Suggestion for improvement: eBay internal messages "read status"
Every now and then, people here would like to know whether the other person has read the messages sent.
Especially when you send the buyer additional information, e.g. regarding invoices and cancellation rights. In such cases, it is sometimes not very helpful if messages are only read after many months.
This also applies in cases where important feedback is sometimes needed.
14 comments
ttd4it
OP2 years agoI'll give you another example.
There are purchasers:
a.) who have it delivered to their home or have a drop-off option
b.) who have it delivered to a parcel locker or parcel shop.
c.) who have it delivered to their workplace.
C is problematic, though, because company ABC didn't place any order at all, so nothing is posted in the accounting records either. If I have an audit here, an auditor could look for the matching entry in company ABC, but won't find it there. Whether one can remember every detail at the time, though ... questionable.
There could also be a disadvantage for the purchaser if, for example, the manufacturer's warranty cannot be applied to commercial dealers or the tax office does not recognize it as work equipment.
ttd4it
OP2 years agoAs a small example ...
Just yesterday I had an order with a fake name and 1 rating point. In that case, for example, it would be good to know whether the other person has read the inquiry.
Otherwise, all you can really do here is cancel outright.
Although I also don’t think much of shopping here with fake names ... by that I don’t mean the eBay name.
bootyooty
·2 years agoIt really shouldn’t be possible to sign up here as Pippi Longstocking or Smurfette Meyer, 👎🏻 a sensible AI should be able to block that right away 🤔
ttd4it
OP2 years agoIn my example, it was the fictional name "Susi Sorglos," while the real name was of course different. The eBay name was then the third variation.
perfect-sally
·2 years agoI’ll ask again: what good does it do if the buyer can see the message but doesn’t open it or reply?
And it’s not for nothing that read receipts or confirmation of receipt are voluntary in email programs.
And even if this buyer had read the message and it were shown to you - what use is that?
And that’s exactly why the phone numbers of ALL buyers and sellers should be displayed, then it could be clarified quickly and painlessly (if the numbers are correct, that is) 😉
bootyooty
·2 years agoObjection.... I don't want that as a buyer.
If I want personal contact with a seller, then I decide that, not ebay over my head.
perfect-sally
·2 years agoUnfortunately, there are often enough situations where short-term contact with the buyer would be necessary. And in that case I have to agree with @ttd4it. If they then don’t respond, either the purchase is canceled, including a bad review possibly, or the defect because it can’t be shipped within the deadline.
ttd4it
OP2 years agoThen I could soon cancel a purchase with a clear conscience if I don’t get a response. I’m უბრალოდ too "old" for talking to myself.
The reason has already been provided by ebay ... "Problem with the seller's delivery address."
perfect-sally
·2 years agoSure, but we want to sell and make revenue. And that’s why every now and then we urgently need contact with the buyer or a reply.
And before I end up taking a blemish through no fault of my own, I just cancel the purchase and forgo the cash.
miriam@ebay
Hello @ttd4it and thanks for sharing this request with us. I have just passed on your suggestion.
The read receipt feature is already familiar from other messaging platforms, and it’s understandable that you would also find it helpful on eBay, especially for important messages like invoices or urgent replies.
Best regards
Miriam
bootyooty
·2 years agoHey, can that be reconciled with data protection?
I don't want to be told then, you... read the message on.... at....., why aren't you replying in time?
Nope, so I don't want to be put under pressure in the messaging system as well either. 😉
In some messenger services, you can turn off that read receipt too, thank goodness.
miriam@ebay
Good point, @bootyooty - I had also mentioned that it would be good if the read receipt could be optional or turned off 🙂.
Best regards
Miriam
ttd4it
OP2 years agoQuite simple. Some customers have left their phone number. So you could give the hint to check their inbox once in a while 😉
perfect-sally
·2 years agoAnd what would the read status do then if messages are only read after many months?