inquiry follow up, what is your practice?

[RhymeScapeSelection]

I was wondering if you send follow up for inquiries that you answered and then at some point in the conversation the buyer never replied. I would not find this necessary if I was sure that convos were working perfectly, but it has happened to me before that someone asked the very same question twice, and said they never received my reply the first time. Other sellers have also reported this kind of issue.

I am looking for a polite way to handle this uncertanty, without going overboard.... Do you have any tips, what is your practice?

[Former_Member]

I never do. I have lots of inquiries that don't get replied again to, usually for commissioned art. I have enough buyers that I don't think it necessary or polite, really, to send an additional message... If they REALLY want something you are selling, they will make sure and buy it, or continue correspondence.

[Former_Member]

I've had quite a number of inquiries that didn't pan out, and usually the potential buyers just stopped replying, which I think is quite normal. I haven't had a technical error regarding them not receiving my message to my knowledge, though.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

The same here as far as having inquiries that didn't work out. I don't follow up on them. If the buyer is interested they'll come back. I get plenty of custom orders that do work out and are usually purchased within 2-3 days of the initial contact. I had one buyer contact me last summer with a question, then I never heard back after I responded. She got back to me in September and it turned into my biggest custom order to date - both size and dollar-wise.

[Former_Member]

I've found that many people will inquire and leave it at that. Sometimes they will follow up but not always.

[Former_Member]

No, I wouldn't follow it up if I'd already answered their questions. I'd figure that if they wanted to follow something up, they would. I've never had an issue with not getting convos... that I know of

[katherinefathisilver]

I haven't had a technical problem that I know of, but you might want to report it to bugs. I've answered questions and never heard back from some people. I've also had someone ask several questions, then stop suddenly, then come back three months later and buy the item they were asking about. So you never know...

[KiltedWoman]

Some people are impulse buyers. They will ask and then either forget or change their mind. I think it's too pushy to send a follow up.

[RhymeScapeSelection]

Thank you all for the input!

Katherine, I did report to bugs that one time, eventually that issue was clarified with the buyer though, not with technical support..

[Former_Member]

I offer them their custom product with everything they want (and more!) and if they purchase, great and if they don't, no biggie.

[EAGERforWORD]

Certainly not!! People who ask questions are not people who buy things. Take today - a 'when' question - Etsy gives the decade next to the picture and the actual year was in the first line. If we could pay to have the ask a question button rather hard to find - I'd pay!