eBay

iamalwaysright · ‎08-02-2025

Are these guys just trolling or genuine? I'm sure there are worse scenarios out there and maybe these messages rub me the wrong way because I've become more intolerant of incompetence.

About once or twice a month I'll get a message or complaint from a buyer who says something like "I just tried to buy it and I can't." or "it won't let me." asking for help. Sometimes this message is sent after the buyer previously asked me a question about the item, sometimes it's the initial message.

Typically I would reply for them to elaborate with details as well as provide a screenshot if possible. Of the ones who don't provide the screenshot (over 50% of them), their reply pretty much rephrases their vague previous message and gives no additional information at all. I'll get a reply like "It just isn't working", "your site is broken" or something else that discourages me to troubleshoot for them. Like, do you actually expect a seller to be able to solve your problem from that reply of yours alone?

I roll my eyes in these issues because I know it will involve an excessive amount of back/forth messages trying to force these guys to be descriptive. How do you guys respond to the "it won't let me buy" message a buyer sends you? I can include a bunch more troubleshooting questions within my first reply but I fear piling it on like that would run the risk of the buyer not even reading or addressing them.

johnrj1226 · ‎08-02-2025

Don't let the "little" things get you upset. Just ignore and move on. It takes all kinds to make the world go around.

"I have the right to remain silent but I didn't have the ability." Ron White, Fritch, Texas
"Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution." A. Einstein
"The Devil made me do it!" - Flip Wilson
"If the band can only play loud - they ain't no good - peps too!" J.R. Johnson

soh.maryl · ‎08-02-2025

Isn't it possible to set up a canned reply to those messages?

Or you can ignore them, but there is a possibility that you will miss a sale.

pickapaper · ‎08-02-2025

I don't know what you sell but I'm surprised that you get these questions once or twice a month. In my 27 years of selling on eBay, I don't think I have ever had a query like that. However, if it did happen to me, I would have to tell them that, as a seller, I don't know why they can't buy, and that they should contact eBay if they are having problems with the system. I, personally, am tech-challenged and would not have a clue as to how to troubleshoot for anyone, but it sounds like you do have knowledge to help them, so if you can, great, if not, refer them to eBay.

Anonymous · ‎08-02-2025

@iamalwaysright wrote:
Are these guys just trolling or genuine? I'm sure there are worse scenarios out there and maybe these messages rub me the wrong way because I've become more intolerant of incompetence.

About once or twice a month I'll get a message or complaint from a buyer who says something like "I just tried to buy it and I can't." or "it won't let me." asking for help. Sometimes this message is sent after the buyer previously asked me a question about the item, sometimes it's the initial message.

Typically I would reply for them to elaborate with details as well as provide a screenshot if possible. Of the ones who don't provide the screenshot (over 50% of them), their reply pretty much rephrases their vague previous message and gives no additional information at all. I'll get a reply like "It just isn't working", "your site is broken" or something else that discourages me to troubleshoot for them. Like, do you actually expect a seller to be able to solve your problem from that reply of yours alone?

I roll my eyes in these issues because I know it will involve an excessive amount of back/forth messages trying to force these guys to be descriptive. How do you guys respond to the "it won't let me buy" message a buyer sends you? I can include a bunch more troubleshooting questions within my first reply but I fear piling it on like that would run the risk of the buyer not even reading or addressing them.

@iamalwaysright

I don’t reply.

They are either too dumb to use eBay, have been auto blocked from purchasing, or are looking for some “in” to SCAM.

I have no patience for any of these scenarios, and I’m not desperate to make sales.

titipeo · ‎08-02-2025

You could just block them and move on. The problem is them or eBay.

luckythewinner · ‎08-02-2025

Typically I would reply for them to elaborate with details as well as provide a screenshot if possible

Generally speaking, these issues arise when a buyer is either (a) blocked by my buyer requirements, (b) located somewhere I do not ship, or (c) completely clueless. I am not really interested in 'troubleshooting' these issues, because I do not want these people buying from me.

I simply respond and say that eBay determines whether a buyer is eligible to purchase an item on their site, and I have control over eBay.

a-lotta-stuff · ‎08-02-2025

Most of the 'It won't let me bid' or 'make it a BIN for $xx and I'll buy' messages we get, it turns out that person is on our buyer requirement list [too many unpaid] or our block bidder list - so we had a problem with them before.

As we keep all our 'your item sold' emails in one of two folders - 'paid' or 'didn't pay', we can search them and find what they didn't pay for and 'remind' them.

If they are being auto blocked for too many unpaid, we thank them for contacting us so we could figure out who they are and add them to our blocked bidder list.

12345jamesstamps · ‎08-02-2025

I had one the other day from Canada.

I wanted to say it...but didn't.

I went into the item the buyer couldn't purchase...changed the shipping and then told buyer again to try and they manage to buy it.

It had something to do in my shipping of an international buyer.

I did change the shipping but not sure if that was that problem.

After 4000+ items for sale...I could have a few mistakes.

bonanza125 · ‎08-02-2025

How I respond is the issue is either on your end or with Ebay. There is nothing I can do as a seller to resolve your issue. Then that's the end of the conversation. If they clap back which they have with frustration I just tell them to contact Ebay or try to buy the item again later. I understand that messages like these can rub you the wrong way but I wouldn't put too much into it. It's part of the business dealing online.

simply-the-best-for-you · ‎08-02-2025

I think I've only ever rec'd two of those. Once the 'buyer' was on my BBL, can't remember how I handled that one, if I even replied. The other time was when they got a message that I didn't ship to their state, which I see that people are still getting from time to time. I tell them it's an eBay glitch & to try again later & it worked when she tried it later. This is just not a major issue for me.

This one goes to Eleven - Nigel Tufnel

Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
eBay Seller since 1996

itsjustasprain · ‎08-02-2025

@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:
I think I've only ever rec'd two of those. Once the 'buyer' was on my BBL, can't remember how I handled that one, if I even replied.

Whenever I get these in my selling account I immediately check my Buyer Requirements Activity Log page first to see if there is a recent hit there that might have been them getting blocked:

https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/blockedbuyeractivities

If I see them there due to too many Unpaids I just tell them that Ebay (not me!) has blocked their purchase attempt (which is technically true) and that they should contact Ebay to see what they can do about it.

iamalwaysright · ‎08-04-2025

@pickapaper wrote:
I don't know what you sell but I'm surprised that you get these questions once or twice a month. In my 27 years of selling on eBay, I don't think I have ever had a query like that. However, if it did happen to me, I would have to tell them that, as a seller, I don't know why they can't buy, and that they should contact eBay if they are having problems with the system. I, personally, am tech-challenged and would not have a clue as to how to troubleshoot for anyone, but it sounds like you do have knowledge to help them, so if you can, great, if not, refer them to eBay.

Yea okay I lied. The more I think about it and look, it's more like once a month.

Usually when I find the messages getting nowhere I always end it with the "contact ebay and they should be able to walk you thru everything since they have more access to their buyer account than I do. I'm just making educated guesses here based on the little info I have."

iamalwaysright · ‎08-04-2025

@luckythewinner wrote:
Typically I would reply for them to elaborate with details as well as provide a screenshot if possible

Generally speaking, these issues arise when a buyer is either (a) blocked by my buyer requirements, (b) located somewhere I do not ship, or (c) completely clueless. I am not really interested in 'troubleshooting' these issues, because I do not want these people buying from me.

I simply respond and say that eBay determines whether a buyer is eligible to purchase an item on their site, and I have control over eBay.

There have been a few times that I'm actually able to help the buyer purchase the item. Of those buyers it turns out the issue was caused by (c), the buyer being a blockhead. Other times I just see the purchase pop up but the buyer never tells me how they finally resolved their issue, but if you ask me it's most likely (c).