Arrogant buyer?
I'm getting an arrogant vibe from this initial buyer's message. The weird thing is that what he is asking for, shirt material, is clearly shown in the listing's Item Specifics as well as a line in the listing description. He must have missed it or something. I checked his feedbacks left and while he doesn't leave many negs, he does some neutrals. But mostly all of his feedbacks left are written novels with good and bad comments so I can't really tell if he's a post-sale complainer thru messages or just venting in feedback. If it's the latter, I wouldn't care.
Would you entertain a buyer like this? Here's his message.
"Your listing seems to omit a very important matter that I would never buy without knowing, namely the material from which theses shirts are made of. To be honest I'm surprised at the fact that you have been able to sell this long like this and actually made sales because of this. You'd think a seller of this age would know do provide something as obvious as material.
This is my question, please reply and while you are at it, update your listing with the information so it doesn't look amateurish. Thank you, W.Todd"
jbbowers12012
·1 year agoHi, If this potnetional buyer hasnt' made a purchase yet - Block ............"The Juice Is Not Worth The Squeeze!"
tinsoldierunderground
·1 year ago@iamalwaysright
Block this arrogant a$$whole.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoI think sometimes a buyer just wants to see what kind of seller they are dealing with.
I would answer their question.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·1 year agoEbay would be a much better place without buyers playing games before they even spend money.
No thanks. BBL
asset_liquidators
·1 year agoI would have responded that the information he seeks is already in the listing in two places and I would think that a buyer of this age would not overlook something so obvious as the material, especially when it is listed in TWO places in the ad.
Then I would follow that up by adding him to my best buddies list!
gurlcat
·1 year agoYou should always include photos of all tags on garments. -Including the fabric content, garment size, country of origin, and cleaning requirements. These are huge factors to some people. And many who don't bother reading any text down the screen DO look at all the photographs. It takes only a few extra seconds to snap pics of the tags.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·1 year agoI would have stopped there and BBL'd
kandf_vintage_finds
·1 year agoignore and do not reply...block now....move on....
fbusoni
·1 year ago@iamalwaysright
What I'm curious about is why you think there is any debate about what you should do.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoFrom my observation, he frequently posts here after he's already dealt with the buyer and poses the scenario as an interesting discussion point to see what others would do.
Notice he said "would you" and not "should I."
participatrophy
·1 year agoPretty sure the average person today neither knows nor cares what material their clothing is made of. If you do happen to care, you learn very quickly not to ever rely upon descriptions and titles when shopping for clothes online. Ever. You either find a photo where the tag which lists the fiber content is legibly visible, or you move on to another listing. Couple that with the odds favoring this guy being on a phone and arrogance isn't the vibe I get. Frustration is.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoI sell clothing and I can tell you that the average person *does* care what their clothing is made of. It's why I mention it in my own listings.
iamalwaysright
OP1 year agoI can see both sides to this coin as I myself don't really care as much, but more of the "feel" of a piece of clothing that might indirectly relate to what it's made of.
I was actually surprised back when ebay increased more of the required item specifics for clothing (like Department), but they didn't include Material in with the required specifics.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year agoNot only do most buyers care, as a clothing seller, I can tell you that they care VERY much!!! Many women have fabrics or blends they refuse to wear. I used to love silk, I lived in silk almost 24/7, until I moved to a dry climate. I haven't worn silk for 25 years, it just gets all staticy & sticks to you. Maybe men don't care, I don't sell a lot of mens clothes, but women care & they care VERY much!
iamalwaysright
OP1 year agoAs long as it doesn’t smell like urine or poop, it goes back into my clothes drawer, 😉
ekmadonna
·1 year agoTell him TO READ and BLOCK! No Questions Asked
simba6
·1 year agoBlocked bidder list for sure.
a_c_green
·1 year agoProbably not. At the same time, though, you might want to try viewing your own listing on a phone while not logged in to your own account, and see what it looks like. Mobile mode on a smartphone is probably the worst possible way to view a listing (e.g. buried descriptions, truncated description summaries, captions and titles running offscreen), so view yours and see how easy (or not easy) it is to find the details that he was asking about.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year ago@a_c_green It's NOT just on mobile. I see the same screen or a similar one that has no details & forces me to click on 'see full details' all the time, on the web version. I don't have time right now to figure out the exact navigation that takes me to that one, but I get it a lot. So even those shopping on their PC's often do NOT see the description details.
a_c_green
·1 year agoRight; I didn't say it was just on mobile, but it was the worst on mobile. I have not recently come across a "See full details" link in a desktop view, but I do remember when that annoying thing was all over the place.
I think it had something do with hidden coding or formatting or some such thing buried in the description text that eBay, for whatever reason, did not want to make part of the main listing page, but instead would isolate it in some sub-linked popup, something like that, that the viewer would have to open deliberately in order to read.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year ago@a_c_green No problem, I wasn't sure if you knew. Lots of people think it's only on mobile. I believe it has to do with when I'm routed to a store page & then I click on an item from there. But it happens to me A LOT. I wish I had the time to delve into it now, but just rec'd a 35 page inspection report on the sale of a home I am handling & several bids & I have a LOT to do in the next few days to get stuff remediated in a way that's acceptable to buyers & lenders alike. Not fun.
BTW, not directed to you, but just in general, this is why I'm never even a little snarky when replying to these queries, eBay hides the details under many circumstances. Yes, sometimes people miss them, but sometimes they're never shown them.
pastimpressions
·1 year agoI don't know that I would call that arrogant behavior.
I have known many people, from many walks of life with a degree of mastery, accomplishment or otherwise a level of acknowledged excellence in their chosen field of endeavor so great that it would not be hyperbolic for me to say: " I knew so & so, it was great to know someone that was amongst the best there ever was in their field."
Some of these people were mere acquaintances & others I have been privileged to call a friend.
Some of these people were arrogant from being marinated in their own capacity.
Others (the ones that were my friends) were so supremely humble as to be paragons.
If they suffered from any character flaws, it was single-minded obsession with their work & not arrogance.
The individual, as described by the OP, is not arrogant. I truly regret to say that they are ignorant.
Any individual that opines in that detail, with that level of scrutiny married to critique,
Any individual that advises as they admonish,
Any individual that dismisses as they insult......
Well, that individual had better be the goods.
Otherwise, they are (as the bard said) "full of sound and fury signifying nothing."
In other words, flatulence.
Feel free to serve them as you would any valued customer. We are in the service business.
Just know that tigers have stripes and leopards have spots. Be forewarned.
Best of Luck with Shop & Sales.
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoThat's a block from me to him.
Buyer can give positive feedback...but a low score on shipping speed, accurate description, reasonable shipping cost and communication.
gone.c-33
·1 year agoI’m surprised it wasn’t signed Ignatius J. Reilly.
nyr134
·1 year agoThat potential buyer sounds like a recently retired schoolteacher.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year agoI would reply & I would reply something like @wastingtime101 said along with my obligatory, if you're shopping on a phone spiel b/c eBay DOES hide the details, not only on the phone, but on the website too, depeding on how you navigate. I'd reply for no other reason than to show them they missed it LOL. I don't block many, so I wouldn't block, but I understand why others do.
camsdepot
·1 year agoMaybe they were having a bad day, but they did give you some useful information, maybe having the material in the title would help.
A little rude but maybe he was just trying to help.
inhawaii
·1 year agoI would still sell it to him and politely reply with the following...
"Thank you for your question. The shirt is made of 100% cotton (or whatever). That is stated in the listing. Perhaps you have my listing confused with someone else's? Have a great day!"
iamalwaysright
OP1 year agoYea that's what I was thinking too, he got the wrong listing. Because this guy seemed too sure of himself about my listing content, or lack of.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year agoI don't think he got the wrong listing. Ebay hides the full description, not only on the app versions, but on desktop too. You need to click on 'see full details' or 'more info' or something like that. It happens on phone always & sometimes on PC depending on how you navigate.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoThat's a good one, too - kill 'em with kindness and show them how it's done.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoðŸ‘Mixed up with someone else's listing is the other response I was considering.
Although I do love Dear Whiner and Greetings Your Majesty. 😂
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoSame here.
I wouldn't have a problem answering their question and selling to them.
johnrj1226
·1 year agoSpot on again - I would have done the same short and sweet reply w/ info requested In the course of doing business a seller will run into a buyer or potential buyer that is just having a bad day. Happens every day some where. Their money spends just the same as the "easy" buyers that just might become a repeat buyer - have run into those types in face to face selling - empathy is a key to success in selling..
Maybe the those that think differently should highlight the requirements to be on your list of Qualified Buyers in their listings. Hint: Utopia ain't around the next corner yet.
bennotbill
·1 year agoNormally with those sort I questions I just say - from the ad/description and then quote the answer. But considering the "amateurish" insult I would just block them as others have suggested.
legalbeagle52
·1 year agoHe sounds like a big red flag.
I would block. Now.
His attitude & tone is awful.
Consider yourself lucky if he sent you that BEFORE buying.
It doesn't bother me so much if he missed the info in your listing, as some of the buyers just skim the listing ... but the rest of his 'novel' is uncalled for.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoDear Whiner -
The listing mentions the fabric content in two places.
Thank you,
Excellent seller.
Then block.
glorybells
·1 year agoLOL, seems like you have a bit of the snarkiness that I have!
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoIt takes a lot for me to block, but I have no tolerance for this kind of condescending finger-wagging - particularly when the finger-wagger doesn't even know what they're talking about.
iamalwaysright
OP1 year agoLol "Dear Whiner"
I would've gone with
"Greetings Your Majesty"
luckythewinner
·1 year agoI would never unnecessarily antagonize a buyer on a venue where anyone can create a new account and damage my ability to sell.
silverstatetreasureboxes
·1 year agoThats hilarious chap, but you have " excellent seller", doesn't that title belong to inhawaii exclusively? Lol
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoHe's actually the
**~BEST SELLER ON EBAY~**
wastingtime101
·1 year ago"Hi - sorry to hear you're not seeing material content in this listing. I double-checked and from my end can see the [100% cotton or whatever] in the item specifics and the description as pictured.
Can you send me a screenshot of what you're seeing? I'll need that to file a tech report with eBay. If buyers are not seeing the full listing details I definitely want to address that with eBay."
Attach screenshot with material circled - both app and web view.
adamcartwright
·1 year ago@wastingtime101
I actually did that once. I asked the person to send me a screenshot so I could send it to eBay and get to the bottom of why he didn't see the same thing on his screen as I saw on mine. And that was the last I heard from him. 😂
iamalwaysright
OP1 year agoYea I do that tactic too. Just three days ago a buyer messaged me and was like “what gives? I ordered the navy blue but received the gray one.†I checked and the sales record says he chose gray. I pretty much told him that (screenshot provided) and asked to please provide me a screenshot of where he sees it as a Navy purchase so I can complain to eBay about their mistake, how much of a problem it causes us, etc.
He replied that so it seems he did pick the gray one. But he blamed the eBay confirmation email saying it didn’t specify the color on there, claiming he could have reversed his purchase had he known then. I think those emails do state the variation colors chosen but don’t change the gallery photo to the corresponding variation photo (in this case it’d be color). But I’m not going to argue that with him. He then said he’ll just throw it away.
I was back and forth about letting sleeping dogs lie or not, but then I (reluctantly) mentioned to him that I had free returns and he could just return it to me for absolutely free for a full refund. Luckily he replied that he’d just give the item away instead. So, win-win I guess.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoOrder confirmation emails do include variation. I just checked the confirmation email for an order I placed last week from a variation listing.
iamalwaysright
OP1 year agoGood to know what buyers see. But does it show the variation photo, or the gallery pic of the listing? I’m guessing it’s the latter.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoItem I ordered last week didn't have variation pics so I can't definitively answer that question. BUT ... if the seller's order confirmation email is any indication, I'm seeing my default gallery pics on those emails, not variation pics. I believe your assessment is correct that the buyer will see default pic, with variation text below. Most buyers barely glance at those messages so they're just going to see the pic and nothing else.
In the shopping cart and on the order confirmation screen it shows variation pic.
adamcartwright
·1 year ago@iamalwaysright
You did the kind thing, and maybe his conscience got the better of him.
Glad it worked out for you.
chariot_badges
·1 year agoYou would REALLY do all of that?
I can see why you chose the moniker you have here.
The buyer isn't.
And if he does, he's going to be a problem for weeks.
wastingtime101
·1 year agohaha I have no idea what I'd do because it would depend on the value of the item. That said, I could grab screenshots from both web and app and send them with a reply to the buyer in under 60 seconds, easy.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoIt's called good customer service.
I used to sell a software item and had this one buyer and she always had problems and questions.
I could have canceled her orders and blocked her, but I wanted to provide good customer service.
Even though she had a lot of problems and questions, she become one of my best customers and every time I would put out a new item, I could count on her to make a purchase.
She ended up buying a couple hundred items and I knew there would be problems and questions, but I didn't care.
iamalwaysright
OP1 year agoI have an old man buyer like that. I remember helping him in the beginning was like hair pullingly difficult. He made many order mistakes and I had to cancel and correct so many. His messages were like life stories. What helped me help him was that he never once was unpleasant in messages and was always appreciative for my replies.
Every time he buys from me it’s in multiples and $100-$200 but still makes errors in his orders that I have to fix. But I know him well enough now to know what he wants. He’s purchased thousands of dollars worth from me easily.
adamcartwright
·1 year ago@chariot_badges @wastingtime101
I think it's great to take a minute to call someone on his **bleep**.
It may well discourage him from trying it with another seller.
(And it might be kinda fun.)
doc-holmes
·1 year agoNo, no, no. Don't deal with them.
reallynicestamps
·1 year agoHas he paid?
Ship.
Or- you can Message him with "I don't think you will be happy with your purchase. Would you like me to cancel the order and refund you now?"
If he has not purchased.
Delete. Ignore. Block.
tarotfindsandmore
·1 year agoBLOCK. That's a headache waiting to happen.