Is it authentic?
If you have to ask that question after viewing my 12 photos, serial numbers, purchase receipt and other authenticity identifiers, then you don’t know enough about this thing to make a good judgement and I don’t want to deal with your post-sale histrionics.
When they ask questions that are answered in the title or listing.
Title: Men’s Blue Pants Size L NWT
“Are these pants for men? What color are they? Size? Do you think they’d fit my cousin Dan in Sheboygan? Do they smell weird? What’s the circumference of the ankle opening in millimeters? Is that a tear in the stitching by the crotch, it looks torn in photo 6.”
B-B-B-B-B-BLOCKKKKKK.
When they ask too many questions it usually results in a return, buyer fishing for a partial refund, or the dreaded message 4 minutes after the item is delivered where the buyer discovers an insignificant “flaw”. “I just received the sweater. It’s nice but there was a huge piece of lint on the sleeve and you didn’t mention this in the description. Please advise.” Have you tried removing the little ball of floof with your fingers? BLOCK
I block EVERY buyer that requests to cancel a sale or returns an item (regardless of the reason), or complains after the sale (unless I’m at fault). I don’t have an interest in retaining low-value buyers.
If a buyer comes off as needy, high maintenance, or uncertain, I will block them.
Extremely low offers or messages like this will get you blocked:
(It’s a $350 item for sale)
“$25 shipped?”
NOPE.
I will block if they have left more than 3-4 negatives in their feedback left for other sellers. More than 5 bad experiences? I think we found the common denominator. BLOCK.
Feedback left for sellers that indicate the buyer repeatedly returns things, fishes for partial refunds or says things like “but the seller made it right”. NOPE, don’t want your drama or your money.
Any buyer that’s left feedback in pirate-speak “wahhhhh, wahhhh, I didn’t get my way [insert fabricated **bleep**] BUYER BEWAREEEEE!!!!”
Unrealistic expectations.
It’s 3:58’pm Friday. I need this Sunday before noon can you ship today?”.
“is this [90-year old thing] absolutely flawless????? I need it to be perfect. No Holes, stains, odors, scratches, lint, no bad auras.”
BLOCK.
Does not understand that shipping is neither cheap nor free.
Buyer wants a large painting shipped Priority from FL to WA for under $10. The box alone costs $10.
“I’ll give you $8 for shipping.”
The shipping rate isn’t negotiable, the item price may be, but the USPS shipping rate is not.”
If these folks eventually buy and pay the actual shipping rate, expect a soft negative feedback (in the form of a positive), “Nice painting. Inflated shipping, overpriced!!!!!”
If a buyer asks a question but I’m busy so I don’t immediately respond and they follow up every few minutes with:
“??????????????”
I will block.
Anything like:
“I’m a poor student but I LOVEEEEE this Gucci bag. I have dreamed my whole life of having this exact purse. Would you be so kind to sell it to me for [80% off]? Your kindness would make this poor college kid happy. I promise I’ll take really good care of it.”
Like I don’t care if you line the cat’s litter box with that handbag as long as I get paid what it’s worth.
Blocketty-block.
Would you be so kind to model the stiletto heels in your listing, along with some close photos of your soles and toes? Are the shoes extra smelly?”
Uhh, no!
My husband responds, “K, but I’m a guy with size 10 feet and a missing pinky toenail.” with a photo attached of his foot crammed into a size 7 stiletto.
Toetally blocked that buyer.
This buyer:
“Your price is to high.”
No, you’re too cheap.
Seriously though, there’s plenty of good customers out there, that even if you block hundreds of bad buyers, it’s likely not going to hurt you—unless you’re selling to a very narrow niche market. Dealing with toxic customers and the problems they create will cost you more in lost productivity than a few lost sales (I find most problem buyers are low dollar sales).
