Sellers. Please read your messages!

[killerofworlds]

I realize this post has no real point to it, and it's just me venting, but I just want to stress how frustrating it is and how common it is for sellers to not read and/or respond to messages.. I understand that people have lives, and I understand that it's your choice whether or not you respond to questions, but just know, that it directly affects your feedback and reliability as a seller.. Thank you.

[bigdeals.etc]

Yes some sellers don't find it worth their time to answer buyers... but there are many that do.

If you don't mind me prying... what did you ask the seller? Does the answer might need some work or research done by the seller? How long exactly has it been since you messaged the seller?

[sash8208]

I completely agree! I have made 3 different attempts to contact the seller of my recently purchased item, and they have not responded to a single one. The answer to the first 2 questions, I got when I item arrived, but the 3rd, and most important question, has not been addressed. It certainly makes me regret giving them a "5 star" rating and has prevented me from wanting to buy from them again. 

[killerofworlds]

@bigdeals.etc 

It's not just one message here or there or a specific case.. This has been going on for many years over numerous sellers and auctions..

Questions over sizing of clothes that aren't answered or completely clear in the auction, pictures that are bad, not enough pictures, poor descriptions, wrong pictures of an item that isn't even listed, questions over availability, condition, what all is included with collectibles, etc etc... I could go on forever.

Sellers do not always make everything completely clear in their listings, or for whatever reason, there is something you need to message them about for clarification.. Then, if they don't respond to a message about an item, how can you expect them to even ship it to you if they can't even look at their messages?

There are multiple forms of notifications for messages.. Web browser, email, smartphone apps.. You can't tell me anyone who's serious about selling, isn't looking at any of these?

Then there's returns and refunds.. Do you know how frustrating it is when you're trying to do a return and they won't respond, and you have to get ebay customer service involved and it turns into a month-long process just to process a return or get a refund? When all of this could be avoided if people would just look at their messages..

[killerofworlds]

If you're selling something, and you truly want to be reliable and get rid of it, you'll read and reply to questions and messages if they are at least reasonable and sensible messages... Even if it's a stupid question that's answered if people would just read your auction, you can at least point them in the right direction..

Never signing into your account if you're selling stuff to check on anything is just laziness and being irresponsible... Why even sell anything if you're never going to check on it?

And, if you deliberately ignore people who message you, and you actually are reading their messages.....that says a lot about you, and again, you shouldn't be selling anything..

[mam98031]

I feel your frustration.  I'm primarily a sellers, but I buy on Ebay too.  And many times I've asked a question that has gone unanswered or takes literally days to get an answer from the seller.  IDK what is up with that.  I can only speak for myself as a seller, but I answer every message I get in a timely manner.  No potential customer or someone that has purchased from me every is left hanging there.

There are lots of sellers that feel and act the way I do as a seller.  I hope in 2020 your experience vastly improves.  But please know there are good sellers out there that value your time and your questions.

[jobs-7]

Guilty as charged!  As a seller of a lot of clothes here on Ebay, I do indeed ignore a lot of the nonsensical questions I get, wanting me to measure things a certain way, a different way, what shade of red is it, etc etc.  Most of my items are priced in the $10-$15 range - IT'S NOT WORTH  IT TO ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS.  Some people want a boutique experience at less than Wal-Mart prices.  I'd rather just wait and sell it to someone who isn't so picky.  Just my 2 cents.

[killerofworlds]

@jobs-7

Let me ask you a question... Let's say you were looking for a particular shirt or pair of pants or shoes, and there was only one listing on the entire site for the pair that you wanted, but the seller didn't list the correct size... So, until and unless they reply to your question of "What size are these?" you can never own said pair of shoes or said t-shirt... Would this frustrate you?

Also, are you so busy, that you can't take 30 seconds out of your day, to reply to someone who is paying you money? Even if it's only $15 or $20...?

Really?

[mam98031]

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@jobs-7 wrote:

Guilty as charged!  As a seller of a lot of clothes here on Ebay, I do indeed ignore a lot of the nonsensical questions I get, wanting me to measure things a certain way, a different way, what shade of red is it, etc etc.  Most of my items are priced in the $10-$15 range - IT'S NOT WORTH  IT TO ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS.  Some people want a boutique experience at less than Wal-Mart prices.  I'd rather just wait and sell it to someone who isn't so picky.  Just my 2 cents.

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I get questions from time to time that fall into what you describe above.  I still answer them telling them politely that I'm won't be doing what they ask.  But as a seller it is important to remember that what we deem as "nonsensical" is obviously not viewed the same the potential buyer.  

[evelyb30]

Some questions do make me scratch my head, as a seller, at least until I remember that some people are buying on their phones.  Ebay makes it difficult for phone buyers to find the description, never mind read it.  That's the generous explanation at least.  

[kathieskorner]

I am also guilty of not answering certain types of questions including unsolicited offers, request to sell one item of a group,  shipping to a foreign country or via a shipment method other than what I have listed, whether I have an unrelated item, and sometimes a request for more photos.

I do try to promptly answer all questions related to the description, history,  and condition of the listed item.

[killerofworlds]

Measurements on clothes can be the difference between fitting and not fitting for many people...

Asking for a size clarification is not a stupid question when shopping online.. And, if people are asking these questions, it must mean that YOU the SELLER, forgot to include some important details in your listing, which would mean that it's your fault not the buyers fault.

$20 for a shirt may be lunch money for some people, but for others, it's an investment and it's not exactly thrift store prices...

If someone is paying you 20 bucks for a shirt, the least you can do is take a few minutes to tell them if it will fit or not.. Geez.

[myboardid]

I always read the messages and check them multiple times a day, and almost always reply.  My dh drives me nuts, never looks at the messages, just goes off and packs things and then, when I find out the order needs to be cancelled, he gets mad because he wasted his time.  You'd think he would learn!

Anyway, there are a few times when I don't answer.  When the "question" is a super lowball offer, sent only in the message, not through Best Offer, then I don't reply.  When it is sent by a buyer whom I have blocked, demanding to know why they can't buy, no answer.  I can't usually remember why, and even if I could, I can't think of a way to tell them without making them really angry.  And when it is a whiny "sell me this for next to nothing or free because I am poor/disabled/dying/child is dying/dog is dying/not enough money to buy food"  question, then no answer. 

And one other one that drives me nuts is when they say "I want to buy anywhere from 2 to 15 items, what kind of deal will you give me."   I know that they sent the same message to every dealer who has those same items and are only going to go with the lowest quote they get.  I'm not spending time researching the requested items and determining what it will cost to ship them, for nothing.  Sometimes I get as many as 20 of those requests in a day. 

[lex-talon]

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@killerofworlds wrote:

I realize this post has no real point to it, and it's just me venting, but I just want to stress how frustrating it is and how common it is for sellers to not read and/or respond to messages.. I understand that people have lives, and I understand that it's your choice whether or not you respond to questions, but just know, that it directly affects your feedback and reliability as a seller.. Thank you.

Before reading your post, I received a message from a buyer and did answer it. You have to understand that some of these bigger, mega sellers receive a huge amount of questions and cannot possibly answer them all. Then there's the smaller sellers who for some reason or another, never answer questions.

This year, I've only had one seller who never got around to answer a few questions. No problem, just move on. It seems that some sellers will only respond to offers or if their item sells, just my opinion. 

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[corvettestainless]

@bigdeals.etc  Yes some sellers don't find it worth their time to answer buyers...

and they are the ones that have a French Fry Machine or a Mop waiting for them in the future, because selling on the internet is retail, and retail is customer service.