Do 'offers' originate from sellers or from eBay?
Summary: The discussion revolves around whether the 'offers' on the platform originate from the sellers or from the platform itself. Participants share their thoughts and experiences, but no consensus is reached. Some members suggest that sellers are likely the source of these offers, while others believe the platform plays a role in generating them.
I'm referring to the offers sometimes received when you have an item in your watched list.
The reason I ask is I have two items I'm watching that I have asked the seller a question about (measurements for clothing). I asked the question four days ago and haven't received a reply yet however I have received an offer of a discount for both items (offer was received a day or so after I sent the message and started watching the items) .
I did send a second message to the seller explaining that while I would like to take advantage of the offer, I wasn't prepared to buy until I was sure the garments would fit me. Both offers have now expired and still no reply to my question from the seller.
I'm not really worried as I know this is a very busy period for some people - just curious to know whether it would have been the seller who made the offer or eBay (possibly without the seller's knowledge?)
kh-sireesha
·2 months agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
waltonswares
·2 months agoAs a seller, yes it is the seller who sends you the offer. We get notification that someone is watching the item (or perhaps has it in their cart but hasn't purchased it - can't tell, as we can't see a buyers cart).
countessalmirena
·1 year agoAnother listener here - thanks. There’s such an iconic sound of that era. I always imagine the 60s being bubbly and somehow frozen in time, like a dancing girl inside a lava lamp.
Yes, that seller does (of course) have every right to refuse to answer questions - but then include the measurements in the listings, surely! … unless they just want to put potential buyers off.
padi*0409
·1 year agoAs in "Furlongs per Fortnight" perhaps Countess ?
countessalmirena
·1 year agoThat reminds me of those old French and German fairy tales where the beleaguered hero somehow gains some magical seven-league boots… I remember thinking that they must enooooooormous boots if they were seven leagues in shoe size.
I suppose, amber, you could message the seller to say that unless the clothes are sized in furlongs per fortnight, you’re just not interested because they won’t go with your magical boots.
🪄✨🧌🥾👙
ambercat16
OP1 year agoAn update to this.......
Both the items I am watching have been discounted (looks like the seller discounted quite a few of their items this morning). As I still haven't received a reply to my request for measurements, I sent a new message to the seller explaining that I am interested in purchasing but not unless I can ascertain whether or not the tops will fit me.
Seller replied "Sorry I don't answer questions"
I probably shouldn't have responded but couldn't resist sending "That's an odd attitude for a seller of women's clothing. Sizing between brands is notoriously random and I would think most buyers would like to have the basic measurements of a garment before buying."
I mean if you don't want to answer questions, at least have the basic measurements in the description. The seller sells a lot of women's clothing - some have measurements in the listing but a lot don't.
I've probably been blocked by the seller now but I don't think I'm being unreasonable to ask, am I?
domino-710
·1 year agoLOL - Amber - NO.
sandypebbles
·1 year agoNot at all, no
lezned-toycollector
·1 year agoIf they have blocked you, they'd be doing you a favour.
At the end of your message you should have included something along the lines of.... "As I would like to eliminate the possibility of accidentally purchasing anything from you in the future, would you please be so kind as to add me to your blocked buyers list"
domino-710
·1 year agoBeejeebus - you come up with some lulus
sandypebbles
·1 year agohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUhJw6pyFUc
domino-710
·1 year agoI actually listened to it - loved it - thank you.
ambercat16
OP1 year ago....one of my all time favourite songs
domino-710
·1 year agoOK Amber - give me another favourite.
ambercat16
OP1 year agoLots of stuff from that era - Lulu, Cilla, Dusty, Cher just to name a few of the females
padi*0409
·1 year agoOne of my all-time favorites, especially this version Dom.
https://www.facebook.com/musicasromanticasinternacionalenacional/videos/504804009269702
shoppingbag*
·1 year agoI do not deal with Sellers who cannot bother to answer questions. They will only cause you further headaches after you buy. It is just not worth the hassle. My advice is, they don't deserve your money, buy elsewhere.
springyzone
·1 year agoAbsolutely. It's a red flag if a seller won't even answer a question before a sale.
Imagine if you actually buy and something goes wrong.
shoppingbag*
·1 year agoThere is a setting where the Seller can make offers to all who look. Those are sent out automatically to current and any future lookers.
ambercat16
OP1 year agoYeah, I like the idea of offers and welcome them when I get them. My query is really how a seller can make an offer to me on an item but not take the time to answer the question I asked about the exact same item.
Looks like maybe the seller isn't always aware of the offers being made
domino-710
·1 year agoSeems so Amber.
Interesting question.
As a seller - I'd have to agree to any discounts offered.
springyzone
·1 year agoIt's a bit odd, isn't it!
I don't buy into the argument that it is a busy time as an excuse for a seller.
If they have things listed, they should be prepared to monitor their account.
It would be great if we had some way of seeing if our messages have actually been read or not.
If yours have been read and there has been no answer, I wonder if the seller is just reluctant to commit to being too exact in her measurements. Bit silly if so.
chameleon54
·1 year agoSellers can opt to turn on an automatic offer sending icon. Not sure how it works, I,ve seen it but never used it.
I do send out offers regularly. I can either chose a certain percentage ( say 20% off ) on all eligible items or manually scroll through a list of items that are eligible and send different offers for each item. Once offers are sent, an item may not be eligible to send another lot of offers for some months. This is probably why buyers get offers on some items, but not others from the same seller.
This may also be to encourage sellers to permanently reduce the price of slow moving stock for all buyers, not just watchers.
Offers work well and get quite a few sales when price reductions around 30% are offered.
springyzone
·1 year agoI think the occasional offers I receive are from the sellers themselves but as others have said, I don't think the sellers know who their watchers are. They just agree to send the offer and it goes to all watchers of that item.
I know in the message with the offer, there is always a note from ebay to be quick as it might sell to someone else who received the offer too.
I don't get offers on all the items I might be watching from the same seller. I assume some sellers do it when they want to move that stock. I like offers, they often tempt me to buy.
*casey*
·1 year agoThe seller will have "automatic offers" turned on
Many sellers don't even realise , or forget, they've turned it on and then query why their listings sold for less when the buyer accepts an offer
https://www.ebay.com.au/help/selling/listings/selling-buy-now/adding-best-offer-listing?id=4144&srsltid=AfmBOoq4aa8nJb4ccuddtt3rIj0IIzB_q6PEua0sj2Jj42oeB-LrIgxN#section5
twyngwyn
·1 year agoAs sellers (I have never used it) we get a number of watchers….ie……I have 95 watchers at the moment. EBay regularly sends me blurb to start a campaign, accept offers, where they will ask watchers to make an offer (usually with a discount) …..BUT, the seller has to agree, and stipulate the discount.
Like I said I’ve never used it….probably won’t until I’m ready to ‘leave the site’…..and btw, sellers can’t see who’s watching. I’m sure a lot of mine are other sellers with the same item…..