How to make an offer on Kijiji

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How does the native offer feature work?

Kijiji’s Make an Offer guide identifies it as an app feature for Buy and Sell. Where available, Send Offer lets you submit a suggested or custom amount and continue in chat.

The documented suggested choices include the listed price and a lower offer. Those are interface conveniences, not a recommendation that every item deserves the same discount.

Kijiji states that sending an offer is neither payment nor a binding purchase commitment. Treat it as the start of a conversation about the item.

What if you are browsing on a computer?

Use the normal seller conversation to propose a price. You do not need to imitate an app control or move to an unfamiliar payment site.

A useful message names the item and conditions: “Would you consider $180 for the table and both leaves, if they match the photos? I can inspect and collect on Saturday afternoon.”

Sift runs in a desktop browser and can help with the research stage. It does not turn the Kijiji website into the app-only offer flow.

How do you choose an amount?

1. Confirm the exact product. Similar models can have different values.
2. Compare relevant examples. Match condition and included parts.
3. Add your collection and completion costs.
4. Set your maximum before contacting the seller.
5. Make a clear, respectful offer. Explain material differences when useful.

Use the listing comparison worksheet and total-cost guide. A price that looks low can still be poor value after a missing accessory and a long collection.

Should you mention a price drop?

You can use a documented change as context, but the current value matters more than the seller’s earlier asking price. “It used to be $300” does not mean the seller owes you a further reduction.

The Kijiji price-history guide distinguishes native promotional badges from observed history. Neither tells you the seller’s lowest acceptable amount.

If the seller says the price is firm, decide whether it works for you. Repeating the same offer is unlikely to improve the information available.

What should happen after acceptance?

Confirm the exact item, included parts, price, collection window and inspection. Do not let “accepted” remain the whole agreement.

Ask about access and testing before travelling. For a large item, confirm dimensions and loading. For a device, confirm account removal and setup requirements.

Follow Kijiji’s safety guidance on inspection and payment. An accepted offer does not make advance payment to an unfamiliar party safer.

How do you handle a change of mind?

Tell the seller promptly through the same conversation. Kijiji’s offer guidance allows you to state that you are no longer interested. A clear cancellation is better than leaving the other person waiting.

If you arranged a firm pickup, acknowledge the inconvenience. Do not book several conflicting collections merely to preserve options.

If inspection reveals a material difference, explain it specifically. You may propose a revised amount or decline. Avoid inventing faults as a tactic to reopen a price you already found acceptable.

What makes an offer effective?

Clarity and a workable plan. The seller needs to know what you want, what you are offering and whether the next step is practical.

A concise offer with realistic collection and a defined inspection often communicates more than a long argument about value. Keep the number anchored to your research, and keep enough flexibility to walk away when the complete purchase no longer fits.