Appropriate language is not appropriate!

[nestvey-3]

In an attempt to get infomation from an amateur seller I have attempted to send a message multiple times, but ebay's inept "language police" keep flagging it because their program cannot handle proper language and/or grammar apparently.

Here is my message in full without any changes made:

"Hello, Do you have photos of the details? There are plenty of full bike views, but no detailed photos of any parts (nor were any make/model/dimensions listed except 56), frame conjunctions/lugs, fork/crown, drop-outs, decals, underside of bottom bracket, etc. Is the steerer tube reinforced? What tubing type is the frame? What size is the seat post? What length are the cranks? What sizes are the gears? What is the OLD dimension? What is the bottom bracket assy threading type? What is the length of the bottom bracket shell? What is the length of the top tube (center to center)? Was the 56 (I assume cm) measured center to center, or center to top? Do you know what year it is? To me "stock build" means factory stock bike no replacement parts (or factory correct parts if not original), original paint and decals. Correct? I may interpret things differently, as I have been riding Colnagos for 40 yrs and I want to know exactly what I am getting for the money; thus my questions.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,"

If the algorithm is consistent this message will not send due to the "inappropriate" language in my initial message. If this sends; it juzt proves how screwed up ebay really is.

How can I modify a message that contains no offensive, threatening, and/or derogatory language? Every time I come to ebay it is a freaking waste of time (and I do not even buy/sell on ebay; they have enough money; all transactions are buyer-seller direct at a savings to buyer and more profits to seller)

[gator08041971]

Yeah.

After reading their responses here and to my own post above, I'm fairly certain I would not want them as a buyer.

For all we know the seller in question has no clue what they are selling or any reason to post all these details.  And having a long winded message sent at them is likely to make them block the buyer and/or not respond.

Regardless if it was a 70 dollar item or a 7000 dollar item.  People often price things where they see other items selling for and maybe without knowing why they are that price.

I know personally if I had to endure that kind of questioning, the BBL would get an addition. I don't mind some questions, I always try to answer them when I can, but if I think for a second its going to be a problem for me, I block.

That's not me being mean, that's nipping a problem before it happens.  Whether the OP intended it or not, the quoted message they "sent" the buyer reads to me as too much and a bit aggressive.  That is my opinion, but its how it reads to me.  *shrug

Anyway.

[pastimpressions]

You forgot to ask the name of the factory associate that built the bike, the day of the week it was built as well as if at the time of completion, it was a waning or waxing Moon.

Comprehensive & exhaustive list of queries to the seller? 

I think not. 🤔

[sassykzt]

😂  If one is  a true cyclist, these are very valid questions BUT I certainly would not purchase a high end Italian bike from a random eBay seller whose listing is that vague.  You go to a specialty site / dealer who does retrofitting.  I currently ride the C68 and my mom's CF7 from 2009.  eBay would not be my first choice unless I found someone who was really knowledgeable and could actually answer these questions.  The approach in asking could have been more "gentle".  The bot nonsense flagging "assume"  aside.

[pastimpressions]

I hear you & don't disagree You are 100% correct.

While not a cyclist myself (not even playing one on TV, but I loved the film Breaking Away), I certainly can relate to specific items that would require a litany of boxes checked/questions answered prior to a big-ticket purchase.

That was merely my clumsy attempt at wit & humor as well as incredulity seeping through a wee bit.

IMHO as grand & majestic as online commerce may be, there will ALWAYS be a place for the B&M:

hands on/in person/face to face/expert assist/see what you buy etc. et al.

Also, IMHO, an individual with the intellect & reason capable of formulating the questions as presented is more than capable of discerning the difference betwixt the two formats.

The strengths & weaknesses. The reach & the limitation.

and act accordingly.

[reallynicestamps]

What was it that Terry Pratchett said about exclamation marks, again?

[eburtonlab]

What was it that Terry Pratchett said about exclamation marks, again?

"People aren't wearing enough of them."

Although, come to think of it, perhaps that was Monty Python, about hats.

Never mind.

[sassykzt]

I was highly amused by your comment!  When purchasing a Colnago, you do actually get the names of the people that designed / assembled /retrofitted, the time & location (Not the moon part🤣 🤣 )It's part of purchasing a high end bike that goes from 5 - 36K+  So you were so correct in pointing out the questions that were omitted 🤣😂😁