"Sent" message folder - I don't get it - someone explain it to me.

[wastingtime101]

eBay messages are messages, not emails.

There is a chain of messages just like text messaging or an online chat - no need (in my opinion) for separate in/out boxes. It's all there in one message stream and switching between inbox (or more specifically, messages from members folder) to the sent folder shows you the same thing. It's redundant; duplication of data.

Archive folder I get. Separation of M2M and eBay msgs I get. Custom folders I get.

Someone explain to me, why is the Sent folder specifically necessary to you, as a seller or buyer, and how do you use it in practice?

There was a big outcry about the Sent folder not existing when eBay started pushing the format to more users in July, and eBay added it back because of that outcry, but I never saw an explanation of why people need it or how they use it.

Is it because it's something you're used to and you don't want it to change? Is it the fact it's different from what you're used to that makes it a problem?

Does it have a true functional purpose for you that cannot be accomplished by a single message folder instead of separate folders?

Messages are the same in both folders. I don't understand the point of the Sent folder.

Please enlighten me.

[dbfolks166mt]

     I am not a huge fan of the new format either but it is what it is and I doubt eBay is going to switch it back. 

[wastingtime101]

I like the new format. Needs a couple of minor tweaks, but overall big thumbs up from me.

I'm constantly saying how much I hate the way eBay removes function from seller tools by mimicking the app, but with messages it fits well and it's a great change.

What I'm trying to understand is how people use the Sent folder.

[slippinjimmy]

I like to be able to quickly see what replies I have sent without having to open each threaded message and hunt for the replies.

[wastingtime101]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

I like to be able to quickly see what replies I have sent without having to open each threaded message and hunt for the replies.

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But the sent folder is threaded @slippinjimmy  just like the inbox. There's no way to see separate replies without clicking on the entire message exchange with another member.

Am I correct in saying the sent folder on the old format was functional for you, but the sent folder on the new format is redundant?

[buyselljack2016]

I just located a message in the "sent" folder that I had forgotten about. It was from June and was about "block buyer messages". 

I saw it when going to review a message that I just sent to a seller to reread what I had sent to the seller.

Not that it matters, but had I not gone there I would never have seen that older "sent".

Any communication can drop rapidly from the "listed message view" as it loads up with unneeded eBay things.

For example. I reported 4 listings for soliciting feedback violations. The 4 acknowledgements of reporting, and the 4 AI denials of policy violation messages moved other messages down quickly.

I suppose I could "scroll, scroll, scroll" to find where the seller had messaged me, prompting me to "send" a message", but out of sight, out of an old mind. Might forget that I can scroll. Just lucky that I read the boards so that I can even "send" a message with the new setup. 

[eburtonlab]

I do not send very many messages, but from time to time I want to check if I sent a specific message, and being able to open a "Sent" folder to see all the recent messages I have sent in one place, arranged in the order in which they were sent, is quite useful to me.

The current implementation of the Sent folder does not work that way, though. It is currently more of a collection of threads I have replied to rather than a true "sent" folder.

[wastingtime101]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

Any communication can drop rapidly from the "listed message view" as it loads up with unneeded eBay things.

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That's why there are different folders for messages from members and messages from eBay. No need to endlessly scroll. Hope that helps you out. 😁

[wastingtime101]

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@eburtonlab wrote:

I do not send very many messages, but from time to time I want to check if I sent a specific message, and being able to open a "Sent" folder to see all the recent messages I have sent in one place, arranged in the order in which they were sent, is quite useful to me.

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Your sent folder will not be arranged in the order messages were sent. Because of the chat-style format messages will be arranged in order of the last message - sent or received.

Sent folder mimics the Inbox (messages from members folder). So the Sent folder won't be useful to you as long as messages are threaded, is that correct?

[I don't see eBay building an option to de-thread messages.]

[buyselljack2016]

Thanks.

It's a learning curve.

Don't send much, so "folders" is not used.

[eburtonlab]

Sent folder mimics the Inbox (messages from members folder). So the Sent folder won't be useful to you as long as messages are threaded, is that correct?

The current implementation is only useful insofar as it shows threads I have replied to, and omits threads I have not replied to.

[wastingtime101]

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@eburtonlab wrote:

The current implementation is only useful insofar as it shows threads I have replied to, and omits threads I have not replied to.

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And is that useful in application for you - something you'll use a lot? Genuinely trying to understand the merits of the folder.

For me I'd prefer to have a filter that shows messages I haven't replied to rather than ones I have replied to.

Though I don't need that filter as I use the CC of eBay messages in my email inbox that are pending my response.

I do heavily rely on CC to email as I get repeat buyers that sometimes want notice when I restock the next year, or repeat buyers that expect me to remember our past messages about their purchases. Messages on eBay age off but in my email they live on.

So for me, the threaded format on eBay is useful when having an exchange with a buyer, especially if we're communicating in real time, and the CC to my email is also essential.

Plus I have multiple accounts and CC to email brings all of that into one location so I can see my scope of work with buyer communications.

[robbie31415]

People that like email style, I don't get why you don't just have eBay send you emails.

You can create a filter that sends all member emails to a folder in your email, you can also reply directly to the email as they all contain alias email. Member emails come from *@members.ebay.com

I don't get wastingtime issue with the sent folder.

I thought that was just a way to view messages organizing it via more recent sent. Easier to go back to someone that you just sent a reply to.

Whereas the regular folder is latest recieved or sent.

[eburtonlab]

And is that useful in application for you - something you'll use a lot?

Honestly I don't send enough eBay messages for it to be a necessary thing for me, but I can certainly imagine a seller using a more traditional "sent" folder that way. I use my email's "sent" folder quite a bit.

For me I'd prefer to have a filter that shows messages I haven't replied to rather than ones I have replied to.

That makes sense, too.

[wastingtime101]

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@robbie31415 wrote:

I don't get wastingtime issue with the sent folder.

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haha I have an issue with it? I'm trying to understand how others use it since it's more or less the same as the From Members folder. It's not like it's in my way or anything, I just don't get how sellers use it which is why I'm asking. I'm hoping to learn something.

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@robbie31415 wrote:

I thought that was just a way to view messages organizing it via more recent sent. Easier to go back to someone that you just sent a reply to.

Whereas the regular folder is latest recieved or sent.

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OK I'm checking more closely and the sort order is very slightly different on Sent vs From Members. Sent is sorted by my last reply where From Members is sorted by anybody's (buyer or seller) last reply.

My two folders are a very close match and pretty much the only ones in a different order are message strings where buyers came back after a long stretch of time to say "thanks" (or something else that didn't need a reply). Maybe that's because I try to stay on top of messages, but for a seller that lets messages pending response build up they'll see a bigger difference between the two folders?

But to your point of easier to go back to someone you just replied to - if you just replied then that message would be at or near the top of your inbox (or From Members) unless you're of large enough volume to get messages every couple of minutes.