Is my message to buyers annoying ????

[bigoskar2]

Hi

Thanks for your payment.

I posted your order today so 'hopefully' you should receive by Wed. 16/9

If there is a problem, would you please message me.

Kind Regards

Susan

I have sent this message a zillion times (other id). Today I received a message (rant) from a buyer requesting that I stop sending annoying messages.

A.  She does not want to be thanked for her payment.

B.  She does not want an eta as Ebay gives an estimated delivery time

C.  If I want to let customers know that I should be contacted to resolve issues prior to leaving negative feedback I should write it on       listing.  

"If you are trying to ensure that customers give you higher ratings by bombarding them with unnecessary eBay messages you are wrong. I will leave negative feedback if you send me pointless messages" Her words. 

She has already left + feedback and won't have the opportunity to purchase again.

vent over

[fixnwear]

To phorum, chameleon, black* poppy and evryone else who hates receiving messages from seller that you have just bought something of:

Maybe you should switch all messages off, including Ebay's & PP's as there is certainly much more to be irrated with them, heaps more of them!

And not to recognise and appreciate someone's effort and good service, like your seller's - it's appaling!

Communicating with a machine is preffered? How does that work for you?

Anyway, try shopping with some high end design houses online, or even of line, you'll get heaps of avises throughout the transaction, and several more afterwards, and few months later they will warmly greet you again and REMEMBER YOUR NAME!

[digital*ghost]

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@everard6920 wrote:

Because multiple items are involved, it multiplies the risk that something could be amiss, which is why I send the message. I don't want to receive 15 negatives for one order if there's a problem with ONE of the items (I know it only counts once, but 15 negatives doesn't look very good . . .). IMO, the message shows that I'm friendly and open to working with the buyer if there's a problem.

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Probably a good idea, I did once get 27 defects from one buyer (via DSRs) for unknown reasons. Not quite negs, but just as damaging in real terms 

I actually do still message some buyers, truth be told, just not on ebay. I have two shops on another E--y site, one is exclusively handmade stuff, which has a few made-to-order items, so I tend to write personalised messages soon after purchase to give a more precise postage date etc (some I've set for up to 14 days construction time, but I usually get them done within a week). The only time I don't message with that shop is when I post the same day an order is made.

The other shop is supplies-only with 1-day handling time, and I tended to think fewer people would have needed a message (likely other sellers etc), so I actually made it a part of my TOS, plus added it to the automated email that gets sent out (which then also appears on the order details on that site), that I don't send any private messages regarding orders unless important information needs to be conveyed or confirmed, but I will update the order status onsite as it progresses, as well as respond to any enquiries ASAP. 

[sydney-diecast-kingdom]

A lot of my customers tell me they really like getting messages from me.

I basicially thank them for their purchase and let them know when I intend to or when I have sent their item.

The response is positive and the feedback often reflects that directly such as "Great seller. Awesome communication."

Your customer clearly has mental health issues.

[cathyjoyjoy]

Some people just like to be cranky and rude online, which is unacceptable, so I guess the original poster was seeking some personal opinions here, in how to deal with messages in the future.  It's the buyers who receive these messages who then have the power to cause a defect and it's always good to be on top of what might irk a buyer, when all you are doing is being courteous and informative.

Sigh ...... oh well at least a rude response bumps them onto the blocked list.

[joethenuts]

cathy yes its nice what some of these sellers send as a message , but as you can see there are a few that dont like to be bombarded with emails that are not that important to them ,  like some people dont like junk mail, or go to a petrol station ,and being asked would you like to take up our 2 for bla bla on chockies or fries with that order. we are all diferent.

[saarzi]

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@bigoskar2 wrote:

Hi

Thanks for your payment.

I posted your order today so 'hopefully' you should receive by Wed. 16/9

If there is a problem, would you please message me.

Kind Regards

Susan

---

I would find this annoying, and pointless. It would probably make me think the seller lacks professionalism and efficiency. THAT would make me worry about getting my item, and what condition its going to be in, and any post-sale communications or issues I have that requires me to involve the seller further.

.

Thats just me though.  I certainly wouldnt bother contacting the seller to tell them that, or be as rude as your buyer was, Id just delete the email as spam, along with all the other unessecary spam, and pray Im just going to get my item and its going to be what I expect.

When someone purchase an item, this is what they get -

1.  Buyer wins item Email (includes all details item listing plus est. delivery date)

2. Checkout success page - thanks for payment, detailing payment received, how much, and the estimated delivery date (YOU tell ebay whats that is BTW), AND an option to save / print order details, AGAIN with all info plus est. delivery date

3. Email from Paypal - receipt / thanks for payment, with link to order details and est. delivery date.

4. Email from Ebay when you do anything with postage, including when you mark it sent, with est. delivery date.

Then they get additional Emails if payment is delayed.

At which point did you think they needed to be told AGAIN the est. delivery date / that youve sent the item/ thanks for payment?  You think they need 5 emails (or more)?  really?  I can see why she was annoy, and probably a little insulted (again, the extreme end, but these people DO exist, and some will be your customers).

Ebays emails can be personalised - you can even add your own logo to them. For me, the appropriate method would be to personalise them, instead of sending even more emails. (My Ebay >> Account tab >> Manage Communication with Buyers).

The other issue I have with your email is the "Hopefully". Hopefully is as good as "maybe" which is as good as "maybe not".

Are you trying to stress out your buyer and make them think its not going to turn up?  Or are you trying to cover yourself for not posting fast enough, or something that will probably go wrong?

"Should" is enough. "Hopefully" is desperate. You dont need to plant a negative seed in their head about postage before anything has even gone wrong. Only ever use POSITIVE language when dealing with customers, or you are going to exacerbate any issues that do pop up.

[max-power-models]

I inform buyers in my listings that they can track the progress of their purchase in the Checkout. 

[springyzone]

Saarzi's got a point.

the word 'hopefully' could come out, it's a bit worrying. The word 'should' is better. JMO-well, and saarzi's first i guess.

[phorum_junkie*]

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@fixnwear wrote:

To phorum, chameleon, black* poppy and evryone else who hates receiving messages from seller that you have just bought something of:

Maybe you should switch all messages off, including Ebay's & PP's as there is certainly much more to be irrated with them, heaps more of them!

And not to recognise and appreciate someone's effort and good service, like your seller's - it's appaling!

Communicating with a machine is preffered? How does that work for you?

Anyway, try shopping with some high end design houses online, or even of line, you'll get heaps of avises throughout the transaction, and several more afterwards, and few months later they will warmly greet you again and REMEMBER YOUR NAME!

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Would that it was possible, unfortunately most of the post sale emails cannot be turned off.  What is appaling is a seller thinking I am brain dead enough to not realise that a posted icon in My Ebay and a message from ebay are not clear enough that the item has been sent! If I want a penpal there are better sites than ebay to find one.

[black*poppy]

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@fixnwear wrote:

To phorum, chameleon, black* poppy and evryone else who hates receiving messages from seller that you have just bought something of:

Maybe you should switch all messages off, including Ebay's & PP's as there is certainly much more to be irrated with them, heaps more of them!

And not to recognise and appreciate someone's effort and good service, like your seller's - it's appaling!

Communicating with a machine is preffered? How does that work for you?

Anyway, try shopping with some high end design houses online, or even of line, you'll get heaps of avises throughout the transaction, and several more afterwards, and few months later they will warmly greet you again and REMEMBER YOUR NAME!

---

Maybe if you'd read my post properly you would see that it is not the AUTOMATED MESSAGES that annoy me - I can batch delete those no problem.  It's the ones that turn up in my ebay inbox that I have to open to delete one-by-one that are annoying. No, these cannot be turned off.

DG - I get your point about ticking to automatically delete, but you can't do that on the app.  Also, I don't know what the message is going to say  - although I can guess -  as the heading is just " xx sent a message about ...."   So it's not until I open it up that I can know for sure that it's just another "I've sent your item because I'm such a great seller and here's your tracking number and everything else you know already...." not something more important like "I'm really sorry but after I packed your item the dog ate it so I won't be able to send it after all" for example.

Saarzi - agree with everything you said, including the Hopefully explanation - the seller should KNOW their item is excellent. Personalising ebay's automated emails - what a great idea.

FInally, did you all know that if you don't communicate directly with the buyer you can automatically qualify for 5-star DSR's?

I do communicate with buyers - I have super-fast postage which they are aware of and is reflected in my feedback.  Ebay lets them know when it is sent and the tracking number.  I can't fathom why I would need to repeat it.  I can spend that time getting down to the PO instead

My number 2 golden rule as a seller with 100% feedback and zero defects is don't hassle buyers.  (Number 1 is don't send c**p)