Blocking buyers to avoid possible problems seems the prudent thing to do

[tdebuys]

I listed a 100+ year old very intricate pattern glass item as in "mint condition" and in " museum grade quality" and the question from the prospective bidder is, " Does it have damage, scratches, chips, cracks, or repairs you aren't mentioning?"  Really?   Do I really want to do business with this person?  I advised them not to bid if they had any concerns, but I'm considering blocking them.  Yesterday I had a similar question and then they went into great detail about how I needed to over-magnify my photos ...that person I did block.   I mean when they announce to you they are likely to be a huge problem buyer by both the question and the attitude in which they pose the question what are you to do?   I'm just venting. I hate to block buyers, but eBay lets repeat problem buyers get to us without us having any protection against them. I'd rather err on the side of loosing a sale as to have them give me a red mark, want a refund, and keep my item.  I have no protection against that.  It seems I am forced to make evaluations I shouldn't have to make without any input except a rudely stated note from a prospective bidder.  A note mind you that I might have misinterpreted.  I think the answer may be to just sell items that cost a lot less so I can afford to loose them.  The risk in selling here is getting too close to out weighing the reward.

[soh.maryl]

You do know that many eBayers have more than one ID, perhaps one for buying, one for selling and one for posting here, right? 

[kellygim23]

How do I find how to block them 100%? I don’t want messages from them but they keep going on and on?

[ccstreasure]

 " Does it have damage, scratches, chips, cracks, or repairs you aren't mentioning?"  Really?   Do I really want to do business with this person? 

He's not in the wrong for asking. If your about to make an expensive transaction for something that is Museum grade quality then your gonna wanna put yourself in that customers shoes, wouldn't you want to be 100% confident if your only access to this product wasn't in person but online? Doesn't necessarily mean their gonna be a problem customer.  What I'll usually do in my description is say "Please ask all questions and request more photos before making your purchase"  I have no issues sending a potential customer more photos of an item to make them feel more confident making the purchase.  You have to look at every question as a "potential" customer, not a potential problem. If it makes you feel better look at their feedback, if its low or has too many negative marks then don't deal with them, but to write it off as annoying and you just don't want to deal with that is risking a potential sale. 

[maccnc11]

click on overview, scroll down and in the center you will see "Block Bidders", of course copy the members name first, always coma, space & then Paste, between all the members you have in there, also it's a good idea to Always check a buyers "feedback left For Others", when they send you a question, Generally you don't have to worry too much about Sellers Negging you, when they buy something, because Sellers are in the same boat as other Sellers, and feel our Pain too, Personally I think it should be a requirement that you be a seller on eBay for 1 year, before you can buy anything, that would straighten eBay out, and I mean in a Timely Manner, I really wish they would bring back the ability to Neg a buyer, not that I would use it, I've never Negged anybody on eBay the 11 years I've been on, it's just too juvenile for me, I just contact sellers if there is any kind of a problem, and so far I've gotten 100% results.