Buyers who send buyers notes are a problem 90% of the time

[rmv5555]

I went back through my sales history and discovered that buyers who send buyers notes when buying are an issue 90% of the time.  They always find a problem. Anyone else have this correlation?  The second group of red flag buyers are those that message for a lower price.  They are also never satisfied it seems.  Ive begun just blocking both these types of buyers immediately

[fbusoni]

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@rmv5555 wrote:

Anyone else have this correlation?  The second group of red flag buyers are those that message for a lower price.  They are also never satisfied it seems.  Ive begun just blocking both these types of buyers immediately

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Oh my gosh yes.  

I've been blocking both types preemptively for a very long time.

Other categories of buyers I immediately block:

--Those who message me with the salutation "Hey."

--Those who message me with no salutation and merely ask a question.  

--Those who end their sentences with exclamation points.

--Those who give me orders.

--Those who display a bad tone or who exhibit even the slightest hint of impoliteness.

123 down, 4,877 to go!   🤣

[jg.mason]

I always think they are going to be a problem but so far they have never been a problem.

Buyer notes like use extra bubble wrap, use a box etc. I just reply no problem and tell them when I'll be dropping it off at the post office.

For questions about condition I'll make my item sound worse then it is. That way they might not buy and then I won't have to worry about or they'll but and it will be in better condition than I said and they'll be happy.

I have blocked a few just based off their questions though, a bad vibe is a bad vibe better save than sorry.

[bennotbill]

I always add a buyer note about items being well wrapped.

I know some sellers don't like this but don't blame me. I only started doing that after a few big items arrived with no protective wrapping at all and smashed.

As a seller when I get a similar note I'm happy to reassure the buyer.

[kensgiftshop]

You put in your descriptions to message you with any questions and when they do, you block them.

Maybe if you had better descriptions, they wouldn't have to message you.

[fbusoni]

Scary questions:

Oh heck yeah, those are the kiss of death.  Instant block.

[jasoheat_0]

completely agree , have had many issues with what you are mentioning , i have a very extensive block list i would say 30% maybe more are resellers including brick and mortar stores ... 

[selsa84]

90% say thank you on mine 

[vintage-camerastuff]

Some of those buyers can be a problem and some aren't.      If they ask a question after making the purchase they can definitely become a problem.    I won't ship unless they are satisfied with the answer I give.   And I will always  suggest a total refund before I ship.

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@rmv5555 wrote:

Anyone that sends me an offer is not worth having a conversation with.  All my items are literally the lowest on ebay when i list them.  So yeah ask me for a below lowest offering on ebay youre blocked. 

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You know what you’re comfortable with. I respect that. (Personally, I dislike haggling and don’t use Best Offer. Like you, my prices are firm too.)

That said, my thinking is this—i hope to respect other’s buying practices when selling in a global marketplace. There are cultures where haggling is expected and not considered impolite. It is just a leaping off point for some. An ice-breaker so to speak.

So sometimes the sale may require that i set my personal comfort zone to one side, to clinch the deal. It’s just a manner of doing business and attempting to meet the buyer’s legitimate needs. 

Results have been good. In the 15 years i have sold on eBay, have never had an issue arise with a buyer. With sellers? Yes. Have seen some bad ones. But with buyers? No, never had a problem (outside of a few non-payers on auctions). So only have about a half-dozen names on my block list. 

But we are all different with varying levels of risk tolerance. To each his own.

[kj_toys_nj]

I just answer the reasonable questions and can sense too after 28 years here that this person may pose a problem. I had a question the other day whether these models of Hot Wheels were available. So I searched my store and replied Y or N back to the list. The buyer then asked for a picture of each. I told him to just search my store and the listings which obviously have a picture will show up. They then reply that I need to send multiple pictures of EACH item. That would make me have to pull each one, take multiple pictures and send them. All that work for a 50/50 shot at a sale? Then the discount request comes into play even though I combine ship. Rather than reply again I let it rest. Would do for a couple items but there has to be a limit

[simba6]

I too have found that buyers that ask a lot of questions often don't buy but, are real trouble if they do.

[broto_64]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

Never get into a conversation. Never explain your decision.

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Definitely that.
I can believe some buyers are merely messaging to see if there's a human on the other end... And the more human you come across the higher the chances there will be after purchase issues down the road. Less is more in these message replies. Short and sweet, stick to policy and be quick to offer a cancel or a return for refund, usually solves most problems fast.

[timzbiz]

Yes, especially when they ask a question that is clearly answered in the listing title and description.

[dhbookds]

Nope, no problems with those buyers who send notes.....

[albertabrightalberta]

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@broto_64 wrote:

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

Never get into a conversation. Never explain your decision.

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Definitely that.
I can believe some buyers are merely messaging to see if there's a human on the other end... And the more human you come across the higher the chances there will be after purchase issues down the road. Less is more in these message replies. Short and sweet, stick to policy and be quick to offer a cancel or a return for refund, usually solves most problems fast.

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^^^ This.

Many years ago, when there were ebay Live! conventions, a discussion came up at a workshop for sellers. 

Sellers were complaining about what they perceived as questions that wasted their time because the questions were answered in the listing. 

The facilitator explained that many members are new to online commerce and are reluctant to trust strangers to whom they were sending money. They merely wanted reassurance that there was a human at the other side of that listing and wanted to get a feel for the seller's responsiveness to questions (and potential issues). 

Personally, I prefer that buyers ask any questions before they buy. Even if the answer is in the listing, I answer.