Sellers - is there much point in blocking someone?

B0bbyEwing

Discovered this week that a seller has blocked me.

I needed an item & this seller is selling cheaper than others so I go to buy.

"this seller is not accepting bids from you"

Or wording to that effect.

And then I remembered - I'd bought from this seller previously except the item didn't turn up. I can't remember why I had to go the ebay claim route. Maybe they refused to refund me. Maybe they claimed it had turned up. I honestly can't remember. But I went through the claims & got my refund.

Which will be why they blocked me.

So I got the wife to place the order instead.

So that little block thing did absolutely nothing in the end.

So do you even bother blocking people when it's so simple to work around it?

Jemma01

This is like asking "why do telecom companies block spammers when they can just get another number".

goodfella66

I always block buyers where items go "missing". If an address has a problem with items being delivered to it, I'm not going to risk sending to it again.

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958226#Comment_81958226

Except I don't live on an island (don't want any comedians talking about the UK being one). I suspect it just got lost in the RM postal system.

They could've been like other sellers & been like - no problem, we'll sort it for this low cost item, but they didn't.

Anyway, it's just another hurdle to jump. A low hurdle at that.

soolin

Technically if the seller happened to notice the address was the same as a blocked user they could complain to eBay as it is a breach of their rules to try and get round a block. Realistically that is never going to happen.

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958374#Comment_81958374

Interesting one that.

Let's assume they did that (& they might, I don't know), would it need to be proved that that's what's been done for me to get some 'against the rules penalty'?

Rather than my wife buying it herself without my knowledge & picking the cheapest seller?

Obviously I've admitted here that I've worked around it, I'm just asking hypothetically now.

vacheron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958374#Comment_81958374

I wouldn't consider that a breach, as it is the "bidder" that is blocked, not the address.

As the OP asked their wife to purchase the item, she is the bidder, and also the one legally liable for the transaction, so I can't see how that could be upheld as a breach (unlikely as it would be anyway as you say).

RFW

Back when I sold more on Ebay I used to block people every so often. Mostly non payers and the occasional irritant. When I switched to selling more on Amazon they don't have that option and it doesn't really make much difference. I've sold on and off on Ebay again for a few years now and haven't bothered with blocked buyers, it's not something I've ever thought about.
I sell on several other marketplaces and haven't seen it as an option anywhere but Ebay. I'm surprised they haven't done away with it.

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958895#Comment_81958895

As you mention you sell in numerous marketplaces.

Where do you sell, where do you prefer & why?

I suppose the answer to that may depend on what you sell too perhaps. Maybe some stuff will be better suited to one platform than another.

I generally sell on FB Marketplace or eBay. I haven't listed anything on eBay for a few years now which is why I'm out of touch with the system.

I've sold previously on Gumtree but not much. The audience just isn't there for me.

My wife has done Vinted but not me. From what I've seen of Vinted it suits people like my wife - people who just want stuff gone & will practically give it away. Not really a place to get a decent return on whatever you're selling. Again, that's my view of it.

I go the FB route generally for the simple reason of if I sell for £20 I get £20. I don't have some company taking cash out of my pocket. Downside is there appears to be considerably more idiots you have to wade through to make a sale.

Is this available?

Yes

Never to be heard of again.

Or the other end of the scale where they go as far as getting your address & say they'll be there in 2 hours only to never hear from them again.

Had someone who was from a few streets down. 10mins walk. I'll be there soon only to turn in to - I'm a bit busy to make it, I'll get there tomorrow if I can.

They never did.

I've had way less idiots on eBay but then there's the fees.

RFW

@B0bbyEwing I'm a business seller, so it doesn't sound like you'd be able to sell on most of them. At various times I sell on Not On The High Street, Etsy, Temu, Ebay, Wayfair, B&Q, Faire and Amazon. I've just had to pivot from my main business which was previously about 99% on Amazon. If you could sell on them you wouldn't like the fees or their payment rate. Seller fees can be as high as 35% and payment in 60 days.

rollingmoon

Like everything to do with eBay, it's better than nothing… I block all buyers where an item goes 'missing' (along with lowballers, people too lazy to read the listing etc.) and not everyone has another eBay account holder in the house to place bids for them. Maybe it doesn't work so well for business sellers, but as a private seller - with only one of any item - it works fine.

What I find really effective is blocking everyone with two non-payment strikes. The number of timewasters that weeds out is quite impresssive.