There are times when phone support is needed

[bykimbo]

I think a live chat option is a much more achievable idea. I can't see them making calls out (globally!?) - how many 2% FVFs would it take to cover that cost, I wonder. But live chat in restricted times could be a first toe in that water.

[billsstamps]

I have used Ebay live chat when desperate.

A couple of weeks ago I had an issue of a seller who listed an item as Free P&P, and when I won it, they said that in the small print of the description £2.60 was required for postage. They became quite aggressive and threatening that I should have read the whole description and demanded extra money for postage

So I took it to Ebay live chat.

I was in the "live" chat for 110 minutes during which time the Ebay representative managed 7 responses to me, mostly of the kind, please wait while I check this.

Would I like a similar Ebid live chat where the definition of live is either rigor mortis, or, I am simultaneously on the line to ten other people?

No

Oh, and the issue; apparently it is not against Ebay policy for sellers to list items as Free P&P when they require an amount for postage. It is the buyer's responsibility to check thoroughly.

[bykimbo]

I have used Ebay live chat when desperate.

A couple of weeks ago I had an issue of a seller who listed an item as Free P&P, and when I won it, they said that in the small print of the description £2.60 was required for postage. They became quite aggressive and threatening that I should have read the whole description and demanded extra money for postage

So I took it to Ebay live chat.

I was in the "live" chat for 110 minutes during which time the Ebay representative managed 7 responses to me, mostly of the kind, please wait while I check this.

Would I like a similar Ebid live chat where the definition of live is either rigor mortis, or, I am simultaneously on the line to ten other people?

No

Oh, and the issue; apparently it is not against Ebay policy for sellers to list items as Free P&P when they require an amount for postage. It is the buyer's responsibility to check thoroughly.

My experience was excellent. I've used it several times and got good results. So do I think a system like that would work well here - yes, as long as it was like mine and not yours.

[MagnetsAndHangers]

My experience was excellent. I've used it several times and got good results. So do I think a system like that would work well here - yes, as long as it was like mine and not yours.

I have used it also - a lot better than sitting waiting on a phone for that amount of time.
I am on the computer anyway doing other stuff, and it just makes a noise to alert me when i get a response, so no time wasted.

[bykimbo]

I have used it also - a lot better than sitting waiting on a phone for that amount of time.
I am on the computer anyway doing other stuff, and it just makes a noise to alert me when i get a response, so no time wasted.

Quite. Though as I say, mine was pretty quick so no problem anyway. I've used a similar system on other sites, like Vodafone and it's always been useful.

[madelaine]

I suspect that one call out to cmjewels would have saved a lot of time for both her and the support staff.

[cmjewels925]

I suspect that one call out to cmjewels would have saved a lot of time for both her and the support staff.

It's not just time, it's now costing me health and wealth, too.

We're now into day 5, the stress has affected my health and I had to put a holiday notice on my listings yesterday at what should be the start of the busiest 4 weeks of the year for me.

[BAGHAG999]

I'm not suggesting you publish a phone number or employ a load of staff to answer phones but there are times when a short phone call would sort a problem a lot quicker than email ping-pong.

I opened a ticket at 8am on Friday (3 days 6 hours ago). Loads of emails later it's still ongoing. Two 10 minute phone calls (3 at the outside) would have had it sorted.

I think with a complicated problem it might be a good idea for Support to phone you this would save everyones time.