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Absent customers

Why do so many ebay shoppers not check their messages? I try to stay in contact from beginning to end of a sale. Recently I sold some books that were shipped by media mail. I was following the shipment and the box took a wrong turn and ended up on the other side of the country. I contacted the post office and we got it back on track. I left a hello, your item will be shipped tomorrow message, and then a couple regarding where the package was and when it will be delivered. I haven't received one response. It has been many years since I was a buyer only, is it not clear on the page that you have a message? We see them as sellers, but I wonder if the average buyer would notice.  Maybe it's just me, I like to communicate. Thoughts?

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Re: Absent customers

I regret and apologize for posting this. I never expected to see that so many just don't want to be bothered.  Very sad

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Message 35 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

Buyers typically aren't online anywhere near as much as sellers are.  That is usually the reason I find.

 

I don't know how many emails you are sending to any given buyer, but if they feel there are too many, you risk annoying them.  Most just want to buy something and get it received within a reasonable amount of time.  They don't want a bunch of chit chat in between.  

 

You are likely doing more work that you even need to.  Save yourself time.  Respond when a buyer needs your help, but don't send messages that they may find to be unwanted and unnecessary.  I'm confident your heart is in the right place and you are just trying to deliver excellent service.  But you may be doing just a bit too much.

 

As to your current issue of the late delivery.  If it becomes an issue to your buyer, they will contact you.  For now, leave them alone and just let them come to you.


mam98031  •  Volunteer Community Member  •  Buyer/Seller since 1999
Message 2 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

Its perfectly normal for media mail items to not initially be shipped to the correct region or state. For example, a lot of the DVD's I ship are sent to Michigan first, regardless of their intended destination. Why USPS does this, I don't know, but I wouldn't be concerned about it either.

 

shipping with media mail typically takes 2 to 8 business days, and there are no guaranteed delivery time frames with this service.

 

Likewise, USPS will often divert packages to alternate regions in response to weather conditions.

 

As for buyers not responding, I see no reason to bombard them with messages to begin with. Especially not with messages that will make them panic over tracking when there's no need to.

 

Message 3 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

My generation, I hope, would send you a thank you.  Others perhaps not so....  You are informing them so no real "reason" to respond.  Also, some now ONLY text, we have friends that NEVER look at their email....... 

Message 4 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

Perhaps, it may just be that you - as the seller - really aren't as essential to the everyday life and well-being of the buyer as you are to ebay or that ebay tells you that you are. 

 

Sort of like the ole "Rah, rah, rah, the buyer is King' - and the seller is merely  here to cater to their every whim.  Possible, the majority of transactions on the Internet are the 'yeah, yeah, yeah, let's get this over with - what's with this darn laptop?  Does your life revolve around going to the store to buy 30 roll pack of Charmin or a 'six-pack' of socks?  No matter what 'influencers' on the 'net say, that next purchase probably isn't going to be a life-changing awakening.

 

(personal opinion - your mileage may vary)

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous
Message 5 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

............gernal reply................

 

it would appear that you are checking on your customers tracking.that is something i never do because I do not see the point in it.I do not think that checking tracking brings about any sense of having accomplished anything.It would seem that maybe you are taking a pro active approach but to others it might seem like you are poking a sleeping bear

 

I know there are lots of people that like to look at there customers tracking but it give me unecesary worry over something i  have no control over

 

 


Germantown proud Germantown strong
up the whiskey hickon
moving right along
19144
Message 6 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

Personally, when I buy I don't desire getting any emails other than the tracking, and even then, if it is on the listing, I don't need that email either.   If I see a bunch of emails or updates, it would make me think there is a problem, even if there isn't one.  I note when the delivery date is supposed to be and will check on my items at that time.

 

 

Message 7 of 39
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Re: Absent customers


@maxx63 wrote: ... I left a hello, your item will be shipped tomorrow message, and then a couple regarding where the package was and when it will be delivered. I haven't received one response. ...

If I was your buyer, I would be annoyed at all those extra messages. And I would feel no need to respond to them.

 

 

Message 8 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

Most buyers want their item and not a pen pal. I find no benefit to sellers bombarding me with "Progress Update" emails/messages. I'm sure that we all get enough email as it is. 

"Those who enter the arena unarmed or unprepared are quickly dispatched."
Message 9 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

As a seller, I check my selling account MULTIPLE times a day for messages, sales, etc.

 

As a buyer, I can't remember the last time I looked. I order an item. If it's not here in two weeks or so, then I go look. I rarely check it for anything.

 

I don't look at emails from Ebay, either, because there's never anything there to see. They get deleted unread. Everything I would need is in my purchase history and Ebay messages.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.


We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell
Message 10 of 39
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Re: Absent customers


@maxx63 wrote:

Why do so many ebay shoppers not check their messages? I try to stay in contact from beginning to end of a sale. Recently I sold some books that were shipped by media mail. I was following the shipment and the box took a wrong turn and ended up on the other side of the country. I contacted the post office and we got it back on track. I left a hello, your item will be shipped tomorrow message, and then a couple regarding where the package was and when it will be delivered. I haven't received one response. It has been many years since I was a buyer only, is it not clear on the page that you have a message? We see them as sellers, but I wonder if the average buyer would notice.  Maybe it's just me, I like to communicate. Thoughts?


I think you gave excellent customer service getting that package on track and dropping a note to the buyer.  But unless it's an exceptional case like this I'd just let the tracking tell the story. People are bombarded with messages these days and many probably don't even check their eBay accounts unless they're regular buyers (and know about tracking) or an item is late.  Less is really better.


“The illegal we do immediately, the unconstitutional takes a little longer.” - Henry Kissinger

"Wherever law ends, tyranny begins" - John Locke (Don't get distracted).
Message 11 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

I only sent 3 messages. The first telling them when I was shipping, the next saying it was on the other side of the country, and the followup of when it was being delivered. I never received a reply at all. Not even after it was delivered. I don't think that is excessive. I think as a seller it is our job to follow up on the delivery process. It is called customer service. I spent over 20 years in retail management and never once did I have a customer complain because I gave them good service.
Message 12 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

Thank you for your reply. According to the post office, it never should have gone the route it did and had I not checked on it, who knows where it would have gone.

Message 13 of 39
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Re: Absent customers

Just as there are buyers that appreciate the time and trouble sellers go to, there are probably as many that take it for granted and just go on with their life.

 

Been that way forever - and not likely to change soon. 

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous
Message 14 of 39
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Re: Absent customers


@maxx63 wrote:
I only sent 3 messages. The first telling them when I was shipping, the next saying it was on the other side of the country, and the followup of when it was being delivered. I never received a reply at all. Not even after it was delivered. I don't think that is excessive. I think as a seller it is our job to follow up on the delivery process. It is called customer service. I spent over 20 years in retail management and never once did I have a customer complain because I gave them good service.

Honestly that is 2-3 too many.  It's going to be a bit like spam in the beginning.  Buyers get emails from Ebay, well depending on how they have their site preferences set up.  

 

When they purchase something they get an email from Ebay.

When they pay they get an email from PP.

When you ship they get an email from Ebay.

 

So inside of a short period of time there are at least 3 auto emails and yours would make it at least 4.

 

Look I really do understand, you are just being a GREAT seller and trying to stay on top of things.  What I and others are trying to explain to you is that it is unnecessary and at some point it is going  to backfire on you.  I know it doesn't seem that way to you as it hasn't happened yet.  But eventually it will and they may damage your FB because of it.  

 

It is time you could spend creating or sourcing more things to sell.  Or time with family or a friend.  It is just a lot of work you are doing that isn't necessary to being a good seller.  

 

Not receiving a reply from your emails isn't necessarily a good thing.  It is likely that they just don't see the need.  At some point it will be a buyer that gets annoyed by the emails and could ding your FB because of it.  

 

It is NOT your job as a seller to follow the package every step of the way.  But it is your job to react and help a buyer that has any issue with the purchase.

 

To have to track every single package and do 3-4 emails to a buyer along the way takes quite a bit of time.  If you times that by 100 transactions in a month it is likely the take 8 hours or more to support this process.  From watching the tracking to sending emails.  That is a lot of time for a small seller.  I know that if it were to be a requirement of being what you consider a Good Seller, I would either have to hire someone to do this process or cut back on my sales.  

 

I'm well aware of what it takes to provide good customer service for my customers.  I've been an online seller for 20+ years and my FB speaks for itself.  So clearly I have successfully provided good customer service without having to spend all that time, mostly fruitless time because buyers don't respond.

 

I respect that this is what you want to do with your time.  And I suspect that no matter what any of us say here you will continue to do as you do.  That is your choice.  I wish you nothing but the best.


mam98031  •  Volunteer Community Member  •  Buyer/Seller since 1999
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