call from potential buyer made me nervous

drc

Soolin, how did they get your number? I thought ebay only provided it once an auction had ended, to the winner?

alfiesmum

A business seller has it displayed on auction listings under contact details.

soolin

drc wrote: »

Soolin, how did they get your number? I thought ebay only provided it once an auction had ended, to the winner?

As per alfiesmum I am a business seller.

mikey72

terra_ferma wrote: »

could you perhaps use a mobile phone that you keep switched on at convenient times, so that you don't get hassle? With a male voice on the voicemail if it makes you feel safer?
I never get phone calls, I'm jelous (but it could be because I use a work mobile phone that... erm... I forget to switch on most days.... but I reply emails within a few hours)

As a rule of thumb, if an internet business doesn't answer the phone after two calls, (not two rings) I'll move on. The last thing I want to do is buy from a company that doesn't exist, or can't be contacted later, or only accepts emails. Ebay companies are no different to me. It's either a real company, or a private seller.

soolin

mikey72 wrote: »

As a rule of thumb, if an internet business doesn't answer the phone after two calls, (not two rings) I'll move on. The last thing I want to do is buy from a company that doesn't exist, or can't be contacted later, or only accepts emails. Ebay companies are no different to me. It's either a real company, or a private seller.

I am a sole trader so technically whilst I am a business I don't really feel like a real business as I sit here in my home office with a glass of wine and my favourite CDs on surrounded by stock. I am just me, no staff, no office premises and a mobile I keep on all the time as I have children and an elderly parent to worry about although on many occasions it is on silent and i cnanot take a call if i get one. I also have other private consultancy work and sometimes do long contracts away from home, and never answer my phone then as it would not look professional at all.

adindas

I fully agree with the previous postings. You are too nice. Just remember that you are in control of information you provide it is not him. If you believe you have supplied enough information than you do not need to add it. Ask him to take it or leave it.

Also I do not understand why they are able to call you as you do not need to supply your phone number??

soolin wrote: »

goodness

I just had a call from a potential buyer about an item i have for sale. This is a piece i know nothing about and am selling it for spares or repairs with a number of photos and lots of descriptions.

Potential buyer (PB) asked lots of questions, none of which I could answer except to state that it was as per the photos, asked me if I could take it apart and photograph all the pieces and supply measurements, so I said no as this was very old and I fear that a novice like me attempting to take a piece of old machinery apart was a receipe for disaster.

He then asked was there a man in the house who could do it for me, so again I said that I was the dealer, not my partner or sons and I was not prepared to dismantle the item. He then suggested I could find a male relative or someone who could take it apart, but again I said no. He then spent a considerable amount of time telling me in great detail who needed to be forced apart and what would have 'hammer screws?' etc and what I should look for. As soon as I refused he just started at the beginning all over again.

I actually feel a bit funny about the call.

soolin

adindas wrote: »

I fully agree with the previous postings. You are too nice. Just remember that you are in control of information you provide it is not him. If you believe you have supplied enough information than you do not need to add it. Ask him to take it or leave it.

Also I do not understand why they are able to call you as you do not need to supply your phone number??

I am required to have a phone number available as I am a business and even if it doesn't always show on the main listing I don't hide it as I often get some private sales that way.

adindas

Understand.
But do not let them to bully or intimidate you. You are on eBay to make money and not to be intimidated ...

soolin wrote: »

I am required to have a phone number available as I am a business and even if it doesn't always show on the main listing I don't hide it as I often get some private sales that way.

mikey72

Possibly that's why ebay is tending to either want large business sellers, or private sellers.
Large sellers you can go back to if you need to. Private sellers sell off single items and you don't really expect anything beyond that. The middle ground may not be seen as wise to buy from.