Why so many questions now in the Member-to-Member Forum? We can't respond; limits useful discussion

[mangorunner]

Why are so many questions now posed in the Member-to-Member forum?  We miss out on so much good discussion when the majority of users cannot reply.  This week, I was researching an issue.  I found four prior posts asking my same, exact question - all four were posted in Member-to-Member - and none of them had a helpful/correct/complete response.  Later in the day, I found the answer and I was unable to respond to any of those four posts.  A little frustrating.

[mrdutch1001]

it would be nice to see a mentor at least respond and/or  direct the member to another thread with the answer. It's hard enough for many experienced members to get answers to their questions sometimes, so I'd expect it to be very discouraging for newcomers to eBay...

[eleanor*rigby]

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@mangorunner wrote:

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Going back to my first post, lack of "hopefully, an answer" was the problem.  There were no answers.

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@mangorunner 

I sort my board threads by "Topic Start Date." Right now, there are four threads on the first page that have no answers--one of which is a thread you posted. Four posters whose titles or content just didn't prompt anyone to respond.

Posting on any community board does not guarantee a response.

[sunnysouth1]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

it would be nice to see a mentor at least respond and/or  direct the member to another thread with the answer. It's hard enough for many experienced members to get answers to their questions sometimes, so I'd expect it to be very discouraging for newcomers to eBay...

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You do know that we are volunteers? We answer as many questions as we have time for.

There is no reason for any member not to receive help.

1. The Help Pages

2. The M2M Board

3, The Discussion Boards

4. Call eBay customer service

5 Use eBay's social media sites

[mrdutch1001]

of course I understand that you are volunteers, just as the rest of us who would like to answer questions, are volunteering our responses/help/solutions, but the countless threads in the member-to-member forum that go unanswered is the very reason there needs to be additional members allowed to help out...

[eleanor*rigby]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

it would be nice to see a mentor at least respond and/or  direct the member to another thread with the answer. It's hard enough for many experienced members to get answers to their questions sometimes, so I'd expect it to be very discouraging for newcomers to eBay...

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@mrdutch1001 

Then perhaps you should apply to be a community mentor.

[sunnysouth1]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

of course I understand that you are volunteers, just as the rest of us who would like to answer questions, are volunteering our responses/help/solutions, but the countless threads in the member-to-member forum that go unanswered is the very reason there needs to be additional members allowed to help out...

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Did you read my first post?

You must meet the requirements to post on the M2M board.

Not everyone will be accepted.

Why don't you apply? Read the requirements and see if you meet the requirements and if you do then apply.

Most of us aren't going to sit on the boards all day. We have lives just like everyone else.

[mangorunner]

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@eleanor*rigby wrote:

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@mangorunner 

I sort my board threads by "Topic Start Date." Right now, there are four threads on the first page that have no answers--one of which is a thread you posted.

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I know.  Too funny.  The difficult and more advanced questions often linger for awhile before gaining traction.  They often need experienced-eBay-seller eyes who can fully understand the problem, and sometimes it takes awhile to get those eyes.  (Orders Download Report - Returns & Refunds? Sales Tax? )

[mangorunner]

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@eleanor*rigby wrote:

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

it would be nice to see a mentor at least respond and/or  direct the member to another thread with the answer. It's hard enough for many experienced members to get answers to their questions sometimes, so I'd expect it to be very discouraging for newcomers to eBay...

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@mrdutch1001 

Then perhaps you should apply to be a community mentor.

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Mrdutch is not yet eligible to be a mentor, either.

[sunnysouth1]

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@mangorunner wrote:

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@eleanor*rigby wrote:

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@mangorunner 

I sort my board threads by "Topic Start Date." Right now, there are four threads on the first page that have no answers--one of which is a thread you posted.

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I know.  Too funny.  The difficult and more advanced questions often linger for awhile before gaining traction.  They often need experienced-eBay-seller eyes who can fully understand the problem, and sometimes it takes awhile to get those eyes.  (Orders Download Report - Returns & Refunds? Sales Tax? )

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Perhaps if you had posted on the M2M board you would have an answer by now.

You've had 27 views on your thread and no responses.

[mangorunner]

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@sunnysouth1 wrote:

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You do know that we are volunteers? We answer as many questions as we have time for.

There is no reason for any member not to receive help.

1. The Help Pages

2. The M2M Board

3, The Discussion Boards

4. Call eBay customer service

5 Use eBay's social media sites

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6.  Weekly Chat with eBay Staff

[mangorunner]

Touché!

[mrdutch1001]

I am sure there are many members that would be willing to be mentors if they qualified. Checked out the criteria long ago...

and now my days of being an eBay member(been selling for over 18 years) are numbered as I am winding down my selling here - this 70s something senior does have a life beyond eBay!

...but while I am still here, I help out when and where I can...

[eleanor*rigby]

@mrdutch1001 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but have you looked at @sunnysouth1 posting stats? If not, here they are:

• POSTS:118643
• MEMBER SINCE:11-2-2006
• SOLUTIONS:8313
• HELPFUL:79041

[mrdutch1001]

I check out most of members who post in the forums, new and experienced, newcomers and long timers so yes I know the stats...although not sure those stats mean anything to a newcomer who doesn't get their question answered...

[Anonymous]

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@mrdutch1001 wrote:

of course I understand that you are volunteers, just as the rest of us who would like to answer questions, are volunteering our responses/help/solutions, but the countless threads in the member-to-member forum that go unanswered is the very reason there needs to be additional members allowed to help out...

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@mrdutch1001 , @mangorunner ,  My advice to you if you are concerned that so many questions go unanswered is apply to be a mentor.  It is that simple.  There are several mentors that spend hours on the M2M Board and when they are on, all questions get answered.  But some of us have to sleep.  Instead of just glancing at the M2M board (which by the way has had glitches so intense, it has slowed down our response rate), ask Alan to run a report and get the exact ratio of answered to unanswered.  Better than guessing here.  And, again, you can apply to be come a mentor.  We also do not omit questions just because they have been answered before.  Just take a peek at how many time we have instructed a buyer to open a INR or SNAD Case.  The other reason eBayers may seek the M2M Bd for answers is that they are familiar with the mentors that they have received help in the past.  And they do want quick concise answers instead of several responses or discussions.