Removal of message option when purchasing a shipping label - What is the reasoning for this?

[zooman]

Tried to add a message to the email that is sent to the buyer.  Up until a couple of days ago, there was a block you could click on and send a thank you and notification that the buyers item was on its way.  Today, that option does not seem to be available.  I always sent the buyer a thank you and notification that the item they purchased will be on its way in the morning or whatever the next business day is.  Why was it cancelled.  All contact with the buyer should be as positive as the seller can make it, and that option seems to have been removed.  Are buyers no longer thanked for their purchase(s)? by the seller.  I am old school, and thank my customers for their business, not just in their feedback.  Contacting a agent about a issue that does not fall within their narrow guidelines is like the DODO, apparently eBay is not that concerned about their dealers and whether or not they support them.

[electrola_man]

I don't know anything about that being removed, but I never send messages to my buyers because it is all automated.  Maybe this is a time to consider making some changes.  I'm "old school" too, and I'm 55+ and have been selling here for over 20 years, but I like to take advantage of what Ebay offers.  I just checked my site preferences and I see this happens:

Buyer wins auction: The buyer success email lets your buyer know that they have won the item, and the next step is to pay.

Buyer checks out: The order confirmation email thanks your buyer for their purchase and tells them where to go for details on their purchase.

Order is updated with shipping information: Once you mark your item as shipped, we'll send your buyer an order update with tracking information.

With all of this happening automatically, I don't see a need to send anything extra.

[inhawaii]

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I noticed this too. 

I used to use it all the time, every day for every order.

Why they got rid of it?   I have no idea.

Maybe it wasn't being used by enough people so the decided to get rid of it?

[chefd2007]

I noticed it today also.  I always like to thank buyers personally, regardless of whether StupidBay does it automatically.  Their employees are obviously bored and have nothing better to do than reinvent the site and make changes for the sake of change with no rhyme or reason to users, regardless of it upsetting the flow we are accustomed to.  Just like when they deleted the small format packing slip that only took up 1/4 of a page of paper, and replaced it with a non-ecofriendly half page format of wasted ink and paper. I spent hours having to create my own packing slip similar to the old format, in addition to the added time having to tailor it to each different order, when they could have left it the way it was and just added the alternative format for others to use. I don't mind a change for the better, but it seldom ever is where this site is concerned.

[chapeau-noir]

Maybe eBay considers it uncontrolled communication - those who use the option could send 'extra' information directing buyers to their own website, or send contact information, etc. and this would escape scrutiny - this is a definite preoccupation. 

I don't use eBay labels, but recall when I did and used the message box, I found that buyers didn't get the message I'd written in there. ?? I just write notes on the packing slip, anyway.

[primeestatesales]

Completely agree. Makes zero sense to remove this feature for the seller. I always used that message option to say thank you to the buyer, and also ask to contact me with any issue they may have before leaving feedback. So now I have to send a separate message to buyers? Again, zero sense. And to your point, no, ebay does not care at all about their sellers. They never have (at least in my selling experience for past 10 years. They make these kind of big changes without any communication to seller. So frustrating. 

[slippinjimmy]

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@inhawaii wrote:

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I noticed this too. 

I used to use it all the time, every day for every order.

Why they got rid of it?   I have no idea.

Maybe it wasn't being used by enough people so the decided to get rid of it?

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Maybe buyers are sick of receiving all these messages. I bought something on another site Wednesday and I've already received 6 messages from the site plus 2 from the shipping company. That doesn't include the half dozen plus marketing messages and reminders about an item I left in my cart.