How to answer buyer's questions

[e2cosmetic]

I am asking my fellow ebay sellers how to answer a question politely when that question is ridiculous.  Such as if the item is new when the ad says, "new."

[loveyourimagination49 · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your interest. Yes, the item is new.

[pvcliff]

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wrote:

I am asking my fellow ebay sellers how to answer a question politely when that question is ridiculous.  Such as if the item is new when the ad says, "new."

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"Yes, the item is brand new. Thank you for your interest."

[fern*wood]

I've answered plenty like that and just try to make sure to leave out any hint of snark.

I would say, "Yes, my item is new.  Thanks for asking, pam"  

I always try to repeat exactly the information as I had written it in the listing.   If it was new and unused but the box was creased, opened, or whatever---I repeat that.

[e2cosmetic]

Should I point out to the potential buyer that the answer to their question is in the ad? 

[loveyourimagination49]

I wouldn’t. That would just irritate the potential buyer.

[e2cosmetic]

What about blocking these people?  Don't questions mean potential trouble?  Especially when they are asking what is already in the ad?

[loveyourimagination49]

Some buyers don’t take the time to read the description.
I see no reason to block, YMMV

[buyselljack2016]

This may seem rather negative, but as I have no need/no desire to sell to a buyer that can not read what is in the listing I do not respond, and just go ahead with making my BBL longer.

50/50 chance of a problem after the sale with a buyer that needs to ask a question like that. If they did not read that it was new, they may not be reading much else.

[e2cosmetic]

I have found that buyers do not read the ad.  As in the size of the product being a large or small.  Or whatever.  I have had cases opened against me but I always win.  Because the information is in the ad.  I think I should block them.  But we can only block 5000 names I think.

[myboardid]

If the buyer is using a mobile device, they may not even be able to see the information they are asking about.  The polite answer is the right one, even if it seems obvious to you that they are incompetent idiots. 

[pvcliff]

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wrote:

What about blocking these people?  Don't questions mean potential trouble?  Especially when they are asking what is already in the ad?

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OK, I thought we'd been causing a newbie to freak out by reading Selling posts. @e2cosmetic You are a very seasoned seller and should know by now you sometimes get questions that seem obvious or that the potential buyer isn't reading.  You have to go with your gut, but "is this new" is very innocuous. 

[e2cosmetic]

I just started selling again last year around March.  When I sold previously I never had these ridiculous questions from buyers. 

[duggmills]

After asking one of those silly questions of a seller, I received a snappy answer - just exactly  the kind I would have sent had he asked the question I asked.

After receiving a dose of my own kind of message from him I went back to congratulate him for his rather quite humorous response, told him it  was how I would have answered him and bought the item from him.

That was before Android apps and now I only use a tablet or phone for very basic searches where detail isn't shown or needed. I only place bids on my desk top after "learning to read the entire listing"..... LOL

My message to you is to look at the buyers feed back and location and politely respond.  Too many people don't deal well or grasp implied humor.

[buyselljack2016]

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wrote:

I just started selling again last year around March.  When I sold previously I never had these ridiculous questions from buyers. 

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Are you using the "mobile friendly checker" to see how it is viewed on a mobile device?

The 1st line my buyers see in the description is "your purchase (or bid if auction) is for one (1) used widget,  Or "used"

None of that helps if they do not look.

Good that you have always "won".  That is not always the case. Buyers can provide little or no reason for a SNAD, and can easily win.   If they flat out say this item is not "blue" , when the listing clearly said "red" that is one thing, but if they say the color does not match the description the seller has a good chance of coming up short.

5000  BBL limit?  Well, if the BBL is that long, there are other problems:)