07-22-2019 03:53 AM
How awesome would it be if ebay had a chat messenger similar to facebook marketplace (which incidentally is slowing creeping up on ebays radar as serious competition). FB keeps the message related to the listing, so you always know which listing they are contacting you about.
I hate having to to reply to an email message and then wait forever for a reply.
It could have the ability to turn on or off, so if youre not in the mood to chat they cannot contact you that way only by message. Has this been discussed on the forum before?
Ebay - any thoughts?
Forum People any thoughts?
07-22-2019 04:26 AM
If both parties are online then using eBay messages can be pretty close to instant. I don't want to see eBay work on a new messenger feature when so many other areas of the site need fixing first.
07-22-2019 07:03 AM - edited 07-22-2019 07:05 AM
@coffeebean832 wrote:
If both parties are online then using eBay messages can be pretty close to instant.
I'm with coffeebean832. IMHO the speed of a reply depends entirely upon whether the user is online, not what messaging tool he is using.
@nyvaluecomics wrote:FB keeps the message related to the listing, so you always know which listing they are contacting you about.
When an eBay buyer messages me through eBay about an item, I know exactly what item he is talking about because eBay includes the item in the message.
07-22-2019 07:47 AM
I don't think it is necessary. Ebay messaging works fine, and in any case, You may still have to wait if they turned that off or if you are not online, you are not online. Ebay keeps the messages and you can access them in the YOUR MESSAGES feature; and they always show what item you are messaging about on the message.
I think it would be redundant and there are other issues more pressing, since there is an adequate messaging system.
07-22-2019 07:55 AM
How many sellers have we seen on this forum who are ready to cancel orders because their buyers did not pay in 12 hours? I can see how some antsy sellers could be messaging their buyers
Have you paid yet?
How about now?
Now?
How soon is it going to be?
Should I cancel this transaction?
Paid yet?
...
07-22-2019 08:02 AM
True. Definitely not something needed, even if it can be turned off. Those same sellers may want payment in an hr, LOL, but then that same sense of urgency is nowhere when they get a question or an order. Buyers are often urged to be responsible but nothing is said about the seller who shows things they don't include in the order, don't state that it isn't included, pack poorly, blame buyers for their mistakes, you get my drift. We are the only ones who are supposed to be responsible; it is always the buyer's fault. You often read on here about the uneven playing field but it's not said that it's the hierarchy of seller over buyer. Remember, Ebay is nothing without sellers, buyers not needed. I doubt any seller will be here long without buyers, but that is just silly me thinking there and I'm just a stupid buyer. And I know you as a twenty year buyer, like me, who vets carefully, have been told it's your fault and that you didn't vet properly when you can vet very carefully and still end up with a problematic transaction and seller. Our fault, we don't know what we are doing, LOL.
Sorry for a bit of digression there, you have very valid points, @the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth
07-22-2019 08:18 AM
I've had buyers that are ready to cancel orders because their order doesn't ship within an hour of them paying.
I've had buyers send 5-10 messages in a row over a weekend to my company account because they paid Friday night and don't read the 1 business day shipping policy that's stated in all the listings.
Have you shipped yet?
How about now?
I paid 2 days ago
Why haven't you shipped yet?
I'm just going to cancel if you're not going to ship.
Why haven't you shipped my item it's been 3 days?!
The messages system is fine as it is. I don't think either buyers OR sellers need access to an instant messaging platform.
07-22-2019 08:24 AM
No, no, no & no.
Even if I could turn it off, I think it's a terrible idea. That kind of service might work for a solo company website with dedicated hours/staff, but not so much on eBay as it's a mishmash of sellers. Not everyone can/will participate but buyer expectations may grow to expect it and thus could be detrimental to a seller & eBay if the buyer is dissatisfied because they felt ignored. (And then it might become a TRSP requirement lol)
Now if only eBay Customer Service would have a chat messenger service...
07-22-2019 08:30 AM
07-22-2019 08:32 AM
07-22-2019 08:55 AM
Just tagging onto the end here ...
Ebay did have it when they owned Skype. You could have it set it up on your active listings(I don't believe the link was left on closed listings, though).
07-22-2019 09:00 AM
I agree there are antsy people on both sides who could misuse a messenger app. I didn't mean to imply that it was exclusively sellers.
07-22-2019 12:04 PM
I like the idea - I've found it useful on FB to be able to answer questions before sales. You also can get a bit of an idea about the buyer before meeting them or mailing the item.
07-22-2019 12:07 PM
@coffeebean832 wrote:If both parties are online then using eBay messages can be pretty close to instant. I don't want to see eBay work on a new messenger feature when so many other areas of the site need fixing first.
Maybe finish this candy bar before you open another! - Stewie Griffin
07-22-2019 12:07 PM
May I add that buyers on other platforms are a whole different species than what we often see here. I've never been harassed, bugged by too many messages ect.