Why do online sellers send useless automated replies?
Automated messages from online shops often lack essential order updates or return dates, leaving buyers stranded without a timeline. These vague responses are worse than no reply at all because they create false engagement while completely failing to answer basic questions about pending orders.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1canceling the orderDid this help you?
- 2checking the estimated delivery date manuallyDid this help you?
- 3waiting to see if the order ships on timeDid this help you?
- 4Calling sellers directly by phoneDid this help you?
- 5Using a business broker instead of contacting individual owners directlyDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“An awful auto response.”source ↗
“OP has an outstanding order. If the shop has outstanding orders when they go on vacation, the auto reply really NEEDS to clarify when they will be back and when the buyer can expect a response.”source ↗
“the autoreply really needs to actually convey information. Like "we will return from our pillaging on [specific date] and respond to you then" would be helpful. Non-reply replies like this are almost worse than no reply at all. 😭”source ↗
“Most of my emails and messages to owners go complety ignored and I can only reach people via phone, assuming they have a number to call.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 5Seller gave me a fake tracking number with a thank you card
- 16Why hasn't my online order shipped yet?
- 19Why is this community full of sales pitches and spam?
- 8How to stop sellers from harassing you to change reviews
- 4Buyer falsely claims item is fake to force a return
- 4Why won't retailers respond to cold wholesale outreach?