Difficult buyers and questions when seller is right

joesshooze · #1 04-27-2013

Everytime a buyer asks ?? that are clearly in the listing it's not going to stop once they receive their item. They are the "buyers from hell". Guys asks 2 ?? b4 buying that are the bold selling points of the listing then gets them and is complaining about the fit of an item that is not sold in sizes at all. Sheesh!! I really had second thoughts about even selling to him I just get greedy. I'm the 1st one to say it. I can only hope and pray he does not want to return them.

Ukdirect · #2 04-27-2013

Personally if a buyer asks me a question that is Clearly covered in the description I block them straight away.

AuctionsDenied · #3 04-27-2013

Having been in retail for over 25 years, I have learned not to let these type of customers, bidders, buyers give me so much grief.

If you look back at all the questions you have been asked, it probably is only 1 customer out of every 100 that makes it hard on you.
That is only 1%.

And most of the time that customer has selective listening or reading syndrome.
They only hear or read what they want to read and do not pay attention to anything else. So no matter how hard you try, they may never get that "AHA moment".

The point I am trying to get across is that for some, no matter how hard you try, you may not be able to get your point across, but do not let that ruin your day.

joesshooze · #4 04-27-2013

It doesn't ruin my day. I just worry about the stealth return address. I really don't get very many returns. Like none. UK is right I should have blocked him straight away. I actually think I tried but could not figure out how to do it.
I had the 2 questions covered in 18pt. bold, colored type. when I have a ? I re-read the listing to see if my ? is covered b4 I ask. Yeah call me crazy, huh.

#5 04-27-2013

With these buyers I just tell them to ship it back and I'll refund, no further questions

If its a cheap item and I feel like they might leave me a neg feedback, I'll just refund them and take a loss

100HRWEEK · #6 04-27-2013

I just went trough this. I was desperately trying to have a sale on a Camera since my sales have been soft this month. So this old lady asked me 90,000 questions. My eBay inbox message has roughly 40 questions from her. I was respectful, starting every message with a "Hello Dear", and being as detailed as I could helping her with her questions. I was honest, and didn't try to pull a fast one just to get a sale. After roughly 5 hours answering everything, she buys it so I'm happy my work paid off. Well guess what, she got the item and now wants to return it....!!!

Never Again am I doing this... Now I have to deal with her with returns and end up losing money on shipping back, original shipping, supplies, my time, and getting back a brand new product which is now used and god knows in what condition.

AuctionsDenied · #7 04-27-2013

This is your 1% customer from he**.
Yet how many times have you had a customer who asked a lot of questions and they ended up being a great customer?

100HRWEEK · #8 04-27-2013

Regardless pretty disappointing, as most times questions come for more expensive items. But I know what you mean. However, that 1% can eat into the sales of the other 99% with margins low on eBay. So sure, it could be just one bad customer. That one bad customer can really mess everything up.

1. Open a case
2. Leave negative feedback
3. Return item damage
4. Leave you frustrated.

AuctionsDenied · #9 04-27-2013

This is so true. Price of product does bring scrutiny It is the price of doing business.

A person selling dollar items is less under scrutiny.

vogeltron · #10 04-27-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukdirect

Personally if a buyer asks me a question that is Clearly covered in the description I block them straight away.

Yea, buyers who ask too many questions I block. Especially if I feel like they might be someone who will want to return or bitch about an item. I like to look through their feedback received and their feedback left for other to see if they have a history of being a crummy buyer.

GreenBean · #11 04-27-2013

Idiot buyers are idots no matter which you you deal with them.

On a well described listing, consider pulling the plug..... for whatever reason. Go with the gut feeling. Yeah by your questions, oh dear buyer, I feel you may not be suitable for this item. Dont sell.

For higher priced items, I often get their phone number. The message of the written word differs from the spoken word. I've found doing that cements more sales. If you think of your own time as being worth say $55 per hour, then more than one hour exchanging emails eats your profits.
Talking often tips the sale in your favor ( in some cases).

Bottom line is to keep the pests, oops buyers, from damaging you.

rsot · #12 04-27-2013

For GB:

idot.jpg

I had to

GreenBean · #13 04-27-2013

Yeah!!! you can read when you want to, rsot.

newjerseymax · #14 04-27-2013

I always block buyers when I dont like it. Its a gut feeling I get. Anytime I dont go with gut feeling then I get burned. Never fails.

This week first time I blocked someone and they called ebay and then rep called me to find out why I blocked customer.... Yikes!

MM78 · #15 04-27-2013

Wow, someone went to all that trouble to call Ebay and complaint?

They must of wanted the item bad!

vogeltron · #16 04-28-2013

Yea, I don't care about that kind of stuff. If someone asks me too many questions I try to screen the buyer by looking at the feedback they have left for others if they have purchased any similar items. If things don't check out and the buyer seems like there is any chance they might be more trouble then they are worth I block them. Personally, I would rather lose out on five sales than have one moron buyer leaving a negative or trying to return an item or anything to just make my eBay life more difficult. I am also internet friends with some people who sell similar products as me. We email each other lists of people to block that have been problematic or suspicious.

**TGMT²** · #17 04-28-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by joesshooze

I should have blocked him straight away. I actually think I tried but could not figure out how to do it.

In case you haven't figured it out, here is the link...

eBay LINK: http://cgi1.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?bidderblocklogin

yotano211 · #18 04-28-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by newjerseymax

I always block buyers when I dont like it. Its a gut feeling I get. Anytime I dont go with gut feeling then I get burned. Never fails.

This week first time I blocked someone and they called ebay and then rep called me to find out why I blocked customer.... Yikes!

WOW, what a buyer or some strange person, I'll go with the later.

GreenBean · #19 04-28-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by yotano211

WOW, what a buyer or some strange person, I'll go with the later.

a Cuban?

yotano211 · #20 04-28-2013

HEY HEY, not all cubans are like that. Just the ones that come on the boat and got released from jail in cuba. I came on the plane.

De plane!, De plane!

newjerseymax · #21 04-28-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM78

Wow, someone went to all that trouble to call Ebay and complaint?

They must of wanted the item bad!

It was a young lady and she had wondered what had happened, because as she stated "I have 100% feedback and never had an issue"

ebay did tell her that it was me and not the settings that blocked her.
I did allow her to purchase the item as she seemed pleasant and sweet. Lets see if I get burned.

oompaloompa · #22 04-28-2013

I just got, 'do you think this will break in the post', I replied no as I would wrap it well, wanted to say something else though...

I avoid products that idiots will not be able to fathom..eg. self assemble or too many buttons/instructions....otherwise they send them back in a mangled mess...