OK: the issue. Is there a general feeling among cel collectors that haggling, i.e., negotiating a purchase price from a lowball offer upward, is impolite?
When I collected antiques (well ... old stuff), I soon learned that it was normal to offer a price that you knew was about a third less than ticketed price, or what you felt might be the going price for such an item. The seller, typically, would politely refuse the offer, but return with a counteroffer. You'd raise your offer, the seller would lower the counteroffer, and within a minute or so, if both parties were serious, they'd agree on a price.
Either that, or the seller would say, no, the price on the ticket is solid, or else say that he would not consider any offer below $X.xx. Maybe you really wanted it, and you'd give in; or maybe you'd move on to find a better bargain.
I've applied this strategy in the past to cels, and usually with success. But lately, I've been getting what seems a paradoxical response, which says, in essence, "Yes, I hear your offer, but I've decided I like the cel, so it's not available after all for any amount you offer." (That's a logical reaction to an out-of-the-blue offer for a cel in a gallery ... but not, I felt, to one put up as "available for offers.")
If the offer I've made is too low, I thought some normal responses might be:
"Deal. Send me the money at [address]"
or
"No, I won't sell it for that amount, but I might for $X.xx."
Or
"No, my minimum for this item is $X.xx, and I won't take a cent less."
Or even,
"Thanks for your kind offer; however, someone else has offered me more, so unless you raise your offer, I'll sell it to that person." (I should note that people who have used this move have left it up to me how much I should raise my ante ... canny ... but I have been willing to play this game when I really want the item.
But it seems odd to reply, "No, I won't accept your offer and no, I won't make any counteroffer or even ask you to advance your offer, because I've changed my mind about taking offers on this item." Even if my offer was way out of line in the seller's mind, it seems it would be politic to come back with a counteroffer, even if it's double or triple what my offer was.
Maybe I'll take the hint and not bother the seller any more; but just maybe I'll repent my penurious ways and say "Deal."
...
is when I get an offer and I'm not sure how much to counter-offer for the cel. Especially with cels that I know I may have overpaid 
. So the question is, is it okay to back away and say that you're not sure anymore... or is that an insult 
?
