Nice! I tried to make an offer on an unsold lot and they wanted the estimate amount for it. Hard to believe when it didn't even bring a bid at the opening price. I offered them about 14% less than the opening bid and they wouldn't consider it. I was a little surprised by that, as 14% less isn't something I would consider a low ball offer. So that was a little off putting for dealing with them in the future.
Not saying it is necessarily true in this case, but in some auctions (like Goldbergs, I believe) the estimate is actually the consignors' reserve. So they may have no flexibility to go lower.
Weird... they sold it to me at opening. But I did notice a number of lots with reserves so maybe yours was one as @savitale suggested