Do you really want the item or not?
I just had this potential buyer message me who reminded me of previous similar times this happened.
My listings all offer USPS GA, Priority, and Express Mail. This buyer mentions they absolutely need this item to arrive in 5 days and then proceeds to ask questions in a way that multiple back and forth messages are required. They'll ask questions like "If I buy will it arrive in time?" Me being worried of being accused of making implied promises, I tend to reply that "it depends on the exact time and date you purchase, where your shipping address is, and what shipping service you pick when you checkout." I mean I have Express Mail offered, but it'll be expensive.
This buyer continued and replied "I'm in xxxx (city name). Will it arrive in time?" Lol, I had to google it since I don't recognize the city and they didn't even give me a state. Then I repeated myself to them that I don't know when they are going to buy nor what shipping. Each time I reply I mention that they'd better move asap if this item is urgent to them. Each day that passes with these back and forth messages is going to make it harder and more expensive to make that arrival time. Then he asks about the item itself, something that he could've included in a previous message. I answer him.
By now realistically only Priority Express will work for that arrival date and when I told him that, he says the shipping is too expensive. Did he just want to make a pen pal?
cityslickercreations2004
·8 months ago"Me being worried of being accused of making implied promises, I tend to reply that "it depends on the exact time and date you purchase, where your shipping address is, and what shipping service you pick when you checkout."
In an effort to be helpful, it appears you implied you knew the answer to the delivery date. Therefore the follow up questions from the buyer. As a seller, I decline discussing possible delivery dates. I have zero control over the carrier so what is there for me to discuss/ answer? Too many things can go sideways as we all know.
"By now realistically only Priority Express will work for that arrival date and when I told him that, he says the shipping is too expensive."
I am not quick to block a buyer but their original statement was they needed item within 5 days which is now probably 4 days. Now the shipping is too expensive for a fast delivery service. Hurry up and block them before they make a purchase.
theteamsetguy
·8 months ago@iamalwaysright ,
I’d respond by telling the buyer to go take a hike and go pound sand. Don’t forget add the buyer to you BBL.
tsme35
·8 months agoWhen ask that, I tell the buyer its an est. delivery time but it is not guarantee. I got an email about an item shipped beginning of Jan., from St. Louis it went to FL, back to ST. Louis, then to IN and just left TX this morning. Then buyer lives in PA! I'm just hoping now it gets ahead of the storm before it gets stuck in another state.
luckythewinner
·8 months agoMe being worried of being accused of making implied promises, I tend to reply that "it depends on the exact time and date you purchase, where your shipping address is, and what shipping service you pick when you checkout."
Me being worried of being accused of making implied promises, I tend to reply that "No, it will not arrive in time." That way, I avoid becoming a pen pal.
duffy4444
·8 months ago@luckythewinner :
I first check the buyer's feedback and quickly calculate the estimated delivery time and destination risk, and compare it with any potential loss and possible negative feedback. Sometimes the potential buyer is unnecessarily concerned and I tell them it might arrive on time, but not guaranteed. But more often than not, like you, I also end up telling them it won't.
Then, if I get a second message from the potential buyer continuing the sobbing about their dilemma, it's an immediate trip to my BBL. With me in this circumstance, it's only two strikes and they're out... my time as a seller is more important than entertaining unnecessary risks. I don't allow them to turn their problem into my problem.
There's always the next buyer who hasn't waited until the last minute.
Cheers, Duffy
cascade_jewelry
·8 months agoI try to keep it simple. Something like:
1. Message: "Sellers cannot guarantee delivery dates."
2. Add Felicia to special list.
inhawaii
·8 months agoIn the B&M store I used to work in I would get customers all the time that wanted to special order parts the fastest way possible "cost is no object" then when the part comes in, they complain about the shipping.
meme6253
·8 months agoSounds like a not worth the effort with this one!, If you go ahead & it doesn't arrive on their time you could have a potential problem with this customer leaving bad feedback, No need for this pen pal.
12345jamesstamps
·8 months agoI hope you blocked them...
I had a potential buyer 2 days ago ask about a discount on multiple lots...a lot of questions...and stated they will return with a list...buyer hasn't gotten back to me.
I do reduce an item cost but that is per item and not as a bunch of items.
I did reduce the cost of one item...that came in an emai to me with the first questionl...buyer didn't buy it.
Looked at buyer feedbacks and country...Armenia.
I blocked them this morning when I woke up...don't need a drama buyer or the money that bad.
iamalwaysright
OP8 months agoOn that related note. You know how the most common ebay reply to the INRs claiming the estimate is wrong is "you have to understand what the word estimate means." That statement has been said here many times in the boards too, frankly because it's true and valid.
But have any of you actually said something to this nature to a complaining buyer who doesn't have their item yet? Because I haven't. Just curious to how that plays out. I mean there's already a bunch of buyers who never even glance at the last date on the ETA range and only pay attention to the beginning (and often times unrealistic) date and take that as a guarantee. What do these complaining buyers reply with when you tell them the word estimate is just that, a guess? I would just assume it would peeve them off more so. Thoughts?
gurlcat
·8 months agoNo because I don't wait for buyers to contact me; I contact them when I notice their item stalled in tracking. But if I ever did have one getting unusually antsy from the start, and referring to the dates they saw on the screen, I wouldn't point out the word "estimated" because that could come off like calling them 'blind' or 'stupid.' Instead, I would explain that the dates came from eBay, not me, and that they are sometimes unrealistic.
iamalwaysright
OP8 months agoYea I agree. That’s why when agents suggest I tell the buyer that I tell them frankly they need more training in customer service then. Saying that to a buyer comes off as arrogant. And I too end up throwing eBay under the bus saying their dates are always unrealistic and despite my complaints, I’m unable to change them nor remove those dates altogether.
house*of*paws
·8 months agoMany buyers appear to think the ‘E’ in ETA (and EDD) means Expected … as opposed to Estimated.
I wouldn’t think any seller of a complaining buyer can safely correct that misimpression.
iamalwaysright
OP8 months agolol. Okay I can’t tell if this is a joke or not. My radar is off.
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months agoI have ALWAYS told anyone looking for something on a specific day/time etc. this:
We do NOT personally deliver so I make NO PROMISES of what that 3rd Party Company (United States Post Office) may or may not do. What I do promise is that I will ship it out by the 3rd business day following purchase, and tracking will show just that.
onefootflipper
·8 months agoNever, ever do anything to accomodate a customer who indicates an urgent need for a specific date. Always indicate that you can't do it.
These are people with poor planning skills, the package is not going to show up in time for them and then they are going to force an INAD return or chargeback and you will eat that overnight shipping cost and possibly lose the item.
gurlcat
·8 months ago@onefootflipper YUP, I just had this happen a couple months ago. And it was crazy how it was only the second time I ever shipped Priority Express but it failed on its promise (actually took several days to be delivered). Of course I got a refund from USPS for it, but it's a pain in the butt, and so was everything else with this buyer, including having to replace the rhinestones they purposely removed to claim INAD. -And yeah I was lucky that's all they did, and that I had the right size/color stones to replace with.
mtgraves7984
·8 months agoDid he just want to make a pen pal?
@iamalwaysright
If so, he'll be upset when he finds out he can't send but 5 messages a day. 🤣
gurlcat
·8 months ago@mtgraves7984 Wait, is that true? I never heard that before.
mtgraves7984
·8 months ago@gurlcat
Yup. I don't know if it started because of 'off-platform' sales (potential) or what, but it's true...
Back when I sold (quit Spring, 2024), I'd tell buyers that bugged me with one question messages (after the second one) to make bullet points for their next message because we were fixing to be cut off till tomorrow...
To the best of my knowledge, it's still true today. I've read posts on here from befuzzled buyers, too. So, yup. ðŸ˜
iamalwaysright
OP8 months agoI pretty much would never let it come to that. Ain’t no way I’m going to have 5 back and forths with a buyer within a day. Unless it something that’s my fault, urgent, and unable to square away in less than 5 messages (which almost never happens), I’d intentionally make the buyer wait until the next day before I reply.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoTwo "will it arrive on time" messages and she would have been on my BBL. But I would probably not get such messages because I have a no returns policy to discourage buyers like this one. It works much of the time.
No one needs to tell me that a no returns policy is not effective after the sale if a buyer wants to return strongly enough, but it is very effective in repelling some buyers who are high maintenance.
soh.maryl
·8 months agoYa never know. Think you dodged a bullet there. Is he being promoted to your special list?
iamalwaysright
OP8 months agoCurrently? No