to think this isn't a great way to communicate?

[CrazyPlateLady]

I'm currently selling stuff on ebay and have had a couple of non paying bidders. I am now having problems with another buyer who says he is having a problem with his bank and still hasn't paid me for his item.

Yesterday I get this message about one of my items for sale.

"U got a buy it now"

FFS, they could have at least typed a proper sentence.

AIBU for being put off by this potential buyer?

[Frazzledmumwithsmudgedmascara]

I wouldn't take it to heart; there are all kinds of weird and wonderful people on Ebay.....

[Vallhala]

YANBU. This kind of message infuriates me too.
In my experience (major generalisation alert here), men tend to be less polite and more brusque than women when communicating on ebay.

A few times I have just ignored those who cannot say please or thank you, or who can't put a single sentence together, just as I do on Freecycle.

[Niceguy2]

No its not a great way to communicate but this is business. Either say yes or no and move on.

That said, I usually find those who e-mail you directly are pure chancers, hoping you are either desperate to get rid of the item or don't know its true value. So say you have an item worth £100, they'll offer you £50 and make out they are doing you a favour.

I usually just ignore them.

[dockate]

I sell stuff on ebay a lot; certainly opens your eyes to all sorts! I've had some really rude buyers, and some very slow to pay, but if you make it clear, in a friendly way in your listings, then you just follow procedure. I require everyone to pay in 3 days from auction close. If not I file a non-paying bidder thingy; that usually very quickly makes people pay. Otherwise I offer the item to the second highest bidder (second-chance offer) so save the hassle and delay of relisting if possible.

But YABU for being put off the buyer you mention; its clear enough what they're asking. (Oh and I never offer buy-it-nows for something I already have as an auction - I think it's a bit dodgy, TBH).

[CrazyPlateLady]

Is it a bit dodgy? I wasn't sure myself really. Can't see why they can't wait a few days for the auction to finish so it does make me a bit about it.

The one that I thought was fine was a bridesmaid/prom dress I had on there that a buyer wanted for the end of the week. I changed that to buy it now for them and sent it straight in the post (after they had paid). Never got any feedback though which I thought was really rude.

Someone did contact me asking if I would change a bundle of vests to buy it now for her and I wouldn't as I had about 4 people watching the item. Turns out none of the other people bid anyway, but they could have done.

Really not enjoying ebay at the moment. Had to post 7 DVD boxsets for £1 as thats all the p & p that ebay allow you to charge for DVDs because buyers have said that is a fair price to pay, regardless whether it is 1 DVD or a boxset.

[dockate]

It's just that if you already have bids its unfair on the other bidders to do a buy-it-now. If not, you're free to, but IMO, you never really know what is a reasonable price, and I end up feeling bad either way (did I charge too much, did I short-change myself...?).

I go through phases with ebay; I tend to get a bit obsessive over whether people have paid, and have to relax and let them take their 3 days. But what I've found is that if you post the best description you can, absolutely honest about any imperfections etc, and with a decent pic, then you usually get really good prices. So right now (selling DS's outgrown toys) I'm doing pretty well, but I'll be fed up within a few weeks and won't sell again for months.

[CrazyPlateLady]

Oh I wouldn't change it if there were other bidders on. That would be really rude.

I am still waiting a week later for this bank problem. I waited over a week for the other non payers before opening a dispute. I think I am waiting too long but I didn't specify a time frame for paying on my auctions. I will in future.

Its a bloody pain though as one of my non payers had nearly £70 worth of DVD boxsets that she never paid for. By the time I got to offer them as second chance offers, the other people had already bought another one and now I have relisted them, no one is interested but the first time there were loads of people outbidding each other. Grrrrr.

[Myleetlepony]

If someone contacts me offering a Buy It Now on an auction, I politely point out that there isn't a Buy It Now option, it is an auction and it will run to the end.
For boxed sets, just put a higher starting price on them.