Absent customers

[maxx63]

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?

[maxx63]

Maybe that is what is wrong with society today. No one communicates. I gave the customer a time frame of when they would receive their item. Therefore, I feel it is my responsibility to get it there when I said I would. The whole purpose of my post was to get opinions on whether or not people can actually tell when they have a message. I find it interesting that you would be "annoyed" by someone who actually took the time to make sure you got what you paid for.  Perhaps next time I should ignore it and wait until the package is lost in space and the customer complains to Ebay about it. Great idea, Thanks!

[maxx63]

So I should just let the post office lose the package and wait until my buyer complains to Ebay. Thanks, I'll try that.

[mam98031]

Lost packages happen.  Usually not very often but they happen.  Out of all the packages I shipped last year, there was a handful or less that got lost.  I tackled each situation as needed and in the best way to make it right for my customer.  

[corvettestainless]

Kids communicate (I'm talking 30+ yr olds) via text and they leave out 75% of the important verbiage, punctuation etc. that makes a complete sentence or thought. I have to text back/forth 3x just to get what the 1st one was about. Anyway...

I've been here since ebay started and as a buyer, when I wasn't selling in a store full time since 2011, I would seldom even get back on ebay after a purchase for 1 week, 2 weeks, 2 months- depending. I bought, you ship, I'm done (unless I'm not)

Expecting return communication, and like other posters stated, your communications- if received- are info only and your not going to get a response anyways, and borderlines spam/annoying seller.... is like expecting feedback.

Not gonna happen. 

[dirk12955]

IMO many ebayers only look at their messages when there is a problem. And many don't look even then.

Many people are walking thru life staring at their phones and communicating constantly. But some of them are really bad at it.

The poster that said "Less is more" hit the nail on the head.

[mam98031]

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@maxx63 wrote:

So I should just let the post office lose the package and wait until my buyer complains to Ebay. Thanks, I'll try that.

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You are assuming that the buyer always complains to Ebay, they don't.  On a lost package, most of my buyers contact me with the issue and I start working on it right away.  They don't happen very often, but I always take the best care I can of my customers.  

Whether a buyer opens a claim or not.  My customer service for my buyers is the same.  A claim doesn't influence that one way or the other.  My priority it to make sure the customer is taken care of and that has always worked for me.  

[maxx63]

Indeed, until  it doesn't go their way and then they are mad.

[maxx63]

I don't look at messages that are computer generated either. If someone takes the time to write to me personally, I do. As a buyer I do check on my purchases. That's just me I guess. Thank you for your reply

[gracieallen01]

You will do it as you think is best for you.  You have to be satisfied with yourself and your job, too.

There are as many different ways, thoughts on the subject, books written as there are people to do all those things.

A cook once told me, "This is the way  I do it.  It may work for you or it may not.  What you do is take what you learn, see and experience, from all sources, pick out the parts that work for you, put it together and you are you and that's what is right for you."

[maxx63]

I was pretty certain that only an adult would spend a hundred dollars on hard back books. Kids today don't read actual books by choice. Thank you for your reply

[maxx63]

Thank you. This one was only going to an adjoining state but took a wrong turn and went to the other side of the country. I am still impressed that the post office got it back on track and contacted me about it. That was good customer service on their end.

[mam98031]

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@maxx63 wrote:

Thank you. This one was only going to an adjoining state but took a wrong turn and went to the other side of the country. I am still impressed that the post office got it back on track and contacted me about it. That was good customer service on their end.

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I've had that happen.  Stuff I found out after my buyer notified me there was an issue.  I too was able to get USPS to recover the package and get it on the correct route.  All ended up just fine.  The book was undamaged and delivered.  My buyer was happy too.

[maxx63]

Thank you for your reply. The books being damaged was a big concern for me. It wasn't that they were particularly rare, but they were brand new and from my personal collection. I guess they were ok. I never heard back. 🙂

[mam98031]

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@maxx63 wrote:

Thank you for your reply. The book being damaged was a big concern for me. It wasn't that they were particularly rare, but they were brand new and from my personal collection. I guess they were ok. I never heard back. 🙂

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And sometimes damage happens with any carrier.  Again, just something we have to deal with.  Your watching the tracking on every package you send will not prevent that.  

I sell new books all the time.  Here and elsewhere.  

There is no need for your buyer to contact you unless the have a question or concern.  These are business transactions and most don't require any communication at all directly from the seller, the automatic emails are plenty.

[maxx63]

Thank you for your reply. My original message was more regarding the interface itself.  Do buyers know that just that little bell being lit means they have a message? So many people do not use or check email accounts these days, but when you log into Ebay, is the only way you know you have a message that little icon?