Why Buyers Always Ask 'Best Price?' on DoneDeal

Every seller on DoneDeal knows the feeling: you've listed your car at what you think is a fair price, and within hours—sometimes minutes—you get a message asking, "What's your best price?"

It's frustrating. You've done the research. You've priced it competitively. But there it is again, another buyer trying to negotiate you down by €500 or €1,000.

This isn't personal. It's how DoneDeal works in Ireland. Understanding why buyers ask this question—and how to handle it—is the difference between a car that sits for six weeks and one that sells in ten days.

The Core Problem: DoneDeal Is Built for Negotiation

DoneDeal isn't like a retail showroom where the price is fixed. It's a negotiation platform. Buyers on DoneDeal expect to haggle. They've been trained by years of car buying in Ireland to assume that any asking price has room in it.

This isn't unique to your listing. Go and look at the top ten car listings on DoneDeal right now in your area—search for your make and model. Count how many messages mention price negotiation in the reviews or feedback. It'll be most of them.

The reason is simple: Irish buyers are price-sensitive and skeptical. They know that:

Dealers mark up used cars by 15–25% and expect haggling
Private sellers often list slightly high, knowing they'll negotiate
The first number isn't the real number—it's the opening bid
Not asking about price signals weakness or that the seller has already dropped the asking price as far as they're willing to

When a buyer messages "What's your best price?" they're not necessarily saying your price is too high. They're asking if you've left room to move. It's a test.

If you've priced correctly and you're firm, that's fine—but you need to communicate that clearly, not defensively.

Why This Happens More on DoneDeal Than Anywhere Else

DoneDeal is Ireland's #1 car-selling platform because it's where buyers go first. That's also why you get more price inquiries there than on Facebook Marketplace or AutoTrader. Volume brings negotiators.

A buyer looking at fifty cars on DoneDeal will message the ten that look promising with "What's your best price?" They're testing multiple sellers at once. It's not a personal attack on your asking price—it's a numbers game for them.

The sellers who understand this don't take the question as an insult. They see it as step one of a conversation.

Detailed Advice: How to Handle Price Questions Without Losing Sales

Strategy 1: Price Correctly From the Start

The best way to manage price questions is to avoid creating them. This means pricing your car at what you'll actually accept, not €500 or €1,000 above it as "negotiating room."

If you want €8,500 for your car, list it at €8,500. Not €9,000 hoping to come down. Here's why: buyers see that €9,000 price, assume there's a €500–€1,000 gap between asking and real price, and message you immediately asking to close it. You've now created a negotiation you didn't need to have.

Use CarIQ's pricing report to see exactly what your car should list for based on real DoneDeal data from your area. A 2015 Toyota Corolla in Dublin might list at €9,200, but the same car in Cork might be €8,700. That's not our opinion—that's what actual cars are selling for right now.

Strategy 2: The Direct Reply (Not Defensive)

When you get "What's your best price?" reply with something like:

"€8,500 is my asking price and that's where it sits. The car's in great condition, NCT done until [date], no work needed. Happy to chat about anything else you want to know about it."

This tells the buyer three things:

You're firm on price (it's already at market value)
You're confident in the car (you're mentioning its strengths, not apologizing for the price)
You're willing to talk, just not about dropping the number

Don't say, "That's the lowest I can go" or "Price is fixed." Those phrases sound defensive. Say, "That's my asking price"—it's factual and calm.

Strategy 3: Build Value Into Your Listing So Price Questions Don't Happen

A buyer is less likely to ask "What's your best price?" if you've already answered the question before they ask. Here's how:

Lead with condition: "NCT done until March 2026. Full service history. No rust, no accidents, drives perfect." This signals you're confident in the asking price.
Mention what you've invested: "New tyres fitted last month. Battery replaced. Recently detailed." Buyers see investment and assume the price reflects it.
Be specific about mileage and use: "57,000 miles. One owner. Garaged in winter." Specificity kills haggling impulses because it feels prepared, not inflated.
Add photos from multiple angles: Undercarriage, engine bay, interior condition, close-ups of any wear. A buyer who can see exactly what they're getting is less likely to push on price.

When your listing looks professional and thorough, buyers assume the price is professionally set.

Strategy 4: The Selective Yes

Some sellers do have room to move on price. If you listed at €8,500 and you'd take €8,200, that's fine—but say it clearly:

"I'm asking €8,500. Realistically, I'd take €8,200 if we do this quickly. Can you come see it this week?"

This works because:

You've set a clear floor (no more haggling below €8,200)
You've incentivized speed (€8,200 is only available if they move fast)
You've given them a win without losing dignity on the price

Irish buyers respect sellers who are direct about this. Vague negotiation just stretches the process out.

What Most Sellers Get Wrong

Mistake 1: Taking it personally and replying defensively

Some sellers get a price question and reply with, "If you think €8,500 is too much, you don't understand the market." This kills the sale. The buyer wasn't insulting you—they were testing the water. Now you've made it adversarial.

Mistake 2: Listing too high and then acting surprised by price questions

You list a 2018 Hyundai i20 at €7,500 when identical cars nearby are listed at €6,900. Then you're annoyed when buyers ask for your "best price." You created this situation. Cut €300–€400 off the asking price and those messages drop by 70%.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the question entirely

Some sellers don't reply to price inquiries at all, or they ignore the question and just say, "Come view it." This signals you're not serious about selling. If a buyer asks about price, answer it. You don't have to negotiate—just answer.

Mistake 4: Negotiating too far down and resenting the buyer

You start at €8,500, a buyer offers €7,800, and you take it. Then you're annoyed at yourself and—worse—you're annoyed at the buyer for "taking advantage." They weren't. You agreed to the price. Price firm or negotiate fairly, but don't blame the buyer for doing exactly what DoneDeal trains them to do.

Quick Wins You Can Do Today

1. Review your current listing price. Check five similar cars on DoneDeal right now. Are you within €200–€400 of them? If you're €800+ above comparable cars, drop your price by €500. You'll get fewer price questions immediately.

2. Add a one-sentence price statement to your description. Something like: "Priced fairly at €8,500 for the condition and service history." It sounds simple, but it tells buyers you've thought about the price and you're standing by it.

3. Respond to the next price question with calm clarity.** Not defensiveness. Not vagueness. Just: "That's my asking price. Here's why it's fair: [condition, mileage, NCT status, recent work]."

4. Test one price anchor in your next reply. Next time a buyer asks about price, before you answer, ask them: "What price range were you thinking?" Sometimes they'll say they were expecting to pay more than you're asking. You've just learned you could have listed higher.

The Real Issue: It's Not About Price, It's About Confidence

Buyers ask "What's your best price?" because DoneDeal rewards it. Half the time they get a discount. Half the time they don't. They're just testing.

The sellers who stop getting annoyed by this question are the ones who realize it's not a reflection on their car or their asking price. It's just how Irish car buying works on DoneDeal.

Price your car fairly based on real market data—not guesswork, not hope, not what you paid for it five years ago. Reply calmly when buyers ask about price. And be ready to move on it if you're actually willing to move. That's how cars sell fast on DoneDeal.

If you're not sure whether your current asking price is actually fair, that's worth fixing. See exactly what your car is worth based on real DoneDeal data right now with a CarIQ pricing report. €19.99 beats weeks of guessing on whether you're priced too high or too low.