller decided he could get more for it so replied with a fake other party offer - because I'm pessimistic and firmly believe humanity sucks like that), I wouldn't be a party to it.

So really... what does "OBO" actually mean?

it means or best offer and ignoring this scumbag is the best option.

 

[purbeast0]

no but id think the guy who offered me 220 on a 200 listed item was crazy.

If i was the buyer, i would think he's trying to bait me.. which is what he is doing and would walk away going LOLz... humming to myself with the original 200 dollars and walk away to a bar.

what if like 10 minutes after the OP emailed him and agreed on $200 someone emailed him and was told it was already sold, so he said he'd give him $220?

again, if it is a steal of the deal, then i can see that happening easily.

it must be a big deal if the OP is bothered by this and didnt' just shake it off.

had this happened to me, i would have just moved on in my search for a washer and dryer.

but this is craigslist, any "agreement" that was made has absolutely 0 merit.

 

[Blackjack200]

Also, just wanted to throw this out there. I've bought quite a few home furnishings/appliances on CL, I almost never pay more than 80% of the asking price.

Instead of offering their asking price in an email, just tell them that you'd like to drop by and look at it. Bring 90% of the asking price in cash. Look it over, and if it's good, offer them 80%. If they balk, up it to 90%, and if they refuse, walk out the door. It's one thing to play games on email, it's something else etirely to refuse 90% of your asking price in cash.

 

[ChaoZ]

It makes the seller jacked up the price and when the buyer offers a lower price he thinks he's getting a good deal.

 

[Blackjack200]

It makes the seller jacked up the price and when the buyer offers a lower price he thinks he's getting a good deal.

You have to do your own research on how much something is worth. If I buy a 2 year old stainless steel oven/range that sold new for $1100, and the seller lists it for $700, I don't mind paying $600, even if that's all the seller wanted in the first place, and just upped the asking price to $700 in anticipation of my lowball.

 

[slayer202]

Also, just wanted to throw this out there. I've bought quite a few home furnishings/appliances on CL, I almost never pay more than 80% of the asking price.

Instead of offering their asking price in an email, just tell them that you'd like to drop by and look at it. Bring 90% of the asking price in cash. Look it over, and if it's good, offer them 80%. If they balk, up it to 90%, and if they refuse, walk out the door. It's one thing to play games on email, it's something else etirely to refuse 90% of your asking price in cash.

so instead of playing email games you rather waste someones time face to face when they think you are actually interested in paying the asking price?

anyway, it is possible that the 220 offer is legit. however, taking that offer after you agree on 200, which was the asking price, is a scummy move. If you really want the thing and its a good price for 220 you can go for it, but I wouldn't have a problem with telling them to shove it

 

[aigomorla]

You have to do your own research on how much something is worth. If I buy a 2 year old stainless steel oven/range that sold new for $1100, and the seller lists it for $700, I don't mind paying $600, even if that's all the seller wanted in the first place, and just upped the asking price to $700 in anticipation of my lowball.

Thats not what the OP's story is...

The seller offered it @ 700.. the wife said OK.
They went down and the seller said no.. its 770 (10% markup)

Sorry id goto a different seller.

 

[PricklyPete]

I'd end all conversations with the guy. They are obviously not doing the honorable thing by accepting your offer and sticking to that. Just move on.

 

[Blackjack200]

so instead of playing email games you rather waste someones time face to face when they think you are actually interested in paying the asking price?

I am not wasting anyones time. If they are not interested in bargaining, they can simply note in the item description that the price is firm.

 

[DrawninwarD]

agree'd

You offered 200, and now he wants 220?
Thats not OBO. That's called Baiting in my book.

Sounds like sellers grief.

Tell him to keep the washer/dryer. Go look for another one.
You really dont want to deal with a seller like that.

Agreed. Tell him someone is paying you $230 to NOT buy it. So even though you'd love to, you JUST CAN'T.

I know that makes no sense. Just do it.

 

[olds]

Also, just wanted to throw this out there. I've bought quite a few home furnishings/appliances on CL, I almost never pay more than 80% of the asking price.

Instead of offering their asking price in an email, just tell them that you'd like to drop by and look at it. Bring 90% of the asking price in cash. Look it over, and if it's good, offer them 80%. If they balk, up it to 90%, and if they refuse, walk out the door. It's one thing to play games on email, it's something else etirely to refuse 90% of your asking price in cash.

so instead of playing email games you rather waste someones time face to face when they think you are actually interested in paying the asking price?

anyway, it is possible that the 220 offer is legit. however, taking that offer after you agree on 200, which was the asking price, is a scummy move. If you really want the thing and its a good price for 220 you can go for it, but I wouldn't have a problem with telling them to shove it

I am no wasting anyones time. If they are not interested in bargaining, they can simply note in the item description that the price is firm.

I never offer any money in the emails, who knows what the condition of the item will really be. I ask to come see it then I base my offer on their asking price and the actual condition.
I recently bought a dryer and the seller failed to mention that the top of the dryer was damaged from a beach spill. Sorry, not paying asking price when you failed to accurately describe the item.

 

[squirrel dog]

Yeah its like $200 obo(or beat off) .

 

[Nik]

More than likely the seller is just trying to get him to pay more.

I'm very well aware of that. However, the rest of the conversation would be like this:

seller: dude's offering 220
OP: cool, bye
seller: (option 1) he renigged, it's yours
OP: cool, here's your $200
Seller: (option 2) sold to someone else for 220
OP: cool, bye

Don't even see why this is a thread.

 

[GlacierFreeze]

Don't even see why this is a thread.

cool, bye

 

[SunnyD]

Don't even see why this is a thread.

Because we're discussing the etiquette of what "Or Best Offer" traditionally means, moron.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Because we're discussing the etiquette of what "Or Best Offer" traditionally means, moron.

Well it's pretty self explanatory. The seller here was being a douche. If he agreed, then they should close the sale. Essentially what he did was agree and at the same time keep an eye open for newer/better offers. Move on to a different guy.

 

[Zenmervolt]

so if someone said they'd buy it for $200, and you also you get an email from someone saying they'd buy it for $220 (cause who knows maybe it is a steal and someone knew that and was willing to pay a little more than asking price), you would turn down the $220 because in your listing you said "$200 OBO" ?

If I had already sent an E-mail to the person who offered $200 accepting their offer, I'd honor that commitment. Period.

If you're at a store and someone in front of you takes the last item on the shelf do you expect the cashier to give you the item if you offer $20 more than the store has it marked? Of course not. They'll sell it to the person who picked it off the shelf and they'll sell it for the marked price.

ZV

 

[Yreka]

i think in this case, it means the seller is an asshole.

^-This

 

[Nik]

Because we're discussing the etiquette of what "Or Best Offer" traditionally means, moron.

We need to discuss it? It's retarded simple (and yes, self explanetory).

I think I'm going to start a thread every time my toilet paper doesn't rip perfectly off at the perferations. We need to discuss it.

This kinda shit happens every day, all the time.

cool, bye

haha