is it normal...

[Whippycorn]

...that people on ebay send you a question about your item 30 mins (or even 5 mins) before it ends?

I've had several people do this this weekend and i missed replying because i don't sit and watch my own auctions ending.

But should i?   

If it isn't normal how do I discourage people from doing it?

[cyberunicorn]

happens to me all of the time. but mostly it is about combined postage, even though it actually does state that in the listing. I don't think anything of it if they were 100% about buying the item they would have sent the question earlier as it says when you send the message it could take 1 - 2 days to get a reply. That and they would buy it anyway and ask for a combines invoice.

[zzzova]

I know i have done it once two hours before an action ended, but i was fully aware that the seller might not answer since it was not much time left.
I think that if you have so little time until it end you know that you might not get an answer in time.

[Rhubarbpie]

Yeah, chances are they've just flicked onto ebay and seen something they want and have to fire off a quick question about it.  Don't be too sorry about not answering them in time, they should understand that if there is only 30 mins to go then there is a strong chance their question may not be answered in time. 

[Whippycorn]

O.K. Thanks ponies. 

I just really wasn't sure if I was being a rubbish Ebay seller for not standing by to answer such questions. 

[ponylady]

I think Rhubarb hit it right on the head.

I wouldn't feel to bad about it because I believe if it is under a certain amount of time before the auction ends, a message pops up from ebay that states the seller may or may not answer your question. 

[nsunshine]

I've asked questions when there was only an hour or two left! Didn't really expect a reply, but if I got one I was more than thrilled!!

Yea, don't worry about it too much, if you want, perhaps have your auction up the last hour just to see if you get any questions!!