At What Point Do You Block a Potential Buyer?

[thrift-theory]

A while ago, I had an item for sale, which I shortly removed. It was scrap precious metal. The scale I used showed it weighed a certain amount (24g) or something like that (can't remember right now). It only said 24g (or whatever weight it was) and nothing in the decimals. Calibrated and working, I was sure it was the right weight, but in the description, I stated that it's approximate; could be more, like maybe 24.2g or 24.3g. Maybe I shouldn't have stated that (anyone here agree?) I priced the scrap metal a bit lower than the cost of 24g anyway.

I received a really rude and sarcastic message from a buyer typing in some all-caps, and broken texting language. In a way, it was pretty funny because the sarcastic analogy he made, made no sense. 

It said something like this (except without the all-caps and texting language):

"So what's the actual weight? I don't want the approximate weight, I want the actual weight. How would you feel if I gave you approximatly $25 instead of $20. Would you be ok with that?"

I blocked this buyer and I also removed the listing realizing the sale of scrap precious metals might give me more problems than I want. I didn't answer his question either. I'm fine with people asking questions, but based on the way he "spoke" to me, it made me not want to sell to him or sell the item in general anymore. What if he had purchased the item anyway and then file a claim saying it wasn't the right weight.. or wasn't real? Etc. I didn't want to deal with that.

So, I'm wondering, for you, other sellers, at what point would you block a new potential buyer? (Not a previous buyer that has scammed you and went on your BBL.) When they're rude? When they're demanding? Any specific situations you'd like to share? Just curious.

[skatesave]

I block a potential buyer the moment they lose their potential.

Allow me to give you an example.  I had an item listed at $135.00 BIN or best offer.  I had a low parameter setting at $90.00  to the listed price which meant I would mull it over if you  hit $90.00

Buyer comes along and offers $30.00.  Default settings tossed his offer immediately.  Fast Forward to 3 months later.   Same buyer comes on with an offer of $75.00 which was default rejected again.

Fast forward to last week.  Same Buyer offers $80.00 which is countered with $100.00 by me, but with text stating that this is my lowest price.  . He allowed my counter offer to expire, 48 hours later.

3 days ago buyer  posts New Offer of $90.00 knowing full well for 3 months now,  that I will not accept less than $100.00.  I immediately decline his offer and pulled my listing.

This week when I re-list the item, it will show a BIN at $110.00, which will fix his wagon once and for all.  I won't have to block him/

[loveyourimagination49]

If the scale showed 24, why would you say approx. more?
If anything, I would of took a picture with it on the scale, to show the true weight, not said it might be more.

No, I wouldn't have blocked the potential buyer for asking that question.

I have blocked them from what they say on the boards, and one for trying to scam years ago.

[thrift-theory]

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@skatesave wrote:

I block a potential buyer the moment they lose their potential.

Allow me to give you an example.  I had an item listed at $135.00 BIN or best offer.  I had a low parameter setting at $90.00  to the listed price which meant I would mull it over if you  hit $90.00

Buyer comes along and offers $30.00.  Default settings tossed his offer immediately.  Fast Forward to 3 months later.   Same buyer comes on with an offer of $75.00 which was default rejected again.

Fast forward to last week.  Same Buyer offers $80.00 which is countered with $100.00 by me, but with text stating that this is my lowest price.  . He allowed my counter offer to expire, 48 hours later.

3 days ago buyer  posts New Offer of $90.00 knowing full well for 3 months now,  that I will not accept less than $100.00.  I immediately decline his offer and pulled my listing.

This week when I re-list the item, it will show a BIN at $110.00, which will fix his wagon once and for all.  I won't have to block him/

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Ah, I see. I stopped Best Offer, and let potential buyers message me their offers, if they have any. I have had $65 items where people offer $20.. even $10 and $5. I can't believe after all this time (3 months+), your buyer was still offering up. Such resilience.

[noodlevette]

If your gut says block, do so now.  However, I have had some pretty incoherant odd and just plain blunt to the point of rude initial inquiries turn out to be some of the coolest customers.   I think you follow your gut.  

[emerald40]

I agree about taking a picture of the item on a scale.

When purchasing gold and silver, gram weight is very important to some, so showing it on the scale will satisfy even a demanding buyer.

I do  not use best offer.  I feel these types are never satisfied even after the listing ends, wanting even more of a reduction.

As far as when to block, go by your gut as you did in this case.   If the person starts out being demanding, I find it only gets worse. 

[buyselljack2016]

I would have responded that giving me $25 instead of $20 would be a great thing any day of the week..  Then I would have blocked the buyer from bidding, and messaging.

Without a certified scale I would under guess, rather than over guess

[myboardid]

I would have blocked him just because of the attitude, and I would have done as the others suggested and added a photo of the item on the scale, and I would have removed the "approximately" from the listing.  But I would not have taken the listing down. 

[thrift-theory]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

I would have responded that giving me $25 instead of $20 would be a great thing any day of the week..  Then I would have blocked the buyer from bidding, and messaging.

Without a certified scale I would under guess, rather than over guess

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I had a photograph of the scale with the metal on it. I weighed the metal about 15 different times, most of the times, it said 24g. A few times it said 24.2g and I recall, once, it said 24.3g. Nothing lower than 24g. I priced the metal less than the cost of 24g. I didn't think it was a problem giving more metal for a lower price. As you said, I underguessed on purpose.

I also would've sent him the photographs of the metal on the scale with the slightly higher weights and explain what happened, but I just removed the listing instead. And blocked him from purchasing (in case he does want to buy other things). I really felt like it wasn't going to be worth the transaction based on how he asked the question. It felt problematic.

[thrift-theory]

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@myboardid wrote:

I would have blocked him just because of the attitude, and I would have done as the others suggested and added a photo of the item on the scale, and I would have removed the "approximately" from the listing.  But I would not have taken the listing down. 

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I took it down becasue after the incident, I was casually reading old discussions about how people were scammed of precious metals. Even months later after the transaction. I decided to take all the metals to a store and sold it there instead.

Now that I think about it, I should've put up photographs of all the different weights I got on the scale. Would that have helped?

[loveyourimagination49]

Have you used the tare function and haven't reset?
Mine takes about 5-10 secs to calibrate without the tare.

[thrift-theory]

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@loveyourimagination49 wrote:
Have you used the tare function and haven't reset?
Mine takes about 5-10 secs to calibrate without the tare.

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I really don't remember. I would try again now, but I ended up throwing out that scale because it stopped turning on last month. Maybe it just wasn't a good one. I do have a separate scale, and this one tends to fluctuate also, but I use it only for packages. I round up to the nearest ounce just in case. Since I don't plan on selling precious metals anymore, I'm just more curious of when other sellers' would block a buyer they encounter.

[copper.boom]

At What Point Do You Block a Potential Buyer?

When your gut and your common sense tell you to.

[7606dennis]

I have no qualms about blocking a bidder anytime my gut tells me it is a wise thing to do.

With regard to your listing, I probably wouldn't have mentioned that the weight could be more.  Listing it as approximately 24 grams was sufficient to cover any slight variation in weight.  By mentioning that it could be more you would have almost certainly increased the value in the buyer's mind and it probably would lead to disappointment if the buyer would receive precisely 24 grams.

[7606dennis]

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@thrift-theory wrote:

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@skatesave wrote:

I block a potential buyer the moment they lose their potential.

Allow me to give you an example.  I had an item listed at $135.00 BIN or best offer.  I had a low parameter setting at $90.00  to the listed price which meant I would mull it over if you  hit $90.00

Buyer comes along and offers $30.00.  Default settings tossed his offer immediately.  Fast Forward to 3 months later.   Same buyer comes on with an offer of $75.00 which was default rejected again.

Fast forward to last week.  Same Buyer offers $80.00 which is countered with $100.00 by me, but with text stating that this is my lowest price.  . He allowed my counter offer to expire, 48 hours later.

3 days ago buyer  posts New Offer of $90.00 knowing full well for 3 months now,  that I will not accept less than $100.00.  I immediately decline his offer and pulled my listing.

This week when I re-list the item, it will show a BIN at $110.00, which will fix his wagon once and for all.  I won't have to block him/

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Ah, I see. I stopped Best Offer, and let potential buyers message me their offers, if they have any. I have had $65 items where people offer $20.. even $10 and $5. I can't believe after all this time (3 months+), your buyer was still offering up. Such resilience.

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I'm not too sure I'd be in favor of the allowing people to simply make their offer without using the Best Offer option.  It wasn't too very long ago considered that a no-no offer to engage in an off-eBay transaction.