posted on October 18, 2005 10:51:44 AM
I have been getting the dumbest Ask Seller Question emails. Is it a cuff bracelet? Well, duh, not only does it state that in the description, you can see it in the photo. That's just one of the many dumb questions I waste my time answering. So, why, oh why, do I bother to even write a description?
posted on October 18, 2005 01:34:13 PM
sounds more like a phishing attempt, esp. since you state it's a cuff bracelet and there's a picture of a cuff bracelet in the auction. eBay doesn't have it set as the default (unfortunately!) in answering those "ask a seller a question" menus, but i always check off the box below the question to hide my e'mail address from these "buyers."
posted on October 18, 2005 02:40:40 PM
I know exactly how you feel. In most of my auctions I state the shipping charges anywhere in the USA. None the less I frequebtly get questions from buyers asking for the shipping chatges. Which proves they can't or won't read the TOS.
posted on October 18, 2005 06:06:33 PM
Reply via ebay's email system "please read auction description". (as vintagepostcardsdotorg
states, it could be a phishing attemp for your email, name, etc)
posted on October 18, 2005 07:58:57 PM
Holy COW! I was just talking to my friend about this. I get these all of the time. I put "AUTHENTIC PRADA SHIRT" in one of my auction titles and I swear, a guy emailed me, "Is this authentic Prada?" I could have STRANGLED him!! Another classic is, "What color is this blue shirt?" I kid you NOT! I am thinking about devoting a whole section of my "ME" page to highlights of this subject. I got one today for my Hugo Boss suit listed. "Is this really a Hugo Boss suit?" I would have slit my wrists........I replied, "What did you expect? A BURBERRY Label?" Morons one and all.
posted on October 19, 2005 04:19:47 AM
It happens to me all the time. I write in the description, and sometimes the title, that it's an authentic Prada or whatever bag, and usually remember to put in "This bag is guaranteed to be authentic; we do not sell fakes or knock-offs." If the bag has tags or original store receipt, I'll include a photo.
Then the emails start: "is this bag really authentic?"
I'm always tempted to reply: "No, it is not authentic. I lied to the 155 million people who have access to this auction, but since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you that I got the bag on Canal Street for $10; I'm a total fake myself."
But I don't. I answer sincerely, and you'd be surprised how often those people thank me, bid, and win the auction. I guess they just need to feel that there's really an honest person on the other end of the transaction, and that's their way of finding out.
posted on October 19, 2005 09:48:51 AM
I agree with you Claude. 100%. A polite courteous reply gives the potential buyer confidence and reassurace.
I also curb my instinct to be flip and rude to what I consider "dumb" questions. As a result I have a high number of buyers from ask seller a question feature. Estimated Avg of 70% sell through from the ask seller a question.
Also as a result, I don't have long complicated TOS stated in the description. People don't read. I try to make everything as easy as possible for the buyer.
I hope you don't think I was suggesting that you were rude to them. I just vented myself, in my posting. It is frustrating sometimes, but on my lucky days when I have a helper in the shop, I get to vent about some emails with them. It breaks up the day.
