Do people ask stupid questions for something to do

[vintagechinashop]

So we made it. We have officially got to the end of the silly season 

congratulations and a Happy Christmas to all may 2025 be prosperous 

just a silly question to finish off. 

title of listing includes the words 4 plates  description says set of 4 plates 

question. Sorry to bother you but are 4 plates included in the price 

answer yes there are 4 plates included 

answer. Oh thank you 

is it me or do people ask obvious questions for something to do 

[the-nutwood-collection]

In Hobbycraft, a woman sprung out at me and said, 'You look like a person that can knit' and proceeded to ask questions about a pattern and yarn she was considering.

I answered her questions - yes, she was right, I can knit - but I've always wondered what physical characteristics a person who can knit has, that makes them stand out in a crowd.  I fear it's not the characteristics that a scout from a top model agency would be looking for. 

When checking out the tool boxes at B&Q to see which one was suitable to house my liquid dyes, a guy asked me where the gents lavatory was.  I told him where I thought it was.  A little later he came back and said 'Thanks, I found it'.  Far too much information.  Then he came back and asked me how many inches 15cm is.  What is about me that makes people think I'm a human Google?    

Just a normal day in Birmingham.

[the-nutwood-collection]

There's nothing new about these questions, they've just moved from retail to online.

I worked the Max Factor counter in the big Co-Op in Birmingham.  Example question - I want a lipstick for my Auntie Mabel, which colour is best?  I ask what Auntie Mabel's skin tone is.  Answer - I don't know.  What colour does she usually wear?  Answer - I don't know. 

Also did a stint on retail fashion.  Man buying garments for wife.  What size?  Answer - I don't know.  Point out various shop assistants and customers and ask which is a similar size to his wife.  Answer - I don't know.  It's his wife - does he never look at her?  One thing's certain, whatever he buys will be a return in the new year.

[messier44000]

One of my customers a few years back.

Your adapter does not fit my camera

What camera do you have

A Sony

Which adapter you did buy

One for a Canon

That`s why it doesn't fit.

[insidethe93]

Years ago hubby and I took a note of each other's measurements, in case. The husband in your post hopefully learned the lesson that he should plan ahead, for instance, look at the size labels in his wife's wardrobes or check labels while doing the laundry (assuming he shares in the laundry duty).

I accidentally typed "wardrobes" plural...a Freudian slip? (a Freudian slip is one of the garments in the wardrobe).

[sheba-knows-best]

While we're on the topic of clothing... my all time 'I wanna scream' return reason (and I get maybe 5 of these a year).

Reason: Doesn't fit

Comment: I kinda knew it wouldn't fit from the measurements you gave but it looked so lovely I just had to try.

aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[5216elisabeth]

This year I have had a few of these:

Item condition: NEW

'Is this new and unused?' hmmm yes

I generally assume they want me to reply with 'yes and your prize for asking a stupid question is a reduced price' - they just get a very polite affirmation that the item is new and unused as stated.  They don't deserve a prize for such an uncreative attempt at getting a discount lol

Having had a number of customer facing jobs over the years I came to the conclusion long ago that human stupidity actually does not have any limits...

I have however had a few buyers say thank you when they have received the answer to a sensible question.  In fact I had one who added a note to their order thanking me for giving so many measurements on the listing that they didn't need to ask a question - made my day 🙂

[theelench]

I often include a £1 coin in my photos, to help those who don't read my descriptions which always give the size of the (glass) items.  At first, as I only post to the UK, in inches but after a couple of questions asking what was the Metric size, in both.

Then one buyer sent a question asking if the £1 was included in the sale.  As I was happy to get the sale I replied in the affirmative.  And yes they did buy the item!!!!

I did wonder though, if they returned it would they send back my pound??

Happily they didn't and even came back to buy another item.  I was careful to include the £1 again but my luck had run out and they've not been back since. 😢

[the-nutwood-collection]

It wasn't one husband, there were loads of them!  All wandering around on Christmas Eve afternoon, totally clueless, most with a drink or two inside them.  Happened every year.

A colleague went out shopping at lunchtime on his wife's birthday.  Came back with a big box containing a pressure cooker.  His rationale was that she'd mentioned that the seal was perishing on her current pressure cooker - so he thought he'd get her a new one for her birthday. 

The following day he asked me if I'd go shopping with him at lunchtime to help him choose another present.    

[pulseofthedead]

 My OH bought me a spade once for a birthday present. Weirdly it didn’t go down well…haha

[1956glyn]

This years main Christmas pressie for me and my other half was a new  cooker as ours went bang the first week of December lol

[pulseofthedead]

At least it was a joint present that you both wanted. Lol

[insidethe93]

If it didn't fit they could've adapted it by sewing it themselves, or enlist a sewing friend or local area's sewing circle, or take it to an alterations shop as sometimes they enjoy doing "proper" sewing instead of the usual boring alterations.

An imminent project happens to be altering a top that's too small. Any reasonably experienced or enterprising sewing person can do this - become one or befriend one 🙂

[insidethe93]

A common (and humorous) fiduciary marker seems to be a banana. No buyer, however cheeky, should expect you to send them the banana, or if they do: "sorry, I ate it."

[greenangelx]

My favourite 'stupid' question I have had on ebay from many years ago was - 'why do you keep changing the price on your item?'.  I had to explain to them what an auction was!

[tressygirl]

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@greenangelx wrote:

My favourite 'stupid' question I have had on ebay from many years ago was - 'why do you keep changing the price on your item?'.  I had to explain to them what an auction was!

---

That's my favourite stoooopid question here so far!  😂🤣

[bravergrace]

Some questions from buyers seem ridiculous (or at least, quite unnecessary); but occasionally they do have a real reason for asking.

One I had recently went like this:

-  Do you actually have this hymnal that you are advertising?

- Yes.

- Does it definitely have the music for hymn number 33, as stated in the listing and the contents page?"

- Yes.

- Can you get it to me by tomorrow at the latest?  It's for a funeral.

- Yes.

Perhaps the buyer had been let down by a previous seller, or perhaps they were just desperate, having exhausted all other avenues of getting hold of the music?

[tech-tonix]

What I've found is the large majority of people who ask questions at all - they might ask me "does the laptop have USB 3.1 ?" - and even if the answer is yes they still don't buy. So they're timewaster enquiries in the main.

Some just like to ask questions, & with others it's the ADHD thing where if you don't answer within 10 seconds they've moved onto something else. 

[myriad*seller]

Oh, they probably got the answer from you, and then eBay showed them another sellers listing that was 95p cheaper so they bought that one