Un-translated foreign language messages in inbox

[gurlcat]

I don't recall ever seeing this before.  I have two messages from someone and they sent them in Asian-looking characters, and I don't see anything to click for translation.  I'm not terribly concerned in this case because they wrote regarding an item I haven't sold yet and they have zero feedback.  However this makes me wonder about what to do in a more pressing situation, like if someone who bought from me writes in a language I can't read, it could be a complaint that needs addressing, or something like that.  Honestly I'm surprised and disappointed that Ebay apparently doesn't use software to automatically translate messages sent from a member in one language to the recipient in another.  

Anyone dealt with this before?  

[yuzuha]

You can just copy and paste the text into Google Translate and it will do it for you.

[richard1rst]

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@gurlcat wrote:

I don't recall ever seeing this before.  I have two messages from someone and they sent them in Asian-looking characters, and I don't see anything to click for translation.  I'm not terribly concerned in this case because they wrote regarding an item I haven't sold yet and they have zero feedback.  However this makes me wonder about what to do in a more pressing situation, like if someone who bought from me writes in a language I can't read, it could be a complaint that needs addressing, or something like that.  Honestly I'm surprised and disappointed that Ebay apparently doesn't use software to automatically translate messages sent from a member in one language to the recipient in another.  

Anyone dealt with this before?  

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According to the World Atlas there are over 7000 living languages in the world. Oh, if only the Tower of Babel had never been built.  I have received messages with a translation option and some without. So apparently eBay has done some of them - but 7000? good luck with that.

[gurlcat]

What if I have no idea what language it is? There's a drop-down menu asking for that. 

[richard1rst]

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@gurlcat wrote:

What if I have no idea what language it is? There's a drop-down menu asking for that. 

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There is also an "auto detect" function.

[slippinjimmy]

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@gurlcat wrote:

 

Anyone dealt with this before?  

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Sure, quite a few times. Copy the text into Google translate so you can read the message.

When/if you reply, write out the answer in English then use Google to translate and include both versions in your reply.

translate.google.com

Keep in mind that neither translation will be 100% correct, the more simply your reply the easier it will be for the user on the other end to either read or translate.

Since translation services are so easily available to anyone I don't see the need for eBay to be involved.

[gurlcat]

Thank you, I figured it out.  One of the messages says 'Is this all the things in the picture?" and the other just says "Hello."  --Whole message just to say hello, LOL.    How do you reply when this happens?  Just reply in English and assume they will figure it out?  

[richard1rst]

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@gurlcat wrote:

Thank you, I figured it out.  One of the messages says 'Is this all the things in the picture?" and the other just says "Hello."  --Whole message just to say hello, LOL.    How do you reply when this happens?  Just reply in English and assume they will figure it out?  

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That is what i do. English may be a second language for many but they feel uncomfortable using it. For example, I spent 4 years in Germany and while I understand a lot of German I would never try to start a conversation in German. Understanding is a lot different from speaking (it's that whole syntax thing).