Difficult Pre-Buyer
A buyer asked a question, they wanted to purchase three items and could not find a way to use the cart and ask for an invoice. I told them, please email what you wish to purchase and I will give you the total for combined shipping. Or, purchase what you like and as always, I refund if there is any difference.
They emailed back a thesis about how badly I do things, I know exactly how much these things cost to ship, etc., they are not paying the handling fee on all items, how do I know you will even do a refund and it went on for three paragraphs I blocked them, but should I email back and say, as the listing states, please email for combined shipping but I think you would be happier with another seller. As opposed of course to what I would love to write. Thanks, any suggestions would be appreciated. This one has never happened before.
brightlightbookseller
·2 years agoI wouldn't respond at all. They played their hand by showing they would be difficult to work with by ranting at you immediately in response to a very reasonable message (I mean, I'm assuming it was, we can't see the text, but what you described sounds very reasonable). I'd just block and move on, someone else will buy the items.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoFor me "the last word" is just blowing them off and forgetting about them.
animalpaws
OP2 years agoWell, that certainly does stop being passive aggressive. In my own business I just say, this is not in the best interest of either of us so you need to find someone else, found after 37 years that works well. Hate it when people like you are right. Thinking about it, ignoring is worse than if I were to have emailed them back. I will remember your words, I don't like them but will follow them here. Being a grown up is ucky!
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoYou could always write a nasty reply, or any sort of reply, then delete it. ðŸ˜
But yeah, I agree - it's not in the best interest of either of you to carry on a convo about this, especially since he seems to be a bit of a chatterbox.
sin-n-dex
·2 years agoThis is normal stuff in my store, except I don't usually get a thesis about how badly things are done.
I don't block them, lots of them are inexperienced buyers and eBay doesn't exactly make it easy for buyers to do stuff like combine purchases. Not all buyers trust you'll refund overages. My most recent buyer paid by eCheck and he wants a $2.90 refund on his shipping, but because the eCheck is pending, I don't have the money to refund him. I'm having to appease him so he doesn't get upset about how things are going right now.
C.
animalpaws
OP2 years ago@sin - this person has close to 2,000 feedback as a buyer.
mam98031
·2 years agoFor me, it is normally the seasoned members that give me the hardest time, and most of them are sellers too. It is like they are frustrated at Ebay and misdirect their anger at fellow sellers.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoBlock them before they purchase from you.
Block Block Block and stop conversing with them.
animalpaws
OP2 years agoI did not return the tirade, just blocked. But I really, really wanted to email back! That is why I came to the board, just needed confirmation.
sin-n-dex
·2 years agoI love to have the last word.
Sometimes it's good to pass that and let them have the last word so you know you won't hear from them again.
C.
the_fancy_fox
·2 years agoI have had a buyer or two like this. What I did is block them and then remove the item from my store for a month or so. If they try any funny stuff like buying from an alternate Id, the items not there.
Once I relist it, they never surfaced again.
animalpaws
OP2 years agoI like that, I have no idea what other two they were interested in but I will delete the one I know about. THANKS!
mam98031
·2 years agoWhich was the absolute best thing for you to do. Going back and forth with someone that is not being realistic will typically end badly. I would have done exactly what you did and put them on my BBL nor would I respond to their email.
animalpaws
OP2 years agoThanks for all the advice. He won’t even give me the names of the items but the one he asked about so I can’t do a separate listing. He was so busy blasting me I guess he forgot. Oddly close to 2,000 positive feedback so they know better and how this works. And cripes, please don’t tell me what you’re willing to pay when there is no best offer! I wanted to double check my gut instinct and many of you so far agree. Hope he doesn’t have another ID to buy under, I see a negative review if I sell him anything based on the tirade.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoBlock the buyer and move on.
Would I have said anything else in emails.
Nope.
I have enough drama in my life living in a big city.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoBBL.
It will not get better.
A customer who finds technology puzzling (on a site nearly 30years old) and who tells an experienced seller how to run their business?
BBL BBL BBL
stuff4divas
·2 years ago@animalpaws he already accused u of not refunding the diff in shipping cost, so i would just move on now that u have blocked him.
i would not engage in any contact bc they would take any messages as adversarial.
btw how does his feedback look?
mordecai8614
·2 years agoWhenever a buyer messages me stating they want multiple items I just make new listing with all the items & send them a link. No invoice. No combining shipping on multiple transactions. No partial refund. Here's 1 listing with everything you want.
slippinjimmy
·2 years agoThe Request Invoice does not exist in the App, on the desktop the Request Total option is frequently not available.
Have the buyer tell you what the items are and create a custom listing with the appropriate shipping.
The easiest alternative is to let the buyer know you will refund any over payment of shipping if they just go ahead and purchase.