How to Deal with Rude Buyers and Messages on Depop

How to Deal with Rude Buyers and Messages on Depop

Selling on Depop can be an exciting venture, connecting you with buyers who love your unique style. However, navigating the world of online resale also means encountering challenging situations, particularly when it comes to customer interactions. Many sellers find themselves dealing with rude buyers on Depop, fielding endless Depop messages, and wondering how to handle rude customers professionally.

These interactions can be frustrating and time-consuming, pulling you away from the tasks that actually grow your business, like sourcing and listing new inventory. The feeling of being bogged down by unreasonable demands and lowball offers is a shared experience among many resellers.

This guide will walk you through the common issues sellers face with rude buyers on Depop. We'll explore practical strategies for managing these difficult messages and introduce powerful tools that can help you streamline your operations, save time, and scale your business beyond the daily grind of difficult customers.

Understanding the Common Challenges with Rude Buyers on Depop

If you've felt singled out by difficult interactions, rest assured you're not alone. The issues you're facing are common across the platform. Understanding these typical behaviors is the first step toward developing a strategy to handle them.

Totally Ridiculous Price Offers

One of the most frequent complaints from Depop sellers involves buyers making "totally ridiculous price offers." This isn't just a matter of light haggling; it's often an offer that is a fraction of your item's value.

Sellers report receiving offers that are about 1/10th of the listed price. For example, a buyer might offer €100 for an item you have listed for €400-500. This can feel disrespectful to the time and effort you've put into sourcing, photographing, and listing your items.

These lowball offers are often followed by buyers arguing that they simply do not have the money. They may barrage you with messages about how unfair it is that you won't sell an item for the equivalent of a cup of coffee, emphasizing how much they "really really want it." To make matters worse, some Depop buyers become "super offended" if you decline to sell at the price they demand, creating a tense and unpleasant exchange.

Constant Questions and Demands for Immediate Responses

Another major source of frustration is the sheer volume of questions, many of which are already answered in your listing's description. Depop sellers often get 100 questions from people, even when the information is readily available.

Buyers will ask about details like length or waist measurements even when those specifics are clearly stated in the listing. This suggests they haven't taken the time to read what you've already provided.

The issue is compounded by a demand for immediate responses at all hours. A buyer might message you at 2 a.m. with a question like, "Hey what is the waist?" and then follow up just three minutes later asking, "Are you there?". If an hour passes without a reply, you might see another message: "Why don't you answer, hello....". This expectation of 24/7 availability is unrealistic for any business owner and adds unnecessary pressure.

Depop Scams and Buyer Disputes

Beyond frustrating messages, sellers must also be vigilant against scams. Depop buyers can and do scam sellers, and it's crucial to be aware of the tactics they might use. It's important to remember that any purchases or sales made outside of the Depop app are against the platform's Terms of Use and are not covered by Buyer or Seller Protection. While Depop does take action by banning scammers when things go wrong, the process can still be stressful.

One seller reported a particularly troubling experience where a buyer received their item, waited months, and then went to their bank to open a dispute. The buyer claimed the purchase was "unauthorized," initiating a chargeback long after the transaction was complete.

A newer scam involves buyers manipulating the delivery process. A buyer will arrange to not be home when the postman attempts delivery. They then put in a redelivery request for a date far into the future and proceed to claim to PayPal that the item was never delivered, exploiting the tracking information to their advantage.

Effective Customer Service Strategies for Depop Sellers

While some interactions are best ignored, others require a professional response to protect your shop's reputation. Applying proven customer service tips can help you de-escalate situations and manage difficult customers effectively.

Handling a Bad Review

A negative review can feel like a direct hit to your business. The key is to respond quickly and professionally.

First, respond publicly to the review with an apology for their negative experience. Politely ask the customer if they could provide more information about what happened on their preferred communication channel. This shows other potential buyers that you are attentive and eager to resolve issues.

Once you've connected with the customer privately, access their order number and personal information in your records to get context. If the review is vague, ask them to detail their experience so you can understand what went wrong.

Your goal is to determine the root cause of the bad interaction. If it was a mistake on your part and you have the ability, you could offer a discount on their next purchase as a gesture of goodwill. If you successfully resolve the issue and the customer is satisfied, you can politely ask if they would consider removing the negative review.

Managing Difficult Communications

Not every rude message will turn into a bad review, but how you handle them still matters. Pay close attention to the customer's sentiment in their messages. If their communication indicates annoyance or disappointment, it's better to address it proactively.

Ask clarifying questions to find out what is bothering them. Sometimes, a buyer is just confused or has a simple question that is masked by frustrated language. A calm and helpful response can often diffuse the situation.

It's also vital to map out and communicate the next steps in any interaction. If a buyer has a legitimate issue, let them know what they need to do or if you have everything you need to manage the process. Let them know when they can expect to hear from you next, and be sure to follow up, even if you're still working on the issue. This level of communication builds trust and can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

In a scenario involving a refund, such as if you accidentally sent the wrong item, clear communication is paramount. One strategy is to offer the customer free overnight shipping on the correct item. You can also automatically send customers tracking information via their preferred channel, like WhatsApp, so they feel informed and prioritized.

Knowing When to Disengage

Sometimes, the best strategy is to walk away. For one seller, Gabs007, the constant barrage of questions and ridiculous offers became too much. Their solution was to delete the Depop app entirely.

While this is an extreme measure, it highlights a crucial point: your time and energy are valuable. If a conversation is going nowhere, is abusive, or is clearly a scam attempt, it is okay to stop responding, block the user, and report them to Depop if necessary.

Grow Your Resale Business and Minimize Hassle with Reeva

Dealing with rude Depop messages and time-wasting interactions is a significant drain on your resources. The hours spent answering redundant questions and fielding lowball offers could be spent sourcing, listing, and scaling. This is where we can help.

We designed our platform to simplify and automate the tedious parts of running a resale business, giving you back time to focus on what matters. While we can't answer every rude message for you, we can streamline every other part of your business so you have more bandwidth to manage customer service professionally or simply grow so large that these minor annoyances become insignificant.

Many top resale businesses, including Nuzzydeals, Vintage Vault WV, and TUFFNY, trust our tools to accelerate their growth. Let’s explore how we can help you do the same.

Ready to see how much time you can save? Start your free 7-day trial of Reeva today and experience the difference automation makes.

Sell Smarter and Faster Across Multiple Platforms

One of the biggest time sinks for a reseller is the listing process. We have optimized this entire workflow to save you time and maximize your reach. Our platform helps you list on Depop, Poshmark, eBay, and Mercari with incredible efficiency.

You can turn photos into complete listings instantly. Just upload your photos, and we create listings with titles, descriptions, and prices. As FabFam, a reseller from Washington, says, "Reeva has cut my listing time by more than half. I can take photos, voice-to-text my details, and let Reeva handle the rest."

With one click, you can publish your items to all your marketplaces without juggling multiple tabs. This multi-store support helps you reach more buyers effortlessly. Hiview Reloved noted, "It has made it easy to expand to eBay and Depop. I’ve created more listings in the few months of using Reeva than I was able to create all of last year when trying to do it on my own."

Save Time with Powerful Automation

Imagine your business running smoothly in the background while you focus on high-value tasks. Our automation tools are designed to do just that.

We can automatically share your products on Poshmark to increase visibility and send personalized offers to buyers without you lifting a finger. To keep your inventory fresh, our platform can relist stale products to push them to the top of search results.

Crucially, to prevent the headache of overselling, we instantly delist sold items across all platforms. AlistairBP, a seller from Georgia, calls this feature essential: "The feature I use 100% the most—and couldn't live without—is the AUTO-DELIST feature." This automation is a cornerstone of scaling efficiently.

Grow Your Business with Ease Using Management Tools

As your business grows, so does the complexity of managing it. We provide the tools you need to handle this growth with ease. You can update and manage hundreds of listings in bulk, a massive time-saver compared to editing one by one.

Our powerful business analytics allow you to track sales and profits, helping you make data-driven decisions. If you're looking to expand, we offer multi-user account options to give team members access.

TUFFNY from New York shared, "I've cut down my admin time by at least 30%, which has allowed me to source more products and expand my offerings." This is the core of what we help you achieve: less admin work, more growth.

Streamline Your Finances with Full-Service Accounting

Bookkeeping is another administrative task that can consume hours of your week. We have built-in accounting tools to make it seamless.

You can connect your bank accounts to automatically record transactions, expenses, and fees. Say goodbye to spreadsheets. For record-keeping and audit protection, you can upload a photo of a receipt and attach it directly to a transaction.

Our system categorizes your income, fees, and expenses, simplifying tax filing. You can generate clear profit and loss reports to get a real-time view of your business's financial health. As PCT Vintage Finds from Florida put it, "No more spreadsheets. My bookkeeping is now all automated thanks to Reeva accounting."

Access Reeva Anytime, Anywhere

Your business doesn't stop when you step away from your computer. Our platform is accessible on mobile, desktop, or tablet without needing a Chrome extension or requiring your laptop to be on for operations to run.

AlistairBP, who now sells 10-15 items a day, says, "Being able to manage my entire reselling business through my iPhone is truly industry-leading—nobody else does it to this degree."

This flexibility allows you to manage your business seamlessly, whether you're at home, sourcing new inventory, or on the go.

Reeva Pricing Plans

We offer transparent pricing designed to fit the needs of your resale business, whether you're a solo entrepreneur or a growing team. You can try our platform for free for 7 days with no payment due upfront.

Choosing a plan is an investment in your business's efficiency and growth. As Hiview Reloved said, "It’s an added business expense but also one that I don’t think I’d ever do without again."

Conclusion: Focus on Growth, Not Frustration

Dealing with rude buyers and frustrating messages on Depop is an unfortunate but common part of being an online reseller. By employing smart customer service tactics, you can manage difficult situations professionally. However, the ultimate strategy for long-term success is to build a business that is too efficient and too focused on growth to be derailed by minor annoyances.

The key is to reclaim your time. By automating and streamlining your listing, inventory management, and accounting processes, you free up valuable hours. This allows you to focus on sourcing great products, expanding to new platforms, and analyzing your sales to make smarter business decisions. The time you save on administrative tasks is time you can invest directly into activities that increase your revenue.

We provide an all-in-one platform designed to handle the operational burdens, allowing you to scale with ease. From AI-powered listings and cross-platform syncing to automated delisting and integrated accounting, we give you the tools to grow faster and more sustainably. Instead of getting stuck in the weeds of rude messages, you can build a resilient and thriving resale business.

If you're ready to transform how you run your business and leave the frustration behind, we invite you to see the difference for yourself. Start your free 7-day trial of Reeva today and take the first step toward smarter, more profitable reselling.