eBay

little-bacchus · ‎20-02-2015

I'd like to know form some that have been selling/buying for longer than I have how important it is to to get to know your customers and sellers on eBay.

My sales tend to generate a bit of communication between me and the buyer, some are just question and answer others are chats that continue for some time (product orientated). eBay can be a little impersonal so I try and keep in touch with people that have asked questions or opened communication.

I know this is going to be hard if selling 200 units of something a day to people all over the world but for others with a more modest inventory is this something you do?

myraandjim · ‎20-02-2015

several years ago a lady that I bought from was particularly helpful and we got to chatting via email. Later she was on holiday in this area so called in and spent the day with me, and we are still in (infrequent admittedly) contact. The few pounds I spent with her was the beginning of a lovely friendship.

little-bacchus · ‎21-02-2015

Great to hear. Nice to know that a bond was made from a transaction. Things like that make eBay feel a little warmer.

5129frederick · ‎21-02-2015

Oh, I agree with that totally. Several of my items I have sold over the years have developed into quite profound penfriendship-type ebay communications. Only good can come of it because as you say, you build up a favourable rapport with several people to such a degree you exchange postcards and Christmas cards etc. You won't believe the confidential information they reveal about themselves once you gain their confidence. Keep it up. As the closing words of Cassablanca go,: "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship."

mouse4702 · ‎21-02-2015

Not quite building up a rapport with customers, but, a friend of mine was browsing and took a shine, not to the product on offer, but the piece of cloth it was lying on. The cloth wasn't for sale, but the seller did go into town and buy another piece to send to my friend as she couldn't find it anywhere else.

I once lost in an auction for several CDs of my favourite (rather obscure) band, and sent the seller a message congratulating her on her taste in music! Although I didn't win, she did something which was, er, possibly unethical, and I received copies of said CDs for nothing.

It's great when people are more than just faceless pseudonyms on a screen.