topic Re: Question Askers in Selling

Question Askers

flowingmanenotahorse — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 11:04:37 GMT

I have noticed a pattern, maybe it is just me , but over the years I have found the more questions somebody asks the less likely it is to be a pleasant outcome. Ivejust spent another round of questions, then offers, acceptance, then more questions, streteching out two ddays of time. She was wanting me to tell her what the item was in cm, as i had it in inches? Does anyone else find that buyers who are the most needy end up being the ones to complain much more often? Also in every case their feedback left for others confirmed it. Sadly im at a point where question askers rarely end in sales, when a sale starts withh a questons, i know its over

Re: Question Askers

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 11:17:13 GMT

I know many sellers block buyers that tend to ask questions which bring up red flags.

And tyre kickers are in plenty.

I simply answer questions quickly and move on not expecting anything.

Some times I am pleasantly surprised when the buyer buys soon after but it is the few.

Re: Question Askers

digital*ghost — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 11:18:13 GMT

You can always block buyers from asking questions unless they've actually bought....but you might find it to be a bit of a double-edged sword.

i.e. On the one hand anyone who wants to ask questions but can't will either refuse to buy from you, which is what you want but you might lose sales from both the type of people you describe and people who have a legitimate need to ask a quick question; or they will buy and then ask their questions, meaning they've already obliged the sale, and created a situation where you can't decide for yourself whether or not you want to block their ID from buying based on what may have otherwise been pre-sale warning signs.

But, yeah... I think most sellers would echo your experiences. I am kinda naturally verbose and can reply at length to buyers because they often don't realise they're not asking a simple yes / no question and I want to make sure they have all of the right info to make a good purchase decision. I try to cut down and have often just given the most basic of jists and then say to let me know if they need more info, just so I'm not wasting too much time on my in-depth replies; because (funnily enough) I never hear from most of my casual inquirers again - not sure if I give just enough info for them to realise it's not what they're looking for, or I make it all sound too hard, but you could try that tactic. We'll call it the Grandpa Simpson Strategy.

Re: Question Askers

davewil1964 — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 11:26:01 GMT

I'm not sure why asking for metric measurements is untoward. Unless they're as old as me they wouldn't have grown up with Imperial measurements. We DID go metric over 40 years ago, so maybe use metric measurements. Then they will know what the sizes are.

Re: Question Askers

digital*ghost — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 11:33:10 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
I'm not sure why asking for metric measurements is untoward. Unless they're as old as me they wouldn't have grown up with Imperial measurements. We DID go metric over 40 years ago, so maybe use metric measurements. Then they will know what the sizes are.

In some industries, metric is standard for the measurements, regardless of where they're manufactured and sold. In other industries, imperial is standard worldwide....and in mine, both metric and imperial are used, depending on the specific application of exactly the same product.

I mean, 3/4" is a very exact measurement that doesn't actually translate perfectly to metric. Then if your items have other measuring systems that are applicable (eg wire gauge) things get even more confusing, because that has 2 standard measuring systems as well (AWG and SWG).

I know what a 16G 3/16" (AWG) is by sight, couldn't tell you what it is in metric, and I was only ever taught metric.

Re: Question Askers

zanadoo_56 — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 13:17:31 GMT

I ask questions because I've noticed so many sellers are providing less and less information about what they are selling.

It's frustrating for the buyer as well as the seller....especially when you finally get the information you need and realise you've wasted your time and the the seller's. I can't buy something just because the seller has answered questions on something that they should have included in the listing, and I finally find out it's not what I'm looking for.

Re: Question Askers

springyzone — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 20:42:20 GMT

@flowingmanenotahorse wrote:
I have noticed a pattern, maybe it is just me , but over the years I have found the more questions somebody asks the less likely it is to be a pleasant outcome. Ivejust spent another round of questions, then offers, acceptance, then more questions, streteching out two ddays of time. She was wanting me to tell her what the item was in cm, as i had it in inches? Does anyone else find that buyers who are the most needy end up being the ones to complain much more often? Also in every case their feedback left for others confirmed it. Sadly im at a point where question askers rarely end in sales, when a sale starts withh a questons, i know its over

I don't think asking for a cm measurement was unreasonable. Any person should be able to do a conversion online, I know, but she may have wanted to confirm the size before buying.

I do think if someone asks questions, what it does mean is there are some things that are holding them back from bidding. They are not quite sure. Undecided.

So of course you're going to have a drop out rate, where some won't bid even if you provide answers. The only difference is other undecided people might just click out of your ad and move on without asking. Easier for you in one way when that happens but at least if they ask a question, there is a possibility they may buy.

Over the years, I have asked quite a lot of sellers a question. Sometimes I have bought, sometimes I haven't. But always when i ask, it is because I am undecided. Just make sure your photos are good and clear and the necessary info is in the ad as it can be offputting when an ad doesn't tell you enough.

Re: Question Askers

glenbankloel — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 21:38:11 GMT

This specific question about the measurement being in cm could also relate to the age of the buyer.

Many young people/buyers do not have any idea of inches, feet etc.....as they have grown up with in an all metric universe.

So I wouldn't read too much into it, be polite and answer the question. Who knows you might just get a sale.

Good luck

Re: Question Askers

chameleon54 — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 22:48:05 GMT

I sell a lot of very specific items that only suit one purpose. I get a LOT of questions, most pretty reasonable. I answer them as accurately as possible and around 30% turn into sales. Probably another third of answers confirm the item is not suited to the buyer, saving both them and me agro from change of mind returtns because the item is not suitable and a third are tyre kickers.

The other 3% ................??????

Re: Question Askers

jellybirddesigns — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 23:56:12 GMT

I disagree with you on this.

I've had a shop for almost 5 years with approx 4000 sales and I find that my conversion rate is about 95% when buyers ask questions.

If you have a look at any of my listings I always give the metric and imperial measurements of every single item I sell, so buyers have pretty much all the information they need at a glance.

The trick is to give the right amount of data, not too much so they get bored reading walls of text and not too little so they have to go hunting down the information from you.

I always check a buyers feedback left for sellers and if their comments are overwhelmingly negative, I just block them. The odd red dot doesn't worry me - it's the overall picture of the buyer I'm interested in.

Also, all of my listings are Buy it Now with Immediate Payment, so there's no back and forth haggling.

I set my price - buyers either buy or they don't, there's no negotiation.

Re: Question Askers

digital*ghost — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 03:41:12 GMT

I think the main point of the OP has been overlooked a little - they didn't say people who asked questions were trouble, they said that it seemed like the more questions someone asks, the less likely it is to result in a good outcome. They went on to say that the most needy buyers complain most often, and they are unlikely to have something to complain about if they didn't buy. We've seen this pattern multiple times in threads here over the years. (Someone starts asking multiple questions about something, then they finally buy it and continue asking questions, then they finally pay, then they receive it and there's some kind of problem with it).

The OP is registered in Australia, so we can at least presume they are familiar with the metric system, which also suggests there might be a good reason for something being listed with imperial measurements, but they also had a question mark after the statement, which could indicate the suggestion from the buyer that they had measurements in inches was questionable or weird - people use question marks like that all the time.(eg "They thought I was saying all buyers who ask questions are trouble?"). If I'm interpreting that correctly, maybe they did have metric measurements, maybe it's a small item and the measurements were in mm, or maybe it's a big item and they were in metres.

Some people seem to ask questions for no reason at all (try having the size in large font text on the gallery photo, in the title, in the description, in the item specifics, and then clarified even more in the description, and still getting "what size is this?" questions ), so if the OP says they are experiencing a pattern with certain types of people who ask questions, I have more than enough experience myself and anecdotes from people in the forum to believe them.

Re: Question Askers

purplemon18 — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 08:53:31 GMT

Yup. I have seen that pattern too. Some buyers are just not worth the trouble. They are the ones who most often go onto my blocked buyers list. However, I do try to be as understanding as I can, because I realised that I don't know their specific circumstances. To me they are just text on a computer screen. At the other end though, they could be someone for whom English is a second language, they could have a learning disability, vision problems, depression etc.

Thus it becomes a balaning act; ruthless business vs caring compassion. Hmm...That was a bit hyperbolic, but you get the idea.

Re: Question Askers

countessalmirena — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 12:59:29 GMT

Validly put.

I think there may be a number of reasons for someone to ask questions. There is probably some overlap, and the odd anomaly... but in general (in my opinion) people run true to type. That isn't to say that individuals are not highly complex and unique, and it's not to say that one can glance at a person and instantly know everything about them... but certain patterns of behaviour tend to be intrinsic to an individual. We can "break our programming", yes... but it's not easily accomplished. That's why there are so many different diet books out there, so many different "think yourself rich" books, so many different "influence people' books, so many "how to be the best you' books, and so on.

Hence my view about question-askers is based upon my perception that some people ask questions without any genuine intention of completing the purchase; that some ask questions more to perpetutate a fantasy that they are going to buy something expensive; that some ask questions because the process of question-asking - being a "selector" - may make them feel powerful or give a rush of some sort; that some ask questions because they like picking at the details of other people's lives/behaviours/offerings/etc.; that some ask questions because they have a weirdly smug desire to waste other people's time; that some ask questions because "If I were selling that item, I'd include this and this and this"; that some ask questions because they go through life expecting information to be filtered and dribbled down to them like baby food, or feel a sense of inferiority and think that they just can't take in information properly, or feel that they are too busy to waste their time (but it's all right to waste yours); and the list truly goes on.

There are, of course, many people who ask questions because it's not sufficiently clear to them in the listing that the item is what they need or want or think it is. If the answer satisfactorily clears up that issue, they are prepared to buy.

It's hard - perhaps impossible - to distinguish between these various sorts of question-askers! In my field (not an eBay seller) I tend to reply as clearly as possible, with enough detail to inform. However, I - and others in my field - also get a few time-wasters... There is one notorious particular individual who seems to think it is a game to affect a helpless mien and ask question after question. Until several of us happened to jokingly mention some of the travails in the profession (no names, of course), he was getting away with his pest-like behaviour.

I suppose it is up to the individual about how they handle question-askers... In general, I believe that giving courteous replies with the information asked for is the best way, but if the information is ridiculous and onerous, that should probably be (nicely) explained. If one's gut instinct says "time-waster', I just give a final polite reply that makes it clear there's nothing further I can (or will) say.

For sellers, as long as the information requested is reasonable, it would make sense to provide it... but you'd very soon identify which individuals have enough tyre rubber on their shoe tips to make them bounce along the highway.

Re: Question Askers

springyzone — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 20:32:01 GMT

I must admit that after your post, I went back to re read the start of the thread and yes, I would suspect that if you have someone who is asking numerous questions over several days, then that could signal trouble. It reeks of either a lack of trust or confidence in the seller or else doubts about buying in the first place. Reluctance to commit.

I'd say most buyers who ask a question might have one or two things they want to know, but normally that should be it.

As countess says, the world is made up of all sorts of people. I think if I were selling regularly nowadays, I'd play it a bit by ear and follow my instincts. I don't for a second think all question askers are going to be duds. I would think some of them would move on to become buyers. So if someone asks what looks to be a relevant question, I'd just answer it. But if you get someone who goes on and on, maybe over several days, and seems a bit obsessive, that's a different matter.

Re: Question Askers

clarry100 — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 21:15:55 GMT

When we get questions I answer with as much info as possible.

Often I wonder if perhaps I might be tad too verbose as DG has mentioned above.

If we find that the answer to the question could not have been gleaned from the info in the item description we will then add it in.

Not unlike FAQ's I guess.

But I don't find that buyers who question often lead to trouble later on.

I'm guessing that around 50% of buyers who ask questions will end up buying. So definitley worth the response for us.

Re: Question Askers

joztamps — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 04:02:30 GMT

People who feel they need to ask questions about my descriptions don't end up buying because they are too dumb to be allowed to have access to money.

Re: Question Askers

digital*ghost — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 04:47:29 GMT

@springyzone wrote:
I would suspect that if you have someone who is asking numerous questions over several days, then that could signal trouble. It reeks of either a lack of trust or confidence in the seller or else doubts about buying in the first place. Reluctance to commit.

It can also indicate someone who is extremely particular about what they want, and / or has high expectations, which in turn is a huge red flag that nothing will actually be good enough - a series of questions about every aspect of the item is understandable if they are about to drop a couple of thousand on some custom built item, less so when they are buying a second hand, generic brand tea cup... or something. Or, in other words, context always matters.

In some cases, you're better off asking the potential buyer questions than answering theirs, it means you can cut down on the sometimes seemingly endless back and forth, and really try to zero in on what is the most important info - if you can get them to tell you what they want, it's a lot easier to determine if you can meet their needs or expectations. A lot of sellers will naturally think about getting the sale, and highlight things that are what the customer is looking for, but I prefer to do the opposite and even make suggestions about products I don't stock that might be a better fit for what they're looking for - quite often I still get the sale, so I guess they either appreciate my honesty or had already decided on my item and were just making sure it was going to meet the primary need.

Where I get verbose and ply them with information is when I get questions like "is this hypoallergenic?", because for that one the answer is "technically yes but I will never use that word for my items", so then I feel I have to explain why not.

Re: Question Askers

collectocopia — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 05:45:31 GMT

F...

Re: Question Askers

brerrabbit585 — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 05:57:05 GMT

A lot really depends on the items. With some items you could ask lots of questions but with other items there's really nothing left to ask.

I'm learning to ask questions of some askers to save myself a lot of time, eg. those who ask how much I've got of an item. They may only want a metre and it's not worth measuring a 5m piece only to find out they only wanted a little bit. They're the ones who rarely buy so if they don't answer my questions I've saved a lot of time.

Re: Question Askers

flowingmanenotahorse — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 06:04:44 GMT

just to clarify, the item is $29.95 and she knocked $10 off it. As of 5 minutes ago Im still being messaged, she has sent me 10 questions ranging from feel, texture, if my item clearly advertised as vintage was "like new", and now its nearly a week. Most of what he has asked has been covered and in ad, yet she comes at varying angles.I blocked her but cant block her contacting me . Today I had enough and asked her to quit it please, now its self righteous indignation. Im sorry but a week of this over a paltry sum is too much. I knew from "inches to cm" that it was not right, cant she use a converter on the internet , despite hundreds of feedback? she feels stalkerish almost, its bizarre..of course she has not paid for item, the offer she requested ran out and he is still going