Sellers Too Lazy To Answer Questions

[buytodayshipnextday]

As an 18 year ebay seller I do buy on ebay as well, maybe 5 purchases at best a year & it amazes me how frequently sellers do not answer questions.

As a seller, I get my share of STUPID questions. STUPID? Yes, they're questions that are answered in the description &/or item specifics if the buyer would just READ! I get it. It's easier to look at a photo or photos than to READ but when a buyer asks a legitimate question & you don't reply, quite honestly you don't deserve to make the sale.

One of the biggest complaints buyers have are messages or questions not answered. How hard is it to reply to a message?

Too often sellers can be L A Z Y with bad photos &/or little to no description & because of that a buyer needs to ask about size or quality etc...& you're so lazy you can't reply.  Maybe you do deserve to make the sale! Only to have the buyer ask for a refund because the item wasn't as described forcing you to pay for return shipping or worse, ebay steps in refunds the buyers & let's them keep the item.

[zamo-zuan]

I don't know if it helps or is reassuring at all, but I just want to make sure people know they aren't alone during this.

You can take the time to check Terapeak and compare how people are doing this year compared to past years, and even if you check the top 10 in the category, you can see how many sellers are really down right now. 

With the decline we have had, we would have expected to dropped down a lot in how competitive we are. But honestly, all our competitors have dropped too.

I just hope this is an issue that is pending being fixed, or an unforseen side affect of some of the changes, and not "intended". If it's not intended, then things should turn around! I can't imagine a drop for whole categories being intended!

[buytodayshipnextday]

to all of those who replied, thanks. however, some comments were about describing less and having higher sales. that "may," be true for a specific seller, i.e. if you're selling iphone accessories and it only requires two photos or possibly stock photo(s) followed by the product number & a very brief description that may work, but try selling a 50 year stereo receiver the same way. (look at any of my electronic sales). you have to be beyond detailed.

also buyers have no idea they're imposing on your family time, they're asking a question or questions because they need too.

we live in an era where replies are so fast you no sooner send it & before you can look at your screen the answer's popped up. that doesn't mean it has to ruin personal time but you shouldn't blow them off either. get back to them later. in fact a quick reply that says" i'm on the road, or away from my desk/store/item, & will get back to you," is better than getting frustrated & often shuts down further questions until you respond.

plus you're getting upset over someone who is interested in an item you're selling. isn't that the point?

when i get a customer who asks STUPID questions, those that already answered or addressed in the description, i tell them to READ the description. if they persist  more than twice, again looking for an answer that's clearly identified in the description, I REPEAT WHAT I JUST SAID, & only then will i ignore them if they further ask more questions although that is rare.

when sellers write: "photos are part of the description, " in the time you wrote that, you could've described it.

i have been selling since 2001 going on 18 years. trust me there are some bonehead buyers, i have a loooooong list of blocked buyers. i've had to open more unpaid item cases in that time than most of you reading this. the very fact that in 2019 buyers STILL DO NO HAVE TO PAY (except immediate payment BIN) is ridiculous. the last thing we need is for one seller to burn another. answer questions!

[theferretflies]

Well, to be honest, Ebay has a problem with sellers being too lazy to ship items that are bought and paid for.

[lovefindingtreasures2]

Same here. Unless it is something truly unique, I too have no interest in messaging the seller for information that should be part of their ad. Same with terrible photos. I have seen so many items I know I would probably love to have, but I am not going to write a seller to ask them to take proper photos. Never know what someone might say back to a question like that.

I answer every single question that comes into me the very moment I can. I recently had one girl messaging me with a million questions, this went on for 4 days. I was positive she was either another seller or a troll or someone in fantasy land.

Lo and behold, on day 5 she bought 6 items and I bundled them together and made a very nice sale. A VERY nice sale 🙂

You just never know. I was positive this woman was wasting my time but I hung with her, she is delighted that I helped her figure out what she actually wanted (grin) and I know she will be a repeat now.

Of course, then you get the whackos. On Saturday night a woman messaged me asking if the penny I use in some photos to show the size of my collectible stones and crystals came with the item being shown.

I knew she was jerking my chain, so I said, "Sure! I'll even throw it in for free, no charge!"
She replied, "You're funny, thanks, made my night", we shared a couple more odd exchanges and she was gone.

Moral of story, I answer ALL messages as fast as I can, even if I know they are likely nonsense. There are sales in those crazy messages!

[lovefindingtreasures2]

Are these Chinese sellers you see with this? They have a different deal with eBay than we do, eBay looks the other way with most of them, we would be suspended for what some of those sellers get away with daily.

[buytodayshipnextday]

ebay might be more tolerable with chinese buyers, those IN china or possibly those in the states & ship back to the mainland, because of the need for that customer. with 892 bazakabillion people & with a thirst for all things western civilization they are a mega buying force. the problem is two fold. ebay has allowed/enabled knocksoffs to flourish although they claim to now have a handle on it, and when you sell to a chinese buyer you have to be extremely detailed, hence ANSWERING questions, because if the item's not as described are YOU going to EAT shipping? obviously any person(s) living anywhere might pull a stunt like that knowing it would be easier for you to refund & allow them to keep the item, but common sense says the further away, & certainly when they're in another country, a buyer is more inclined to try this.

that's why you have to be extremely detailed, point out every flaw. i sell tons of electronics, most are 40-50 years old. even if it's working i have to STRESS anything can happen anytime (just look at how long my disclaimer is at the bottom of any of my receiver/speaker/amp sales that were not sold as parts).

I had a chinese buyer IN china claim a 300.00 used camera was defective. it was clearly defined/detailed & i answered every question. when ebay reviewed the case they knew it was "buyer remorse." but, had i not been soi detailed ebay would've refunded him & he woud've kept the item because shipping would've exceeded 125.00.

[castlemagicmemories]

Same here. Unless it is something truly unique, I too have no interest in messaging the seller for information that should be part of their ad. Same with terrible photos. I have seen so many items I know I would probably love to have, but I am not going to write a seller to ask them to take proper photos. Never know what someone might say back to a question like that.

You can take comfort in the fact that even if you had messaged questions or asked for more pictures, you may not have received accurate answers or any better pictures.  Been there, done that, and more than once the item came with damage dimly seen in pictures and questioned, because, by their own admission, seller never bothered to actually check.

[castlemagicmemories]

Same here. Unless it is something truly unique, I too have no interest in messaging the seller for information that should be part of their ad. Same with terrible photos. I have seen so many items I know I would probably love to have, but I am not going to write a seller to ask them to take proper photos. Never know what someone might say back to a question like that.

[castlemagicmemories]

You can take comfort in the fact that even if you had messaged questions or asked for more pictures, you may not have received accurate answers or any better pictures.  Been there, done that, and more than once the item came with damage dimly seen in pictures and questioned, because, by their own admission, seller never bothered to actually check.

[lugro_30]

I try to answer questions ASAP however sometimes if I’m at work and they’ve asked for some detail about the item and  I need to check the item to verify it has to wait till that evening or next morning. I usually answer extreme low balls with a no thanks but if they keep lowballing I stop responding. 

[castlemagicmemories]

You're not alone.  Many buyers do that.  If the info isn't there, they hit the back button.  

Years ago, "please ask any questions" meant if you had a concern that the seller didn't address in a very thorough description as it may not have occurred to that seller~although the listing was more than accurate and complete otherwise.

Now it seems to mean, I'm not writing a description, if you want to know, ask.  But they don't.  Many are tired of doing that, others may have received inaccurate answers.

[siayan]

Studies show that 98.5 questions do not result in a sale.

[escuintla]

I don't answer low ball offers or questions. Period!

I got an offer of $8 on a $15 item. No time to explain the offeror that my time is not worth it for < > $4 profit. 

Sorry, that's the way it is with me. 

[siayan]

My tp 3 questions.

1. Q- Why is shipping so expensive? 

   A- I will give you free shipping

NO SALE

2. Q- Is there much advertising in this book?

   A- This book is 2500 pages and there is advertising on almost every page,

NO SALE

3. Q- Are there any parts missing?

   A- This is new old stock with factory sealed wrapping.

NO SALE

[siayan]

Oh I forgot

Can you iron some clothes with that vintage iron and tell me how it works

[dinpavent0]

The ebay police....lol what my husband refers to them as. He had a listing up that was very accurate and did a lot of research to make a good accurate listing. Someone messaged stating that he had it listed wrong...blah blah blah... well that person ended up messaging and apologizing saying they were wrong and thought item was something else. Get alot of those, I don't know if ppl are just trying to be kind or just have nothing better to do than police listings and let ppl know they have wrong info or your price it too high, it will never sell. Then it sells at our price listed....lol

[castlemagicmemories]

That may hurt the seller in ways other than losing the sale.  They may GET the sale, because the buyer knows they are protected by the MBG, and can return it, no charge, when the item is not as described.