Buyer's Behavior That Is Bordering On Harassment
Summary: tommytreasure is experiencing persistent pressure from a buyer about the price of a collectible item. Despite reducing the price multiple times, the buyer continues to demand further discounts and has become less pleasant in her communications. Many participants advised tommytreasure to block the buyer to prevent negative feedback and potential financial loss. Some suggested reporting the buyer’s actions to the platform as abusive behavior per the seller policies. Others shared experiences of blocked buyers managing to get around restrictions, suggesting the need for decisive action to avoid complications. In response, tommytreasure considered raising the item's price or temporarily withdrawing it from sale.
There is a buyer who has been hounding me for weeks over the price of one of my items. I've already priced it well over a hundred dollars below market value and recently went down another 30 dollars, but this buyer is relentless. She thinks she is going to set the price and tell me what my item is worth. She started out being nice, telling me she was "dying" to have my collectible. Then, progressively, she became "less nice". Now I'm afraid that she'll break down and buy my item, then slap me with bad feedback. I never threw out a "best offer". I always block them, but still, here I am!
albertabrightalberta
·3 weeks agoIf someone was bugging me for weeks, I would have blocked them weeks ago!
Even if you do sell your item to them, I will predict that they'll find some miniscule "problem" for which you can issue a partial refund to make them happy.
Do you really want this buyer that badly?
garxvit
·3 weeks agoUrgent Help Needed: US Address/SSN Compliance Lock on International (UAE) Account Blocking Order #15-15123-06428 Cancellation ($7,505.48)
Account / Region Conflict: My account profile shows a US address (Sunnyvale, CA) with no US SSN, but I am operating internationally/UAE (header shows Ship to United Arab Emirates). The compliance verification flow locks me out/won't accept local documents or bypass the SSN prompt.
Open Order Issue: High-value Order #15-15123-06428 ($7,505.48) has explicit buyer agreement to cancel in messages, but I cannot process the self-service refund/cancellation due to the missing card / account compliance freeze and pending UPS shipping fee credit reconciliation.
Balance / Shipping Discrepancy: My seller balance is negative/short because UPS shipping charges have not been credited back to my account yet, leaving me short on the ledger to fund the closure.
Deadline / Reference: Account restriction deadline is Sep 28, 2026. Reference ID from notice: [#1c2f594977df4191b3344ef13c5a23b9].
Request: Can a moderator or eBay staff flag this thread for a Managed Payments / compliance specialist to override the country-of-residence mismatch and force-close the high-value order cancellation from the held balance?
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks agoSir, this is a Wendy's.
onlinecentral
·3 weeks ago@garxvit If you do not have a SSN, you need to get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). These are issued by the IRS for individuals not eligible for an SSN, such as nonresident aliens or foreign nationals with U.S. tax obligations and are obtained via IRS Form W-7.
Even if you did not have the cancellation and refund issue, you would need the ITIN to receive money through Managed Payments for future sales.
I would guess that the Managed Payments / compliance specialists can not click on a button to override the SSN or ITIN requirement. eBay has no incentive to circumvent KYC Know Your Customer laws.
If you do not get into compliance with a valid ITIN, eBay will eventually issue a refund on your behalf and add a strike to your selling account for Cases Closed Without Seller Resolution.
Sellers who live in one country and ship from another country inevitably get BBE Bad Buyer Experience strikes on their seller account and get Permanent Suspensions. Then they start discussions asking for manual reviews that don't exist and never happen.
Figure out items you can sell in the UAE.
emuestate
·3 weeks agoI had a rude obsessed buyer, and it didn't end well. If I were you, I would end the listing, and move it unsold for now, even if you block her. When I eventually talked to a human at eBay after the experience, and asked how I can possibly prevent this from happening again, she suggested making the item disappear.
adamcartwright
·3 weeks agoI would block, take it off the market for a week or two, then list it again at a higher price. That's just me -- I like to distance myself from potential psychos.
tommytreasure
OP3 weeks agoIf I block her, she could buy the item under a different account and still leave negative feedback. I'm sure blocking her would escalate her anger. I have another idea. I think I'm going to raise the price tomorrow to the price point I had to start with. If she messages me about the price increase, I'll either ignore her or write a polite message telling her this is the price I've decided on. It's worth it, and if I don't sell it, I'll keep it.
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks agoDon't play into her games - just block her and if she buys under another account and leaves you bad feedback, then she has gone against eBay's circumvented policy. Raising the price and then chatting to her about it only makes everything worse. Be decisive.
cityslickercreations2004
·3 weeks agoI am not quick to block but I would quietly block this person NOW. There are many indications this could be a never ending and unpleasant transaction. This is a best offer in money only. Sellers don't need to tolerate every buyer behavior.
Personally, I would stop sending them messages. Another message just keeps the dialogue open and invites them to respond. You stated he/ she has become "less nice." And this is before the sale...
mam98031
·3 weeks agoIn case you need this information. Keep this as it is full of good info. If you drop all the way to the bottom, there is a link where you can ask Ebay to Call you.
At the top and bottom of every page in Ebay are links to contact Customer Service.
Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service. Please be aware that for social media CS, you send them a Private Message and briefly explain what your problem or issue is. Feel free to leave your Name, address, phone number and/or your email address in this message. It is private and secure and it may help to speed up the response for you.
https://www.instagram.com/ebay/
https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/
Your options will be on the left. If you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant or Chat box type AGENT or ask an Agent to call you, in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options. Not all options are available 24/7. It will depend on staffing available. So sometimes you can request a call back and sometimes you can't. Sometimes you have the Chat option available and other times it won't me. If it is important to you to use one of those options, just try back later.
If you use a cell phone or other mobile device, you may need to turn off your Spam filter so that Ebay can call you.
If you are a seller outside of the US or Canada, you will need to use the Chat Option.
https://www.ebay.com/help/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid
From this link you can request Ebay to call you in the USA. The option is available when Staff is available to respond, so NOT 24/7/365.
https://www.ebay.com/help/home
adamcartwright
·3 weeks agoI have found from experience that there is no need to enter your personal info into Instagrams DMs.
eBay does not require it, because they will send you link to verify your account. It's enough to just say, "I'm a seller who needs help" to have that link sent and start the process.
And for people concerned about privacy -- you should know that Meta actually removed end-to-end encryption from Instagram Direct Messages earlier this year, so the DMs are no longer fully private.
mam98031
·3 weeks agoThis is such an easy problem to take care of @tommytreasure , you do not have to endure multiple emails from this buyer. You can stop them.
First since there has been so many communications, the first thing I would do is add them to your BBL. Then I would send the buyer a VERY polite, professional and to the point email. Something like this:
I appreciate your interest in the items I sell. I have answered all the questions you have ask of me. The continued messages from you on the subject is now bordering harassment and I respectfully request that you stop sending emails. If you don't, I will have no option but to report this to Ebay. No need to respond to this email. I wish you nothing but the very best.
If they message you again, inside the message, in the upper right corner is a drop down menu so you can report the message. You can also contact Ebay directly and file a complaint against this buyer. In my time on Ebay I have had to do this a few times. Sometimes members just can't seem to find the off button.
onlinecentral
·3 weeks agoThere have been many discussions with the buyer eventually making the purchase. That could be for the original full price or some discounted amount. That price doesn't matter.
The buyer will pursue a partial refund they are not entitled to after delivery.
You can avoid a bunch of disappointment and financial loss by blocking this buyer. Wait for another future buyer to come along.
christworks
·3 weeks agoI agree with blocking her for sure. I will tell you, my account has issues where at times even blocked buyers are able to get messages through to me. I've not seen anybody else post about this, but I first became aware of my own issues about two months ago.
Her behavior falls under eBay's abusive buyer policy. Specifically, buyers are not supposed to ask sellers for discounts. She's not only asked once, but continues to ask. That is abusive behavior and IMHO she should be reported. I would also send one last single firm message informing her that her account is being blocked from ever buying from you, and that using another account to buy will result in the order being cancelled and the accounts being reported to eBay for trying to get around your block.
A firm message is the only thing your buyer is going to understand.
gurlcat
·3 weeks agoI'm actually about to write a post about blocked buyer messages -it would be a good opportunity to talk about your recent observations, if you want.
christworks
·3 weeks agoI'll look for it and do that. I have a crazy story from this week where someone I blocked was still able to message me. It may not be a glitch, I don't know, since they had placed an order that I cancelled, blocked them, and they were able to message a day later.
chapeau-noir
·3 weeks agoIt's not a glitch - one used to be able to get around the blocked messages - it has been so long, though, that I don't remember how to do it, maybe through the item history.
gurlcat
·3 weeks agoI know they can send messages if they have an open return, but only by clicking the Message Seller on the Return Details page.
gurlcat
·3 weeks ago · EditedOkay I had to do various fire putting-outs but I finally started that post just now @christworks . But it contains an image, and since it's Friday night, look for it around ..... oh I dunno, Monday? 🤣
EDIT: I take it back, they approved it in just a few minutes this time! CREDIT DUE!! Thanks Bevy 😘
christworks
·3 weeks ago@gurlcat You must not have posted your usual inappropiate images that embarass eBay. 😆
gurlcat
·3 weeks agoWha .... I would NE-VER!! The very notion!!!
(Seriously I don't think do that very often, but I would anytime if they deserve it).
inhawaii
·3 weeks agoTrying to negotiate a better price is not harassment.
You are welcome to block this person at any time for any reason.
bennotbill
·3 weeks agoSaying someone is wonderful is not harassment.
Say it enough times and it becomes harassment.
tommytreasure
OP3 weeks agoI agree, even though I was raised to pay what the merchant is asking or keep looking. I never barter. I find it tacky. That said, I'm not angry when people ask; it's how they ask. If I tell you the item you are selling sold for 5 dollars somewhere at some point, and that's all I will pay, my question would be: why didn't you buy it when it was 5 dollars?
bdmh-enterprises
·3 weeks agoIn the 'shortcuts' section of your 'seller hub' there is a link to the block buyers page. Add this person to the list ASAP. They will not be able to buy or message you any further.
tommytreasure
OP3 weeks agoWow, thank you.
shire123
·3 weeks agoBlock her NOW. This will not end up well for you if you don't.