Canned Response: "Is It Still Available?"

Pumpkin_rrr on 05/11/2019 - 21:47

Two years on, this post is still relevant! https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/308168

I lost count of the number of times this has happened to me.
From cheap items on Gumtree, FaceBook Marketplace, eBay.
I have even contacted Gumtree and told them that it is not a good idea for them to have it as a canned response; People just clicked on it without any effort or thinking process.
It is amazing the number of times it happens, even when I put in "If you read this, it means it is still available"

Anyhow, 99.9% of the time after you responded, you'd never heard back from them.

So my strategy is not to respond unless they come out with a good opening paragraph like "Is this still available? I can pick-up tomorrow/Sunday…"

Recently we tried to rent out our Unit and decided to try it on Gumtree.
Woila, had about 5 responses and 3 asked the dreadful question! Some was even sent out hours after my Ad!
I'll be singing to the Bank if my property get rented that quickly!

Some said many Sellers dont remove Ad hence the question. Granted, but that shouldnt stop people to do the right thing to say a bit more after that question, instead of just asking for a Yes/No answer. This will avoid having 2 emails when you can have just one….

If you post the question that way, and the Seller tell you it's sold, that would be the time you can tell/chastise them that they didnt do the right thing by removing it straight away. You can even report them I think.

So People, please stop being so lazy!
Also, if you are/know any IT person in Gumtree, FaceBook Marketplace, eBay, please do me a favor: ask them to remove that canned response.

Thanks for reading. Have a pleasant evening nonetheless !

General Discussion

Comments

  • Car-la-la on 05/11/2019 - 22:05
    +6

    yawn…

  • pegaxs on 05/11/2019 - 22:11
    +1

    Is it still available?

    • spackbace on 05/11/2019 - 23:24
      +1

      Is it still available?

      • Nugs on 06/11/2019 - 06:25
        +1

        Is it still available?

        • Seraphin7 on 06/11/2019 - 09:22

          Is it still available?

  • Hybroid on 05/11/2019 - 22:11
    +5

    Few reasons:

    1) Sometimes items get sold or removed from sale but the listing is still live so worth checking.
    2) Evaluates speed of response and helps garner an opinion of whether to trust/proceed or not.
    3) Not 100% sure about the item so buying time by asking, while secretly hoping it's already sold.
    4) Ask a few sellers, wait for responses, then pick one is easier to manage multiple listings.
    5) Gauge quality of response and whether to haggle and proceed with purchase or not.
    6) Wasting your time bored on a Sat night with no intention of committing to buy.

    • p1 ama on 05/11/2019 - 23:37

      7) Usually just an ice-breaker. Just like going into a JB and saying "Hey, I'm interested in a Pixel 3XL, would you have one available?", or asking a friend "Hey, let's grab a coffee in a few minutes, are you free?". It's generally just a reasonable way of opening a conversation about a sale.

      • HighAndDry on 06/11/2019 - 00:48

        While this might be true, the problem is going to be that if I have something for sale on gumtree, I'm looking for a sale - price/date/how, not a conversation.

        • p1 ama on 06/11/2019 - 03:16
          -1

          I disagree, part of the process of selling on Gumtree is that you have to deal with people and dealing with people means you have to have conversations with them. Sure, not about about the latest family gossip, but at least about the basic logistics of the sale. If you are looking for a sale and want to avoid people at all costs, then just sell it on eBay.

          It's been a while back now, but I remember reading that most people open up conversations with questions rather than statements. This is important in sales. E.g. just take the example of wanting a Pixel 3XL from JB HiFi. I've worked in retail - the overwhelming majority of people will open with a question, e.g. "I'm looking for a Pixel 3XL, would you have one available", rather than a statement, "I want to get a Pixel 3XL".

          Same phenomena here - "hey, is your XYZ still available?" is just a nicer way of saying "hey, I want to buy your XYZ".

          • Ughhh on 06/11/2019 - 07:00
            +3

            @p1 ama:

            is just a nicer way of saying "hey, I want to buy your XYZ".

            In case the seller thought the buyer contacted for something else other than wanting to buy xyz?

      • Pumpkin_rrr on 06/11/2019 - 12:31

        I also disagree.
        This is Gumtree or any Internet Platforms, not a Pub and you dont see the person's face. Nothing like JB at all.
        There's no conversation to be had, no ice-breaker.
        This is about efficiency and not wasting anyone's time.

    • HardlyCharly on 06/11/2019 - 01:14

      Literally the only possible response to that question is 'yes it's still available'. So how on earth could it be used in any way to gauge quality of response or any opinions about the seller? That is utterly ridiculous to suggest. Speed of response also has nothing to do with trustworthiness, other people have lives FFS.

      • Pumpkin_rrr on 06/11/2019 - 12:34

        Exactly my thought, you said it well!
        It's just a Yes/No answer and my experience is 99.9% never get back.
        So nowadays I only answer questions with more "meat" to it.

        Must say the good ones are really good…

    • JimmyF on 06/11/2019 - 09:43

      options 2/3/4/5/6 you list are basically all wasting the seller's time.

      If you want the item, then do it, don't waste time by tyre kicking.

      I had a buyer ask 100 questions on a item, one after another, after I answered all them, they low balled me on price, I replied with my lowest price, they replied with another low ball about $20 higher than the last one (which was still about $250 below my lowest price). I ignored them and then they got all crabby as I didn't reply to them. You get to waste my time once…..

  • spackbace on 05/11/2019 - 23:23
    +2

    OzRant strikes again

  • sa-ozzie on 05/11/2019 - 23:26
    +1

    Op is tired and emotional after Halloween

  • coxjon on 05/11/2019 - 23:31

    On my phone I don't get a notification if someone clicks "I'm interested" or whatever the button says. Is it a bug? I say it's a feature! It lets me ignore them.

    (this is on Facebook marketplace and Messenger)

  • p1 ama on 05/11/2019 - 23:34
    +4

    Exchange 1:

    Buyer: Hi, is your XYZ still available?
    Seller: Yes, sure is. I'll be available from 3PM onwards tomorrow if you wanted to pick up.
    Buyer: Sure, let's do 3PM.

    Exchange 2:

    Buyer: Hi, I would like to buy your XYZ. I'm available tomorrow any time.
    Seller: Hi, yes, I'll be available from 3PM onwards.
    Buyer: Sure, let's do 3PM.

    —

    What's the issue? How is the first one any longer?

    • canyoudoitcheaper on 06/11/2019 - 01:20
      +5

      Buyer: Hi, I’d like to buy your XYZ. Is it still available?
      OP: JuSt MaKe Me aN OffEr aLrEadY. nO cAnNed qUeStiOns
      Buyer: Ok, I’d like to offer you $123 for the item
      OP: I’ve already sold it

    • thefud on 06/11/2019 - 07:47
      +3

      Exchange 3:
      Buyer: Hi, is this still available?
      Seller: Hey mate, sure is.
      Buyer: I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER <exactly 1/8 of asking price>!?
      Seller: A little too low. How about <reasonably discounted, market value>?
      -end exchange-

      • brendanm on 06/11/2019 - 07:52
        +2

        Can you please deliver your 1/8th prices item to me 80km away as I don't have a car?

  • Stalker on 06/11/2019 - 00:16
    +1

    I'm not bothered by it, but I have my suspicions that a lot of these, on gumtree at least, are automated checks by gumtree themselves to see if this listing is still active.

    • SlowCarSlow on 06/11/2019 - 00:19

      I'm certain it's the case. Had no bites on a listing for 2 weeks, then a message "Is this available?" I respond back and then nothing.

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 06/11/2019 - 12:25

      Why would they do that? I thought Ads are removed after a certain time?

  • chanleystan on 06/11/2019 - 02:15
    +3

    In regards to Facebook marketplace. Many of the "Is it still available" might be accidents. There is no confirmation when u click on it. So when I am scrolling through sometimes I accidentally click on it.

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 06/11/2019 - 12:26

      Yes I suspect the same. Hence my request for the IT people of those platforms to remove this canned response. Really canny!

      • Chickenleg on 09/11/2019 - 08:55

        The worst one was the original default of “I am interested in this item”. I would just reply “ok” and never get a response.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2019 - 07:11

    Voila! Is it still available?

  • brendanm on 06/11/2019 - 07:50
    +4

    "is this still available"
    "Yes it is"
    Crickets chirping

    I specifically write in the ad that if the ad is up, the item is still available. Then if they ask, "is it still available", I reply with, "did you read the ad?".

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 06/11/2019 - 12:26

      Or "Are you still attending Reading School?"
      Joking, I've never done that.

      • brendanm on 06/11/2019 - 12:36

        That's a good one actually, might try that

  • slow on 06/11/2019 - 08:33
    +1

    When I am looking to buy something, and see several advertised, I quickly want to know which are still available before deciding which i am interested in, as many people do not take down their ads when items are sold

    It is really annoying when I see something I want, contact the person, and then they say it is already sold (or never eve bother to respond)

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 06/11/2019 - 12:28

      Well, you can type a proper response asking whether it's available, and offer your price/pick-up time.
      Then C&P to all the others.

      Either that or get ignored by the Seller.

  • dust on 06/11/2019 - 08:40

    I don't mind this response on Tinder though.

  • JimmyF on 06/11/2019 - 09:39
    +1

    So People, please stop being so lazy!

    Well there is your issue…

  • Ughhh on 06/11/2019 - 10:50

    If you want the seller to know you're a serious buyer, don't just ask if it's available. Either make an offer or ask when how to pick up. There's only one reason why the ad is up and why your contacting, and it's not too make friends.

    First buyer who gets straight to the point gets my attention and a better price.

  • 4892 on 08/11/2019 - 03:31

    I don't think the canned response in itself is so bad, it's more the reason for it and if there is a follow up. Some people use this as it's one of the first options presented to them, almost instructing them to pick a response. Some people are lazy or use a button to save time. So I agree that it's a terrible idea when you get an accidental response but if it was legitimate and the person still doesn't reply then even if they worded it as "Hi mate, this isn't a generic response, I'm putting time and effort into asking you if your item is still for sale" they can still be lazy or just change their mind and not reply.

    Selling on those kind of sites can be draining even if they do follow up so I just reply to all of them (you can even do a canned response back!) and see what shakes loose. I've actually had some quite big sales from people I thought were never going to reply and others who have had a lengthy convo with me turned out to be duds. You never know.

  • bargaino on 10/11/2019 - 16:32
    -1

    People are stupid. This is news?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join