Ebay charging for unsold items now?

[retrowise]

I had an item listed for pickup only. Guy sends me a message that he'd like to see it first. So I wanted to send my phone number for him to message me and than I would send him my address. (Not going to give out address just to anyone on Ebay off course).

I press send and get Ebay's red message - "please remove the contact details. If you proceed you agree to be charged full final item value" (or something very close to that).

So if I was to proceeded sending the message, Ebay would charge me final value on something unsold, even if someone just want's to look at it? Do I understand it correctly? That would be totally absurd to say the least!

And how is anyone suppose to inspect pickup item anyway if you can't give them details.

[maranock]

Ebay has become very paranoid and it is not allowed to send any contact details to the buyer, or the seller. If you try again both of you (buyer and seller) could get disciplined, even banned from sending messages at all.

The only way around it is for your buyer to press the buy now button, then you can send details. If the sale does not go through you just cancel. It is a lot of hassle and time wasted if the sale is abandoned but there are no other options at this time.

[countessalmirena]

retrowise, this is in line with eBay's Member-to-member contact policy.

eBay are being extraordinarily... protective of their potential fees, to the extent that if a seller tries to give contact details to someone interested in buying their item (but who hasn't bought it yet), eBay will deem that a transaction has occurred. (Well, I say "protective"... I mean "paranoid".)

No longer are sellers permitted to give their contact details - before a sale has occurred.

I've not previously heard of that "red message", but I actuallly think that the red message is a good idea as at least it gives sellers a warning about how eBay are going to react! Previously sellers and buyers who were contacting each other with the intention of inspecting an item for sale before buying didn't have ANY IDEA that eBay would react like the wrath of God... suspending buyers and sellers alike for at least a week, chastising them both, limiting their ability to undertake eBay transactions, charging the seller a Final Value Fee on the presumption that contact equals off-eBay sales.

Now at least, by what you describe, sellers are given a head's-up.

Basically, the situation is this: your potential buyer is not allowed to get your contact details before actually buying the item. Your potential buyer is not allowed to inspect before purchasing. It sounds crazy... but here's the Member-to-member contact policy for you to peruse.

This is discussed in a few threads - e.g., https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Cash-on-pick-up-PayPal-for-pick-up-Inspect-pick-up-items-Pa...

The best way to deal with it, I think, is as I've described here: https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Account-suspension-threats-from-eBay-over-message-from-a-bu...

[kopenhagen5]

I read recently eBay are allowing phone numbers in listings now.

Not sure if that's correct.

But worth a try for an inspect/pick up item.

[digital*ghost]

Not in listings, you have to set it up to provide buyers the phone number via the contact seller link. I'm on my mobile so can't double-check, but if I remember correctly it's in limited circumstances, and you may need to have a store.

[joztamps]

You can set it up so that the buyer can only access it after a purchase, or both before and after a purchase.

I don't think you need a store, but I'm not sure about that.

[retrowise]

Unless I missed it I can't see any way to add a phone number to the contact prefs. I don't think it's an option for either basic or a store.

In the past if I put phone number in the message the message just simply wouldn't send. But this is the first time I've seen it, you can proceed with send including the phone number but apparently will get charged a final fee. I can see how all buyers are happy to press "buy" for just wanting to take a look at something, than you'd have to do unpaid item fee refunds, maybe even earn few negs just for fun along the way. I won't be listing any pickups anymore so no fees for Ebay from that, they are shootting own foot.

[digital*ghost]

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@joztamps wrote:

You can set it up so that the buyer can only access it after a purchase, or both before and after a purchase.

I don't think you need a store, but I'm not sure about that.

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You're right - here's the full info from ebay's help page:

How to share your phone number with buyers

You can also make your phone number available to buyers so they can contact you by phone before and/or after they’ve bought from you. You’ll need to opt in before you can share your number though. Here’s how:

1. Go to Account and select Manage communications with buyers.
2. Find Share your phone number. If Yes is showing, you're opted in and buyers can see your phone number. Go to step 3 to choose whether you want to show your phone number before and/or after a buyer has bought from you. If No is showing and you want to opt in, select Edit.
3. On the Manage your buyers’ questions page, select Share your phone number. Choose between Only show this info after a purchase or Show this info both  before and after a purchase.
4. Select Submit. You're now opted in and buyers can access your phone number.

When you're opted in, buyers can find your phone number in 3 places on eBay:

• If the buyer selects Other on the Find answers page when they choose Contact seller, they see an option to view your phone number.
• If the buyer continues to the contact form from the Find answers page, they see an option to view your phone number at the bottom of the page.
• If your buyer responds to an email you sent them, they see an option to view your phone number at the bottom of the page.

I wonder if you can just straight up message a buyer to look for your number (once opted in) if / when they reply to the message, without being pinged for mentioning the cursed words. 

[davewil1964]

I wonder if you can just straight up message a buyer to look for your number (once opted in) if / when they reply to the message, without being pinged for mentioning the cursed words. 

That is the $64,000 question. I'm guessing it will not be something eBay will give a definitive answer to, but something sellers will have to find out for themselves.

[brerrabbit585]

One has to wonder whether you could later cancel the sale if you went ahead and gave your phone number but they didn't buy it. If you relisted it you'd have a pretty argument for the buyer not having gone ahead, but who knows with ebay.