Does not responding to buyer messages lower your standing on ebay?

[starcastle33]

Just curious, because I have a habit of not responding to low ball offers and wanted to know if that affects my performance on the ebay side of the house.  What do yall think? 

[fashunu4eeuh]

In eBay’s Member to Member Contact policy, it states that eBay may monitor member messages for fraud, abuse, spam etc. it also monitors for policy violations. I see no penalty outlined for ignoring another member’s offers.

However, i would be far more worried sbout your having included your contact info in your descriptions and feedback Left for Others. That can get you in all kinds of hurt with eBay including suspension.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/membertomember-contact-policy?id=4262

[mam98031]

No, but you might be better off to set your limits on the listings.  You can set that you won't even take offers that are lower than $$$, whatever number you deem fit.  The buyer can't see that limit, but if they are below it, it won't generate an offer and therefore you wouldn't get an email.

Automatic responses to a Best Offer

If you set up automatic responses in your listing, we can accept or decline a Best Offer for you, based on the price limits you select. Buyers won't know your limits, but the upper limit must be below your Buy It Now price.

Here's how automatic responses work:

• When you get an offer at, or above, your upper limit, we automatically send an email to you and the buyer saying that you've accepted and the buyer should pay
• When you get an offer below your lower limit, we automatically send an email to the buyer declining the offer. The buyer can submit a higher bid or you can send a counteroffer. Buyers can make up to three offers per item in most categories
• When you get an offer somewhere between your price limits, we'll send you a message and you'll have to decide how to respond

You can't use automatic responses when:

• You've put an item on sale using the markdown manager feature of Promotions Manager
• The buyer included additional terms in the offer that you'll need to review first
• The option doesn't appear when you are creating your listing (not all categories allow for automatic responses)

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/adding-best-offer-listing-using-reply-offer?id=4144

This seems like it could save you time and some worries.  Good luck.

[ms.rodriguez*]

No.  I have not responded to any lowball offers at least 2 years.   Sales stink this time of year.

[jbbowers12012]

We respond to everything.  EVERY question - EVERY comment & EVERY offer no matter how silly.  We try to do it in a kind, interested and compassionate manner.  Just think it is good business.  IMHO of course.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@starcastle33  As far as I know, your response rate has no impact on "seller performance" stats. However, whether it is a factor in ebay's search placement algo is another question. It might be a factor there, since ebay does not disclose all factors involved with the algo.  

[l5vw]

 We remember reading somewhere that how quickly you respond to messages can make a difference ? May not be true but we always respond to every message or offer as quickly as possible. We always respond even to the lowball offers...sometimes they lowballers end up making a purchase so don`t be offended by thier initial offer!

[southern*sweet*tea]

Just my opinion, which may or may not be correct:

Ebay ranks listings in search by using many criteria.  One of those is seller engagement - how often a seller engages with the site.  Answering buyer messages and responding to offers is one part of engaging with the site.  I would think that by not responding to buyer messages and/or ignoring offers you are lowering your standing in search, even if it's just a little bit.

[inhawaii]

To answer your question: No, it does not. 

Comment: Why would you not want to answer a question from a potential buyer?

I always think of it as if you were in a B&M store and a real life customer asked you a stupid question or made you a lowball offer, would you ignore them or answer them politely?