When I try to enter text in a “contact buyer” window, the text disappears as I am typing.

[banjopoet]

When I try to enter text in a “contact buyer” window, the text disappears as I am typing. If I continue typing, it reappears for a second and then disappears again. It acts as though the text is turning white intermittently, or a white window is covering it up. If I move my mouse over the text, it appears highlighted in blue, but then when I release the mouse, it disappears again. It is impossible to write a message this way. If I write it in TextEdit and paste it in, it disappears immediately, but if I send the message anyway, and then check my eBay messages sent folder, it was sent correctly. I am using Windows 10 with Chrome.

[eburtonlab]

I recalled seeing a similar message in the last week. Normally I would suggest trying another browser, but the browser in the other case was Safari.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Getting-Started/contact-buyer-message-not-appearing-in-window-Safari-o...

That said, trying another browser to see if the problem still occurs is not the worst idea.

So far, it does not sound like this is a widespread problem. Perhaps it's a glitch in the way the browser displays text in the message box, since you say you are able to successfully send a message, but can't see it as you are typing or after pasting.

I don't know how often you send messages to buyers, but I would be curious to know if it happens again in Chrome, or in another browser, after signing out, quitting and restarting the browser. If it keeps happening, that would indicate a more serious problem.

[grantz638]

I just tried contacting a buyer tonight and I have the same issue. I have to write my message in gmail, then copy/paste it over in ebay to get it to send. 

[djwolfd]

I'm having the exact same issue.  I'm using Safari on a Mac that's running OS High Sierra 10.13.3.

[little.font.lord.leroy]

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@grantz638 wrote:

I have to write my message in gmail, then copy/paste it over in ebay to get it to send. 

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You could try writing the text on a text page like Wordpad, then copy (ctrl+c) paste (ctrl+v) into the message text box. I believe there is a limit to the size or number of characters and I might guess that is the culprit, the script tyring to count and blanking out the text as it does so?

[eburtonlab]

@djwolfd

Are you using a Grammarly browser extension? A couple of folks have recently posted messages saying turning that off solved their invisible messaging problem:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Problem-with-messages/m-p/29150126#M50819

[berserkerplanet]

Others in other threads have indicated the Grammarly plugin/addon is the cause.

[pcraig19480]

Didn't realise I had the Grammarly extension, I've been having great difficulty in sending messages due to message disappearing during typing. I've just managed to send one by copying and pasting from wordpad. I've removed the extension after seeing your post, so fingers crossed tht ths has solved the issue.

[bocaboca2010]

same issues here

[spideyexe]

This absolutely fixed it for me. I found Grammerly to be largely redundant anyway.

[rockandrollrw]

I shut Grammarly off, no difference. Ended up copying and pasting to send a message to seller.

[eburtonlab]

@rockandrollrw

I shut Grammarly off, no difference. Ended up copying and pasting to send a message to seller.

That's good to know; sorry shutting Grammarly off didn't help. That would have been a relatively simple fix.

If you are using the Grammarly extension in your browser, and assuming you don't want to remove it entirely, you should be able to open a different browser (one without the Grammarly extension installed) and use it to send eBay messages. Not the most elegant work-around, but unless you send a lot of eBay messages it should keep you going until either eBay or Grammarly addresses this issue.

Not sure what your options are if you are using the Grammarly standalone application rather than a browser extension. Has anyone confirmed that the application causes problems, or is it limited to those using the browser extension(s)?

[bven2814]

Solved for me! I was running Grammarly and when I turn it off by left clicking the green dot (icon) at the top right in Chrome, you can then select it to off for E-Bay.  DONE!

[bven2814]

Solved, turn off Grammarly spell checking software!

[peak-solutions]

Uninstall Grammarly if installed. This solved my problem.