Breach of privacy - seller is notified that I have looked at their item
Summary: A participant started a discussion regarding privacy concerns with a notification system that alerts sellers when potential buyers view their items. Several individuals, including padi*0409, sandypebbles, sugar249, and others contributed to the conversation. davewil1964 and ratman0100 exchanged views on the potential privacy implications. domino-710 and sandypebbles engaged in a sub-discussion exploring different perspectives on how this notification impacts user experience. Overall, participants shared diverse opinions about whether this feature is a privacy breach or a normal part of online selling platforms.
Today I have logged in to my account and I have seen an "offer" from a seller of an item I had previously viewed.
I did not watch the item, I simply browsed it once.
Upon contacting "customer service", I have been advised that sellers can enable the option to auto contact people browsing their listings and make offers to them.
This is a breach of privacy. If I am browsing listings, there is an expectation that I am doing so anonymously.
How do I prevent sellers from knowing that I am looking at their items?
halfgweilo
·2 years agojustin.s3... I have never been contacted by a seller with an offer simply because I looked or browsed at any of their item/s. But, on occasions if I should put an item on my 'watch list' for another look at a later time, the seller would learn about it and I have received offers from them then. Look and browse, same thing. Cheers.
wiggleyawormrigs
·2 years agoIf your looking to buy something, put it in your cart and leave it there for a couple of hrs...., then remove it, ..........and wait for the reduced offer in your email 🙂
sugar249
·2 years agoAh, not everyone sends a reduced offer. So if you want the item, you may be hanging out until the end of never to get the offer.
davewil1964
·2 years agoI don't send offers, much less reduced ones.
My understanding of the system is that offers can only be sent to watchers, not carters.
sugar249
·2 years agoSending offers to interested buyers
If a buyer watches your item or adds it to their cart, you can send them special offers.
domino-710
·2 years agoSo - justin.s3 - is not anonymous. ??
sandypebbles
·2 years agoBut can be posted on a public forum
domino-710
·2 years agoI'd be changing to R2D2. lol
michellebartley
·2 years agoI find the automated response of an offer from a seller on Ebay when I am browsing for items very handy and not in the least a breach of privacy.
I don’t see a problem.
springyzone
·2 years agoDon't stress.
The sellers can't see who it is browsing but they can decide to send offers to watchers.
I've only ever had offers for items in my watched list though, so your case is a 'first' as far as I am aware, where simply looking at an item in passing resulted in an offer.
I love offers, it's a chance to get something I was interested in at a slightly better price. What's not to love?
If you're worried about the ebay system knowing what you are watching, then you're going to have to up your internet game, make sure you clear your history and what have you, never talk in front of your phone etc because the bots are always watching and listening, in case you haven't noticed.
If you use facebook, you will especially notice this as a lot of ads will come up about anything you googled or looked at, including ebay items.
davewil1964
·2 years agoHow do I prevent sellers from knowing that I am looking at their items?
Don't buy anything online. Simples.
As said sellers who send offers have no idea who you are.
Maybe try buying from sites that require 100 points of identity instead (haha). Or buy a tinfoil hat from a real shop.
ratman0100
·2 years agoCould not have said it any better myself. I really can't see the problem anyway. Might just get a good bargain without the 100 ID points 😆.
sugar249
·2 years agoNo we don't see any details about you, not even your user name.
we have the option to send offers, but we don't know who, just that it is someone who either is watching the item, or has put in in their cart for at least 2 days. But it is totally anonymous
sandypebbles
·2 years agoHow is the seller seeing your eBay user name a 'breach of privacy' ?
They do not have your real name/address/email address/phone number
But if you believe it is a 'breach of privacy' then report it to the relevant body
Surprising that customer service was available on Easter Sunday
padi*0409
·2 years agoI don't believe the seller actually has your details, it's more an automated offer sent by eBay itself.