topic Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week in Selling

Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

ausbulk — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 01:45:17 GMT

I just tried to send my address and phone number to a buyer, ebay has now automatically restricted my ability to communicate with any buyer on ebay for 1 week!!. I called up their help line only to be told they don't have the ability to remove this restriction on my account.

I was unaware that you couldn't send a phone number prior to the buyer clicking buy now.

I can understand why ebay has this restriction to stop people making a transaction outside of ebay..... but I wasn't trying to get around their fees.

This is a huge hastle for me, the only way I can contact buyers now is for me to call ebay, they send me an email, I respond to that email, and ebay contact the seller on my behalf....

I currently have 3 listings up, was planning on putting up another few this week... looks like I'll have to put that off now.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

daydreams_12 — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 02:13:28 GMT

You are right, it is a huge problem for many sellers judging by the number of threads posted on the boards recently. It does of cause have to do with the robots fearing off ebay transactions. There have been a few suggestion as to how to get around it but dont really know if they work. HAve a look around the boards for same problem and see if you find a way around it in any of the other threads. Sorry cant search for them at present was due out 1/2 hr ago.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

ivak245 — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 04:12:33 GMT

I tried the same thing, buyer wanted to know further details, and i can talk a lot faster(and easier) than i Can type. I tried sending a phone number- got a warning from Ebay, I then tried sending my email adress using brackets, etc (not using the @ symbol), and got a week off the air. That cost me about $100 because the buyer thought that I couyldn't be bothered sending the info. It Also cost ebay their commision and dont forget the Paypal sting too! I tried explaining to the Ebay rep, I might as well have talked to my chooks, they understand better!!

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

ausbulk — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 06:59:54 GMT

Well I just lost the sale of my PS4 Pro.... buyer pulled out after the conversation started looking funny, that's $500.

I have 2 other auctions running currently and was about to put some more up..... so **bleep** right now.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

imastawka — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 07:22:09 GMT

Buyers have to hit buy it now for ebay to be satisfied.

Only then will they allow exchange of info

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

ausbulk — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 08:01:47 GMT

I get it, why don't they just restrict my whole account for a week? Oh no then they would miss out on their fees, they just need to make it really inconvenient for a week....

Amazon, get your A$$ in gear an get in Australia already.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

imastawka — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 08:09:38 GMT

Careful what you wish for. Amazon won't be that great.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

go-tazz — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 08:21:24 GMT

@imastawka wrote:
Buyers have to hit buy it now for ebay to be satisfied.

Only then will they allow exchange of info

Yep,just had a buyer pay by PP on a recent pick up item and three days later they wanted it cancelled as they

thought our address was closer or they couldn't get someone to pick it up that was going to their place.

So to make certain that I don't get defected in case they thought I might have sold it to them anyway and then

refunded the payment I relisted it,(if they dont sell I can always donate the books so I have nothing to lose except the FVF as it sold under the 10 free with no FVF)

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

*tippy*toes* — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:34:51 GMT

I don't know if it still works, but this is how I've sent my email address via messaging. It's been awhile since I've done it, so the bots may pick up on it now. This is not a real email address that I know of. michael atTIC snowman dotTy comING dotING auNTY. If you use hotmail, gmail or any of the other free online emails, the you're probably screwed as they would be in the bots database.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

janeababe — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 22:17:01 GMT

@*tippy*toes* wrote:
I don't know if it still works, but this is how I've sent my email address via messaging. It's been awhile since I've done it, so the bots may pick up on it now. This is not a real email address that I know of. michael atTIC snowman dotTy comING dotING auNTY. If you use hotmail, gmail or any of the other free online emails, the you're probably screwed as they would be in the bots database.

spelling numbers helps too....

zero four one four one two three four five six ..... for example... (hmmm.... i wonder who might own that number i just made up?) LOL

nameatemailserverdotcomdotau might work too.

This aside, i've seen phone numbers listed in listing descriptions. Is this allowed now, or is this an attempted bypass too?

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

heihachi_73 — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 22:35:03 GMT

I would rather see Trade Me make the jump to Australia. While they do let Australian buyers and sellers on the site, they only allow it if you have a bank account and/or home address in New Zealand e.g. if you are a dual citizen or have physical businesses in both countries. The only other problem with Trade Me is that they don't accept PayPal.

It's getting ridiculous that you have to use obfuscated code to get around eBay's Schutzstaffel just so they won't shoot you for daring to reply to a message.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

springyzone — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 23:03:09 GMT

It is not just sellers who are being affected.

A seller I know (who sells pick up items) was saying that 3 of his customers told him they had been suspended for a week. One for asking him for his phone number, the other 2 for messages they sent to other sellers. All of them said they would never bother using ebay again.

It's not good to put sellers offside but it's completely counter productive to ban customers instead of giving them a simple warning.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

lane-ends — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 08:26:13 GMT

Yep dont try any sneaky work arounds. The bots wil pick up a buyer who asks the question. This flags it for a CS rep to check your response, so it wont be left to the bots to pick up your reply. ie they are watching for ripples. Some sellers have had messages from Ebay congratulating them on keeping things on Ebay, they wouldn't know this if they weren't watching for your response.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

ausbulk — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 10:08:10 GMT

Is this really a big issue for ebay? I mean really, I'd love to know how many people exchange details for a tansaction outside of ebay, because I expect the numbers to be minimal.

I havn't in any way tried to avoid paying fees though ebay previously, but after this stupid communication ban I'll be trying every sneaky tactic I can to screw them over.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

justkidzbiz — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 16:03:46 GMT

One way around it is to ask the buyer if they use other social media, FB for example and message them that way!

its ridiculous that pick up items cannot be inspected before purchasing, ie furniture, TVs etc. it's a hassle to have to cancel a sale if a buyer purchases, then they find its not what they wanted when coming to collect. Plus the fact that eBay are requiring immediate payment on purchases under their new trial policy.

Re: Tried to send buyer phone number, communication suspended 1 week

springyzone — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 00:11:27 GMT

@justkidzbiz wrote:
One way around it is to ask the buyer if they use other social media, FB for example and message them that way!

its ridiculous that pick up items cannot be inspected before purchasing, ie furniture, TVs etc. it's a hassle to have to cancel a sale if a buyer purchases, then they find its not what they wanted when coming to collect. Plus the fact that eBay are requiring immediate payment on purchases under their new trial policy.

I remember a few years ago seeing people who listed pick up items-furniture, wedding frocks, all sorts of things-offer prior inspection & there never seemed to be all these hassles. How many deals were done off ebay I don't know. Some I suppose but surely not that many.

When you think about it, if you were in the market for something like a wedding dress, you would surely want to see it or try it on before you committed to buy.

When items are very expensive, it's not unreasonable for someone to want a prior inspection.

My impression is pick up items might eventually be kicked off ebay altogether.