Weekly Chat - Pre-registered questions

[mr_lincoln]

Is anyone aware of eBay allowing pre-resistered questions yet on the Weekly Chat.  I know it was requested but have not read or heard if it has been set up yet?

[papermoneyforme]

I think Tyler@Ebay does the chats on both boards

[mr_lincoln]

@papermoneyforme  wrote: All that is needed is for someone to open the chat board early. Not a big deal. They don't have to answer anything until chat time. It may also give them time to look at the questions in more depth.

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Yes, it obviously works elsewhere to allow questions ahead of time ...

[tunicaslot]

Jeff and I talked about it multiple times - he thought it was a great idea but that's as far as it ever went.

Because so many of the posters have primarily the same question when it comes to updates, a situation like Bob's Blog, or situations brought to the board - they could research and find answers to the questions so that we didn't get the "let me look into it" response that we got in the past. Then the next week would come around and we'd all be asking about the previous week and all the questions they didn't have answers for.

[goodluckselling]

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@tunicaslot wrote:

Jeff and I talked about it multiple times - he thought it was a great idea but that's as far as it ever went.

Because so many of the posters have primarily the same question when it comes to updates, a situation like Bob's Blog, or situations brought to the board - they could research and find answers to the questions so that we didn't get the "let me look into it" response that we got in the past. Then the next week would come around and we'd all be asking about the previous week and all the questions they didn't have answers for.

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Really good points.  What a hair pulling nightmare they have on there hands.

Good Luck Selling!

[mr_lincoln]

@tunicaslot

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@tunicaslot wrote:

Jeff and I talked about it multiple times - he thought it was a great idea but that's as far as it ever went.

Because so many of the posters have primarily the same question when it comes to updates, a situation like Bob's Blog, or situations brought to the board - they could research and find answers to the questions so that we didn't get the "let me look into it" response that we got in the past. Then the next week would come around and we'd all be asking about the previous week and all the questions they didn't have answers for.

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Actually that brings up a a good point.  Along with the Weekly Chat they should post a Weekly Update that boils down the Questions and supplies the answers in a concise form without all the color.  Trying to go back and read through a Weekly Chat for an answer at times is simply too exhaustive.  Even on this thread members have eluded to the fact that maybe a pre-registered question might cut out a lot of the wasted time or comments during the Chat Hour while the answer is being compiled ...

[nc-daydreamer]

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@sockmonkeydave wrote:

@mr_lincoln

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@sockmonkeydave, @goodluckselling

Excellent point on both posts ... nothing fancy, since we do NOT have this option yet it is only speculation on how it may or may not work.  I like the idea of a more frequent and regular one too, they could begin M-W-F with different times to cover more time zones.  If that's not enough coverage add days, if its too much back off.

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Yes, that one hour a week goes by so fast, 

And it is in the middle of the week, on a work day.

I am sure they are leaving a lot of members out of the loop.

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I fear that what this idea would amount to is - email customer service - again.  Those who ask questions would eventually want the answer sent to them in writing, so they don't  have to be glued to the chat board to see if their question was good enough to  make it live.  

And, what happens to those whose efforts are not good enough?  Such questions would undoubtedly be prescreened - so many questions may go unanswered.  It is bad enough that when you call, you have to tell the one answering the phone what your call is in reference to - and then you have the chance of never making air time if the ones in the hotseat don't like the question or can't answer it, for whatever reason.  Which leaves you holding the line - wasting your time - for your turn which may never come.

I basically like the idea - but that does give the "pros" a chance to ignore or put off the question even more so than is currently done.

I just fear this would open a whole other can of worms...

I'd rather see the time expanded at least another hour and more often during the whole 7 day week so there is less chance of bias or favoritism.

[gracieallen01]

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@papermoneyforme wrote:

The Canadian board does it so why can't you?

They open for questions the night before the chat

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Because the Canadian board has more class?

[gracieallen01]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@llllady

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@llllady wrote:

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@papermoneyforme

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@papermoneyforme wrote:

The Canadian board does it so why can't you?

They open for questions the night before the chat

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I am confident that in time the US Weekly Chat will be more inclusive of other time zones and more importantly, for those who are normally working during the current Chat time.  Maybe it will be implemented with the 2017 Fall Seller Update ...

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You're such an optimist!

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YES I AM!  Its a lot less effort, stress and work then trying to be Darth Ebayer ...

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But, not NEARLY as much fun! 

[tunicaslot]

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@nc-daydreamer wrote:

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@sockmonkeydave wrote:

@mr_lincoln

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@sockmonkeydave, @goodluckselling

Excellent point on both posts ... nothing fancy, since we do NOT have this option yet it is only speculation on how it may or may not work.  I like the idea of a more frequent and regular one too, they could begin M-W-F with different times to cover more time zones.  If that's not enough coverage add days, if its too much back off.

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Yes, that one hour a week goes by so fast, 

And it is in the middle of the week, on a work day.

I am sure they are leaving a lot of members out of the loop.

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I fear that what this idea would amount to is - email customer service - again.  Those who ask questions would eventually want the answer sent to them in writing, so they don't  have to be glued to the chat board to see if their question was good enough to  make it live.  

And, what happens to those whose efforts are not good enough?  Such questions would undoubtedly be prescreened - so many questions may go unanswered.  It is bad enough that when you call, you have to tell the one answering the phone what your call is in reference to - and then you have the chance of never making air time if the ones in the hotseat don't like the question or can't answer it, for whatever reason.  Which leaves you holding the line - wasting your time - for your turn which may never come.

I basically like the idea - but that does give the "pros" a chance to ignore or put off the question even more so than is currently done.

I just fear this would open a whole other can of worms...

I'd rather see the time expanded at least another hour and more often during the whole 7 day week so there is less chance of bias or favoritism.

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If there was a board or thread that we could post questions on - then no one should be overlooked and everyone would know what some of the discussion would be.( they have been overlooked in the past anyway while participating in chat )

Right now there is a waste of time if the blues have to look for the answers before responding - we're on page 3 before some of the questions on page one are addressed. We also wouldn't get the "Let me look into it scenerio"

I appreciate this team and know they don't have all the answers - it's not a pleasant job to be in. But if they were prepared there would be less frustration from the crowd - us - especially when there is going to be a big change and we don't understand Ebay's wording.

Not only that but many times the blues do not know what we are talking about and have to go to other depts to get the answers - letting us post the questions a day or two ahead would have them better prepared - or if the questions were such that they'd be best answered by someone in Trust and Saftey or someone in the IT dept - they could invite them to sit in for that hour and explain what's going on as often times their answers are met with more questions and then we hear " Let me look into it"

[mr_lincoln]

@tunicaslot  wrote" ... many times the blues do not know what we are talking about and have to go to other depts to get the answers - letting us post the questions a day or two ahead would have them better prepared ..."

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Yes I agree ... actually, until they change and allow pre-registered questions EVERY Depart should have a knowledgeable person sitting in on the Weekly Chat ...only one hour of their entire week so I think they could afford that.  The questions can get divvied up and passed out to the Depart who handles that area.

[mallontown]

great suggestion, has anyone on ebay addressed this?

[mr_lincoln]

@mallontown

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@mallontown wrote:

great suggestion, has anyone on ebay addressed this?

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Thanks for asking ... Actually they did reply to this but basically they will not pursue it at this time.  I think there has been a drop off in Weekly Chat participation and this type of thing might help ... I miss the time window on a regular basis.

[alan@ebay]

We will be evolving our chats in early 2018, keep an eye out for more info! 

[chrysylys]

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alan@ebay wrote:

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

Is anyone aware of eBay allowing pre-resistered questions yet on the Weekly Chat.  I know it was requested but have not read or heard if it has been set up yet?

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Hi @mr_lincoln

The format of our weekly chat is remaining the same for the time being. We received a lot of feedback and suggestions through the survey we ran recently, we're working through all of that feedback and we will think about how best we can make improvements. 

When/if we have updates to share we will post about it. 

Thanks. 

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I wouldn't want to see it go pre-scripted questions ONLY.  I like the spontenaity  as it keeps staff on their toes when they don't know what's coming.

But why not allow folks that won't be available in the afternoon to submit questions to the askcommunity email beginng that morning?  Or create a separate email address for that purpose only.  Or maybe a board where members could submit questions but not reply.  

Questions submitted to either place would be addressed during the Chat.

[mr_lincoln]

alan@ebay

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alan@ebay wrote:

We will be evolving our chats in early 2018, keep an eye out for more info! 

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I am watching your every move!