Can't send messages to sellers

[newblueflu]

since May 11 2021, I cannot send a message to sellers through ask seller a question. I press the send message button, and nothing happens. I can't ask any seller a question about an item. Tried with many different sellers. I tried clearing cookies and history and restarting my Ipad, but nothing works. Used to work just fine for years and years. Anyone else have this problem. I contacted Ebay, they say no problem. 

[eburtonlab]

What browser are you using? Some users have been having issues with Safari since a recent update.

Try a different browser or the eBay app to see if that allows you to send a message.

If you are unable to send a message directly from a listing, try going to the seller's profile or feedback page and using the "Contact" link there to send a message.

[newblueflu]

Hello, thanks for reply. I am on an Ipad2 that isn't updated to the latest version. I heard if you update, it will slow down the Ipad. They say don't update. I tried downloading the App, but it says you have to update your device, so that won't work. I tried contacting sellers through their feedback profile link, but that doesn't work either. I cleared cookies and history and that didn't work. I don't have a computer or phone, only Ipad 2. I think I need a newer Tablet. That is probably the problem. Inhave had this for like 9 years. It stinks that I can't contact anyone anymore. I purchase a lot on Ebay. Thanks for help.

[eburtonlab]

Try using a different browser, such as Firefox.

[larrys.basement]

Forgive my frankness and I apologies if this does not apply, but any chance you could be a habitual Non-Pay buyer?

To combat this problem, many sellers, including us, have been tightening-up their buyer requirements.  We enable the tightest requirements available - blocking buyers who have 2 unpaid cases within the last 12 months and don’t allow blocked buyers to contact us. We update our blocked buyer from 100’s of other sellers that have shared their blocked buyers….

[eburtonlab]

Unless things have changed recently, if the OP were being blocked from sending a message due to the seller's Buyer Requirements, the OP should be getting a message to the effect that "the seller is not accepting messages from you" or something similar, and I believe the OP would still be able to send a message through the seller's feedback page using the contact link found there.

[newblueflu]

I have purchased over 1000 items on Ebay, and paid for everything usually within minutes of auctions ending. Check my feedback. Never not paid for anything. I still can't message anyone. In a few days it will be a whole week. Very frustrating. Never had this problem. Thanks for any help.I

[7198dave]

I'm still using internet explorer and refuse to download any browsers, so I have some links that don't work anymore. I can't open a message and respond, I have to go to the persons site and click ask them a question and respond that way.  And it's not just here at ebay, I have broken links in youtube and gmail too.

[dead657]

Internet Explorer is being fazed out buy Microsoft.  It is now Microsoft Edge, suppose to be better. I do not know why you don’t want to upgrade, or download any browsers,  but it’s your call.

[dead657]

I will cut to the chase. If you purchased over 1,000 items on eBay, your should by a “cheapo” laptop, instead of new iPad. An tablet can do so much, it is not real computer. But whatever you decide.

[newblueflu]

  I really did purchase ober 1000 items on Ebay, you could check my feedback number. I think the problem is like you say, I need to buy a real computer. I do like the Ipad. Most things still work, but it is not perfect. I hate change. That is the problem. But if I want things to work, I guess I will have to upgrade soon. Thanks for reply.

[shadowmann]

I am using ebay for a lot of years and contacted sellers many times. This time I wanted to contact the seller to update the listing because THERE IS A MISTAKE IN IT 🙂 However, does not matter how I write the letter, It does not goes through and I get the same message "Offers to buy or sell outside of eBay are not allowed. Please edit your message before you send it." 😕 What kind of new censorship policy is it? Maybe someone knows where can I find the guidelines or word list that I can't use or something similar. Otherwise, I think function "contact seller" should be just disabled on ebay because it is waisting peoples time  😉

[eburtonlab]

@shadowmann 

That error message indicates that something in your message appears to look like contact information -- a phone number or an email address -- and eBay is preventing the message from going through because of that. The filtering is done by software and that can be triggered by anything that looks like it might be contact information, or anything that looks like someone hiding contact information (as spammers often do).

Try composing your message using only letters and including no numbers or special characters.

[everclear444]

Didn’t mean to revive this thread, but I’m curious if I’m having the same issues when sending messages to an eBay seller about a particular item. I’ve sent a handful of messages to the seller about an item asking on how to include the “optional accessory” along with the item they are selling. I’m guessing it’s not free since they said it’s optional, but there’s no way in their auction to add that optional accessory when I try to add to cart/buy. So I didn’t go through with the purchase and asked the seller how to add/include that optional accessory. I never gave any of my contact info nor did I get an error message from eBay. I checked my eBay messages, and in the “Sent folder,” my messages were there, so I assumed they were sent. However I haven’t heard from the seller at all! The sellers store page isn’t “on vacation,” and he has 100% positive feedback, mostly even mentioning “great/fast communication, etc.” Is the seller ignoring me, or is it eBay not actually sending any of messages? Thinking of trying to send the exact same message to a rando seller, but I don’t want to get blocked my eBay if it’s starting to get spammy. And I have to say its been several years since my last purchase on eBay, I’ve been buying from other more convenient and simpler apps in recent years!

[eburtonlab]

Is the seller ignoring me, or is it eBay not actually sending any of messages?

Perhaps the seller does not actually have the accessory.

Unfortunately it is not really possible to know for sure one way or the other unless the seller responds.