How to get a straightforward answer from Ebay.

cattie

Most ebayers know that getting a straightforward answer from ebay customer support tends to be like banging your head against a brick wall :wall:, but I came across the following post whilst searching for something else. http://www.musanim.com/eBayBiddingProblem/

I know it was posted some years ago, but reading it had me in fits & the feelings of frustration the poor guy was enduring really come across & I thought I'd share it here to show that if you have infinite patience & time & real dogged determination, it really is possible to get an answer from ebay that actually answers your query. What a real hero.:T

forgotmyname

The seller probably blocked them but didnt want to admit it.

Ebay wont be able to tell them if thats the case or why. The bit about a bug maybe just to get rid of them.

Although they are a nightmare to speak to. Years back ebay used to keep you logged in until you physically logged out. Then it started logging me out randomly. I spoke to them several times and they blamed everything except themselves. Then after a while it rolled out to everyone, logged you out every 24 hours.

soolin

I also suspect that even the final ebay explanation was wrong. I agree with forgotmyname , the seller blocked the buyer once they started asking detailed questions about the exact state of the item and then blamed ebay. I've done it myself, a buyer being that precise about the condition of an item just screams 'problem' and easier to block and blame ebay than deal with them.

Contains_Mild_Peril

I'm more inclined to believe eBay's eventual explanation. They're always tinkering with the software, and bugs and glitches aren't rare. Of the two main possibilities - eBay's incompetence or the seller's dishonesty - I think the former a more plausible explanation. If a seller blocked a buyer, surely they'd be more likely to ignore further communication from them than to lie? And then why would the failed bid message blame a Paypal issue? I don't think I've ever had a bid refused by a seller or a technical problem, and don't know if there's a standard message. I do know that trying to get eBay reps to read and understand what you're trying to tell them can be like pulling teeth.

mrcol1000

I must admit I have blocked a potential buyer based on a question they have asked. Either the question or a quick browse of their feedback left for other sellers made me not want to deal with them. I then blame Ebay when they ask why they can not bid.

Reading what his has written, I am not sure I'd want to deal with him either. It sounds like there would be a lot of hassle with him for a 99p sale. I personally think the seller claimed they hadn't blocked him when they had and then Ebay made up a bug just to satisfy him and get him to leave them alone.

theonlywayisup

Just as an aside, if you block a buyer, they get a message telling them they are blocked. I've had it lead to a buyer opening a new account purely to buy (he was subsequently refunded).

soolin

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Just as an aside, if you block a buyer, they get a message telling them they are blocked. I've had it lead to a buyer opening a new account purely to buy (he was subsequently refunded).

The last one I saw was a bit generic, something along the lines of 'you are currently unable to bid on this item' then it goes on about seller settings. So very much like the message the person referred to got.

theonlywayisup

My buyer sent me a screenshot

soolin

theonlywayisup wrote: »

My buyer sent me a screenshot

Oh goodness, I've never seen that one.

theonlywayisup

soolin wrote: »

Oh goodness, I've never seen that one.

Neither had I

hiccup123

theonlywayisup wrote: »

My buyer sent me a screenshot

oh heck, hmmmmmm thanks ebay