03-29-2023 06:28 AM
Hi, I have a potential buyer who has been a bit difficult. She wanted to negotiate on the price, and I wouldn’t. She was also upset with my lack of speed at replying to her emails, a legit criticism because i only check emails once a day. Last night, she said she needed an answer on shipping asap (she wanted 4 Items) because she was buying the items as a gift. I apologized and said I was leaving town this morning before the post office opened and wouldn’t be back for a week (I have a vacation hold on my account). She requested I make a listing immediately with the postage price for 5 items, and she would wait for me to get back to ship.
My question is this: I am worried that if I sell to this difficult woman, she will give me a bad review and mess up my rating. Can she do that, and if so, should I block her?
I’ve never had this problem before - buyers have always been so nice and easy to deal with - and don’t know how to handle her. I’d rather lose the sale than have a bad mark on my ratings, but maybe I’m being presumptuous. Any advice appreciated.
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03-29-2023 07:14 AM
@parischickens wrote:Hi, I have a potential buyer who has been a bit difficult. She wanted to negotiate on the price ... upset with my lack of speed at replying to her emails .... Last night, she said she needed an answer on shipping asap .... I apologized and said I was leaving town this morning before the post office opened .... She requested I make a listing immediately ... I am worried that if I sell to this difficult woman, she will give me a bad review and mess up my rating. Can she do that, and if so, should I block her? ....
Yes she can and yes you should. In my experience, users who are (1) demanding, (2) difficult, and/or (3) impatient before they buy will become worse when they are actual buyers. She has shown all three red flags! I'd definitely block her.
03-29-2023 06:39 AM - edited 03-29-2023 06:40 AM
She requested I make a listing immediately with the postage price for 5 items, and she would wait for me to get back to ship.
Here's a thought... why not end the listings for the items the buyer wants, then relist them for her when you're back in town? Enjoy your vacation!
03-29-2023 06:52 AM
Sometimes customers have little patience and/or have unrealistic expectations.
If you do not feel like you can at least meet their expectations, i would just block them and move on.
Enjoy your vacation!
03-29-2023 07:14 AM
@parischickens wrote:Hi, I have a potential buyer who has been a bit difficult. She wanted to negotiate on the price ... upset with my lack of speed at replying to her emails .... Last night, she said she needed an answer on shipping asap .... I apologized and said I was leaving town this morning before the post office opened .... She requested I make a listing immediately ... I am worried that if I sell to this difficult woman, she will give me a bad review and mess up my rating. Can she do that, and if so, should I block her? ....
Yes she can and yes you should. In my experience, users who are (1) demanding, (2) difficult, and/or (3) impatient before they buy will become worse when they are actual buyers. She has shown all three red flags! I'd definitely block her.
03-29-2023 07:16 AM
Thank you!
03-29-2023 07:16 AM
Thank you!
03-29-2023 07:18 AM
I agree with @nobody*s_perfect and @chevymontecarlo88
Block that buyer. When they are that demanding it is usually the start of problems to come.
03-29-2023 08:01 AM
Not all buyers looking for a discount are a problem, but some really are after the sale. Your call as to whether you want them as a customer.
Not a bad buyer because they need the items as a gift before you leave for vacation and really wanted to get these for this gift, so that is why they were becoming anxious.
03-29-2023 08:05 AM - edited 03-29-2023 08:07 AM
Nip it in the bud...
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/blocking-buyer-ebay/
Have a great vacation 😎
03-29-2023 08:05 AM
I have had this situation happen recently and I immediately blocked them. When you start getting complaints right away, that is a red flag that you will have problems. Be prepared for some real nasty e-mails once this buyer knows you blocked them.
03-29-2023 08:21 AM
@luxgoods wrote: .... Be prepared for some real nasty e-mails once this buyer knows you blocked them.
To avoid confrontation, a seller could end the listings in question and wait a few weeks before relisting. Sometimes it's possible to put off an unwanted buyer by giving an answer they don't want to hear, such as about size, color, or condition, but that doesn't seem feasible in this case.
03-29-2023 08:47 AM
OP especially doesn't want a buyer who is "willing to wait" to have them shipped but may pay straight away and leave the OP with a late shipping ding.
03-29-2023 08:56 AM
If she is in such a hurry because she wants these items as a gift, why would she be okay with waiting to ship until you get back. Things aren't adding up with this buyer.
I would block buyer and end listings for a couple weeks......just MHO
03-30-2023 03:46 PM
Yes, I blocked her, but I will end the listing for a couple of weeks as well. Thank you for the good advice. Melissa
03-30-2023 03:47 PM
Thank you for the good advice! Best, Melissa