I have been chastised (and threatened with punishment) for stating in an Ebay message that I would consider offers. Ebay said I was negotiating to sell off their site, which wasn't true. Since that time, I now automatically respond "sorry, I don't negotiate prices." Some would call that rude as well, but Ebay has tied our hands

For current listings, there is a button you can push to submit an offer. For expired listings, there is no button, but the Ebay rules even say that Ebay can charge sellers a commission based on the expired listing price (plus postage) if they think we are negotiating. Imagine if I listen to a potential buyer make a pitch for a lower price, I sound interested but don't make a deal, and I still get charged a full-price commission for an item I never sold.