# Ebay Sellers Treating Buyer As Stupid For Asking **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147 "2012-08-21T07:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/1 "2012-08-21T07:02:39Z")
I hate when I ask an Ebay seller a question regarding the condition, and they talk down to me like I’m stupid for asking the question. They say things like “as you can see in the photo” even though the photo is a small, cropped photo and doesn’t show the condition of the interior pages. Anyhow, when they do that, I just buy the thing elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/2 "2012-08-21T07:16:20Z")
I know what you mean, and you’re probably wise to shop elsewhere when this happens, as it could be a warning sign that such a seller would be a complete ass if something is wrong… …however… … stone me if the folks on the internet don’t ask some dumbass obvious questions all the time! Not specifically eBay, but elsewhere (Youtube and on my website), I get people asking “How much water do I use?” - It’s right there on the page - in Metric, Imperial and US! “What temperature do I cook this?” - It’s there in the video, in Celsius, Fahrenheit and Gas Mark! “Will it still work if I just leave out the flour?” - No, obviously not. It’s bread. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/3 "2012-08-21T07:52:25Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I know what you mean, and you’re probably wise to shop elsewhere when this happens, as it could be a warning sign that such a seller would be a complete ass if something is wrong… > > …however… > > … stone me if the folks on the internet don’t ask some dumbass obvious questions all the time! Not specifically eBay, but elsewhere (Youtube and on my website), I get people asking “How much water do I use?” - It’s right there on the page - in Metric, Imperial and US! “What temperature do I cook this?” - It’s there in the video, in Celsius, Fahrenheit and Gas Mark! “Will it still work if I just leave out the flour?” - No, obviously not. It’s bread. Mangetout, I’d like to take this opportunity to say “Thanks” for the Instructables friendship bracelet video. No questions necessary there. As for the OP: If the seller is not a native speaker of your language there may be a coomunucation problem. Okay, maybe that’s a longshot but it’s all I got. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/4 "2012-08-21T07:56:24Z")
Yup. I’ve sold quite a bit of larger stuff on ebay recently and so it has been “pickup only”. It’s entirely reasonable for buyers, therefore, to ask the location of the items in question. And I had at least three buyers ask. Except that the location was stated _in two separate places in the item listing_, and not only that but after the first guy asked, it was also listed as an answer to a buyer question, so that makes three. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/5 "2012-08-21T16:50:05Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Mangetout, I’d like to take this opportunity to say “Thanks” for the Instructables friendship bracelet video. Hey, thanks! - glad you liked it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/6 "2012-08-21T17:37:49Z")
As a frequent ebay seller, I can attest to the fact that 90% of ebay bidders\*\* don’t know how to read.\*\* I will say something like: “no charger included” and I will get person after person asking if the item comes with a charger. Or, “item is in excellent condition - only visible damage is a scratch in the corner (and then have a close-up photo)” and get questions asking if there is screen damage. So, I can see where some ebay sellers might treat buyers as stupid - _because most of them are_! (Don’t get me started on the bidders who win an auction and then refuse to honor their bid - it took me 4 tries to finally sell my old iPhone 3GS.) ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/7 "2012-08-21T17:44:25Z")
It may be people viewing the item in a phone app. The eBay iPhone app doesn’t present the seller’s description unless extra steps are taken, and I recall it not being obvious when I first used the app. Some buyers may never work it out. ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/8 "2012-08-21T17:49:36Z")
I get the same thing on Craigslist. I was trying to buy a laptop, and wrote a nice letter asking what the video card was, and explaining how to find that info if he didn’t know how. The guy responded “read the ad.” The ad didn’t list the video card, so I just shrugged and moved on. Which was stupid of him. 99% of computer-sales-respondents are scammers. I like to think my email revealed me as a real potential buyer, so I have no idea why he’d want to scare me off. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/9 "2012-08-21T17:54:40Z")
What annoys me is when I state very clearly that I ship US only in the ad, actually have the bid set to forbid foreign buyers from even bidding, AND THEY WRITE TO ASK ME ANYWAY! NO. The answer is NO. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/10 "2012-08-21T17:59:35Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Mangetout, I’d like to take this opportunity to say “Thanks” for the Instructables friendship bracelet video. No questions necessary there. Thanks to **Mangetout** from me as well. I’ve been playing around with paracord and didn’t realize he had some posts on instructables. Breakfast Pie this weekend!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/11 "2012-08-21T19:40:40Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > “Will it still work if I just leave out the flour?” - No, obviously not. It’s bread. Thanks for the giggle! :p:p ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/12 "2012-08-21T19:42:17Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Hey, thanks! - glad you liked it. Maybe you can post a link? I’m interested 🙂 Or message me if it’s de-railing. My sweetie likes the paracord ones, but due to weight loss, they seem to end up with me when they don’t fit him anymore. (And I just attach them to the nearest backpack, 'cause I don’t wear bracelets!) ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/13 "2012-08-21T22:56:55Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > What annoys me is when I state very clearly that I ship US only in the ad, actually have the bid set to forbid foreign buyers from even bidding, AND THEY WRITE TO ASK ME ANYWAY! > > NO. The answer is NO. I’ve done this sometimes. It’s not actually stupid, in my experience, in that it often gets a ‘Sure’. Some US-only sellers have no problem selling to an Irish buyer with good feedback - they just don’t want to have to deal with some 0FB newbie from Nigeria. ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/14 "2012-08-22T00:48:20Z")
My favourite Dumb Question exchange. Q: Is the item intacked? A: I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with the term “intacked”. Could you explain? … No answer. (No sale either, but it was worth it). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/15 "2012-08-23T15:30:24Z")
> [@bathsheba](#): > > My favourite Dumb Question exchange. > > Q: Is the item intacked? > > A: I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with the term “intacked”. Could you explain? > > … > > No answer. > > (No sale either, but it was worth it). Well you sure showed them, no bad spellers are going to bid on your auctions! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/16 "2012-08-23T15:44:22Z")
> [@bathsheba](#): > > My favourite Dumb Question exchange. > > Q: Is the item intacked? > > A: I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with the term “intacked”. Could you explain? > > … > > No answer. > > (No sale either, but it was worth it). Do you not deal with a lot of non-english speakers or something? I would find it rude to snark, even beyond the bad business sense. I don’t know what the deal is but out of around 10 Portugeuse every single one was a pain to deal with and none resulted in a sale, they would flat refuse to use machine translation even when I was giving them the links and would usually end by making nonsensical statements(I pay at my house"😕). I used to groan when seeing a .pt email address. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/17 "2012-08-24T07:54:45Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > I’ve done this sometimes. It’s not actually stupid, in my experience, in that it often gets a ‘Sure’. Some US-only sellers have no problem selling to an Irish buyer with good feedback - they just don’t want to have to deal with some 0FB newbie from Nigeria. Yup same here. ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-sellers-treating-buyer-as-stupid-for-asking/632147/18 "2012-08-26T00:56:05Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Do you not deal with a lot of non-english speakers or something? It was an American lady with English as her first language. I have no excuse for snarking except that it was fun dammit.