Quoted from wayout440:

So how can you get these folks to realize what an acceptable offer is? Or is that not possible because a realistic offer appears such a lowball compared to the fantasy price they list at?

Quoted from pinnyheadhead:

$1500 for a player, c list game is not a deal.
I feel a lot of people have it wrong - the hunt is not for particular pins, but for good collectors in your area whom you can establish good buying and selling relationships with for years to come.
The best way to buy is make local connections and if someone has a pin you want say "let me know if you ever want to sell that pin".
A month later the person could be a greedy D bag and price it 20% higher than it is worth and say they "they don't need to sell it or need the money?" (Hate is a strong word, but....) or they could be cool and give you a price based on a local, quick sale, to a person who is not crazy, whom they can trust to show up and pay for it and not have to put it online to have price police bust their bullocks and low ballers wasting their time. Once you find who the non d bags in your area you are good to go with buying for years to come. This also requires you not be a d bag also, as in low balling, complaining about little things after the sale and buying it and putting it on Craigslist the next day at $500 more than you paid.