When I wrote that last post, I actually thought you had just forgotten to put a number in your ad. Thanks for clarifying, but this isn't really an auction site, it's a classified ad section on an enthusiast’s forum.
Auction sites like eBay, were everyone can
see things like what the seller's reserve is and the progress of
their offers vs. other persons offers seem to work better (and also seem to ultimately bring more money for the seller) than this forum or
other blind free classified ad sites like CL, and also provides a level playing field for everyone concerned.
Of course it suits YOU best
; The man-behind-the-curtain style "make a cash offer and I'll think about it" stacks the deck in the seller's favor, as if the seller is just
hoping that someone offers way too much, with no line in the sand "I'll take
this much" as a check/balance or reference point a potential buyer has from which to make said offer.
No "know-it-all tire kickers" to deal with on eBay; it's either bid or not bid, buy it now or don't. In fact several members here have listed their gear there and then linked it to this forum just in order to get exposure in front of a bunch of
confirmed Sunn-o-philes. It’s also been pretty successful I believe.
Even beyond the blatant negotiation advantage, I think an asking price is just sort of a common courtesy to prospective buyers, lets them know if their "right price" and the sellers "right price" is even in the same
ballpark.
It could also save the seller from dealing with ridiculous offers.
