Got a message from a buyer to phone them regarding an item for sale and eBay gives ME a reprimand

[6285teresa]

So.. I am selling a laptop charger and the buyer contacts me via eBay message asking for me to contact them via a mobile number. I ignore it, they either buy it or don't. I then get a reprimand that I should not be doing business outside eBay. - which I didn't. Don't know whether they contacted the seller. A  short while later I am contacted by a buyer for another item who asks if they can pick up an item for sale. Despite the listing saying just that, I respond that "yes they can pick up, just purchase the item and call me on my mobile" the number of which I supplied. The purchaser did not buy and it was later sold to another customer. Then to my surprise my account was suspended. 

So... I contacted them and told them the storey above and admitted I probably didn't need to add my number to the enquiring buyer (just trying to cut out one email). They responded by citing the charger incident - that was entirely the buyers issue and not mine. They did me the favour of reinstating my account but no apology using the charger buyer problem - they just kept citing the rules. 

I am am so confused. I understand the confusion with one incident however the original incident that flagged my account was not my issue. eBay have not reprimanded the charger buyer for trying to do business outside eBay.

Any advice please??

[digital*ghost]

Unfortunately, eBay seems to have decided to treat sellers like criminals in order to encourage them to keep selling on eBay...because we all know the best way to encourage sellers to keep selling on eBay is to have nothing but contempt for them...

This is something that is currently affecting a lot of sellers. eBay are lazy and implement programs to pick up on keywords in messages (privacy isn't a thing here. apparently) and then lazier still by just blaming whatever misunderstanding they get on the sellers in the scenario (on eBay you are guilty, never presumed innocent, and 99% of the time they will shoot first, ask / answer no questions later). 

i know I'm being glib, but believe me when I say I understand how frustrating, disappointing and infuriating this kind of thing is. I can't offer much advice, except to suggest coming up with a reply such as "My apologies, current eBay policies prevent me from being able to provide that information". 

I'd be tempted to suggest to any inquiring buyers that they contact eBay customer service to complain about the terrible and restrictive policies surrounding member-to-member communications, if they are so inclined. 

[imastawka]

Ebay are trying to make sure that business is not conducted 'off ebay'

Buyers have to buy before any private details can be exchanged.

That's their story and they're sticking to it.

[kopenhagen5]

I also received a warning and promptly sent eBay a stern email. 

Next day an apology from eBay arrived.

Seems to be their bots have new instructions.