You can start a conversation directly from the advert your question relates to. This allows the other person to see straight away which offer or request you are writing about. You can then find incoming messages in your personal messages section.
How to send a message regarding an advert
Proceed step by step as follows:
- Open the advert you wish to ask a question about.
- Select ‘Send message’ below the advert description.
- Type your message into the message window that opens.
- Briefly check what you’ve written, then select ‘Send message’.
Your message will then be assigned to a conversation linked to the relevant advert. This means you do not have to explain the full title again and can more easily see later what the arrangement relates to.
What should my first message say?
Write in a friendly and as specific a way as possible. State the question that is genuinely important to your decision. For an item, this could concern its condition, price or handover, for example. For a service, details about the required scope, location and period are helpful. For a found or lost item advert, you should mention only the characteristics needed for reliable identification.
A clear first message makes it easier for the other person to provide a helpful reply. Avoid sending several short messages in quick succession if your questions can be summarised clearly in a single message.
How am I notified of a new message?
If someone writes to you via suchen.expert, a notification appears in the notification area by the bell icon. Unread messages are also displayed in the messages section and alongside the associated advert details. A green circle containing a number indicates how many new items there are awaiting your attention.
Open the messages section and select the conversation you want. There you’ll see the exchange so far and can reply directly within the same conversation. Notifications and messages are particularly easy to keep track of if you use the conversation for the relevant advert for each enquiry.
How can I tell if my message has been read?
The status is displayed directly next to your sent message. Two green ticks mean that the other person has read the message. However, a read message is not yet a commitment and does not mean that an immediate reply is possible. Therefore, give the other person some time.
If you do not receive a reply after a reasonable amount of time, you can follow up once in a friendly manner. Sending repeated messages in quick succession usually doesn’t help and may be perceived as intrusive.
Keep all arrangements clearly organised in one place
The message history on suchen.expert is the right place for questions about the advert, the price, an appointment or the handover. Both parties can find previous details more easily there. You also do not need to provide a private telephone number or an external messaging address when making initial contact.
Be cautious if you are asked to switch to an external communication channel immediately, or to enter login details, payment details or confirmation codes via an unfamiliar link. Never share your password or an access code in a message.
If a message does not appear or is not sent
First, check that you are logged in to the correct account and that you have opened the right conversation. Reload the page and then try sending the message again. If you have written a long message, you can copy it beforehand so that it is not lost when the page reloads.
If the problem persists, use the contact form. Describe where the problem is occurring and what you notice when sending or opening the message. Do not include any passwords or full payment details.
What happens after the first message?
Reply to a received message directly within the existing conversation. Detailed instructions can be found in the article Replying to messages. Further help topics about conversations, attachments and safety can be found in the User Communication Guidelines section.
