Messages ignored by sellers

[neiwheat]

One thing that really is getting worse is seller communication, not responding to messages and basically treating buyers as a nuisance!

 I find this very odd and now will not buy from someone who can't be bothered to respond or interact even if I want the item.

I have messaged a few sellers numerous times and no reply, rude, unprofessional and disrespectful.

Your thoughts please!

[tisser7]

I'm experiencing exactly the same thing I'm gonna stop using eBay

[tisser7]

There's always and has been something worse going on in the world but you still need to crack on with daily activity. Message seller option is there for a reason. It's only a question and shouldn't be that difficult for someone to reply. 

[insidethe93]

2. It's just the way some people speak, lifting the end of a sentence to sound like a question when it isn't, so they write as they speak.

Or they don't want to come across to a stranger as being assertive and think a ? softens a blunt statement - whether it does or not is debateable.

Or they simply don't know how to use a ? properly.

3. The buyer probably isn't thinking along legal or officious lines. Think of "my item" as the conversational shorthand for them saying "the item that I ordered from you which is legally yours until it officially arrives in my possession". The quick alternative, "your item", would sound odd without probably lengthy qualification.

Of course visual verbal tics can annoy, but it'd be better for your mood to let it go. Or play it as word bingo whenever it happens and treat yourself to a tipple or something you fancy to make up for it.

[insidethe93]

Some buyers don't read AND FULLY TAKE IN the info given in the listing - they should, of course, but unfortunately it's human nature and if sellers want a sale it's a "necessary evil". Unless in their experience every person who asks a question never ever buys. As long as sellers remember that most buyers are fine.

I know someone who always asks the seller a question before buying, just to see if they answer. If the seller doesn't reply, they don't buy, not wanting to risk it if the transaction hit a problem. Well! at first I thought that was cheeky, but if buying high-value items I can understand.

If a seller's gone above and beyond, or their craftwork or presentation are exceptional, I'll send a thank you (separate from seller feedback) and say "no need to reply" (unless they really want to, as they're probably very busy). As one seller put it, "never too busy to send you a smiley" - for smiley read "quick acknowledgement the buyer exists" as bottom line that's what a buyer really wants. If a seller's too busy to answer straightaway, saying so is better than silence.

[insidethe93]

But when you replied you didn't know (at least not for sure) that they wouldn't buy.

At least it was a reply that didn't need research or lengthy typing as you were able to Copy&Paste.

It might've been a contact-seller-see-if-they-reply message as a very basic (too basic?) form of gauging customer service. I've posted about someone I know who does that; I wouldn't do it myself.

Sort of damned-if-you-do-answer, damned-if-you-don't.

[insidethe93]

Ha ha, because even a Size 12 varies between manufacturers. If you're Size 12, you might need a Size 10 or Size 14.

And a lot of women are Size 13, Size 15 etc!

[insidethe93]

Sorry to hear about your engagement ring. Maybe consider asking a jeweller's for a custom-made replacement? I've had to do this to "replace" an inherited Victorian ring in too bad a condition to be worn let alone resized & worn, and it turned not as expensive as I feared (Mappin & Webb - I'd expected a ridiculously high quote from The Queen's jeweller, but no they were the cheapest). Ideally a jeweller who gives a fixed price quote.

[insidethe93]

Measurements are one of the most important areas where info is important, especially online where you can't see, handle or even try on an item first.

I do wonder if for, say, private sellers who're decluttering or selling clothes belonging to a deceased loved one, whether they haven't fully let go of the garment in their mind, so there's a part of them resisting selling it, to the extent it makes them reluctant to engage or even downright unco-operative.

[treetopsminicottages]

I too have had similar issues with sellers especially the last few days.

One was an 'Best Offer' no response at all from the seller so it expired after 24 hours. Needless to say I did not bid on it either.

Another seller had 2 lots I was interested in so I enquired about combined postage as it was not mentioned in the listings. Again no response and no bids from me.

I also had an issue with combined postage on another seller's listings. It stated a price plus 10p for extra item. Okay I thought so put the items in my basket only to find the postage was showing at full price  and the 'request an invoice' blacked out. I contacted the seller hoping they would review their settings but was told just to pay the full amount (over £7 postage)  and wait for a refund. Again no purchase.

There have been lots of sellers complaining sales are dire yet we buyers are finding it harder to actually buy too!

[salvawamba]

I've noticed it as well in the last 2-3 years over multiple selling platforms, not just ebay. More and more sellers don't reply or reply once and never get back to you resulting in months of waiting for a detail, an info or a picture of the item to finalize the purchase, which never arrive resulting in months of wait and the item still being for sale with no buyers since some sellers think the buyer should just buy without asking for any detail which would help in finding out if the item/model/condition is the one you desire. Also, as a seller, one other thing that got way worse in the last few years is people who buy with no intention on paying and they obviously don't reply when you contact them. And a whole other problem is people buying an item with a clearly stated shipping fee and then asking for an imaginary cheaper shipping fee that doesn't exist, thinking sellers are desperate enough to beg and give discounts.

[salvawamba]

oh and 70% of people don't even leave feedbacks anymore

[artdirectextra]

Is there anyway that one can get ebay to help with a seller ignoring messges? I;ve tried to. call the ebay n umber. but you cant spak with anyone!! Thanks. 

[jckl1957]

Sellers do not have to respond to messages.  There is nothing Ebay can or will do so there is no point contacting Ebay.

If you are planning to buy an item and the seller won't reply, read the listing thoroughly and look at the pictures or find a different seller.

If you have an issue with an item you have bought. or an item that has not arrived, use the money back guarantee.

Other issue?

Ask a question in the forum.

[catheinmccan0]

Did all that had to eventually get help from my credit card company

[akue3661]

I bought a car battery in June it says it has 3 year guarantee, we opened box in July 2nd and the battery is leaking so my mechanic cannot use it.i have been trying to get hold of seller, no response. I am very very angry

[bennotbill]

Don't shoot me for saying but you should have opened the box as soon as it arrived.

And buying something like a car battery from a major outlet/garage is always the preferred option. As guarantees mean something with them.

But if you are still within 30 days of the items last delivery date then just open an item not as described case. Don't waste anymore time trying to contact the seller.

[ozmonaut]

The worst one for me has to be when a seller lists a clothing size as large, medium or small and then expects you to know the actual dimensions from this and can't be bothered to message back with a quick measurement i.e. across the chest. Usually the same seller will have a no returns policy and so there's not even a chance of returning the item if it doesn't fit. Do they just expect me to buy it and if it doesn't fit then tough? Unless they think that all clothing in the world is a standard measurement when it has a label in it saying large etc.

Some of the best sellers I've come across have just laid a tape measure across the garment in different positions while photographing it, not too hard to do is it and I then don't have to bother them with a please can you give me a measurement message, I can just buy or bid on it.

I used to work the front desk in a very busy stores environment and would always do my best to answer questions about products even when I was overwhelmed, and it was constantly busy, as one of my bosses when I was young taught me "There is no such thing as a stupid question, if someone goes out of their way to ask me a question then it is obviously important to them and so I do my best to answer it." So for all of you sellers that say I can't be bothered answering 'stupid' questions like "Do you know where this watch is made?" Try maybe answering that you're not sure if you don't know instead of ignoring another person on purpose because if you have that attitude then, I for one, definitely don't want to buy from you.

[insidethe93]

Indeed. Receiving answers from sellers when I was the most inexperienced and starting out on eBay was how I gradually built up a list of sellers I buy from regularly - looking back I'm pretty sure some of my early questions must've sounded "stupid" to them. All eBay buyers have to start somewhere.

[breezealong99]

I frequently don't reply to messages. EBay is riddled with time wasting idiots who send message after message then never bid. These people are easy to spot, basically their messages are usually something that could be Googled, or is already in the description. After the first response the questions get ever more vague and pointless. It must be so sad to have such a pointless life that people get a kick out of wasting someone's time!

[ozmonaut]

Well I never waste anyone's time. I check the description and photos and if the information I need isn't in there I message the seller. Still it's amazing how many sellers can't be bothered to reply. It used to really bother me until I realised that whatever the item is there is always a seller with that item that will respond and that is the seller that gets my business. 

For instance American military jackets, they have labels inside stating for example size Large to fit chest size 42" to 45" however different makers and dates do have different actual chest measurements not to mention incorrect laundering resulting in shrinkage. Unless you know this you'd ignore someone asking for an actual chest measurement. It's on the label right so they must be a time waster, dead wrong!