soldat2
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posted on October 19, 2001 05:04:50 AM
Just wondering how many of you sellers take a moment to answer bidders questions during the auction.
My case in point.....
We currently have high bid (about $125.00) on an item. The auction reads something like
'any questions please email us' which I did 3 days ago.
Still no answer.
The seller is not new to ebay and has a perfect description, photos and a nice TOS.
(honest shipping and no handling fees  )
My question is as simple as addressing an item to & from someone. It's not a star item nor anything like that, but it is really as simple as signing your name. No lies on customs forms or anything illegal, not even a gray area!
The answer would result in me doubling my bid at the least.
I'm thinking about trying an email one more time and if no answer just letting it run. (I'm sure that I'll get outbid before the end)
I find the time to answer any questions that we get on much less expensive items daily. This seller has only one auction running at this time.
Maybe I'm just reading into this more than I should.........
...it does say to email with questions...
...it doesn't say that they will answer. 
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bizzybee22
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posted on October 19, 2001 05:18:51 AM
Good Morning soldat2
I'm just a small-time/part-time seller but I always answer questions about my auctions. The seller may have computer or e-mail problems or may have suddenly been called away. If it was me, I'd certainly try again, especially since you already have a bid on the item.
Good Luck!
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busybiddy
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posted on October 19, 2001 05:32:24 AM
I wouldn't assume that he got the e-mail and is ignoring you. More likely, he didn't get it or he's not available right away.
How did you contact him? Through the E-Bay "Ask a Seller" or did he have his e-mail in the auction description? I would try to use another method to reach him in case the original e-mail was misdirected. Try the "Send this Auction to a Friend" method. I find that one works reliably.
Good Luck!
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soldat2
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posted on October 19, 2001 05:36:49 AM
>How did you contact him? Through the E-Bay "Ask a Seller"<
Yes busy, "Ask seller" through ebay.
I also sent out two others and got responses same day. (different auctions & people)
I didn't even think about them not getting it!
I will send another right now and see what happens.
(just a llittle over two days left)
Thanks.
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soldat2
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posted on October 19, 2001 05:43:47 AM
DUH.......
The sellers name is the email address!
3 &1/2 years on ebay, you would think that I have it figured out by now.
Wrong!
I have emailed the address and NOT through "Ask Seller" this time.
Sometimes I just can't see the trees........
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mballai
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posted on October 19, 2001 11:01:24 AM
If they didn't get it through Ask Seller that's a bad sign. Emails should be answered within a day or so. If you do not hear back in a day, chances are very good this is one seller who is not very customer oriented.
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thedewey
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posted on October 19, 2001 11:32:21 AM
eBay's "Ask Seller" system isn't perfect. Most of the time it works, but sometimes the e-mail doesn't get there at all, and sometimes it's delayed for hours.
It's a good idea for sellers to include their e-mail address in their listings, just in case!
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soldat2
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posted on October 19, 2001 01:10:19 PM
Well I fired off another email this morning direct to the seller, NOT via ebays system.
The seller has about 50 all positive feedback, but it looks like it's all for buying. Maybe their selling mode needs a little 'fine tuning'.
If they still fail to respond I may still decide to chase this item up a bit. In fact I am thinking of upping my offer quite a bit now, then if they don't answer I will cancel all of our bids. I dunno.....I have only retracted 1 bid and that was due to a misplaced . that could have cost me dearly.
(ok, I really don't 'need' it, but I would like to have it)
I am a sellers dream if they have what I want and take PayPal. One sticking little minutes work and an answer would double my current offer to $250.00.
I'm betting this closes around $175.00 or less without me. (just under $125.00 right now)
We'll see Sunday night.
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shrty411
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posted on October 19, 2001 01:51:51 PM
I always answer asap. I check my email at 4am before I go to my day job just in case someone has asked overnight (usually that's when I get them)
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GreetingsfromUK
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posted on October 19, 2001 03:35:46 PM
I love my customers. I always reply to questions. There is a lot in Germany that I will win for US$ cash, and they replied to my question. An interested US buyer has asked questions about my current auctions and I have replied. This is not my trading name
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mballai
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posted on October 19, 2001 03:45:04 PM
You are clearly dealing with an amateur. It takes about five minutes once a day to check one's email and answer a couple of questions. A real no-brainer. Some sellers apparently have even less above their neck line.
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soldat2
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posted on October 19, 2001 03:56:06 PM
Well, a few of you were correct.
The seller emailed me just now and said they never got the "ask seller" email through ebay!
Nice job ebay.
Anyway, the question was answered very politely and we're on our way to raise the bid!
My bad, thinking that the 'system' works.
I shoulda known better.
ebay.........
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Capriole
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posted on October 19, 2001 04:13:21 PM
I think the "ask seller a question" is pretty fast. I used to hate it, but it's been very good to me, as seller and bidder.
I think you are being handed a line, to be honest.
Finally I never bid until I have my hot little hands on all the answers to my questions. Saves you $ and a world of hurt.
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fishbowl
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posted on October 19, 2001 09:20:58 PM
The seller may have emailed you but perhaps it didn't go through.
I use a Yahoo email address for ebay. I had no idea that more than half my emails didn't get to my winning bidders! Three days after auctions ended I suspected that something was wrong since over half of my winning bidders didn't respond.
So maybe his response to you had a failure that he didn't realize.
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Capriole
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posted on October 19, 2001 09:54:51 PM
I answer because no matter how obvious the question, no matter how clear the description, someone may miss it.
Heaven knows I've missed obvious stuff.
I have a mention on my about me page that if you can't reach me, try the "contact seller" feature. I also say that I will respond to emails. That way they know to try back up contacts.
I have been ignored by sellers, but I just don't bid.
Though, funny, I was talking to a receptionist at a business I was hoping to do some work for, and she had her ebay window opened, trying to win an auction.
She asked me, "do you think the seller will be able to answer me before the end of the auction?"
I asked her how many days until it ended? She said there were 4 minutes left.
I assured her she probably wouldn't hear from the seller.
She won the auction...I don't know what her question was, but she had a worried look.
 
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soldat2
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posted on October 21, 2001 04:26:12 PM
Just a little update on my bidding....
....as you know I was concerned when a seller didn't respond to a question asked through ebays "Ask Seller" deal.
Come to find out, they never got it!
Once I re-emailed without ebay I got responses! (very polite and friendly)
Anyway, I upped my bid on the items and won!
(for about $75.00 less than I had planned)
The moral???
Heck, I dunno.
Maybe "If you don't get response at first, try and try again!"
The MAIL may go through but EMAIL doesn't always!
Off to drain my PayPal account!
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Nanasturtles
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posted on October 21, 2001 05:58:17 PM
I sell on ebay and check my mail regularly so I can answer questions promptly.....don't want to miss out on a prospective bidder. You might keep this in mind though in the future. If you ever send an email and you want to be assured that the email has been delivered and read by the person you are sending it to, try going to BlueMountain.com which is a free email card sending service on the net. Send them a nice card with your message posted inside the card. There is a place on this site when you are creating your emailed card that you can check a box to see if the person you sent it to has opened and read your message. This tip was posted on auctionwatch a couple weeks ago and I have used it many time when trying to reach auction winners that at times, have been unresponsive for whatever reason. Works great and you send a nice card at the same time......At least you don't sit around and wonder if they are reading or recieving your emails on the other end.
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