Buyer blocks, do you have them set as high as possible?

[coast_golf]

Just in the past month or two I've had a large number of bids rejected by my blocks, primarily low feedback buyers who don't meet the phone verification requirement.

I have all my blocks set as strong/high as they can go and obviously this includes those with FB of 5 or less that aren't phone verified. I've never much of a problem with low FB non payers and I was just wondering if it would be worth relaxing/removing this block? Or would this just be tempting fate! I'd be interested to hear the experiences of those who don't have this block in place and whether it results in higher numbers of NPB's.

Thanks 🙂

[gem*addiction]

Where do you look to monitor the effect of the buyer blocks?

Go to your account tab, preferences, buyer requirements, and under that is 'buyer activity log', click on that link.

[judyfidella]

Thanks gem*addiction!

So far I have blocked one buyer with too many UPI strikes, and one very low f/b bidder who I guess is unverified.

I will be leaving my blocks as they are;-)

[catsnknots]

I had one listing that I did not have the highest block on.... 

I sold 5 items to one person and that person never paid.... 😐

no other problems with any of my sales... 

BUT.. I would like to increase sales so I might drop the phone verification.... 

[shipahoys_antique_and_collectable_centre]

I lifted my blocks about 4 - 5 months ago after looking at page after page of buyers attempting to purchase unsuccessfully.  Yes I get a few UPI's (no more than usual really), but sales increased dramatically from day one on my three id's from doing so.  It was a good move for me, and would not change the settings back:-D

[digital*ghost]

  If they did not get verified after being blocked, why not?  Either they did not want the item so much, and could have possibly decided not to pay or do SNAD claim later; or they were not to be trusted to start with. 

Last I checked, phone verification could only be done via a landline (some eBay checks can be done with a mobile number, but that couldn't).

When I first joined eBay, I did not have access to a landline (and hadn't for years), I paid for everything by bank deposit and did not have a credit or debit card. (We're talking 2008, so not that long ago in reality). 

Consequently, I could not be phone verified, nor could I override the block by connecting a PayPal account or putting a credit card on file with eBay. Several sellers lost sales because I could not bid on items. It was actually pretty frustrating and I had no idea what other options there were to override the block (discovered them when i was going through the options after registering as a seller, more than a year later). 

I'm pretty sure that I'm to be trusted (well, I trust myself, anyways :^O), I've paid for every single item I have ever purchased, and I definitely couldn't have opened a claim since the payment would have been by BD, and I don't think - judging from the posts and threads I've read on the boards - that those circumstances are the exception to the norm. 

[***super_nova***]

Last I checked, phone verification could only be done via a landline (some eBay checks can be done with a mobile number, but that couldn't).

I do not think that is the case anymore.  How do you check?

[***super_nova***]

Also, if somebody would message me telling me that they are unable to verify because they only have mobile, I would put them on the exemption list.  

It is just that this block weeds out people who open account for the sole purpose of causing mischief.

[digital*ghost]

I do not think that is the case anymore.  How do you check?

You can't, as far as I know, unless you are actually prompted to get verified, but if I remember correctly the phone verification must be done via landline specifically because it's to verify an identity. Even though you have to show a driver's licence or somesuch when you buy a mobile, numbers are a lot easier to effectively be anonymous, whereas landlines have to have an account holder, name and current address etc (although, I'm also pretty sure you don't have to use your own landline, as I know some members have had to do it when they are overseas).

I sent messages to a couple of sellers at the time, asking if it was possible for me to still buy the item, none of them ever replied though so I stopped asking.

Anyway, I was just trying to demonstrate that there are some circumstances where a non-phone verified member is a genuine buyer. 

[shipahoys_antique_and_collectable_centre]

One thing too is that just because a buyer has unpaid item strikes for items purchase along the way, doesnt mean they will will do the same to you.  I constantly had messages requesting the ability to purchase, and not once can I recall being let down by the buyer who promised that they would pay.  

[davewil1964]

My experience is the opposite. I've had blocked buyers twice ask me if they can buy, both times I unblocked them, both didn't bother buying. From me at least.

If they ask, I'll do it, but I really don't expect them to follow through.