topic Re: Why do some sellers bother listing???? in Buying

Why do some sellers bother listing????

strawberries-n-creambabies — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:25:57 GMT

Lately I have come across a number of sellers who just can't be bothered answering their questions on their listings.

If you don't add all the information I require and I'm interested enough to buying, I'll ask questions I need answered. But so many times these sellers miss out on sales cause they are just purely rude and won't respond.

I'm not about to fork out for goods that may not be what I'm after. In this day in age, you can't afford to waste money. Hence, if you're a lazy ass seller who can't be bothered putting in a few minutes to answer a potenial buyers question, you miss out! Like they say - plenty more fish in the sea.

But it pisses me off when sellers are so rude. Aren't sellers listing on ebay to sell - or are they purely for show??????

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

arnl7178 — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:24:02 GMT

Couldn't agree more. It's a major pet peeve on mine.

I can't stand it when even the basics aren't included in listings, like size, dimensions, location (for pick up) etc, but when I write to a seller and don't get a response, it infuriates me. I actually should say, when I USED to write to a seller. Now, I just refuse to write asking for basic information. Specific details perhaps, not the basic stuff!

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

***super_nova*** — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:53:03 GMT

I used to check the IDs that I had something listed 3x a day, just to make sure there is nothing that needs to be dealt with, but lately it has been so slow, I sometimes only log in once a day.

Also, i haven't had any question for months (I do try to have absolutely everything in my listings) but recently I had a 1/2 dozen - mostly making an offer.

Sellers that have many items listed may also get many eBay messages and sometimes a question might get lost in it all. Some sellers also have a family and full time job and may not look every day.

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:51:55 GMT

You know sometimes your not the only think happening in a sellers life. I sometimes get 12 questions in a day. If im away for a day i may not see the question in time. I also find that 90% of the questions I get are either already answerd in the description or are from people passing time. It is very rare indeed that a person who asks a question and is answerd then goes on to purchase. Time is money. But thats just a possible answer. Perhaps you have answered a relevant question.

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

nonny_muss — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:57:55 GMT

Totally agree. Sellers can come across as pretty lazy sometimes!

I'm not including the sellers who get back to me a day later or so, I know what it's like and yes, sellers do have a life! You can usually tell how helpful sellers are trying to be by their answer too, and that can win points. But no answer at all puts me off a listing.

My personal 'favourites' though are the listings containing a photo, and something pretty obvious like 'white shirt' describing the photo of the item, and no other details but 'posted from eBay mobile'.

These ones leave me both frustrated and also pitying the poor seller for not showcasing their item well enough. Unless that is, I'm hoping to actually buy it and banking on the poor marketing skills to get me a better bargain! 😉

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

phorum_junkie* — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:25 GMT

As a buyer if the info isn't in the listing I hit the back button. The only time I contact a seller before bidding/buying is if i want a combined delivery quote.

if lazy sellers don't want my custom then that is their problem, not mine.

Unfortunately some of the worst offenders only list using free listings so it is not costing them anything other than the minimal time it takes them to create their uninformative listing

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

zeroninetyone091 — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:25:53 GMT

I have to agree with movie-models here,

I often have upwards of 12 questions a day. In the majority of cases the questions are fully covered in the respective listings. Not only that I find that many buyers are just plain rude they are quite aggressive in their manner. I always reply as polite as I can and reply twice. With the third email I just do not answer and block the buyer.

The other thing of late is the demand for discounts. If I am asked politely I reply regretfully etc if not they get no reply. I block all buyers who ask for discounts as experience has shown these are the people most likely to complain or leave neg feedback. I now have very few complaints as a result.

This might not work for others but for me it makes selling on eBay a more pleasurable and hassle free experience for the most part.

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

punch*drunk — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:36:42 GMT

What I have noticed lately is that very few buyers get back to me after I have answered their questions. Makes me wonder whether messages are always getting through.

Many of my questions are requests for parts not listed so there is often several messages that go back and forth between myself and the customer. Lately though, I reply and never hear back from them.

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

bright.ton42 — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:51:14 GMT

The thing that really annoys me are obvious things, like ---

measurements for shoes, like toe to heel (too much diversity in sizes)

measurements for bags, handbags

length of dresses, skirts - even short or long is better than nothing

Some sellers have taken to saying "the photographs are the description'

well not always by a long shot. .

And it doesn't do any harm to mention colour either as photos can

vary so much from the true colour.

I've fast got the stage where I move on now rather than ask such

obvious questions as in these categories in particular there is always

a lot of competition

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

motherbear2003 — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:26:07 GMT

You're obviously dealing with the wrong sellers]:)

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

kustomizer99 — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:36:24 GMT

I recently had a browser ask me if I could sell him one of my items for 80% off the listed price.

I hope he wasn't terribly offended when I didn't get around to answering his inquiry. 🙂

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

ambridgebuckskins — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:58:50 GMT

l get a lot of questions asking for things that are already mentioned or shown on a listing.

Asked what is inside a handbag when the description states just that. Or asking for photos as the listing dosen't have any (say wha?)

A lot of questions l put down to the buyer being a phone user. They have to tap on the heading for description or scroll for photos...neither of which they do before sending a message.

l had a buyer request videos of a toy before they purchased, value of the toy? $9

One buyer asked 11 questions before purchasing a $12 vase and then turned into a NBP when they did buy.

Or on my book ID - questions such as:

Asking the ending of a novel. They only purchase 'happy ending' books (l have thousands of books, l don't read each one).

Asking if l'll accept $3 for a book, postage inclusive (when it has to travel in a satchel).

Asking if l'll photocopy parts of a text book to save them $$ as they are a poor uni student.

Asking if l would like to set up a book swap with them if they pay postage their end.

You know, some times questions go unanswered for those very reasons.

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

arnl7178 — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:12:51 GMT

^ :^O

The ending of the novel is just priceless!

Well last night, I had to message a seller to ask about some canisters. All I wanted to know was if they were airtight. She responded ...

"What does airtight mean?"

I moved on.

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

zanadoo_56 — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:07:27 GMT

I think there are certain things that really need good clear descriptions - like clothing and collectables - but sometimes getting more info out of some sellers is like getting blood out of a stone.

I am definitely going to ask for more info when the seller has posted the listing via a mobile/iPhone/some-other-inadequate-piece-of-electronic-equipment, and a para notifying potential buyers of that fact actually accounts for half the text in the item description.

Thankfully, recently many sellers I've contacted have replied, but it would have been better if they had spent some time describing the item better in the first place so I wouldn't have to ask. For those who didn't bother to reply....No Sale folks!

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

silly_wallaby — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:39:47 GMT

I usually just move on if a seller doesn't respond to my messages. But it really annoys me when I ask a question, and a seller replies with a rude comment or even an insult. I mostly buy DVDs or video games on ebay, and if a seller doesn't include a description beyond the title of the DVD/game, I'll ask what the region it is or what condition its in. Most of the time sellers are nice and accommodating. But some sellers have sent me responses like "can't be bothered to check" or "f*ck off and don't annoy me with stupid questions". It's really bizarre how rude some people can be for no reason at all. Don't they want to sell their items? o_O

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

a_beautiful_room — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:27:58 GMT

I would say 90% of the questions I get are offers for a ridiculous amount (mostly less than half, sometimes 30% !!! ) of the listed price. 5% are questions covered in the listing. 5% are actually "questions" by someone with a specific requirement and they are checking that before they buy. I bend over backward to help that 5%. I often don't answer type 1 unless it's just too ridiculous and then I give them a spray and block them, it's against ebay rules to even make an offer when the "make an offer" function is not used, and I make sure they know this and will be reported if they do it with me again.

It's not all buyers you know. I just love a good question, and will absolutely bend over backwards even to the point of offering delivery or recommending other items, sellers or services if I can help. But some buyers are just shockers, and there's a whole lot more of them than there used to be :).

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

davewil1964 — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:56:01 GMT

What I have noticed lately is that very few buyers get back to me after I have answered their questions. Makes me wonder whether messages are always getting through.

Many of my questions are requests for parts not listed so there is often several messages that go back and forth between myself and the customer. Lately though, I reply and never hear back from them.

Yep.

I answer all questions, even though most of the answers are already apparent. Never get any sales, though.

But it's only a minute or so, so I happily provide the answers, sometimes without digs.

Re: Why do some sellers bother listing????

mygifts2u — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:11:20 GMT

I totally agree with what you are saying. Its very frustrating when that happens.

As a seller, I have active ebay phone alerts on my phone. So if I am out, I will still get my messages and I will respond accordingly.

It costs time and money to list, so if you don't respond to your buyers, 1) its a waste of money, 2) time, 3) unprofessional 4) Buyers don't forget good customer service , BUT THEY DONT FORGET BADDDDDDDDDDDD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

I love good communication between bidder and buyer and if that doesn't happen, I get really peeved off. It is very rude for a person not to respond to any emails when it only takes a few minutes of your time.

Marie