ByEditorial Team Reading Time: 7 minutes
We’ve all likely “been there faced that”: the dreaded lowball Poshmark offer. You list this gorgeous jacket for instance, that once upon a time you paid upwards of 200.00 for. Five years later, said jacket doesn’t necessarily “suit” your style anymore. As it’s only been just gently worn, you’re figuring you can probably net at least 80.00 for it, give or take.
It is perfectly staged, backlit, front lit, in fact, it is lit from every which way possible. This is going to be a great one, you think to yourself. A nice little money maker. You post it and wow, does it look amazing there in your closet—a flagship item perchance…
People immediately start to like it, you’re getting some shares, a fair amount of shares actually. You are in posh post heaven. And then…the next day an offer comes in. A ridiculously lowball offer. They want to buy your once coveted jacket for $5.00. Are they kidding? Do they understand what it cost you initially? Do they see the quality of the item? Are they some sort of clothing novice psycho?
Table of Contents hide
1. Know the Market – How Do You Price Things on Poshmark?
2. Decline or Counteroffer – Is it Rude to Decline an Offer on Poshmark?
3. Don’t View it As Yours Anymore
4. Can You Negotiate Offers on Poshmark?
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Make it Known that You Stand Firm on Your Poshmark Pricing
A few things to consider…
Lowball Poshmark offers sadly are somewhat common. It is the nature of the beast. People love to negotiate; they love to try and get a deal on top of what is already a deal. In this way, some people feel as though they’ve “won.” There is a psychological aspect to the lowball offer—regardless of platform, Poshmark or any other.
CHECK OUT: Is Poshmark Better than Ebay???
Ultimately, beyond of course trying to get a better price, there is the power aspect to low balling someone or haggling with them regarding the cost of an item. If in fact you accept their offer or come close, then they have the upper hand. They’ve proven their superior negotiating skills— a definite power trip in that respect for the low baller in question.
So how do you deal with these frustrating Poshmark interactions? Great question, and one we’re sure just about everyone who’s ever sold on the Poshmark platform has come up against at one point. Below are five strategies for dealing with the ultra-annoying lowball offer.
1. Know the Market – How Do You Price Things on Poshmark?
In other words, it’s going to take a little homework on your part. You have to understand the value of an item prior to posting it. And not just within the Poshmark universe. Know what that item costs in the store as well.
A big no-no is listing something for a price that a user could just go to the store and get new or buy new online for almost the same price as yours.
Poshmark users range…some are newbies and really aren’t all that savvy as far as understanding price points. And then there are others who are all over that platform; they know where related items stand as far as price. They are not going to offer you what you’re asking if other poshers have similar or identical items for much less.
You want to toe that line between being profitable and being realistic. So when a buyer does make a lowball offer, take the time to consider whether or not, first off, you’re priced where you need to be. Maybe they’re seeing something you’re not.
2. Decline or Counteroffer – Is it Rude to Decline an Offer on Poshmark?
It is okay to simply decline the offer without making a counteroffer. Especially in light of some inexplicable number. Let’s say you have an item listen for 75.00 and they offer you 3.00. They are likely not a serious buyer or they’re into being an obnoxious purchaser who inevitably is going to waste a lot of your valuable time in an endless back and forth. Click decline and move on!
That said, if it is a lowball offer, yet somewhat closer to the original price point, then it could potentially be worth feeling out. Engage in the following strategy:
- Counteroffer with a number quite a bit higher than theirs and closer to yours. This will enable you to still be polite and submit a counteroffer, but at the same time you are gauging their interest/seriousness.
- If they still insist on an unacceptably low number, then decline and be done with it. However, if they raise their price by at least 50% say, then it could be worth engaging with them.
- At this point maybe you go the same amount down that they came up—as long as it is still profitable to you.
3. Don’t View it As Yours Anymore
Ask yourself, is an emotional attachment clouding your judgement a bit in terms of what you’re willing to sell something on Poshmark for? It’s human nature, we get attached to our “stuff.” And with some items of clothing especially, it can be damn hard to separate ourselves from them enough to price fairly.
Additionally, because of this inherent attachment that you may have, you take great offense when the lowball offer does come in. That’s not to say that the offer is the right one, or that you should sell for what they’re suggesting, but then again, is your listing colored by your love of the garment in question?
A lot of poshers also adopt the mindset of “I know the right buyer will eventually come along.” This is so cute—wishful thinking, but cute. If this is what you’re mantra-ing to yourself as you sit there with a relatively inactive item and a series of lowball offers, then it is probably you that needs to reassess at that point. Drop the emotional attachment.
4. Can You Negotiate Offers on Poshmark?
Instinctively, you’re probably pissed off when that lowball Poshmark offer comes in. It’s understandable. You get excited at seeing that “congrats” message letting you know someone wants to buy your stuff. It is an adrenaline rush on a number of levels. And so, when you open it up and see it is a pitiable offer, your hopes are not only dashed but inevitably a feeling of anger takes their place.
This is not the place (or the platform) to engage in a battle of words with the offending buyer. Step back, take a deep breath, see if you can understand why they may have submitted said offer (refer back to the fact that your pricing may be too high, or emotional attachment is clouding your judgement on this one).
Poshmark is all about a sense of community and what type of community are you fostering if you instantly attack those who send you what you conceive to be an unfair offer. Poshmark can be a great business opportunity—a potential side gig blooming into something more…it could happen. But if you don’t approach your customer interactions professionally, your business endeavor will be doomed before it can even get off the ground.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Make it Known that You Stand Firm on Your Poshmark Pricing
Here’s the thing, when it comes to lowball offers there is black and white and shades of grey. Which is to say, sometimes as mentioned, your pricing may be a little off. Sometimes the customer may be completely right especially if they are conversant with the Poshmark platform. Then again, sometimes you may be 100% accurate in terms of where you have your item priced. When you know this—when you’re confident in your preliminary research, don’t be afraid to own it.
Some new poshers especially are so eager for a sale that they will bend over backwards and come down in price—way down. However, if similar items are priced where yours is, then there is no need to. This is probably just a user who is looking for the ultimate bargain, the queen of all power trips and is consequently attacking your item to get it. Just say no. Don’t let them beat you up on price if you know that you are being fair. End of story.
A few things to consider…
As you do set out to arrive at that fair and profitable price, always keep in mind the time and energy that keeping up with your Poshmark closet takes. Not to mention, the effort and cost that comes in with the delivery of a sold item.
You are in this to make money, right? If you are giving your products away for less than what your time and effort are worth, then where is the money making in that model? Exactly—there is none. And all that will happen is that you will get discouraged and your closet will remain stagnant.
On the flip side, be careful not to set your pricing too high. Remember, people on the Poshmark platform do tend to be looking for deals. If you have a closet full of astronomically priced items, it’s likely you’re not going to see a ton of action. That again, will lead to frustration and your eventual early retirement.
Do your homework, know your product, check out the competing items and then price accordingly. Happy poshing!
