eBay

exoticatropicals · ‎09-03-2023

It's *really* important that I can receive messages from buyers on my blocked list.

This is so I can work out issues with them, while at the same time keeping them from bidding on new items until all is resolved.

This used to be an option you could set- now it seems something has changed, I cant get messages from blocked buyers, and cant figure out how to re-enable it.

Anyone know about this?

It is SUPER annoying that Ebay changes these things without notifying us- I almost got stuck with a negative feedback for a whole year, thinking a buyer was ghosting my messages, but turned out they were replying the whole time- I just never got them!

I tested this with a friend, and sure enough- the second I put them on my block list- their messages wouldnt come through

Any help on this greatly appreciated

exoticatropicals · ‎09-06-2023

Incoming Messages from blocked buyers should only be blocked if :

"Don't allow Blocked Buyers to Contact Me" is CHECKED.

I have it UNchecked.

Please fix

kyle@ebay · ‎09-06-2023

@exoticatropicals wrote:

kyle@ebay

The problem is this:

Now when I put a buyer on my blocked list, it blocks their messages from getting to me.

This is not the way it used to work, and not the way we need it to work.

Blocking messages from getting to the seller should be a *seperate option* like it always has been.

The blocked buyer can recieve my messages, but when he replies, I never see them.

I tested this with a friend. I could message back and forth w them all day long, but when I put them on the blocked buyer list, I could not see the messages they sent anymore.

I will try the "reset" mentioned above, but I did a bit of that already- will try again though.

This definitely appears to be a bug. You should be able to receive messages from blocked buyers if you opt for that.

Test it yourself.

My reasons for still wanting this are mine, it doesn't matter why anyone else wouldn't want it.. I need it working like it is supposed to and always has - I'm sure plenty of other people want it to work correctly as well

It would be great if this bug could be fixed

Hey @exoticatropicals thanks for testing this out! I do see at this time the option to allow blocked bidders to still send messages has been removed, as it was an unnecessary extra step involved in the blocking process. Going forward, you'll want make sure you are only blocking those buyers who you do not wish to allow to buy, bid, or message you.

Kyle,

wastingtime101 · ‎09-06-2023

kyle@ebay wrote:
Hey @exoticatropicals thanks for testing this out! I do see at this time the option to allow blocked bidders to still send messages has been removed, as it was an unnecessary extra step involved in the blocking process. Going forward, you'll want make sure you are only blocking those buyers who you do not wish to allow to buy, bid, or message you.

Wow, that's new. If that's the case then why is the setting still on the buyer management page kyle@ebay , giving sellers the impression they have control over that? I've never turned off messages from blocked buyers.

When the last seller update was released and I asked about this, eBay said the BBL functions weren't changing.

Since the BBL blocks did change, by automatically blocking messages from people on the BBL, that brings up new questions:

- Can buyers blocked through the BBL still message you if they're in a recent transaction with you or has that changed?

- Is info previously provided about blocking through eBay messages (the new block) still accurate: it blocks all messages, regardless of recent transactions, but it does not add the person to your BBL and block transactions?

GLORIOUS!

asset_liquidators · ‎09-06-2023

Golden rule. Once on the BBL, never take them off. After all, there is a reason they were put there and no good can come from taking them off.

kyle@ebay · ‎09-06-2023

@wastingtime101 wrote:

kyle@ebay wrote:

Hey @exoticatropicals thanks for testing this out! I do see at this time the option to allow blocked bidders to still send messages has been removed, as it was an unnecessary extra step involved in the blocking process. Going forward, you'll want make sure you are only blocking those buyers who you do not wish to allow to buy, bid, or message you.

Wow, that's new. If that's the case then why is the setting still on the buyer management page kyle@ebay , giving sellers the impression they have control over that? I've never turned off messages from blocked buyers.

When the last seller update was released and I asked about this, eBay said the BBL functions weren't changing.

Since the BBL blocks did change, by automatically blocking messages from people on the BBL, that brings up new questions:

- Can buyers blocked through the BBL still message you if they're in a recent transaction with you or has that changed?

- Is info previously provided about blocking through eBay messages (the new block) still accurate: it blocks all messages, regardless of recent transactions, but it does not add the person to your BBL and block transactions?

Hey @wastingtime101 those are some great questions!
The buyer management page still gives the option to block communication from buyers who were blocked by the buyer requirements a seller has set up. For example, maybe you have a customer who buys from you regularly, but due to some mixup they received too many UPI strikes recently, and now they are blocked by your buyer requirements you have set up. The buyer could then contact you and you would have the opportunity to allow them to buy from you anyway, since they are a trusted customer.

This type of block is not to be confused with blocking buyers using the blocked bidder list. Buyer requirements will block any buyer who meets the criteria you've set up. The blocked bidder list is purely where a seller has added a specific buyer to the list to be blocked.

On the blocked bidder list (BBL) there is no longer the option to allow those blocked buyers to contact the seller. This was changed due to overwhelming feedback over the years that blocking a buyer and then needing an extra step to block their messages was redundant.

I hope that helps clear up this situation. Now, back to your specific questions:

"- Can buyers blocked through the BBL still message you if they're in a recent transaction with you or has that changed?" - No, not anymore.

"- Is info previously provided about blocking through eBay messages (the new block) still accurate: it blocks all messages, regardless of recent transactions, but it does not add the person to your BBL and block transactions?" - It does block all messages, regardless of the recent transaction. It will ALSO add the member to your BBL automatically.

Kyle,

mam98031 · ‎09-06-2023

kyle@ebay

I'm all for Ebay helping sellers stay safer, but this doesn't accomplish that ESPECIALLY when Ebay doesn't properly explain it to sellers.

IMHO cutting off communication between buyer and seller that have a current transaction should not happen unless the buyer is being abusive in the emails they send. But a seller may want to block them from not purchasing any more items for a variety of reasons. But that still should not prevent them from communicating on a current transaction.

We had a separate setting we could set to stop communication completely and even that setting did not cut off communication between buyer and seller when there was a current transaction.

Now we still have the separate setting but they aren't needed if you add a buyer to the BBL.

IMHO I do not see this change as a help to sellers but a problem. Knowing this now, I would not want to put a buyer of a current transaction on my BBL leaving me at risk for them to purchase something else which could be a problem. Before I did not have to take this risk. Now I would. Nope, don't like it.

mam98031 · ‎09-06-2023

@asset_liquidators wrote:
Golden rule. Once on the BBL, never take them off. After all, there is a reason they were put there and no good can come from taking them off.

This conversation has nothing to do with that @asset_liquidators . It is all about changes in how the BBL reacts.

mam98031 · ‎09-06-2023

kyle@ebay

Just as a tidbit, I have never seen on the community where a seller said this ever " This was changed due to overwhelming feedback over the years that blocking a buyer and then needing an extra step to block their messages was redundant. " Not that I read every thread, but I have not seen this as some major concern for a bunch of sellers.

As in my previous post to you I explain why this change actually hurts some sellers in regards to communicating with some buyers while having them blocked from further purchases. But they have a current transaction to work through and that buyer has the right to ask me question as long as they are civil in doing so.

I'm sure it has been what you were told that so many of us were asking for this change. I personally don't buy it.

asset_liquidators · ‎09-06-2023

It has everything to do with it. Only put those on your BBL who you no longer wish to do business with. And if you do decide to add someone to your list there must be a good reason to so no good can come from removing them.

wastingtime101 · ‎09-06-2023

Thanks kyle@ebay , that does clear things up.

Final questions on this change which I expect @exoticatropicals could answer for us. My apologies if you mentioned this already, but it's a long discussion thread and I don't want to go back and re-read the whole thing.

As a seller, what did you see when attempting to message the blocked buyer? Did you get an error or did it look like your message went through?

As a buyer, what did your friend see when attempting to message you? I'm assuming they saw the standard message saying they're blocked and can't contact you?

GLORIOUS!

robbie31415 · ‎09-06-2023

I think this is good.

Blocked should be blocked.

buyselljack2016 · ‎09-06-2023

Bad move on the part of eBay.

While blocking communication is often desired there needs to be an avenue of communication left open in some instances where there has been a transaction.

There could have been miscommunication that can be resolved, but the seller need to be protected short term from additional issues via the "block"..