Turn off messages

Same deal here, I'd rather just have the option to turn messages off, most of my selling I deal with on the site (because the app doesn't have all the options and is much harder to use than on a desktop) and only use the app to browse or occasionally buy when I'm out.

I have notifications on but never get any from messages so I only notice them if I go to the 'my trademe' tab which I dont often do because as mentioned before I only really browse on the app - I do get all the other notifications and have had buyers who message me apologising for late replies due to not getting notifications. It would be really good if we could disable messages because not only does it make me (or my trade partner) look bad and slows down the trade but I would also just like to have all my dealings via email rather than have a handful split off and hidden way in the app (even if you do fix notifications).

Hi there I know trade me says the messages expire after 45 days then why can’t we delete them the messages I have in my inbox are over 45 days old and haven’t disappeared

Hi there, my push notifications are on but they have stopped working for messages. I used to get a push notification for every message but the last 4 or so conversations/messages, nothing has shown on my screen. It did work fine for months before this. I’ve checked my settings and nothing has changed, push notifications still on and the other ones still work (item sold etc)

Putting in my 2 cents. Can we get an off button for messages in the app. I find it has issues such as telling me it isn’t working. Also for a communication tool it isn’t very quick. The response times are sluggish compared to email. I’ve had one seller not communicate with me since Nov 24th.

This message feature is really annoying, and does not appear to have been fixed. Messages simply do or do not exist in My trade me depending on whether the device I am using has the app installed or not. When I am active in trade me I regularly check for notifications and emails related to my auctions but only on the closest device. And I cannot have notifications turned on.

I totally agree with Andrew & Amy, it is a very frustrating tool.  It is a shame the message can't be accessed using a laptop or that service can be turned off.  I use laptop 99% of time but do have the app for the odd occasion (like making an offer another thing that can be done via laptop).  Why I don't use the phone - its to small and frustrating for me I prefer to use the laptop much more convenient, as on it anyway.  Now I am getting annoyed traders - who say I sent you a message and you have not bothered to reply.  

This been a pain for far too long. Please can someone from Trademe either tell us that the feature as it stands is not going to change - or that they are working on an alternative / modification etc. No problem either way, just want to know one way or the other.
Currently I have a buyer who assumes I watch for his messages very regularly. Emails I do. TM Messages I don’t. Irksome for both of us!!

Kia ora Jon. I'm not sure myself, but I've shared this feedback with the team and will report back if there is any update. Thanks 🙂

Lucy,
Please - not trying to be difficult - although of course I am, but I just want to know one way or the other. I appreciate that many people find the messaging facility on their phone to be a worthwhile feature. And I appreciate that increasing the connectivity options between buyer and seller really should be useful for most. But what if your phone is your least favourite “tool”, maybe retired, deaf, live in rural location with no reliable service, phone keyboard too small to type? Or, and this is a bit far fetched , maybe you don’t even have a phone?
So please. A definitive yes or no would be very useful…..

Jon - currently the only way to stop this is to remove the app from your phone. Clearly this is not ideal, but it is the only way. I have a standard note in my payment instructions, but people ignore it and of course it doesnt apply when you buy something.

The simplest solution trademe needs to make is to just give us the option to turn it off

Thanks for that Andrew - looks like I will probably have to take your advice.

Would be nice to get someone from Trademe to confirm if this is going to be a permanent feature, or hopefully on the list of future "improvements".

I would also like to be able to disable this feature as members who you've blacklisted due to them failing to pay or contact, can still contact you through this message feature and harass you. Surely this is a massive oversight !?

I have:

-> Receive Push Notifications ticked

-> Receive Favourites Notifications ticked

-> Receiving 22/22 push notificaitons

-> Do Not Disturb disabled

-> Mute notifications disabled

and yet I still only get occasional notifications for messages. It is absolutely terrible to use.

I ONLY want to be contacted via email, because I always get email notifications and I can reply from my computer AND my phone.

I generally do not want to type messages on my phone. It's easier to make mistakes.

People who buy things from me ignore my emails that say "do not message me in the app" and message me with it, and I do not get their notifications, and thus I reply to them late, so it's a terrible service for me AND them.

PLEASE PLEASE LET US DISABLE THE APP MESSAGING WITHOUT ENTIRELY DELETING THE APP.

Or, alternatively, add an option to send an email to my email address when a Trademe message is received, including the contents of the message, so that I actually get notified when I receive a message.

I have messages dating back to May 2022.

Ideally I'd like to disable messages.

I don't want to clutter up my listings with text about messages not being monitored (which I cannot achieve 95% of the time as I predominantly use a laptop).

If I can't disable, how can I delete old messages?

Keep placing them Upvotes on the Main Post at the Top Good People - This and the Number of Comments within this Post will Stand Out to the Community Moderators who can then put pressure back on their Tech Team! The Moderators at the Frontline need your Help enabling them to Escalate! - Cheers.

Sean,

That's a Great Comment - What Device App are you using for TradeMe, iOS or Android??

COPPER,

WoW! Messages are meant to auto delete at 45 days - which Device App are you Using?

I have TM messages that are 18 months old in my android app and there appears to be no way to remove them, so I just ignore them as I only use the app once in a blue moon.

Cheers Gary 😊👍

I'd also REALLY LIKE a way to opt out.

I now have to check messages AND email to see where a buyer is messaging me. People expect it to function like a real time messaging app and it's just not. I got 7 messages in the space of 15 minutes yesterday from a buyer and then found them....today. If they'd emailed then pick up would have been completed yesterday.

Notifications don't work (YES I have followed the instructions and turned everything on).

So it creates a lot of friction in a trade - which isn't a great experience for anyone.

I don't want it, let me opt out. As an occasional trader it's deeply irritating and makes Facebook Marketplace easier. 

So you can't opt out.. fine.. why can't we access messages through the website? on laptop? I dont even use trademe that much and its frustrating even for me. God help your high volume sellers that unfortunately opted into messaging huh? switching back and forth between phone and PC just to complete one trade...

what a joke.

@Lucy Uninstalling the app doesn't work. Buyers can still message you.

Totally agree with all the frustrated users of TM and the messages. Mine haven't been deleted( what happened to the 30 days deletion period-not)
TM used to pride itself on its tech abilities( come back Sam) . It should be possible to have an option to use messages or not.

iOS push notifications for messages are busted - every other class of TM push notification executes as expected, but message notifications are a continual failure.

There should be an option for email notifications when messages are received.

Another vote to either remove the feature or allow us to disable it

I personally did not ask for another messenger app on my phone, and it creates a lot of frustration when a user receives an email but prefers to respond on the message. 

My wife has Android and gets notified. I have iPhone and don't. All notifications including push turned ON. Annoying and causes missed messages

I am regular Trademe user and I use the PC platform. I like the functionality of a good email client. Until very recently i was not aware of the Private Messaging feature and reported a trader to Trademe for non-response to emails, not knowing that he was messaging me on the app. I only have the app on my phone for occasionally checking the progress of an auction and was completely oblivious to the existence of the messaging function. I found messages going back to January!

This really does need to be resolved, ideally by Trademe enabling an email alert to be sent to a trader when another party has sent a private message. Not rocket science, surely?

Or is it?

Chris

Definitely beyond TM's capabilities. Bring back Sam.