HOW IN THE NAME OF BLEEP DO I SEND A MESSAGE TO A BUYER NOW WITH THIS NEW MESSAGE SYSTEM????????"
Summary: fergua3 expressed frustration with eBay's new messaging system, finding it difficult to contact buyers as the message box seemed unresponsive. They discovered that the 'send' button opens a slim typing window, revealing the system's confusing design. mrdutch1001 shared their experience, suggesting the message might still send despite issues. fergua3 confirmed sending a message using a new laptop and browser but noted inconsistencies based on user setups. brettjet38 and others found the system similar to modern chat apps, preferring streamlined threads despite challenges with lengthy messages. Opinions on the system varied, with some appreciating its updated format while others encountered navigation difficulties. byto253 described the process as straightforward once understood, emphasizing the importance of familiarization.
I JUST HAD A SALE. I WANT TO SEND MY USUAL THANK YOU MESSAGE TO THE BUYER. I CLICK ON 'CONTACT BUYER' AND AM TAKEN TOTHE NEW MESSAGE CENTER.
IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE BOX I TYPE IN TO SEND A MESSAGE THERE IS A STERN WARNIG ABOUT CONTACTING BUYERS FOR SALES OUTSIDE OF EBAY.
WHEN I TRY TO TYPE MY MESSAGE TO THE BUYER IN THE BOX, I CAN'T. WHEN I TRY TO PASTE TEXT INTO THE BOX I CAN'T. I HAVE NO WAY TO CONTACT BUYERS NOW.
??????????????????????????????????????
byto253
·1 year agoWhen you click "Contact Buyer", the messaging page come up and on the right is the message area to send a message to the Buyer. On the bottom right it says "send message", which is the box where you type your message in. On the right hand side is an airplane icon which you click on to send the message.
It is actually easy to use, after clicking contact buyer, put in the message and send it.
brettjet38
·1 year agoI have been using the new message system for weeks already, it's like a continuous chat/text message with Buyers.
it also streamlines all messages from a single member into a single thread, easier to track than members who rapid-fire messages, one right after another...
I have not had any issue with it, it works like most text messages/chat apps the standard in the real world.
It works just fine once you step outside of your antiquated boxes and learn to use it, eBay was behind the curve again in keeping up to date in message systems...
lotzofuniquegoodies
·1 year ago@brettjet38
@fergua3
@mrdutch1001
The one major take away I have from it is that if you are responding to a longish message from a buyer or another user, because their window is so small it is difficult to see everything they wrote it can require a bunch of scrolling unless you have photographic memory. I used to...Until eBay broke mine. The message window you have open is limited to about 13 lines of text (that you can view at a time). There appears to be no limit of number of characters but also difficult to confirm because there is no countdown counter. From my view there is no way to increase window size...that I can find. That was built into the old system.
And by accidentally doing so if you click on another users message the message you were working on poofs. Unless you have done a cut and paste to that message you are back to starting from scratch.
Maybe works fine if you are using the app but extremely clunky on a pc in most cases. Unless the message you are sending is 40 words or less.
-Lotz
As a side, with several recent changes I am seeing a pattern or number of the characters for a field seems to be a major concern with eBay. Possibly because there is more of a focus on what they are doing for the app vs those same changes for a pc.
marnotom!
·1 year agoI'm of a similar mind so far, although I haven't tried it out too much as a buyer yet.
The old "message" system was more like a primitive and awkward webmail interface. This new system will--I hope--encourage shorter, more text-like messages and cut down on long-windedness from both buyers and sellers.
When I first started using the old system, I found it very awkward to flip back and forth between my inbox and my sent folder. This new system appears to elminate that flipping.
Most people associate "messaging" more with SMS-like communication, and over half of eBay transactions are now done on mobile devices. Of course, it depends on the types of items you sell and the demographic you attract, but in general, e-commerce is moving more towards sales with mobile devices. I'd say that about 60% of the online purchases I make I do so on my phone now, and I'm an old fart in his 50s.
ETA: Actually, make that at least two-thirds of my online purchases. On those occasions when I order from a quick-service restaurant, I'm more likely to use an app than make the order from the counter or bark into a speaker.
lotzofuniquegoodies
·1 year agoOpinions are mixed on dot com. Here is one of the many discussions on the subject.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Report-eBay-Technical-Issues/New-message-system-is-falling-apart-already/m-p/34773051#M134614
fergua3
OP1 year agook so i tried to send the message on ebay.ca instead of ebay.com. Same situation.....i'm taken to the new messsage center with same box and same warning from Ebay.
However, when i click 'send' at the very bottom of the box a little sliver of a window opens up, about 2 lines of text high and that i can type my message in. It appears the big huge empty box with the stern warning from Ebay in it is just wasted space. There are just no words for stating how stupid this new system is. And to think, somebody actually approved it. It is to wonder.
However, when i try to send the buyer a message on ebay.com and click on the little 'send' at the bottom of the box nothing happens...no little sliver of a window opens up in which to type text....so it appears there is a glich on .com.
mrdutch1001
·1 year agoYes, indeed this new messaging system is Atrocious but it does work once you figure it all out...
Despite the " click on the little 'send' at the bottom of the box nothing happens...", my similar experience was that the message actually DID send as I checked "sent" and the message was there...
Did the buyer actually get the message? I have know not as there is no way to know that unless the buyer responds...
fergua3
OP1 year agomrdutch: clicking on the 'send' at the bottom of the box does not send the message, at least not for me. What it does do is open a slim window that i am able to type my message into. Before clicking the 'send' button i was not able to type any text anywhere in the message box.
Once i typed my message, there is a blue icon at the bottom right.......i clicked on that and that actually sent my message to the buyer. So 'send' does not send anything, what it does is open a window you can type in so you are now able to create a message to send. I did confirm it was sent by checking the sent folder.
The new message system probably works differently for different users, depending on what computer system they are using. I have a brand new laptop with Windows 11 and fullly updated Edge browser. Those using mobile devices, or other browsers may well have the new message system work differently than me.