Negotiating on Craigslist can feel like a game of cat and mouse, especially when you receive a lowball offer that makes you question if the buyer knows what they’re talking about. Instead of getting frustrated, why not have a little fun with it? Here are “Best Responses to Lowball Offers on Craigslist” By using these responses you can turn the tables and perhaps even get the price you deserve!
Whether you want to keep things light-hearted or assertively push back, we’ve compiled a list of clever responses to help you navigate those less-than-ideal offers.
Top List Of Responses to Lowball Offers on Craigslist
- “I didn’t realize we were at a yard sale!”
- “Is that your final offer or just a suggestion?”
- “I appreciate your offer, but I’m not quite ready to give this away.”
- “Are you trying to start a bidding war?”
- “This isn’t a charity; I have bills to pay!”
- “Did you do a quick Google search before making that offer?”
- “That offer has me laughing; let’s try again!”
- “I’m not giving this away; it’s worth more!”
- “How about we meet in the middle?”
- “That’s a bold offer; let’s see if you can back it up!”
- “I’d love to sell it for that price; when are you picking it up?”
- “Thanks for the offer! I’ll keep it in mind… right after I finish laughing!”
- “I’m looking for a serious buyer; are you one?”
- “Can you do better? I know you can!”
- “That offer is cute; now, how about a real one?”
- “You must have mistaken this for a garage sale!”
- “What can I say? I have high standards!”
- “You might want to check what similar items are selling for!”
- “I appreciate your offer, but I’d like to make a sale too!”
- “Let’s negotiate like adults; I’m open to offers!”
1. “I didn’t realize we were at a yard sale!”
A humorous way to point out that the offer is unrealistic compared to the item’s actual value.
Examples:
- “Is this a yard sale or are we negotiating? Because that’s way too low!”
- “Next, you’ll be offering me a dollar for a vintage record!”
- “I’d love to sell this at a yard sale price, but it’s not!”
2. “Is that your final offer or just a suggestion?”
This response prompts the buyer to rethink their offer without being too aggressive.
Examples:
- “Is that your best shot, or do you have a little wiggle room?”
- “Final offer? You can do better than that!”
- “Just checking if that was a serious offer or a suggestion!”
3. “I appreciate your offer, but I’m not quite ready to give this away.”
Polite yet firm, this response indicates that you value your item more than their offer.
Examples:
- “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll hold onto it for now.”
- “I appreciate it, but I’d rather keep it than sell for that!”
- “Thanks, but I value this a bit more than what you’ve offered.”
4. “Are you trying to start a bidding war?”
This playful response can lighten the mood while challenging the buyer’s low offer.
Examples:
- “Is that a lowball bid, or are we starting a bidding war here?”
- “Bidding war? Because I didn’t see any competition!”
- “Is this the opening bid? I might have to raise the stakes!”
5. “This isn’t a charity; I have bills to pay!”
A straightforward reminder that you’re serious about getting a fair price.
Examples:
- “I wish I could give it away, but I’ve got bills to cover!”
- “Not a charity auction here; I need to make a profit!”
- “I’d love to help, but I have to cover my expenses.”
6. “Did you do a quick Google search before making that offer?”
This humorous nudge suggests that the buyer might not be fully informed about the item’s value.
Examples:
- “Did you check the market value before hitting send?”
- “Google might have more accurate prices than that offer!”
- “I hope you at least Googled what similar items go for!”
7. “That offer has me laughing; let’s try again!”
Use humour to keep the conversation light while signalling that the offer is too low.
Examples:
- “Your offer is funny, but let’s see if we can be serious!”
- “Haha, that made me laugh! Let’s try a more realistic price!”
- “That offer tickled me! I’d love to see a better number!”
8. “I’m not giving this away; it’s worth more!”
Direct and to the point, this response asserts your position without ambiguity.
Examples:
- “This is a quality item, and I won’t give it away.”
- “I appreciate your interest, but it’s worth more than that!”
- “I’m happy to negotiate, but that’s just too low!”
9. “How about we meet in the middle?”
Suggesting a compromise can lead to a more fruitful negotiation.
Examples:
- “Let’s find a price that works for both of us!”
- “What if we settle on a number that’s fair for both?”
- “I’m willing to negotiate; let’s meet halfway!”
10. “That’s a bold offer; let’s see if you can back it up!”
Challenge the buyer to justify their lowball offer, potentially leading to a better price.
Examples:
- “That’s quite the offer; what makes you think it’s worth that?”
- “I admire your boldness! How do you justify that price?”
- “Interesting approach; let’s hear your reasoning behind that!”
11. “I’d love to sell it for that price; when are you picking it up?”
A sarcastic twist to indicate that the offer is way too low.
Examples:
- “If only I could sell it for that—are you free to pick it up?”
- “Haha! That’s a nice thought—when can I expect you?”
- “Great idea! When should I expect your generous donation?”
12. “Thanks for the offer! I’ll keep it in mind… right after I finish laughing!”
A lighthearted approach to show you find the offer amusing.
Examples:
- “Thanks! I’ll consider it after I’m done laughing!”
- “Haha, that’s good! I’ll keep that offer on the back burner.”
- “Nice try! I’ll hold onto that thought for a rainy day!”
13. “I’m looking for a serious buyer; are you one?”
This straightforward question can help clarify if the buyer is genuinely interested.
Examples:
- “Serious inquiries only—are you one of them?”
- “I’m ready to negotiate, but I need a serious buyer.”
- “Looking for someone serious—are you interested?”
14. “Can you do better? I know you can!”
Encourage the buyer to raise their offer with this motivating response.
Examples:
- “Come on, you can do better than that!”
- “I know you can come up with a better offer!”
- “Let’s see if you can make this interesting!”
15. “That offer is cute; now, how about a real one?”
A cheeky way to dismiss a low offer while inviting a better one.
Examples:
- “Cute offer! Let’s get serious now.”
- “That’s adorable; I need something more realistic.”
- “Nice try! How about you hit me with a real offer?”
16. “You must have mistaken this for a garage sale!”
A playful jab that indicates the buyer might not be taking this seriously.
Examples:
- “Is this a garage sale? Because that’s the vibe I’m getting!”
- “Did you think this was a yard sale with that offer?”
- “Are we in a garage sale zone? Because that’s the vibe!”
17. “What can I say? I have high standards!”
This response highlights your commitment to getting a fair price.
Examples:
- “I have high standards when it comes to pricing!”
- “Can’t help it; I just have high expectations!”
- “My standards are high, and so are my prices!”
18. “You might want to check what similar items are selling for!”
Encouraging the buyer to do their homework can help your case.
Examples:
- “Take a look at similar listings; they might help you!”
- “Check out other offers; I think you’ll see the difference!”
- “I recommend checking similar prices before offering!”
19. “I appreciate your offer, but I’d like to make a sale too!”
Acknowledging their offer while still pushing for a better deal.
Examples:
- “I see what you’re offering, but I want a sale that works for me too!”
- “Thanks for the interest! Let’s find a deal that benefits us both!”
- “I want to make a sale, but it has to be fair!”
20. “Let’s negotiate like adults; I’m open to offers!”
Invite serious discussion while making it clear you won’t accept just any offer.
Examples:
- “Let’s talk like grown-ups about a fair price!”
- “I’m all ears for reasonable negotiations!”
- “Let’s hash this out like adults; I’m ready to negotiate!”
Conclusion
Navigating lowball offers on Craigslist can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little humour and a firm approach, you can respond in a way that asserts your value while keeping the conversation light. Remember, negotiation is an art—use these responses to ensure you get the price you deserve without sacrificing your sense of humour!
𝐈’𝐦 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 “𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 “𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬. 𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐀𝐭 “𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬” 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫.
Poppy Snow 
Celia Anne 
Gracie Mae