Do you think EBay should remove "Make Offer" from the CONTACT SELLER options/suggestions??

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

Let's be clear... I'm NOT suggesting removing the Make Offer/Best Offer option from listings.

I'm asking, do you think, when you click "Contact Seller", and you are given the multiple options or suggestions for why you may be contacting that seller, do you think there should be, or NOT be, an option listed as "Make Offer".

I have seen many debates over unsolicited offers. (Buyers making offers on listings that don't have Best Offer enabled, thus buyers must message a seller their offer). I have seen members defend buyers who message these unsolicited offers. The primary defense I have seen is that there is an OPTION that is labelled "Make Offer" and it literally ENCOURAGES buyers to message the seller and see if they will take a lower price.

Do you think this option and encouragement should be there? Or should it be removed?

I get plenty of messaged offers (often counter offers to discounts/offers I send). Plenty of which I've declined. I have gotten a handful where a buyer simply asked for a discount and I gave them the usual discount we send out and it was a great deal, or a buyer asks for a bulk discount buying a large batch of the item and I oblige, but most of my offers are honestly just... well... I'll be polite and say I rather not get them. 

So, if the argument is made EBay encourages it... I ask, should EBay continue to encourage it? Or cease/remove it?

Thoughts?

[inhawaii]

"The seller hasn't enabled offers for this item. See if they'll consider — send a message with your best price."

I don't like it. 

I wish they would remove it.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

I certainly would not like to continue to receive unsolicited offers.

I am not interested in selling in a souk or bazaar.

Even in Morocco where bargaining is cut throat in Marrakesh, the merchants of Rabat decline to haggle.

I was disturbed when Ebay changed message reply to have both reply and reply with offer.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

I mean, I've had items where I didn't put a volume discount on it because I didn't expect the buyer to want a ton of the same item .... or i took a matching set and broke it apart into individual items to increase marketability and profitability and someone wanted the complete set.

Im ok if the buyer is asking for a very reasonable discount on a larger set or something, i just can't stand people asking for my (1) of my $40 items for $30 or my $33 item for $23 or silly discounts on fairly priced items.

[wastingtime101]

---

@inhawaii wrote:

"The seller hasn't enabled offers for this item. See if they'll consider — send a message with your best price."

I don't like it. 

I wish they would remove it.

---

Here's the problem with that. You can turn it off in your settings. But about 2 years ago the setting "broke" so even if you have it turned off, buyers will see that message.

Doesn't really matter anyway - buyers don't read it. I have FAQs set up under ASQ and it's crystal clear the majority of buyers that message me do not read them before sending a message.

Ex: Under combined shipping buyers will see a FAQ I added that shipping is automatically combined when they add items to their shopping cart. Yet, buyers will click on combined shipping which means that FAQ is directly in their face (you can tell they clicked on the combined ship section because it's in the auto-generated email subject) and they ask if I will combine shipping.

Buyers will always ask for lower prices as long as sellers have their messages turned on.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

I see most if not all of my unsolicited offer messages show the auto-generated subject showing they clicked that option.

I don't know that it will stop any requests for lower prices ... but at least EBay wouldn't be directly encouraging it. I suppose it's a petty and moot point, I guess I just read a message from a buyer asking for a discount and I get annoyed but then I see they clicked the MAKE OFFER tab and my ANNOYANCE is turned around and aimed at EBay. I feel like I'm left unable to blame the buyer or get ticked at the buyer.

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

---

@wastingtime101 wrote:

---

@inhawaii wrote:

"The seller hasn't enabled offers for this item. See if they'll consider — send a message with your best price."

I don't like it. 

I wish they would remove it.

---

Here's the problem with that. You can turn it off in your settings. But about 2 years ago the setting "broke" so even if you have it turned off, buyers will see that message.

---

Adding screenshot of this page:

https://www.ebay.com/cnt/ManageSellerFAQ

Box is unchecked in my settings.

But if I open a browser window that's signed in to a different account, click contact seller from one of my listings, that message appears on the ASQ page even though I have it unchecked in preferences.

In fact, can we get this error reported kyle@ebay ? Please see my screenshots above. This is really frustrating and sets unrealistic expectations for buyers. I don't do offers and I don't want buyers pestering me with messages for offers because eBay told them to.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Whether Ebay encourages them or not a request for a reduction of 30-50% in the price is insulting.

[wastingtime101]

---

@ajs_coins_and_alchemy wrote:

I guess I just read a message from a buyer asking for a discount and I get annoyed but then I see they clicked the MAKE OFFER tab and my ANNOYANCE is turned around and aimed at EBay. I feel like I'm left unable to blame the buyer or get ticked at the buyer.

---

Not only do I have that message from eBay turned off, but I also have my own FAQ that addresses the offer question, saying offers aren't on the table. eBay's message contradicts the FAQ I added.

The setting broke I think 2 years ago. Maybe 2 1/2?

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

Completely agree

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

Hey, what's the best possible answer I could hope for?

You to come by and say this is a stupid feature that is broken and needs to be fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started this post mostly as a venting session -- didn't know it would possibly lead to tangible results!

Maybe I should vent my grievances more and get more things fixed inadvertantly!?!?

[kyle@ebay]

---

@wastingtime101 wrote:

---

@wastingtime101 wrote:

---

@inhawaii wrote:

"The seller hasn't enabled offers for this item. See if they'll consider — send a message with your best price."

I don't like it. 

I wish they would remove it.

---

Here's the problem with that. You can turn it off in your settings. But about 2 years ago the setting "broke" so even if you have it turned off, buyers will see that message.

---

Adding screenshot of this page:

https://www.ebay.com/cnt/ManageSellerFAQ

Box is unchecked in my settings.

But if I open a browser window that's signed in to a different account, click contact seller from one of my listings, that message appears on the ASQ page even though I have it unchecked in preferences.

In fact, can we get this error reported kyle@ebay ? Please see my screenshots above. This is really frustrating and sets unrealistic expectations for buyers. I don't do offers and I don't want buyers pestering me with messages for offers because eBay told them to.

---

Hey @wastingtime101 thanks for bringing this up!  I'll be glad to pass this report (along with the suggestions from the rest of the thread on removing the feature entirely) over to the appropriate team for review!  

[wastingtime101]

I think it makes sense to keep this part kyle@ebay :

The seller hasn't enabled offers for this item.

and remove this part:

See if they'll consider — send a message with your best price."

[a-lotta-stuff]

We price our items for the least amount that we would take so no offers asked for or accepted.

Have an Item with two bids and we just got a message from the first bidder, who is now the under bidder, asking if we sent him an offer. Have asked him to send us the details - as of now no reply. Can't imagine what the offer could be - bid more and you might win this?

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I actually like the reply with offer. Especially now ebay has introduced this autopay on offers bleep.

I'd prefer they send me a message with an offer rather than using the "official" make an offer button as well.