judging a buyer based on FB left for others

[evry1nositswindy]

I have been communicating with a potential buyer this weekend.  I was selling at an antique show, so I was just on my phone and couldn't look at the item to answer his questions.  When I got on my desktop, I answered the questions and attached additional photos requested.

I then looked at their feedback left for others.  Out of 25 left (on the first page only), 14 were neg/neutral.  All were for the same type of item we were communicating about.  I blocked.  In the meantime they had messaged that they wanted to make an offer.  I ended the listing.  I am still getting messages so I pointed to my top rated seller status and said if there were any issues, I would be responsible for return shipping on this international sale  and that would put me in the negative.

Sellers out there:  would you have pointed to the feedback left for others as your reason for declining the sale?  I was kind of afraid to say that!  Would you have sold to them anyway?  Could I have handled it better?

[nobody*s_perfect]

I would not have given any reason, either shipping costs or feedback left.  I certainly would have blocked them and might have taken the item down for a while.

[evry1nositswindy]

I was in mid-conversation with them or I would have done just that!  Several messages went back and forth before I could get to a desktop to see everything.  I honestly don't know how people use only their phone for selling on eBay.

I did end the listing and will wait a few months to relist.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

you did the right thing. Keep them blocked. 

there is a setting under your "buyer management" where you can block communication from them. I had a harassing buyer earlier this year and did some digging and found the option. 

[chevymontecarlo88]

I agree with the above posts. After blocking them, i would not engage in any communication. Not worth it and there is nothing you can gain to continue to communicate with them.

Kudos to you for checking the feedback they leave for others. 

[evry1nositswindy]

We have so few tools to protect ourselves!  

I do have communication blocked, but since we were already conversing, this doesn't work.  I have read that and know it for a fact now.  I have gotten 2 more messages since I blocked.  Probably just replying through the previous message.

[katzrul15]

@evry1nositswindy 

I would have told the Buyer I was busy/out of the office and would assist at a specific time later.

Buyers either wait, or they do not.

If we receive multiple emails from a Buyer " in a rush", I tend to slow things down.  Those tend to not end well for us.

[chevymontecarlo88]

We have so few tools to protect ourselves!

I do have communication blocked, but since we were already conversing, this doesn't work. I have read that and know it for a fact now. I have gotten 2 more messages since I blocked. Probably just replying through the previous message.

Just ignore them and they will eventually stop. If you must engage, message them to stop messaging you and that you consider it harassment. If they continue, report them to Ebay for harassment. 

Still suggest that you ignore them. You are not required to respond.

Move on and forget.

[evry1nositswindy]

@chevymontecarlo88  I haven't answered any more messages since I blocked, which is hard for me.  I pride myself on good communication, but in this case, it is pointless.  

[mybigsale]

@evry1nositswindy 

would you have pointed to the feedback left for others as your reason for declining the sale?  No.

I was kind of afraid to say that!  Would you have sold to them anyway?  No.

Could I have handled it better?  No. Short and professional responses are best. 

Sellers have such few "real" protections. When I am reviewing offers, I will consider buyer feedback left for others (eBay prevents buyers from receiving negative feedback).  If you have what you believe is or will be a "problem buyer" you can add them to a block list that will prevent them from seeing/purchasing your items. You can also prevent them from messaging you (not for current transactions). You can also set rules for blocking buyers with history of unpaid cases.  Review the following link:

Blocking a buyer | eBay

[sapphire_studio]

Yeah I would avoid telling them the reason is their feedback. That will just make them more angry but more importantly then they might hide their feedback for other people to be able too utilize the strategy to avoid selling to them.

[spreadlovelikefire]

I've had this same scenario happen before, in the middle of a conversation and wasn't able to check my desktop to look at feedback left for others.  When I finally arrived home and checked it out his feedback left for others was horrendous.   He continued to message me for the next two days and I never replied back again, I just blocked him.  But boy did he try.  He ordered the item from another account in which I called eBay about ( I knew it was him because of the city location, it was a small town) it and they said to cancel the order for problem with address.  I placed the other ID on my blocked list as well and never messaged him on that account.  But eBay was made aware of him going around the BBL by purchasing it on another account.  And the account he purchased it on was also just as bad with feedback left for others.  Your best bet is to just block and ignore any messages sent.  If the item ends up selling check the city and make sure it's not the same person.  I would leave it listed and not change your business for fear of someone.  

[donsdetour]

Well since most buyers have gotten to were they only leave negs, one can see through such by examine feedback left for them as a buyer. Such will show the amount of purchases to the negs left.

I have gotten use to doing such.

Cuz they just leave negs does not make them a bad buyer.

If that is not good (buying feedback left,  to negs left). Block buyer as they are most likly scamming.

[inhawaii]

I would have done exactly what you did ... block and ignore.

[downunder-61]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

@chevymontecarlo88  I haven't answered any more messages since I blocked, which is hard for me.  I pride myself on good communication, but in this case, it is pointless.  

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Totally agree with what you did windy and would have done same.

As to messages, ignore, but keep a note of the address/location, just in case they decide to have another go with a new id (which takes all of 30 seconds to set up)