Inundated with offer questions

[1funkydude]

We have two selling accounts. The other one is larger, and we move over 5,000 items a year. We’ve anywhere from 500-1000 listings at a time. We’re seeing an avalanche of messages about offers. We have no offer option on the listings. I understand the “send seller a message” has a subject line about offers, and they’re free to message sellers about a possible offer. The issue we’re having is we’re now receiving 100 messages or more a day about offers, and it’s growing. Yes, 100+. I understand we have “hot” items, so there’s a lot of traffic. We’ve a stock answer of “thanks but we’re not taking offers”. This has, however, reached a point where an inordinate amount of time is being spent answering all the messages individually. We simply can’t get to all of them, let alone as quickly as people want an answer. Last week we had a day of almost 150. These potential buyers are also becoming increasingly angry and impatient. Many are following up with another message after we decline with a question  about “why”. They too are expecting an answer. Many are upset they don’t get an answer in 30 minutes. We’ve missed some of them, and failed to answer. There’s just too many. The argument it “only” takes a minute to answer isn’t valid once the volume of questions reaches a certain point. Now we have some of those buyers going on to buy the item anyway only to leave neutral/negative feedback about “communication”, or lack thereof. They’re dinging us for not answering their question about something we didn’t offer in the first place; dinging us for communication prior to the sale. We got some of them removed by eBay, which again, takes time. We’re seeing more returns, often with made-up reasons, from these same buyers who go on to purchase, some out of spite with the sole intention of returning. Understand, I’m not whining or bashing eBay. I get there’s a delicate balance with buyer/seller relations and rules. Has anyone a solution when the problem is the volume of inquiries? Or have a better message than our short and to the point message? 

[forward-motion]

 I don’t thing blocking that many per day is a solution to the problem. 

[downunder-61]

Good idea, but disgusting that seller's should have to do this, why give us options in our settings at all if they are going to help circumvent them and cause us MORE work responding to messages than we already have!

I make a living on eBay, I am in AUs and don't have half the issues you have here (yet) scam wise etc, but it will come, of that I have no doubt, and I find myself becoming more and more disillusioned as time goes by.

[2013grotz]

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@downunder-61 wrote:

Good idea, but disgusting that seller's should have to do this, why give us options in our settings at all if they are going to help circumvent them and cause us MORE work responding to messages than we already have!

Indeed.  I get there's going to be regular hassles and things of that sort, but when ebay is directly causing you to have more work and really is doing everything to cause you problems more than help you as a seller, it really isn't good.  I haven't moved a ton of stuff, but even I got my horror stories about offers and how badly they often work on this site.

[toysaver]

How about doing a bulk edit and adding OFFERS NOT ACCEPTED? 

[2013grotz]

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@toysaver wrote:

How about doing a bulk edit and adding OFFERS NOT ACCEPTED? 

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[thebookhill]

brian.t@ebay
tyler@ebay
trinton@ebay

This new feature of "The seller hasn't enabled offers for this item. See if they'll consider it -- send a message with your best price." is creating trouble for the op.

I don’t reply to unsolicited offers, I immediately block the "buyer" because they have already ignored what my listing says.

I have only had one good experience with a buyer who made an unsolicited offer.

Offers that are unsolicited are already asking for something not included in the listing.

Only more bad can come of this.

[2013grotz]

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@thebookhill wrote:

This new feature of "The seller hasn't enabled offers for this item. See if they'll consider it -- send a message with your best price." is creating trouble for the op.

Offers that are unsolicited are already asking for something not included in the listing.

Only more bad can come of this.

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Indeed.  For a lot of people.  This is far from the first time this has come up.  It's at least three times in the last week.

Ebay is not respecting the seller's wishes when it comes to offers:

1) Suggesting to buyers that they can message sellers for offers, regardless of their preferences.

2) Switching on "Best Offer" for listings when the seller has them switched off.

They really need to lay off these things.  It's only created problems for the sellers involved.

[thebookhill]

That email is a reminder that listings can include the "make an offer" feature.

That is asking for offers, and is not unsolicited.

And, that feature works great.

It was a eBay rule that buyers could only send offers to sellers with the "make an offer" feature on  in their listing.  And, there was a way for sellers to report any buyers who sent offers on listings without that feature.

[2013grotz]

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@thebookhill wrote:

That email is a reminder that listings can include the "make an offer" feature.

No, it is a notification that ebay switched on the "best offer" feature for a number of my listings.  (Against my wishes.)

[varebelrose]

Block them and ignore the offer messages. It is really just that simple.

"we’re being dinged on the feedback for not responding." How can they be leaving feedback? Again, BLOCK them. Anyone making offers on a listing that does not have "make an offer" enabled is going to be a problem down the road.

[varebelrose]

"Block hundreds of potential buyers per day? "

Darn tootin'. A "buyer" who does that, will continue to try to negotiate well after they have their item in hand.

[darkofthematinee]

Some buyers just like to haggle, so nowadays a lot of sites like Poshmark for example, will automatically put the offer feature on every listing.  Seems Ebay is just trying to mimic the competition and attract all the rude and obnoxious lowballers.  They came out of the woodwork when Ebay started sneaking in best offers on auction listngs.  It's incredibly annoying.  

I usually have a dozen or so of my higher end items listed on Posh and set asking price with a little room to negotiate.    Some just want it dirt cheap then try to  flip it for double the price. I've had a couple come back and leave less than 5 stars with nitpicky comments in retaliation when I stood firm on price.   Now I just decline and block buyers who offer half the asking price. 

[forward-motion]

So, if a buyer asks for a lower price and does not get one you are saying that buyer will not buy and should be blocked. Not everyone of those buyers go away, some will pay the price. To block 100 buyers a day is the silliest thing I’ve heard in a long time. You are talking about blocking 700 buyers a week , 2800 a month and 33,600 buyers a year…. Yeah that is just suicidal.

Working with the problem rather than against it will get more sales. You have all of those potential buyers, working something out to get the sale rather than blocking them would make WAYYYYY more sense. 

[dentalsales4u]

I don't get near as many unsolicited offers as you do, but when I get them I do respond.

I'm always polite and thank them for their interest in my product.

I let them know the price is firm. After eBay fees and free shipping, their offer would be barely above my cost.

Usually, they will buy at my listed price.

If they keep messaging me with more offers, I will then block them.

[pikabo-icu]

Perhaps just a macro or copy paste message to keep on hand. 

Dear buyer,

Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately with the cost of obtaining the stock, packing, shipping & fees, our price is the lowest we can offer. If in the future, we are able to offer a discount, we will update the listing. 

Thank you, have a lovely day, your seller name here. 

PS Trinton went bye-bye some time ago