Buyer asking to visit 'store'...

[Dan32]

Yesterday I received a question from a buyer wanting to visit my "store" as she lives in the area and would like to look at and purchase several of the items I have listed... My so called "store" is what used to be a guest bedroom with the bed replaced with shelves lol.
I haven't answered her, and don't plan to, but I'm curious.. Have any of you ever had a buyer ask to come to your "store" to purchase items?

How did you/would you answer the question?

[yankee]

When I had retail stores it happened regularly.

Problem always was that they would come in, spend hours with technical service and then go home and buy off ebay from the cheapest seller.

In your circumstance I would just reply,
"Thank you for your interest in my business. Unfortunately I am not setup for retail sales. I am an internet seller only at this time. Thanks again and please let me know how I can help you with your purchase here on ebay.
Sincerely,
Dan32"

[tonestar20]

That was exactly to the point and how to word it ..yankee..

[toml3030]

Originally Posted by Dan32

Yesterday I received a question from a buyer wanting to visit my "store" as she lives in the area and would like to look at and purchase several of the items I have listed...

problem buyer alert!

problem buyer alert!

problem buyer alert!

I've had several people who wanted to visit my retail store off my eBay acct, (I actually do have a retail store with the same name with eBay store) and in general it's more problem than it is worth, and I've had several outright crazies.

[Dan32]

Originally Posted by toml3030

problem buyer alert!

problem buyer alert!

problem buyer alert!

I've had several people who wanted to visit my retail store off my eBay acct, (I actually do have a retail store with the same name with eBay store) and in general it's more problem than it is worth, and I've had several outright crazies.

Yeah I can only imagine lol. I replied to her with something similar to Yankee's suggestion, and then immediately blocked her. Just the fact that she lives nearby makes me not want to have to deal with her. To many weirdos in my town

[rsot]

Never entertain this kind of visit unless you really do own a "brick and mortar" store - you don't want random ppl from the Net visiting.

If anything you should learn from these forums is that STEALTH applies to many many things.

[ebayfail]

I once had a potential buyer asked me to meet up and buy my item but I said no of course. Since then I change the item location so this would not happen again.

[toml3030]

Originally Posted by rsot

Never entertain this kind of visit unless you really do own a "brick and mortar" store - you don't want random ppl from the Net visiting..

My experience is that someone who wants to visit your B&M store falls into one of four categories.

1. nice buyers who are going to buy from you anyway if your product and price are right

2. tire kickers who won't buy from you anyways

3. people who imagine you'll have 8000 similar other items in stock if they come to your store.

4. Total Nutjobs; Extreme discount idiots who think they can get stuff at 80% off your on line price if they wave $20 cash in front of you for a $100 item, jerks who want to rent stuff so they can return it later, and flat out insane people who wants to drive 20 miles to your store to save ten bucks.


Unless you're have a chain of stores, getting people from eBay to your B&M stores don't add much, and is not worth the hassle.

[rsot]

5. Competitors...or (if selling risky stuff) law enforcement.