How to handle lowball offers without the back and forth

Updated October 30, 2026

You post a lamp you think is worth $40 and the first message says “$10, I can come now.” It happens to everyone who sells their own things. Lowball offers aren’t personal. Some people try a low number on everything to see who says yes.

You can’t stop them from coming, but you can keep them from wearing you down.

1. Decide your lowest price before you post

Write down the lowest amount you’d accept, and don’t change it because someone is pushy. When an offer shows up at 11 at night, you won’t have to think. Either it’s enough or it isn’t.

2. Reply in one short line, or not at all

You don’t owe a long explanation. A few replies that work:

“Thanks, but I’m going to hold out for more.”
“The lowest I can do is $35.”
“No thanks. Good luck with your search!”

If the message is rude, it’s fine not to answer.

3. Don’t bid against yourself

If someone offers $10 and you reply “How about $30?”, you’ve already dropped your price before they’ve moved at all. Ask them for their best number, or state your lowest one, and let them decide.

4. Watch for pressure

Lines like “I’m outside right now” or “Cash today, but only if you take $15” are meant to rush you. A real buyer will still be interested tomorrow. Take your time.

5. Make one counteroffer, then stop

If an offer is close, one counter is reasonable. If they come back lower again, end the conversation politely. Long haggling rarely ends in a better price, and it uses up your evening.

How Soldu helps

Soldu takes the haggling out of your messages. Buyers open your link and make one offer, and each new offer has to beat the highest one so far. They can raise their offer, but they can’t go below the top.

Set the lowest you’d take. Only you see it, and offers below it never reach you.
Set a starting price if you like. Buyers see it, and offers begin there.
Look at the top three whenever you want, and say yes to the one you like, or no.
No deadline. If none of the offers is enough yet, you can wait. Nothing is sold until you say yes.

Quick checklist

Decide your lowest price before you post.
Keep replies to one line.
Never counter against yourself.
Ignore pressure to hurry.
One counteroffer, then stop.