Checkout wants my phone number

[buyelzebub]

I just did a BIN from a seller in China, and when I went to pay, checkout would not proceed until I provided a phone number. Anyone else seen this? 

[lyndal1838]

Yes, it often happens, especially with items from overseas and items that are being shipped by courier.

Just give the seller your phone number and you will probably never hear anything more about it.

[buyelzebub]

Hmm. Never seen it before. Item would be posted, not sent by courier, so the seller has no legitimate need for it. 

In any case, the request should be made before the buyer can hit the "Commit to Buy" button, not afterward.

The seller has a simple choice; go without my phone number or go without the sale. 

[silversterio2]

The Seller could request your phone number through ebay so I'm not sure why you're reluctant to  give it to the Seller.

What the Seller's requiring  is actually  a setting in a  Seller's ebay preferences that can be used.

Site preferences > Postage Preferences > Require phone number for postage

[putney32]

The Seller could request your phone number through ebay so I'm not sure why you're reluctant to  give it to the Seller.

What the Seller's requiring  is actually  a setting in a  Seller's ebay preferences that can be used.

Site preferences > Postage Preferences > Require phone number for postage

yes that setting is there to save the Seller having to click on the Contact Details and requiest your phone number from ebay.  if seller is posting with DHL  Fedex etc. or some of the other 'quasi Postal' types. they MUST have a phone number .. simple

[phorum_junkie*]

If you don't want a seller to have your phone number then you should close your account, As soon as you place a bid the seller can request your contact details and will be emailed your phone number. If it is not a valid number then they can report you and you will be required to change it to one that works or ebay will de register you.

The option to require a phone number before you can complete checkout is just there to save the seller having to go through that time consuming process.

[buyelzebub]

If you don't want a seller to have your phone number then you should close your account, 

I'd prefer to keep my account open and deal with the vast majority of sellers who don't impose unnecessary conditions on their buyers.

[putney32]

v

Checkout pops up a box asking me to insert a phone number into my postal address. However, my postal address (which is different from my residential address) does not have a phone service.  

the number you give does not have to be 'linked' the the postal address.  it is just the contact number where Customs / or the delivery person can contact you if necessary.

[buyelzebub]

 

the number you give does not have to be 'linked' the the postal address.  it is just the contact number where Customs / or the delivery person can contact you if necessary.

Not so. It requires that I amend my postal address to include a phone number.

Customs can contact me through my postal address, which is what they have done in the past.

As for the delivery person, I'll say it again - the delivery is by Australia Post. They don't ring, they leave a card.

[buyelzebub]

Oops, Let's try that again.

the number you give does not have to be 'linked' the the postal address.  it is just the contact number where Customs / or the delivery person can contact you if necessary.

Not so. It requires that I amend my postal address to include a phone number.

Customs can contact me through my postal address, which is what they have done in the past.

As for the delivery person, I'll say it again - the delivery is b