Most common buyer messages

[iamalwaysright]

What is your most common topic in the buyer messages you get?

Mine is buyers trying to negotiate lower shipping, both before and after the sale. I only mark it up to cover FVF fees on it. Pretty much all of them ask for prices lower than the actual cost. The messages don't annoy me, but it just tells me that many buyers continue to not grasp the actual costs of shipping packages.

[kath.layn]

Usually it’s asking for cheaper shipping. Even tho my ads have a polite statement about shipping charges being based on size, weight and distance.  I generally reply “ Please let me know exactly how you would like this item shipped and I will be happy to oblige.”  I never hear back, because they either don’t want to bother researching shipping or they find out my shipping rates are accurate.  Since I’m way up in Oregon, it’s gonna cost a bundle to ship to Florida!

[iart]

Special packing instructions....

"Please place the metal pipe inside another metal pipe and then double box both of them in wooden crates using duct tape to seal it all air tight."

[byrd69er]

Tell them you will reduce the cost of shipping by some amount but the cost of the item will be increased by the same amount....and then block them.

[vintagecraze50]

Low ball offer.

[dentalsales4u]

Most of my messages are sob stories that they don't have enough money to purchase and could I lower my price X amount of dollars, which usually puts me below my cost after FVF.

I politely thank them for their interest and let them know price is firm.

Most will come back with another offer a little higher, then I will block them.

Most of my items are already way less than others on eBay, so I don't feel I have to go any lower and lose money on it.

[iamalwaysright]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

I only mark it up to cover FVF fees on it. 

it just tells me that many buyers continue to not grasp the actual costs of shipping packages.

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What it tells me is that you might want to charge the actual cost of postage, and add your "markup" to the item price instead of to the shipping cost. 

Or you could even move an extra dollar of the shipping cost into the item price, and show that you are charging less than actual postage. 

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Yea but that tends to mess things up when you do returns and keep the shipping.

[iamalwaysright]

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@wrong66 wrote:

Exactly. If you're trying to recover fees by raising the price of shipping, that is likely what's concerning your buyers. Without seeing any of your listings, it's impossible to say. Inflated shipping fees does not produce a good business model.

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Yea, it's too bad a vast majority of buyers always think your shipping fee is inflated no matter what the price you end up charging. Even if your charge is less than the actual shipping cost. With those buyers, either way we are screwed.

[iamalwaysright]

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@iart wrote:

Special packing instructions....

"Please place the metal pipe inside another metal pipe and then double box both of them in wooden crates using duct tape to seal it all air tight."

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He he. I wonder if these type of packaging questions are specific to certain types of items. What do you sell primarily that gets these messages?

[iamalwaysright]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Low ball offer.

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Surprisingly I've stopped getting these messages, even during xmas when that time is notorious for low balls.

[inhawaii]

In some cases I've actually found the opposite to be true.

That people would rather buy an item for $20 and $6 shipping

than $21 and $5 shipping or $26 and free shipping.

Some people are only looking at the price of the item itself. 

"I bought this nice wallet on ebay for only $20" when if fact they spent $26. 

[skeletonstore]

The most common theme is either buyers and sometimes competitors telling me how to list products and what to list them for.  I just block them these days as they fly off the handle if I respond by screeching that they're reporting me to ebay for ripping people off.  Some of these people are certifiable.  I could be selling a one of a kind item and they cry about prices but will go pay a $1000 for a mass produced CVS/Hallmark type over priced prop. Some of the conversations both on and off ebay are insane.  Then at other times they overreact when I do extreme edits to prices.  Such minor edits make the rounds of social media where they openly say they are going to harass me and do enmass.  So complaining about prices is the main theme,  despite the presence of a best offer button.  

[charlleines]

Most common is a sob story to get item for very little. Most memorable is a buyer messaging me to tell me "I will only pay $x (10%of BIN price) and you can apply it to price or shipping whatever and I need it expedited please" 

Thank goodness for BBL

[coolections]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

I mark it up to cover FVF fees. all of them ask for prices lower.

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If you have that many people complaining, then keep the shipping cost the actual cost and raise the asking price instead.