Quick vent..

1951WheatiesPremium

If you have an eBay store and someone makes an offer at 96% of your listed price with a note that has some questions, you should respond to that person as they're probably interested in said card.

On any card, really, but especially on high dollar cards. It's just good business even if it doesn't result in a sale (which in this case it certainly would).

Brick

Perhaps the questions scare some sellers. Perhaps he has not responded until he can do a background check since it is a high dollar item.

BigChilla

I think most sellers HATE when buyers offer...with questions as their conditions. The preferred way to handle this as a buyer is to send a message to the seller first with your questions, then make an offer based on their response. That way both buyer and seller are sure of what is happening in this situation, otherwise a seller could accept your offer then answer your questions in a way you deem unfit, and you would choose not to pay. A pain for both buyer and seller.

detroitfan2

I completely understand where you are coming from. I've had the opposite happen recently as a seller on a $30 card graded SGC 84/7. The buyer sends me a note saying "I know it's graded, but how are the corners?". I inspect the card, give him my opinion that the #1 reason the card did not grade higher was because of the centering, and send him the original scans of front and back that he can magnify to be seen from the moon if he has even basic windows software. Never heard back, and part of me was glad because I figured this guy was never going to be happy if he didn't trust the grade on the card along with the auction scans.

1951WheatiesPremium

My actual message:

Good evening,

It's payday for me and I have been wanting to pick up one of a few different cards on eBay. This card is first on my list so I'm willing to offer everything I've got set aside for this one and forego the others. If you'd be willing to take $xxx, you can send me an invoice and I will settle up as quick as possible. Can you work with me a little? I would really appreciate it as I have wanted this card forever. If not, just let me know as I'll grab more than just one card I've had my eye on instead. I will wait until I hear back. Please let me know as soon as you can - if my wife finds this stash, it's curtains (probably literally) for me!

Thanks very much for your time, either way,

1951WheatiesPremium

@Brick said:
Perhaps the questions scare some sellers. Perhaps he has not responded until he can do a background check since it is a high dollar item.

Fair, I guess, but I've got enough transactions to be deemed normal and 100% positive feedback with the vast majority of it glowing since I have a tendancy to deal with 'real people' as opposed to businesses (if that makes sense). I'm not asking about returns or condition or anything like that. I always like to have a little human interaction - even online - when I make a purchase (or a rare sale).

FirstBeard

I think your message is very "human" and relatable, and definitely warrants the courtesy of a response.

KbKards

You said it was sent through Ebay and you included "send me an invoice" in your message. This is the sort of phrase that can be picked up by Ebay's filters and warnings given about entering into off-ebay transactions. I'm assuming the listing had no make offer button or you would have submitted your 96% offer for the seller to decline or accept. Maybe he's worried about your wife finding out later and making you to return it so she can buy those curtains.

1951WheatiesPremium

@KbKards said:
You said it was sent through Ebay and you included "send me an invoice" in your message. This is the sort of phrase that can be picked up by Ebay's filters and warnings given about entering into off-ebay transactions. I'm assuming the listing had no make offer button or you would have submitted your 96% offer for the seller to decline or accept. Maybe he's worried about your wife finding out later and making you to return it so she can buy those curtains.

Correct - no best offer available, hence the message. I'm going to move on as of tomorrow

LarkinCollector

Not saying this is the case, but the eBay app for Android has been flaky lately. I didn't get a notification that a BO had been submitted this past Sunday and missed out on a sale since the item ended before I checked emails/notifications on Monday. I haven't been notified of new Messages a couple times in the past few weeks also.

Cakes

@FirstBeard said:
I think your message is very "human" and relatable, and definitely warrants the courtesy of a response.

In the old days it was important to open and close relationships but now days people just walk away without saying a word. IE: If you had been seeing a Doctor for 10 years but then for whatever reason you wanted a change you should have the courtesy to tell that Doctor you are moving on.

mtcards

I dont mind answering legit questions about the card. Things like, how are the corners, etc. My issue is when it comes down to the, "will it grade a 9 or 10" type of questions. You are being set up for a return. I had one guy send me a message with "I only want this card if it will grade a 10, so if I buy it and it doesnt I will be returning it to you" - basically he begged for me blocking him and he got his wish.

The other thing that is irritating to me is when someone sends an offer and instead of just sending the amount, they feel like they have to give me a 2 year pricing history of the card in order to support their offer. If their offer is good, I will take it without the filibuster. I notice that this tends to happen on quickly escalating cards value wise, as a "this card has averaged $40 over the past month" sounds good when making an offer of $40,, except when the last 10 have sold for $50+

countdouglas

@LarkinCollector said:
Not saying this is the case, but the eBay app for Android has been flaky lately. I didn't get a notification that a BO had been submitted this past Sunday and missed out on a sale since the item ended before I checked emails/notifications on Monday. I haven't been notified of new Messages a couple times in the past few weeks also.

I can confirm that the app is wonky right now, and has been for about 3 weeks. My email messages for submitted bids, outbids, items won, items sold but I wasn't the winner, items shipped, items delivered, all have been delivered to my inbox at completely random times, including about half going to junk mail. I've won items and already had them shipped, delivered in hand, and already forgotten about, when I've received a new email from eBay congratulating me on winning the item and requesting that I please pay. So it's completely possible that the seller has yet to even receive your message.

miwlvrn

@mtcards said:

The other thing that is irritating to me is when someone sends an offer and instead of just sending the amount, they feel like they have to give me a 2 year pricing history of the card in order to support their offer. If their offer is good, I will take it without the filibuster. I notice that this tends to happen on quickly escalating cards value wise, as a "this card has averaged $40 over the past month" sounds good when making an offer of $40,, except when the last 10 have sold for $50+

Along similar lines, I also don't have a lot of empathy for when a "buyer" writes saying something like "Hey, I am interested in your PSA 8 of this card, but these other PSA 7's look just as nice if not better, so how about you sell me your 8 for the same price as the 7's since it is over-graded?" I've had that pitch more than a couple times on various cards, and I reply with the suggestion that if they like the lower grade ones that they think should be higher than mine, then buy both the lower ones, sub them on review, then sell one and keep one when they get them back and that way they got theirs for free. No idea if anyone has tried that, but the people who write with that story in the first place aren't inclined to be return customers for you.