cramer
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:01:52 AM new
Hi, just wondering how many of you answer questions about your auctions and never hear back from the potential customers? I answer very quickly, but it seems I never see those buyers, buy. I sell shoes and such, so questions aren't hard to answer. Some want a measurement, others have questions that are clearly stated in auction, but I figure, that's part of business. Also, hardly ever does a potential buyer, say thanks for answering. I know, I know........but it is common courtesy. Just wondering about my time management.....
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AuctionAce
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:12:29 AM new
I almost always answer back quickly and politely and get only about 10% answering back or bidding as a result of the question. It's frustrating but much beter than ignoring the questions.
I can forsee an attempt by ebay to channel these questions and answers through them to forestall some of the possible outside-of-ebay transactions that surely must be going on. It would add a slight element of risk to conducting side transactions through the Q&A option and ebay would have to eliminate any email addresses in auction descriptions to really get a handle on the side transactions.
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"Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error."
- Andrew Jackson
[ edited by AuctionAce on Jul 22, 2003 11:02 AM ]
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seyms
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:19:29 AM new
Hello-Selling cameras I've found that apx. 10% of the buyers that I've answered questions ever bid. I still answer nearly all questions but I can't imagine why.
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cramer
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:21:39 AM new
That's exactly it....why?
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lindajean
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:24:39 AM new
Had someone ask if I would relist a postcard they missed out on. Relisted it on 3 day auction just for them. No bids!
But, most of the people asking specific questions about my postcards do follow through with a bid if the answer was what they were looking for.
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pointy
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:27:32 AM new
10%...that sounds about right. Overall. For those that ask reasonable questions. Id say that the more reasonable, knowledgable, and specific the question, the higher percentage of eventual bidders.
.
.
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If you separate out those that ask "what's the reserve", the percentage of these vultures who bid now drops well below 1%.....more like 0%.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on July 22, 2003 11:48:58 AM new
I've been doing the same kinds of auctions for years. Now I include all the information in the auction any reasonable person could ever think to ask.
We still get the occasional whackjob but pretty much the only kinds of questions I get currently are "How much is shipping to my zip code?" which is clearly stated in the auction, and "I want to buy several dozen of these (items that start at 1 cent)...what kind of price break will you give me?"
The first question I ignore, and the second question I reply with "None". It never ceases to amaze me how many people think I'm going to wholesale goods to them for pennies (so they can compete with me on eBay!) when it took hours of research to line up the source.
So, answering questions from bidders takes almost no time at all now.
Some of my all-time favorite bidder questions:
In reference to a ladies 28 inch belt: "How long is that in millimeters?" (Not centimeters, mind you.)
"Will that match my bridal shoes?" (Miss Cleo just stepped out but I'll have her get back to you.)
"Does that sterling silver bracelet have any nickel in it?" (Hold on a moment, I'll dig out my acid kit and do a destructive test on it for you. Oh, wait...)
I am not a bathtub full of brightly-colored machine tools on Vendio.
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max40
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posted on July 22, 2003 12:27:18 PM new
The problem is, if you ignore the questions, you're an a*&@%le power seller. We all know how bad "they" are.
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
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neglus
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posted on July 22, 2003 12:35:19 PM new
Most of my questions from potential buyers are asking for scans of the back of the postcards...I used to scan both front and back on all cards but this got to be too time consuming so I am happy to oblige the few that want them. I take that opportunity to first post the scan to the auction ( thinking that if one is interested in a scan it may help others too) and then email a link or a scan to the person asking for it.
If someone emails a question I often will revise the auction to include the answer to the question. Not only is it polite to answer questions but I think it is a good business practice. Of course I am not talking about the questions that are already answered in the listing - I more or less ignore those or answer when I get around to it.
Linda - I used to have people fail to follow through after requesting a relist. Now, when someone tells me that they missed my auction and would like to buy a card, i relist it with a "buy it now" (at a slightly reduced price) and then email them a link to the auction. Since I started emailing the link, everyone has followed through with purchasing the postcard ( or at least SOMEONE has purchased it)- the "buy'it-now" adds an element of urgency to the follow through I guess 
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AuctionAce
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posted on July 22, 2003 01:10:31 PM new
That's the beauty of fixed prices and BINs. It adds the element of urgency and a snipe won't work if someone buys it first.
Here's a recent article about ebay and fixed prices
http://www.alwayson-network.com/comments.php?id=626_0_4_0_C
in Q1, nearly 26% of our sales were settled in a fixed price format, called Buy it Now.
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"Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error."
- Andrew Jackson
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cramer
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posted on July 22, 2003 04:54:52 PM new
Thanks for your opinions...I knew that I should just keep it up, I just wondered if others had the same issues. Thanks!
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cramer
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posted on July 22, 2003 04:56:26 PM new
Fluffy....you could start another thread with stupiest questions, it sounds like.....how funny....
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stonecold613
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posted on July 22, 2003 05:40:38 PM new
I always answer questions as well. For me, I would say that it is nearly 50% will make a bid. Not sure why all the others seem to be at about 10%. Only thing I can think of is their auctions do not have enough detail and once a bidder finds out the hidden truth, it is scaring them from the auctions. Or it might be in the replies or the time frame in which the reply is responded to. Or it could be the item being sold. Even at 10% though, by responding to the questions, you at least get those bids. If you don't respond, you can figure upon a non-sale.
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Libra63
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posted on July 22, 2003 05:51:57 PM new
I answer all questions but I never check to see if they bid. In my TOS I say. Any questions please email me before bidding. I would rather have someone ask me a question. I don't want them to bid on the item and maybe evidentially win then return the item because it wasn't what they thought.
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AuctionAce
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posted on July 22, 2003 07:21:51 PM new
Always with the rosy outlook that StoneCold. The 10%ers must be jerks? You're the jerk.
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"Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error."
- Andrew Jackson
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neroter12
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posted on July 22, 2003 07:48:49 PM new
Cramer,
If you feel it is poor time management to answer to the emails then don't. If I get some really stupid questions and I dont feel its worth my time answering it, I don't. Just to throw in my 2 cents worth, the key word is "Potential Buyer", so to me its the measurment of time verses potential. Sometimes you can judge by the item, or the tone of the email (and sometimes I think its people just jerking around, too.) I once had a dress and this lady emailed wanted to know the back dimensions, across the shoulders, etc., etc. and I thought to myself, "its a size 12", it's a very low price -- I'm not doing all that. Take your chances, lady."
She didn't bid, but somebody else did so in that case I was right not to 'waste my time.'
(I got other things to do; like read these posts, you know?! lol)
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mcjane
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posted on July 22, 2003 07:52:07 PM new
Some answers to fluffy's whackjobs.
reference to a ladies 28 inch belt: "How long is that in millimeters?" (Not centimeters, mind you.)
It is the same length in inches, millimeters and centimeters.
"Will that match my bridal shoes?" (Miss Cleo just stepped out but I'll have her get back to you.)
Probably not, unless your shoes are made of metal.
"Does that sterling silver bracelet have any nickel in it?" (Hold on a moment, I'll dig out my acid kit and do a destructive test on it for you. Oh, wait...)
No, it does not have any nickle in it, nickles do not contain silver.
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stonecold613
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posted on July 22, 2003 09:23:14 PM new
Oh bids,
Blah Blah Blah.
You are so original. No wonder you have so much time to waste in these message boards. Never selling anything so you need to take up your time here. I guess when I am busy selling my $25.00 items, you are here spewing because you cannot give away your 25 cent crap items.
Blah Blah Blah.
Maybe you and hap could combine your efferts and list a 50 cent item.
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neroter12
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:40:18 PM new
Some of this Blah Blah Blah is very informative and helpful if I blah, blah, blah,dont mind saying so myself.
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sparkz
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posted on July 22, 2003 10:45:51 PM new
I answer every question asked of me. I sell collectables and pottery mostly, along with some electronics. Most of the questions I get are of a technical or specific nature and appear to be legitimate. I have about a 50% success rate in getting bids from those who ask questions. Also, it's a golden opportunity to go deeper than the description and put the auction on a more personal basis. I look at most of these questions as a sales opportunity if handled correctly.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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Japerton
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posted on July 22, 2003 11:41:19 PM new
My humble experience is that the folks who ask generally are not the folks who bid. It's like those two overlapping circles you did in first grade math.
Sets and subsets.
Sure, some do bid, but I can't figure out what it is. Maybe they are so excited by the opening bid that they think they will get it at that price, but it's so low that they have to be sure that it's the real deal.
One seller did acid test an art nouveau necklace for me. I won, it is such a groovy necklace.
J
All the monkeys aren't in the zoo
Every day you meet quite a few
So you see it's all up to you.
You can be better than you are
You could be swingin' on a star
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Damariscotta
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posted on July 23, 2003 06:17:52 AM new
Most sellers only offer return "if not as represented" and bidders are expected to judge an item without seeing it first hand.
After seeing descriptions with such gems as "not bad for its age", "I don't think there are repairs", "sure it is silver/gold but not marked and I haven't had it tested" you can understand why potential bidders are concerned. And when you get to the vagaries of clothing sizes - I have lots of stuff with different sizes (per label) that fit identically and vice versa.
I would just assume that whatever the person asked was important to them, and if they didn't bid it was probably because of the answer. And you don't always know if they bid or not. They may (as I used to do) have an account they used for emails that was different from their ebay account.
As for thank you replies, I usually do not send unless it was something out of the ordinary I was asking; if it was for dimensions or other info that should have been in description to begin with I wouldn't usually bother. That's just me.
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AuctionAce
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posted on July 23, 2003 06:33:56 AM new
In a live auction EVERYTHING is about risk and gamble and no money back guarentees. Most things on ebay are the same way, you read the description, you look at the photo(s), you look at the seller's feedback and you roll the dice. If the description is skimpy it may be skimpy for a reason. I think more and more bidders are getting burned on auction goods and are shying away from the gamble of ebay bidding. The diehard collectors may have to gamble on that thing they need to fill out their collection but most others do not.
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"Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error."
- Andrew Jackson
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horsey88
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posted on July 23, 2003 08:08:15 AM new
"The problem is, if you ignore the questions, you're an a*&@%le power seller. We all know how bad "they" are"
Not at all. If my description says "New with 30 day warranty" and someone asks me "Is this item used and does it comes with a warranty" ? I see no reason to reply.
Reason: If the person can't read basic english how can I expect this rocket scientist to use/install my complicated product.
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neroter12
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posted on July 23, 2003 08:21:41 AM new
I dont mind answering questions. It's almost a welcome diversion to researching or whatever else I am doing at the time. But have found too most who ask the questions do not wind up bidding.
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lurkyloo
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posted on July 23, 2003 10:44:59 AM new
One reason I ask questions is because even sellers who are very descriptive don't always know the product as well as I do. I'm currently looking for a widget made out of a certain non-standard material, and most sellers haven't seent one made out of it--so they don't know that it should be included in the auction. I'll bet that a lot of non-dumb questions asked of a seller are from people who have very strict requirements, and therefore they are not likely to bid unless it's exactly what they want.
Not lurkyloo on eBay
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cramer
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posted on July 23, 2003 12:47:42 PM new
Yes, Lurky...I understand, but my comment is that we sell shoes. We describe them VERY well and add all the info anyone could possibly want. (Except the measurements of width that are occasionally asked). We add shipping info in also, no "wait until the auction ends", garbage. If you read our auctions they are VERY descriptive. I understand asking about collectibles or an odd widget wanted, but this is straight forward. Most people wear shoes....LOL...and know what fits them etc. Our shoes are very popular and you would not look for them unless you know something about them. Anyways, my question was one of time management. We ALWAYS answer questions and will continue, just was curious as to what others do.
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lurkyloo
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posted on July 23, 2003 01:36:05 PM new
cramer
I can certainly see the frustration with idiot bidders who can't take the time to read the description or your TOS. Perhaps if someone asks a question that's already in your auction, you could simply start out with "Thank you for your inquiry. Here is the information you requested." Then just do a cut-and-paste of the relevant paragraph from the auction (unless the question is so no-brainer stupid that you don't even want the person as a bidder!!).
Not lurkyloo on eBay
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stanleymu
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posted on July 23, 2003 03:14:36 PM new
mcjane,
a note to your post:
It is the same length in inches, millimeters and centimeters.
just to let you know 28 inches is 71 cm or 710 mm so it's not the same,
it is normal Europe to post the heel height in mm and not cm but I dont see why on a belt...
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labelle
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posted on July 23, 2003 03:20:27 PM new
I also answer all questions promptly. I have learned that straightforward-short to the point answers---tough for me to do ---work best. About 35% buy.
Work retail in person --I spent years doing antique shows --and know the meaning of dumb questions. Better yet--listen to comments."We threw better than that over the hill.." is my favorite. You can't always hold your tongue--and I confess I would occasionally politly tell them--"I know--that's where I got most of my stuff for free." Sometimes you have to wonder about lookers who don't realize their remarks are not too bright.
If someone tells me they missed an auction and want to buy the item. I explain that I relisted --3 days BIN for their convenience. In the email I give them the new auction link. I have had 95% of these items bought within a few hours.
Retail on feeebay is the same as in person retail --just about anyone can walk through the door and buy----or not. They all get a smile and usually anyway --courtesy.
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