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!

[locoscripters]

Your logic is impeccable as far as I'm concerned. 

Communication is an essential part of selling and all questions should be answered. We all know there are time wasters and that some people have no intention of buying. That is part of the game. But sometimes a buyer will want clarification of a point that has been covered in a listing description. 

And I agree if a seller cant be bothered to reply then how will they handle a sale or possible return? 

[arkwebus]

They will handle a return and a sale properly - one hopes - as eBay has structures in place to ensure they do so. 

@locoscripters 

[ozmonaut]

I agree, however they're less likely to get a sale in the first place if they can't clarify important details about the item they're trying to sell when asked.

[rushu96]

I agree. When you purchase something from a seller you're entering into a contract with them based on trust. When there's a problem and that item doesn't arrive and they don't respond it's the ultimate kiss off. Basically they're saying they don't care. Sure eBay will oblige and step in to offer you a refund which is all well and good but the seller should at least accept responsibility and apologise and assure the buyer that they are aware and will cooperate and issue the refund. If they don't then you're left waiting 5 working days until eBay step in. This is bad for business as the seller risks getting a poor rating review. C'mon sellers man up and stop ignoring your buyers! 

[bleswar-68]

I have had situations where you message a seller and they dont respond at all, but if you make an offer its rejected within minutes. If you contact them after the dont respond still 🤷🏾‍♂️.

[1956glyn]

A seller can set their listing to automatically reject offers below a certain amount.......that may be why its happening

[peja_6449]

The ignorance from these sellers is driving me mad. How hard is it to give an expected time for delivery.  And how does Ebay just send you around in circles.  

Do they not read the consumer law

[*help_no_brakes*]

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@peja_6449 wrote:

The ignorance from these sellers is driving me mad. How hard is it to give an expected time for delivery.  And how does Ebay just send you around in circles.  

Do they not read the consumer law

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The Last Estimated Delivery Date is provided to you at time of purchase.

[*help_no_brakes*]

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@peja_6449 wrote:

The ignorance from these sellers is driving me mad. How hard is it to give an expected time for delivery.  And how does Ebay just send you around in circles.  

Do they not read the consumer law

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Just saw your other thread.

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Member-To-Member-Support/Ebay-unconscionable-method/m-p/7650423#M226...

Have you considered doing things the easy way by reading the Money Back Guarantee & using it ?

[1956glyn]

The ESTIMATED delivery dates are set by Ebay and not the seller.  They are estimates and not set in stone.   Often they are very optimistic.

Ebay often do not take into account  Couriers own estimates for delivery based on the method that is used.    This is a bone of contention for many sellers and there are several threads on these boards about them.

[primemoredealsoup]

I don't even understand why this is an ongoing discussion, as there is no reason for a seller not to reply to reply to a buyer under any circumstances once full payment has been made!

If you are selling 100's or 1000's of items daily then you can afford & need to hire CS staff who can do this on your behalf...otherwise this is just pure neglegence under your obligations as a (buisness or private seller) to stay in contact with customers, so people please stop making excuses for ''ingorance & negligence'' otherwise you should not be a seller or even have a business in the first place as far as I see it!

[1956glyn]

Private sellers do not usually sell 100s or 1000s of items daily. 

I am a private seller and to be honest i am not constantly on Ebay every day due to other commitments.

Saying that i usually can respond to any messages within a day or less .    Personally i do not inform any buyer that i have posted their item..........Ebay does that for me when i go to the Post Office and then come back and immediately add the tracking.

[primemoredealsoup]

That is why I mentioned both Private & buisness sellers in terms of sales per day week, etc*

I certainly never suggested a private seller should have to reply straight away, but regardless if a buyer messages and asks for details about the item after payment has been received then the seller has an obligation to reply ASAP otherwise risk negative feedback for non communication... I am pretty sure most people do not expect an instant reply but more than 3 days then any seller would be pushing it, and as a buyer/seller myself not something I would risk myself. 

There is always the option to mark as being away or on holiday too which would cover the seller.

[gazz-9050]

Could not agree more, maybe they are not serious about selling anything. I do the same and not buy if they won't return my message.

[gazz-9050]

Infact I am stopping buying off ebay for this reason.

[ozmonaut]

I don't blame you. Just been in touch with a seller to provide a measurement from pit to pit on the chest size of a jacket because their description said 42-44 inches. Does that mean it fits a 42-44 inch chest, which means the actual jacket could measure up to 46-48 inches or is that an actual measurement of the jacket? The response I got was to paste the description into the answer as though I hadn't read it in the first place and was some sort of idiot.

I'm sick to death of smart *bleep* sellers who ultimately won't get my business so I'm starting to buy a lot more from actual shops now. Apart from buying from Etsy, I've had way more positive experience with sellers on there than I have on eBay.

I think given sellers attitudes now on eBay (I've seen some sellers with absolutely horrible bad feedback for not posting things to selling damaged goods and the like and eBay does nothing) I'll be surprised if it lasts much longer.

[*help_no_brakes*]

I think given sellers attitudes now on eBay (I've seen some sellers with absolutely horrible bad feedback for not posting things to selling damaged goods and the like and eBay does nothing

For some years now eBay does not include feedback in Seller Performance Metrics... and rightly so.

) I'll be surprised if it lasts much longer.

If I had a dollar for each time that has been mentioned... lol

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[ozmonaut]

"For some years now eBay does not include feedback in Seller Performance Metrics... and rightly so."

Really!

You think this is right! a week ago I bought a charging cable off a seller that still has not been posted. I then decided to check his feedback to find tons of bad feedback for not posting things for weeks or not posting at all.

One buyer had to wait a month to get an item after messaging about the item and the seller is within the UK and you think that eBay should just let this seller carry on suckering people in. That my friend is the start of the rot. A seller gets away with stuff like that and there is no incentive for them to correct their actions.

eBay is already starting to repeat items found on a search to pad out the amount of results and try things like the "You may also like" approach to try and get sales back up so I wouldn't be surprised if it is in decline. Here is a small clip for you from the professionals.

Summary

eBay's Q3 2023 results reinforce the belief that the stock is a potential value trap, with low growth expected.

The company faces challenges in the e-commerce landscape, including intense competition and changing consumer preferences.

Despite its seemingly low valuation, eBay's stagnant customer adoption curve and tepid revenue growth projections for 2024 raise concerns.

[*help_no_brakes*]

I only think it is right because eBay introduced more stringent seller metrics.

Many a feedback was frivolous or left in error.

I look at a seller' s feedback before I buy to avoid your experience.

"the professioals" have always raised those concerns.

[ozmonaut]

To be honest I would prefer more stringent seller metrics to avoid the kind of dross that is going on. Unfortunately I saw the seller didn't have 100 percent positive but like an idiot decided to give them a chance but that's the kind of thing you can't do unless there are more stringent metrics! Put it any way you like but it's linked to decline in sales. eBay want to keep sellers and buyers so they will just ignore rubbish sellers.

As for the professionals opinion let's put it this way, I'm the only person on my workplace that uses eBay, everyone I know now uses Facebook marketplace and the like.