Classifieds OBO

**Dave Hanson** · Aug-07-2012, 2:35am

It puzzles me when someone selling a mandolin in the Cafe Classifieds quotes a sale price and then says ' or better offer ' if it's up for sale, why would anyone offer more than the asking price ?

Dave H

**strings777** · Aug-07-2012, 3:11am

Usually, OBO means "or best offer", not "or better offer". In other words, if no one is willing to pay his asking price, he is open to accepting a lower offer.

**Larry S Sherman** · Aug-07-2012, 3:19am

OBO=Or Best Offer

To me it means you are not necessarily firm on the price (open to offers).

So could go either way:

A mandolin is listed at 7K, and you get three offers, the highest being 6.5K, which you then accept.

Or less likely, the mando is so cool that you get several offers for the asking price (in this example 7K), and you let everyone know and one of the interested parties offers you 7.5K. No one else can match, so after giving everyone else a chance to match you sell for 7.5K. In this case offering the asking price does not necessarily guarantee that your offer will be accepted.

Larry

**blueron** · Aug-07-2012, 4:08am

Yes, as the others have said, OBO means 'or best offer'. Dave is probably used to the British equivalent, which is ONO - 'or nearest offer', and assumed that OBO had to have a different meaning from ONO.

ron

**CES** · Aug-07-2012, 6:10am

Originally Posted by blueron

Yes, as the others have said, OBO means 'or best offer'. Dave is probably used to the British equivalent, which is ONO - 'or nearest offer', and assumed that OBO had to have a different meaning from ONO.

ron

Agreed...btw, Blueron, sweet oval hole in your new avatar!

**blueron** · Aug-07-2012, 6:28am

Originally Posted by CES

Agreed...btw, Blueron, sweet oval hole in your new avatar!

Thanks for noticing. That's my new carbon fibre Mix A4. She's a beaut.

**allenhopkins** · Aug-07-2012, 10:40am

I thought it meant the seller was offering to take an oboe in trade, if you didn't have the cash...

Lotsa people can't spell "oboe."

**Willie** · Aug-07-2012, 12:02pm

Allen...Do you do comedy in your shows? You sure seem wound up today...Lol

**strings777** · Aug-07-2012, 12:41pm

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

I thought it meant the seller was offering to take an oboe in trade, if you didn't have the cash...

Lotsa people can't spell "oboe."

That was too funny...thanks for the laugh!

**allenhopkins** · Aug-08-2012, 2:17am

Originally Posted by Willie

Allen...Do you do comedy in your shows? You sure seem wound up today...Lol

Much of the humor when I perform is unintentional. Some, however, is on purpose.

**f5loar** · Aug-08-2012, 2:30am

also means you might take a trade or barter it on the best offer. Say you ask $7000 OBO and you get someone who wants to trade you a prewar D28 even trade. I think you would consider that the best offer and go for it.