Hoppingoffer

Hoppingoffer is a term used in negotiation and online marketplaces to describe a price-offering tactic in which a participant posts a sequence of offers that move rapidly across price levels. The approach aims to probe competitors’ willingness to pay, test demand at different prices, or press for concessions by signaling flexibility through incremental changes.

The word is a portmanteau of hop and offer, reflecting the stepwise progression of offers. It appears in informal discussions on marketplace forums and shopper blogs and has no formal status in economics. Its precise origin is uncertain, with scattered early uses in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

In practice, a hoppingoffer may involve posting or proposing offers in quick succession, with small increments and short display times. It can be used by buyers to test supplier concessions or by sellers to gauge price elasticity. Some implementations run across multiple items to map demand, and data from such activity can inform pricing decisions or negotiation strategy.

Ethical and legal considerations vary by platform. Some marketplaces prohibit manipulative pricing practices, and participants risk penalties, disputes, or damaged reputation if offers are misleading or deceptive. Critics argue the tactic can distort fair pricing and erode trust in markets, while proponents see it as a way to reveal true price sensitivity and improve negotiation outcomes.

See also: dynamic pricing, auction theory, bid shading, price discrimination.