Sellers choosing not to receive messages
Summary: mountaingigi raised a concern about eBay sellers having the option to not receive messages, questioning the implications for buyer-seller communication. Responses varied, with some participants noting that while it might protect sellers from unnecessary inquiries, it limits pre-sale interactions that could clarify potential listing discrepancies. Others highlighted that active transactions still allow for communication, and many transactions proceed without prior contact. The discussion also touched on the possible reasons sellers might choose this option, such as avoiding lowball offers, and the idea that a lack of pre-sale communication might deter buyers. Overall, it was suggested that buyers make informed decisions about purchases and consider other sellers who are open to communication.
I did find an older (closed) thread about this issue, but still wondering because it's something I did not know sellers could do. I had no idea sellers had the option to not receive messages. I found this out as I tried to send a message to a seller about a listing, and this came up: “We're sorry, but this seller has chosen not to receive messages”. How does eBay defend/allow this? If potential buyers have questions or have problems with a purchase, they’re SOL?
I did a Google search and some of what I found makes sense. That it could get nightmarish for volume sellers ... I can understand that to a certain degree. But what if you see a listing that misrepresents what they're selling, wrong description, etc? It means they can do whatever with their listings and "let the buyer beware". *Is this option available to all sellers, even small sellers?
It strikes me as uncharacteristic, considering how much eBay stresses good communication between buyers and sellers - needing to have all kinds of proof if a sale/purchase goes sideways. Just curious what others think about this option?
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·1 week agoThe MBG makes that prohibitively expensive and their feedback would look like a Texas measles outbreak.
It would be a self correcting affair or their ebay career would be very short.
warrenshobbies
·1 week agoThey're most likely not blocking everyone. They are blocking you.
gurlcat
·1 week agoNope. If you are on a seller's Blocked Buyer List, you can "send" a message just fine. But it won't go to their inbox, like you never sent it.
What the OP saw was totally different, a message saying this seller doesn't receive messages (from anyone).
mountaingigi
OP1 week agoThank you.
warrenshobbies
·1 week agoYou cannot send messages if you are blocked. You receive that same "We're sorry, but this seller has chosen not to receive messages"
gurlcat
·1 week agoHere's your chance to prove it. I just blocked you, so you can try to write to me, and get a screenshot of the "We're sorry..." notification.
gurlcat
·1 week agoHey @warrenshobbies !
Have you sent me a message (or tried to) yet? Do you know how to take a screenshot? It's super easy.
mountaingigi
OP1 week agoNo, I wasn't blocked.
grann-4629
·1 week agoThere are enough good sellers that do respond ... find one of them.
adamcartwright
·1 week agoI think I agree with eBay on allowing members to choose whether to communicate prior to a sale or not.
If I were a high volume seller, I would probably block, as well.
That would free up my time to address communications from actual buyers about actual transactions.
reallynicestamps
·1 week ago"But what if you see a listing that misrepresents what they're selling, wrong description, etc?"
a) You want to warn a possible scammer what part of the listing makes the scam apparent?
b) Don't buy.
c) use the Report button to warn eBay. This only works if several/many members report the problem.
mountaingigi
OP1 week ago · EditedI thought they did away with the "report" button.
eburtonlab
·1 week agoUse the "?" icon in the lower right of any listing (if you are using a desktop browser) to alert eBay to issues with the page or to report a listing for obvious policy violations.
When reporting a listing, assume that eBay knows nothing about the actual product itself, so only mention policy violations that are apparent in the listing itself.
eBay will not make a determination whether what the seller actually delivers is what is described or not based on the listing being reported, unless you are a buyer filing a "not as described" return or a verified rights-owner issuing a formal take-down notice.
reallynicestamps
·1 week agoReplace a word with an icon? Gosh, who thought that would make things easier.
While a single complainant is not likely to get more than a polite thank you, no matter how often they complain, multiple complainants may bring attention to a sketchy listing.
bdmh-enterprises
·1 week agoSeller's have the option to turn off being messaged directly from listings. You can still go to their feedback page and message from there.
Why? Well probably because many sellers are like me and 90% of the messages received are unsolicited low ball offers or useless commentary on shipping ect. It's annoying and I've been tempted to use the option many times if it weren't for answering the 10% that are legit generally leads to sales.
bashort
·1 week agoits nice when a seller gives you clear indications not to buy from them before the sale, you usually never find out until after the sale.
mountaingigi
OP1 week agoHa ... that's true.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·1 week agoHow do I make sure the problem buyers get this hint?
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 week agoOnce upon a time ... perhaps.
Buyer-seller communications were part of the Ebay process.
No longer assumed to occur and Ebay minimizes the need to communicate.
Always part of the Ebay process has been knowing what you are buying and knowing what you are not buying.
If the listing is wrong or misleading you need to behave in your best interests, Since you are bright enough to spot the problems in the listings, and you are bright enough to not expect a pleasant surprise, why did you start this thread?
The people who do not know what they are buying, also do not visit this forum.
Ebay does what it can to prevent losses on Not As Described purchases, but many of the ignorant also cannot follow instructions to get their refund.
That Ebay seller may be selling something he knows nothing about, has misassumptions about and may not be a crook. There are a lot of Ebay sellers who are ignorant about some or all of their items. Some of those sellers provide bargain prices as a result of their limited knowledge.
mountaingigi
OP1 week agoI started this thread for the reasons I stated in my post. Curiosity.
golfingaddict
·1 week agoI like the option. But I think it depends on what you sell.
A buyer can still contact the seller if they have a transaction with them.
I tracked questions asked for quite some time prior to making the decision. All of the questions were related to pricing.
They wanted to make an offer.
They wanted me to lower the prices.
They wanted me to give them a deal if they purchased more than one.
I have no need for those questions and no need for eBayer's that want to bargain with me. My philosophy, which I posted here many times before.
I list, they buy, they pay, I ship.
It is a choice and I'm happy with my decision. You are welcome to a different opinion.
gurlcat
·1 week agoI don't know why you're getting flack for asking this question; I think it's a good one! Certainly not one I recall seeing asked before.
For the record I've run into a "no questions" seller only once before, and I was surprised that was possible for the same reasons you did.
mountaingigi
OP1 week agoI don't know either, but thank heavens I've been enlightened.
The seller is not a scammer, and has lots of sales and 100% feedback. They're just selling something they know nothing about, and that's not a crime. If buyers want to take chances on something they'd like more info about, that's their choice. Personally if I made mistakes in my listings, I'd welcome information to correct those mistakes. Recently this happened. An ebay member pointed out a mistake in my photos, and I was able to fix that mistake. I thanked them (and made the sale).
mam98031
·1 week agoThis is all about the seller really, not Ebay. I'm with you that I've never understood why a seller would make this choice, but clearly some do. The only way to try to teach them this is all kinds of wrong is simply don't purchase from them. But sadly most buyers won't even know about this issue because they have no need to ask questions before the purchase.
Also please know that for ALL buyers that purchase something from these seller, they then CAN communicate with them. Sellers can't cut off communication on an active purchase.
mountaingigi
OP1 week ago · EditedJudging by the number of sales this seller has, it's apparent that many buyers buy whether they have questions or not. But yeah, it didn't occur to me that an active purchase does and has to allow for communication with a seller.
mam98031
·1 week agoIt is actually more likely that they simply had no questions before purchase. The vast majority of transactions go off without any type of pre-sale communication between the parties.
grann-4629
·1 week agoSellers can't cut off communication on an active purchase.
I have read several posts where sellers have ghosted buyers during an active purchase ... can't these sellers just ignore them thus cutting off communication?
mam98031
·1 week agoThat isn't the same thing. That can happen to sellers that accept messages from everyone. Of course if someone wants to ignore something they can. That is logical. However the buyer is highly likely to come out with their money back when sellers do stuff like this. However it does have to be looked at on a case by case basis. Each situation may have different details.
With that said, the majority of sellers are responsible and reactive to a buyers questions or concerns. The sellers that act badly on this front are a minority of sellers.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 week agoYou either do not buy the item (my choice) or you buy the item and rely upon the Ebay MBG to be made whole when you get nothing or crap.
Neither of these choices requires messaging the seller.
mountaingigi
OP1 week agoIt was a rhetorical question. Of course I'm not going to buy an item I know is incorrectly described (or rely on ebay).
annadryl
·1 week agoThen your first line should have been "This a rhetorical question." maybe even in the title.