Some things fall outside the "eBay seller description"

[sin-n-dex]

I seem to have attracted a few weirdos as of recently (and not people who are randomly messaging me on my listings, one buyer spent $200 over 5 orders, the other spent $500 over about 5 orders, all in the past few months).

I don't know how to politely tell the one buyer that I don't want to chat on the phone about who the government is spying on us. (He gave me his number three times, I ignored him, now he's asking for my landline because CSIS listens to cell phone calls). I ignored that too.

The other one became flirtatious after the fourth purchase, and now he wants to show me he's anatomically correct. I don't need to see that either.

If they were strangers who found my listings and were just bothering me, I'd ignore it like I always do with people I don't really want to talk to... but to make several $50-100 orders and then get weird... yeah I can block, but I don't really want to turn down the good sales. I figure the best thing to do is ignore the randomness and focus on the fact I'm on eBay to sell stuff, not to make friends. I haven't seen a picture of this correct anatomy fortunately... that's going to get reported if and when it happens. Some things I don't put up with, even from people who buy lots of my stuff.

C. 

[m60driver]

One of the great things about the internet is that you are not obligated to respond.

[itsjustasprain]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

I haven't seen a picture of this correct anatomy fortunately... that's going to get reported if and when it happens.

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Ebay probably wont care and your proof in any case would require you sending the image on to Ebay which might not end well (if anyone other than a bot even looks at your report).

If it does happen then the place to report it would be to the police. You have that buyers name and address from your sale to them so he would not be hard to find.

[caldreamer]

I would remove the personal photo from your seller profile (perhaps this will discourage the crazy people from flirting with you).

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I had something similar once.  I humored them for a bit until I was not comfortable & it was wasting too much time.  I will say that mine was not someone spending hundreds repeatedly.  I just took the direct approach.  

It's been nice chatting with you & your pkg will be sent on date, unfortunately, I cannot continue to chat, as I am super busy & simply don't have the time for it!  I do appreciate your business,  thanks again for the purchase! 

It did stop the person from writing again, though they never bought again either.  

[tex-421]

Block them.  End of problem.

[downunder-61]

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@caldreamer wrote:

I would remove the personal photo from your seller profile (perhaps this will discourage the crazy people from flirting with you).

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You should not have to do this, but I agree - just set your avi as a coin or something - or as a big macho looking dude LOL or you can borrow this:

The Demonic Koala

[soh.maryl]

Do they actually buy and pay?

[sin-n-dex]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

Do they actually buy and pay?

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Yeah, they've paid for everything they bought. The stamp guy buys several lots (totaling under $50), but he doesn't buy all on the same day. After buying a few I get a weird message that says he wants to add more later and will pay in a few days, plus all the bonus conspiracy stuff.

The anatomy dude has spent probably no less than $500 in my store over the past year, and maybe wondered if being a great customer came with extra "perks". He pays on time, leaves great feedback, doesn't lowball or do any of the other stuff sellers find to be annoying. I was kinda surprised by the message.

C.

[katzrul15]

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@downunder-61 wrote:

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@caldreamer wrote:

I would remove the personal photo from your seller profile (perhaps this will discourage the crazy people from flirting with you).

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You should not have to do this, but I agree - just set your avi as a coin or something - or as a big macho looking dude LOL or you can borrow this:

The Demonic Koala

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Well, he looks like a friendly buyer................:)

@sin-n-dex 

I had "admirer" type buyer on 1 ID.  He would email me items that were similar to what I sell or he has recently found/purchased.  Went on for a couple of weeks and he bought several things and would email inappropriate commentary.....   someone suggested I reply in a way to let him know my hubby might not be thrilled about the email interaction.

When he asked if I would like to meet up or chat further thru Instagram, I responded that I would love to, but my Hubs was going to be back soon from target practice and we're headed to a knife show and then a big truck rally with his hunter buddies.  

Never heard much after that.   He did buy 1 more time, but no more emails.  LOL

Prolly just lonely dude(s) with no one to talk to........

[eunster1313]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

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@downunder-61 wrote:

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@caldreamer wrote:

I would remove the personal photo from your seller profile (perhaps this will discourage the crazy people from flirting with you).

---

You should not have to do this, but I agree - just set your avi as a coin or something - or as a big macho looking dude LOL or you can borrow this:

The Demonic Koala

---

Well, he looks like a friendly buyer................:)

@sin-n-dex 

I had "admirer" type buyer on 1 ID.  He would email me items that were similar to what I sell or he has recently found/purchased.  Went on for a couple of weeks and he bought several things and would email inappropriate commentary.....   someone suggested I reply in a way to let him know my hubby might not be thrilled about the email interaction.

When he asked if I would like to meet up or chat further thru Instagram, I responded that I would love to, but my Hubs was going to be back soon from target practice and we're headed to a knife show and then a big truck rally with his hunter buddies.  

Never heard much after that.   He did buy 1 more time, but no more emails.  LOL

Prolly just lonely dude(s) with no one to talk to........

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[katzrul15]

@eunster1313 

Perfect!  Made me laugh and that was SO needed this afternoon!

[inhawaii]

Hello there C,

I hope you're having a nice day.   😃

I'm so sorry that this is happening to you. 

Here's a big *hug* all the way from Hawaii.

Here is my humble advice to you. 

I think I would ignore the request even though it may cost you business.

Keep it on a strictly business level.

If you lose a customer over this, so be it.

I hope this advice has helped you to make a decision.

I'm sure what ever you decide, it will be the right choice!

Have a great day and take care of yourself, will ya?

Aloha,

inhawaii

[house*of*paws]

Hi @sin-n-dex 

I noticed that you posted about the political stuff before.  I think the best way to handle it is to contact eBay directly and ask them to remove the Comments.  The positive ratings will remain ... and there will be a few dashes (---) replacing the comments.  The buyer won't know that you asked eBay to remove them ... as there are MANY profiles with dashes replacing words.

Okay ... so you have TWO buyers wishing to 'get closer' ... likely with similar motives.   Since you're not selling undies, shoes, or adult items ... I would guess it was your profile photo AND Username that might be giving them what is old-fashionly called 'the wrong impression'.  Your ID isn't even compatible with the items you sell ... so consider changing it ... at least the 'sin' part.   

At this point, I think that 'completely ignoring' the specific requests for closer contact is the best way to go ... and reply ONLY to business questions/requests.  If things escalate ... something else may be needed.

Good luck with all this!  😝

[sin-n-dex]

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@house*of*paws wrote:

Hi @sin-n-dex 

I noticed that you posted about the political stuff before.  I think the best way to handle it is to contact eBay directly and ask them to remove the Comments.  The positive ratings will remain ... and there will be a few dashes (---) replacing the comments.  The buyer won't know that you asked eBay to remove them ... as there are MANY profiles with dashes replacing words.

Okay ... so you have TWO buyers wishing to 'get closer' ... likely with similar motives.   Since you're not selling undies, shoes, or adult items ... I would guess it was your profile photo AND Username that might be giving them what is old-fashionly called 'the wrong impression'.  Your ID isn't even compatible with the items you sell ... so consider changing it ... at least the 'sin' part.   

At this point, I think that 'completely ignoring' the specific requests for closer contact is the best way to go ... and reply ONLY to business questions/requests.  If things escalate ... something else may be needed.

Good luck with all this!  😝

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Political stuff in feedback was a different guy. I didn't remove them, but he has not left me any feedback on subsequent transactions since then. (He's bought from me two more times).

The current guy is obsessed with the government spying on people, and quite frankly I don't think my life is interesting enough for people to pay attention to anything I do.

I've been asked many times what "sin-n-dex" means - Sinister & Dexter, Latin for left and right. We set that up to sell jewellery in 2006 (which we weren't very successful at, but we did sell some), and we're sin-n-dex because there were two of us running the jewellery business. (We're not a duo anymore, but I have some of his jewellery listed in my store).

I discussed the profile picture a few times with other people (the B&M store owner, my current partner, my ex husband), and the consensus is that we think the profile picture with my personality helps sales. At the B&M store he hires all young females for the store front to wait on customers, and others get hired to do back room type of work (but they aren't forbidden from helping customers, it's just that there's a dozen people there and they all do different things). He's offered me a job more than once, but I would not get to be up front waiting on customers, to start with, in person I'm not even friendly enough to do face to face customer service. I also don't have patience for listening to the customers going on and on about stuff, which is what the in person customers like to do (the phone people are almost as bad). I was going to be hired to buy and process inventory (and he gets collections in, borrows them from the customer to appraise, and gets me to come in and look. In 10 minutes I can tell him what he should pay and what I'll sell it for if he lets me sell it in my store).

My partner says if I can put up with the occasional weirdo, I shouldn't remove the photo. It's not even a recent photo... it was taken in 2015 on a cruise to the Canary Islands. I'm not sure a recent picture would look quite as nice. I've been asked before if it's a graduation picture, and there's one regular that likes to talk about the green shawl because he thinks the shawl is worth a lot of money. (But I can deal with all of that).

C.