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  #1  
Old 06-27-2020
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Default Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Most of the messages I get from customers don't demand a reply on my part and I just delete or leave them unanswered.


Do you think this behavior could affect sales negatively? In other words, will eBay demote my listings in search because of ignoring such messages?
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Old 06-28-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by walkingupwards View Post
Most of the messages I get from customers don't demand a reply on my part and I just delete or leave them unanswered.


Do you think this behavior could affect sales negatively? In other words, will eBay demote my listings in search because of ignoring such messages?
If buyer ask strange asnwer I don’t think this will affect
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  #3  
Old 06-28-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

You can setup an auto responder if you are concerned. I can say this though, it annoys potential buyers to get an auto response and not a real answer.
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Old 06-28-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by yankee View Post
I can say this though, it annoys potential buyers to get an auto response and not a real answer.
That's for DAMN SURE! The worst is an autoresponder from a chinese person. Like wtf does that even say...
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Old 06-28-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

It might have an effect, but it won't keep you from selling a shiitload of items. Some sellers I buy things from are known for their lack of response. They just FLAT OUT don't reply, and they sell wayyyyyyyyyyyy more than 99.9% of the people here.
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  #6  
Old 06-28-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by walkingupwards View Post
Most of the messages I get from customers don't demand a reply on my part and I just delete or leave them unanswered.


Do you think this behavior could affect sales negatively? In other words, will eBay demote my listings in search because of ignoring such messages?
No, eBay doesn't have an algo or bot that demotes you for not replying unlike Amazon.
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Old 06-28-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by tinsoldier View Post
Neither have. Failing to reply to messages is not a performance metric on Amazon.
I thought it was in the USA? Been a while since i needed to check
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  #8  
Old 06-30-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

I mean, none of you can really know for sure, what ebays algo takes into account when ranking your searches. Even ebay reps don't know half the time.
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  #9  
Old 06-30-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by james13v View Post
I mean, none of you can really know for sure, what ebays algo takes into account when ranking your searches. Even ebay reps don't know half the time.
Agreed. I maintain that it makes a difference.

Sellers with bad customer service should not rank as well as sellers with good customer service.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tinsoldier View Post
You thought wrong.
Prove it?
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Last edited by phaz0rz; 06-30-2020 at 07:40 AM.
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  #10  
Old 06-30-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Which would make perfect sense. I don't understand how people can think that such an easy data point would just be overlooked. Ebay tracks if there was any contact information shared, and whether or not the item ends without a sale. Yet people think can't track to see if you actually respond to messages, let alone care about a vital part of customer service? Ebay will just be like " well, we care about customer service and buyers being happy in every single other thing, and go after you for all of it. but messages? Meh".

Some sellers tho straight up refuse messages. I wonder if not responding to messages, is worse than not allowing messages.

It's kinda like my dad with his voicemail. He has no idea how to look at them. Yet he keeps asking me to delete voicemails. Why, so more people can leave voicemails that you will never look at?
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  #11  
Old 06-30-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by tinsoldier View Post
There's nothing to 'prove', Amazons metrics do not include message response times. Any Amazon seller can verify this for themselves.

'No response required' is the chosen route for those who simply do not want to engage.

But I'm happy for someone to prove me wrong.
Yeah, because only the visible metrics are the ones these companies go by. They never do anything, that the general public is not able to see. They will only go by the black and white policies, that they have presented to the public. They will never do things they said they don't do, or things they haven't told us about Nope. Never such a thing.
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  #12  
Old 10-09-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

So whats the conclusion does not respond at all affect the search ranking?

Does eBah count how fast seller respond like within 24hours etx

If so How long do these logs stay?
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  #13  
Old 10-09-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by frozenprince View Post
So whats the conclusion does not respond at all affect the search ranking?

Does eBah count how fast seller respond like within 24hours etx

If so How long do these logs stay?
They use to do this pre-Cassini in 2013, I don't know if they still do.
Personally, I don't leave any question answered. I think it just rude to do so.
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Old 10-09-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

It does not affect search at all. I don't answer stupid questions at all. In fact I frequently add buyers who ask too many stupid questions to my blocked bidder list.

Specific/relevant questions from someone who seems like a potential customer of course I answer but stupid questions like "what color is it", "how long did you have it", etc.. I never answer.
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Old 10-09-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pandoras_box View Post
They use to do this pre-Cassini in 2013, I don't know if they still do.
Personally, I don't leave any question answered. I think it just rude to do so.
Except sometimes buyers send you 6 messages within minutes. Are you telling me you respond to every single one of those messages?
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Old 10-10-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by walkingupwards View Post
Most of the messages I get from customers don't demand a reply on my part and I just delete or leave them unanswered.


Do you think this behavior could affect sales negatively? In other words, will eBay demote my listings in search because of ignoring such messages?
In my practice — no. It’s okay.
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  #17  
Old 10-10-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by james13v View Post
Except sometimes buyers send you 6 messages within minutes. Are you telling me you respond to every single one of those messages?
Hah no way - chuckle
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Old 10-10-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

I think that return requests and opened item not received cases are the things you need to concentrate more on because if you leave those for 1-2 days without replying it will affect the sales considerably. Doing customer service once in 1-2 days time should be enough I think, I haven't noticed any considerable change in sales level even if the customer hasn't received a reply in 2-3 days time. The only problem in keeping them waiting is that they might get pissed and leave bad feedback.
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Old 10-10-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

with Etsy,it has a note on your listing which said this seller usually respond same or next day?
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  #20  
Old 10-11-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SaiJin View Post
No, eBay doesn't have an algo or bot that demotes you for not replying unlike Amazon.
I really don't think you can know what ebays algo does or doesn't do. I don't think even ebay knows all it can or can't do.
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  #21  
Old 10-12-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by james13v View Post
I don't think even ebay knows all it can or can't do.
This made me chuckle.

I didn't think they could do this either.
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  #22  
Old 10-13-2020
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Default Re: Does not replying to buyers' messages affect sales?

Quote:
Originally Posted by james13v View Post
Except sometimes buyers send you 6 messages within minutes. Are you telling me you respond to every single one of those messages?
<- These buyers? Certainly not! Those are the craziest of the crazies so I just read through ALL their messages because you never know which message contains actionable instructions; eg "Please cancel my order", etc.

So no, I wouldn't respond to every single one, I'd just respond to one but I reference all the issues raised across all messages.

I never cave to pressure to 'send more photos', 'change address' or 'ship out faster'.

If I smell trouble, I politely ask if I can cancel the order to give the buyer time to check with other sellers who might meet their needs.
And yes, I go on to block troublesome buyers especially if their feedback 'left for others' looks like a bloodbath.
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