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? 

[downunder-61]

I do not respond to any messages about offers, if I wanted offers I would have it in my listing

[1funkydude]

I get it. But we’re being dinged on the feedback for not responding. And if it’s worded craftily, we can’t get it removed. 

[downunder-61]

You should be able to get it removed as eBay do NOT require sellers to respond to messages or to offers so you quote their own rules to them to get removal.

Try asking on the facebook page, you will get more help there than any CS chat.

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

[bigdeals.etc]

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@1funkydude wrote:

I get it. But we’re being dinged on the feedback for not responding. And if it’s worded craftily, we can’t get it removed. 

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That’s only on the ones you say end up buying from you anyway and they’re probably peeved at having to pay full price right?

This sounds like really weird advice but I’m thinking brainstorming. In your situation it would benefit you to not sell to these type of buyers. Perhaps just lie to them in your reply saying you already sold the item to someone else at full price. Even if they see the item in stock, they might just take the hint and not buy from you so you can focus on the buyers willing to pay your price without haggling.

[bigdeals.etc]

Oh wait. You could just block them from buying and don’t even bother replying.

[dippitydoo]

As nice as having high sales volume is, the inquiries you are talking about would drive anyone crazy!  I would suggest to simply not reply, because you have already seen what replying get's you (often MORE inquiry), the negative feedback is a possibility, but is one you'd just have to chance, I'd say.  The percentage would be low, and when you sales volume is high it puts those red neg's several pages back, anyway.  No obligation to respond to offers, especially when you don't have that on your listings...most bargain seekers would understand their request going unanswered, is my guess.  Best of luck!

-Dippity

[downunder-61]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

Oh wait. You could just block them from buying and don’t even bother replying.

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That's a better idea LOL  Usually tire kickers never buy anyway

[forward-motion]

I'm just wondering if you raised your prices a little then did accept offers and then set boundaries with a small window. That way the low ballers would automatically be declined and you would not have to deal with them, the others would be automatically accepted.  And you will still have the people who message you but maybe at a smaller scale. Just a thought. 

[thebookhill]

Don’t reply, simply block them.

Only one buyer who bought after making me an offer did not have problems after buying.

Hope this helps.

[forward-motion]

Block hundreds of potential buyers per day? 

[thebookhill]

Re: Block hundreds of potential buyers per day?

No. I'm saying block hundreds of potential negative experiences. Some of which can cause financial harm.

A buyer pays, gets their item, is happy, and might buy from you again.

[downunder-61]

There was a thread here the other day with a screen shot showing where eBay is advising buyers how to message a seller who has not listed 'Make an Offer'.

I tried to find, maybe someone else can, but it was absolutely astounding that they can do that when you imagine what would happen to any of us if we posted how to circumvent eBays rules.

Found it > https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/So-now-eBay-is-directly-encouraging-shoppers-to-ignore-sellers...

[Anonymous]

I DID see that last week about eBay adding the "make an offer" to the list that comes up when you contact seller.  I couldn't believe it so I looked and sure enough that's part of the list now.  I don't add "Best Offer" to my listings just because of what this OP is going through!!!  Now it seems THAT choice has been taken away from me too.  There are canned answers in that contact seller list and we should be able to add one of our own, "Seller does not accept offers".

[2013grotz]

@1funkydude 

As far as your post goes, my suggestion is to look at the auto-accept and auto-deny on your listings and allow best offer.   In a lot of cases, ebay will set your listings to "Best Offer" regardless of your wishes.  Let the system take care of offers.  Build in a little extra on your main price, auto-accept at the price you absolutely want for your item, auto-deny at one penny below.