Getting offers

[sha979442]

When making a listing, what is the purpose of deselecting “accepts offers” if I’m going to constantly get messages with offers? I don’t select that for a reason, I don’t really have time to haggle with prices. Is it OK to ignore messages from buyers who constantly send messages with offers? I’m good about keeping up with the”send offer” option and I have it set up to automatically go and I’ll reevaluate if I need to change the offer but the messages get ridiculous and I end just been ignoring them. 

[kensgiftshop]

I wouldn't ignore the messages.

I just tell them, sorry I'm not accepting offers at this time.

Sometimes they'll go ahead and buy at regular price and sometimes not.

[klhmdg]

I too find it annoying when a "buyer" sends a message asking if I will accept an offer.

So I take the time to look at the buyers feedback left for others and where the buyer is located. I never say yes I will.

It is 100% OK to ignore these "messages" 

Sometimes after looked at the buyer I add them to my "friends" list and feel I have dodged a bullet.

Sometimes I look at my item again and adjust the price. 

The last time this happened I adjusted the price up 25% and 3 days later it sold at full price.

If I want to have offers on a listing I add it to the listing.

eBay allowing buyers to message "will you take" annoys me.

Do they go to the store and say "I really like this would you sell it to me for 1/2 price?"

[25kenwood]

     I reply with 'the price is as listed'. If they continue to send offers after that, that is when I ignore them.

     A good 1/3 of the time or more they purchase at the full price right after I send the message.

[dhbookds]

The only reason to at least acknowledge and decline the offer is, as others have said, to put the buyer into a position of having to buy at full price....  If you don't need/want more sales..........ignore the offers. 

[tarotfindsandmore]

I just reply with a "Thank you for your interest.  Unfortunately, I am not accepting offers at this time."  The one time I tried to ignore an insultingly low offer, the wannabe buyer went and messaged me again about 12 hours later to tell me she was waiting and really wanted the item, so I ended up sending the same message I always do and blocked her.

Occasionally I will just go straight to block and skip the message.  Generally that's only the case if the person making the offer has at least two strikes in my book.  Strikes for me are a history of leaving bad feedback, stupidly low offers, very low feedback, being overseas (this is not firm, it kinda depends where they are), and multiple offers (I don't have best offer enabled, nor do I accept counteroffers).  Any one of these things isn't grounds for dismissal but two or more and it's blockaroo!

[fashunu4eeuh]

As an overall practice, it’s best not to ignore messages if it can be helped.

I usually respond with something along the lines of this:

”Dear Buyer,

Regret to say offers are not being accepted on this item as the price is firm, but thank you for your interest. Please let me know if i can be of further assistance. 

Sincerely,

Seller”

One of the reasons that i feel it is important to respond is because it is just good business.

But i have also long wondered if eBay may take data gleaned from their monitoring of Messages into account for Search placement, including things such as seller responsiveness and response time elapsed. I have absolutely no hard evidence to back up my theory this could be a factor in eBay’s algorithm.

We know eBay examines seller behavior and that multiple factors play a role in listing Search results. Been a part-time seller for over 15 years, was a buyer before that, and this is just a gut feeling that I followed. 

If eBay uses Messages in this way, it would still only be one of multiple factors that have effect on Search placement.

eBay does monitor Messages, stated openly. For details on that, see link below from eBay’s Help pages.

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

[stainlessenginecovers]

People complain that 'nobody is seeing my listing!!

Now an item is being seen, and buyers have some interest.... but it's a problem?? 

Accepting Offers (if checked) will come as an actual offer and if you chose to accept many buyers are automatically charged and your item is automatically sold)

If you are just getting messages- it's because that is one of the many choices buyers can choose when sending a message and then you can see

a.) people are seeing your item

b.) you should be double checking the competition to see what they are selling for (including marking 'sold' off to the left when inputting a keyword)

c.) Maybe you'll get enough $20 offers on that $30 item to realize that it would have sold months ago had I not been so difficult?