Unwelcome buying - circumventing BBL
I want to report a buyer who circumvented my BBL by using a different ID to make a purchase.
But on the "report buyer" page, there's no option for unwelcome buying.
Is there another link to use?
(I prefer to report a problem ahead of time so it there's a problem with the transaction, it will already be on record that they had been blocked on another ID.)
TIA.
albertabrightalberta
Posted 11 months ago·Last reply 11 months ago
41 comments
rugerskick
·11 months agoGet them to call you through the help menus to finally have the ai assistant put that as an option. When you get on the phone ask to speak with someone from Fraud and Security, they are higher up than the first line of cs reps. Explain briefly the issue so they see why you need a Fraud and Security persons help. Then talk to the about this because this is a serious problem ebay isnt fixing.
albertabrightalberta
OP11 months agoQuick review of issue and update:
I have best offers on all my listings because it gives me the ability to check buyers' history of feedback left for others and block if desired. (And doing so has allowed me to dodge dozens of bullets over the years because I've found that most potential problem buyers make offers rather than BIN'ing.)
So a wannabe buyer made an offer but her feedback left was problematic. I blocked her after saving a record of her city and state. (Saving the location lets me know if a potential buyer uses a different ID after hitting the block.)
A couple of hours later, she used another ID, made the BIN purchase and I shipped. Delivery was several days ago, but not long enough that automatic feedback was left by ebay. Since buyers can't leave neutral or negative feedback for 7 days for TRS so I was holding my breath waiting for a week to pass.
But today I received an awesome feedback and my concerns (in this case) weren't an issue.
gurlcat
·11 months agopowell-collectibles
·11 months agoYou get the buyer location on buyer-generated offers - that lets you decide on the offer taking into account the shipping expense.
gurlcat
·11 months agoI don't know if that's true but I guess I'll just drop it.
albertabrightalberta
OP11 months agoWhen a buyer makes an offer, their location (city and state) is shown. Since that person is also a seller, I could see her location in her listings.
gurlcat
·11 months agoThank you @albertabrightalberta (and @powell-collectibles ) so much! I'm such a nerd it can really bug me if I never find the answer to something. In this case, there's a reason I didn't know eBay shows the city/state of offer-makers, even though I do have M/O enabled on most of my listings. -It's been eons since I actually saw one, because I set mine up in such a way that it's fully "automated." I use both the minimum and auto-accept amount features, and set them to the same amount. That way every offer simply is-or-isn't enough; the buyer doesn't have to wait for my answer, and if it is enough, then it's a sale; I just hear the "CHING" sound on my phone, same as a full-price BIN sale.
But I totally get why one might rather have the opportunity to 'screen' offer-makers, and this one of yours appears to be a great example. I probably would do the same if I sold certain other categories, but costume jewelry buyers are such an unproblematic lot, darlings really (all but a rare few). Matter of fact, for the most part the worst of them are just lowballers (most likely fellow sellers, seeking to buy my already-pretty-low-priced pieces, and maximize their profit even more). Can't shame them for trying, but I don't want to see it either, LOL. Something about a lowball can just wreck my mood for hours. 🤣
janet9988
·11 months agoSo, positive feedback was the main concern?
albertabrightalberta
OP11 months agoNo, of course I didn't want a negative feedback but I saw that she left a lot of negs that referred to "scamming sellers," "worst experience ever," "nasty seller," "flimsy and cheap products," "worst seller," etc.
I just didn't want to deal with someone who seemed to be unhappy with a lot of her purchases.
mam98031
·11 months ago@janet9988
I don't think that was their main concern. At least their other posts regarding this issue didn't read that way. It appeared that the buyer was going to try and take advantage of them one way or another and that was the concern. Most sellers that have been around as long as @albertabrightalberta has, their feedback is not their main focus. It can be important, but their world doesn't revolve around it.
gurlcat
·11 months ago@albertabrightalberta How did you know the address of the i.d. that made you an offer?
jonathanbrightlight
·11 months agoBuyers IDs are shown when they make offers. The only time they’re obfuscated is when sellers send offers to buyers.
gurlcat
·11 months agoThe OP's report (see message 11) indicated she knew it was the same person based on the address. But the first i.d. only made an offer.
EDIT: You gave me a 'helpful' when I first asked about it Wednesday. 🤣
jonathanbrightlight
·11 months agoAh, I did not connect that. I read a lot of threads, I forget stuff.
gurlcat
·11 months agoI just don't understand why this pretty active (Mentor) member won't answer the question. I know she got the (ostensible) answer for how to report the buyer, but if I was the eBay employee looking at that report, I'd be wondering the same thing : how could she know the mere offer-maker had the same address as the subsequent buyer?
Actually in her report she just said they had the same city and state. So here's my only guess: When she received the offer from the first i.d. she checked them out and found they were also a seller, and could see which city/state they shipped from. Then the buyer had the same city/state. If that's the case .... yeah it's highly likely the same person, but it could absolutely be coincidence.
albertabrightalberta
OP11 months agoSorry, I missed this question @gurlcat.
When the first person made the offer, I was shown the city and state. (They don't give the address.)
Then when I ignored the offer and blocked the buyer, she must have reconsidered and tried to buy at full price, found herself blocked and used a second ID to make the full price purchase.
When she made immediate payment for her purchase, I saw that the shipping address was to the same city and state as the blocked ID.
svcheck
·11 months agoI have one a week agi, i blocked him 2 times before, on two different ebay IDs, now he purchased from 3rd and created a false return again.
I reported - makes no difference on MBG, despite the fact that it is stated that ABUSIVE BUYER WILL LOOSE HIS MBG priveledge
This guy are still scamming us like there is no tomorrow
any ebay help?
an-57470
·11 months agoThe best way to effectively deal with a user who circumvents the BBL is to do the following.
1) When you BBL a user for the very first time, copy/paste the name/address into a text document, word processor, etc.
2) If there is a reportable policy violation for ANYTHING, report the buyer… but DO NOT LIE and file a false report.
3) Most buyers who circumvent the BBL lack impulse control and patience, so check all orders for a period of time and verify that none are a match to any addresses on your list of names/addresses in that text file/word processor document.
4) If you find a match, BBL the new ID, cancel the transaction citing “problem with buyer’s address,†and REPORT the buyer for circumventing the BBL. While there is no specific drop down selection for this reason, there is something similar to “auction interference.†I forget the exact wording.
5) If/when the buyer leaves the negative, file the automated “feedback removal request.†Now, these are handled by AI, so you MUST TALK TO IT like you are talking to a computer. No ranting/raving. Short, simple statements. For example: Buyer reported. Policy violation. Threatened negative feedback. Unwelcome buyer. Circumvented Blocked Bidders List. Feedback extortion. Malicious bidder.
These are all key words from past and current eBay policies, and I believe AI looks for such words and understands them.
6) Rinse and repeat as necessary.
I have had three individuals in the past year (approximately) that I have had to deal with in this manner.
To date, I have had seven (7) negative and one (1) neutral feedback removed using the automated process. I have never had a removal request denied.
This is the same process, BTW, that so many state “never works.†It absolutely DOES work.
Note… the above will work ONLY if the buyer is dumb enough to keep using the same shipping address. If the buyer gets more creative and has someone else make a purchase for them, then you likely aren’t going to catch them… unless maybe they reside in the same zip code.
mam98031
·11 months agoAll great advice.
As far as feedback removal goes. The process is significantly changing this month.
More flexible handling of mixed feedback
We’re also improving how mixed feedback affects your profile. Starting this October, when you ask us to remove feedback and a buyer’s comment contains both removable and non-removable content, we’ll ask them to edit the removable part. If the buyer revises it, we’ll publish their feedback. If they don’t, the feedback won’t appear on your profile at all. We’ll notify you whenever we ask a buyer to revise their comment.
https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/news/2025-august/seller-protection
44012
·11 months agoThat is great advice! I learned something new. So appreciate!
albertabrightalberta
OP11 months agoThank you all. I did send in the report last night before going to bed.
Buyer violated the multiple accounts and abusive buyer policy by circumventing a blocked buyer list by using a second account.
First made offer using account (ID redacted). When blocked, she came back and purchased with (2nd ID). Both accounts are the same person, both accounts are located in (city, state). Account #1 blocked: (BBL #1)
Account #2: circumvented and used to make purchase are other account blocked: (ID #2)
Abusive buyer policy: https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/buying-practices-policy?id=4374 Pertinent section: Using multiple accounts: Registering new accounts or using other existing accounts to avoid buying restrictions or limits or other policy consequences is not allowed. See our Multiple accounts policy for more information.
Multiple accounts policy: https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/identity-policies/multiple-accounts-policy?id=4232 Pertinent section: Are there circumstances when creating another account isn't allowed? Registering new accounts to avoid buying and selling restrictions or limits, or other policy consequences, is not allowed on eBay I have shipped the item but I want it on record that the buyer should have been prohibited from purchasing from me because she is a blocked buyer.
gurlcat
·11 months ago@albertabrightalberta @Anonymous Maybe I'm having a blonde moment but I don't know how you can see the address of a buyer when they're just making an offer. All I see on buyers' profiles is which country they -are registered in.
adamcartwright
·11 months ago@gurlcat
Sounds like they're talking about the case of one actual buyer who gets added to the BBL after purchasing (so the shipping name and address are known), then goes on to make a second purchase under a new account name with the same shipping name and address.
an-57470
·11 months ago@gurlcat
OP said buyer made multiple purchases. I don’t see that offers were mentioned.
gurlcat
·11 months agoIn message #11, in that box where she shows what she reported.
"First made offer using account (ID redacted). When blocked, she came back and purchased with (2nd ID). Both accounts are the same person, both accounts are located in (city, state). Account #1 blocked: (BBL #1)
Account #2: circumvented and used to make purchase are other account blocked: (ID #2)"
I'm not sure why she blocked the first i.d. for making an offer, probably a private message one and maybe a lowball, lol. I block people like that sometimes, depends on my mood. But anyway @albertabrightalberta how could you tell what city she lived in? Was she also a seller and that's where her items location was?
mam98031
·11 months agoYes, it is definitely against the rules, but it is VERY hard to get Ebay to step in and do anything of substance on this subject.
wastingtime101
·11 months agoHere's my standard advice.
Circumventing the block is a violation and sellers can cancel those sales and report the buyer:
When you report a buyer there is no specific reporting selection for buyers circumventing blocks. I usually select a reason that ties to why I blocked them in the first place, even if it's not an exact match, or go with 'demanding something not included in the listing' since that's most closely related to buyer demanding to make a purchase when their ID is blocked. Once you drill down and select a reason the comment box will appear where you can explain why you're reporting them.
I put ID [id # 1] on blocked list, buyer attempting to circumvent block with new ID [id #2]. Did not find a specific circumventing a block selection under the report flow so I selected the option that most closely fit the situation.
mam98031
·11 months agoJust select the best one that is available, then in the comment field explain what they are doing.
Sorry this is happening to you. Buyers like this can be extremely problematic.
albertabrightalberta
OP11 months agoThank you @mam98031 .
That's what I'll do.
mam98031
·11 months agoI do wish you GOOD LUCK. I have only once in all my years here gotten Ebay to help me with this kind of a situation. And the one time they did help, it was more like I was being stalked by a buyer. They were relentless. The silly thing was it was over a 99 cent auction. it was just crazy.
Oh and the Mentor's group [I don't remember which one of us brought this up] has gotten this suggestion to the team that handles the Report a Buyer function to add a reason for a buyer circumventing a block.
albertabrightalberta
OP11 months agoI think there was an option to report that reason at one time because I think I recall using it. It was years ago.
gurlcat
·11 months agoThe menu of reasons for reporting a buyer don't include this, but it's definitely a violation of the Multiple Account Policy.
wastingtime101
·11 months agoThat screenshot highlighted text specifies registering new accounts.
I think what you're looking for is the abusive buyer policy which specifies:
Registering new accounts or using other existing accounts to avoid buying restrictions or limits or other policy consequences is not allowed.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/abusive-buyer-policy?id=4374
gurlcat
·11 months agoYeah I got the link from that Abusive page. I think it's just another example of where the say the same thing in two places but didn't include all the words in both.
rugerskick
·11 months agoGood advice. Also, contact ebay as well and let them know a blocked buyer is using multiple accounts to get around your block of him, this is against ebay rules. Make sure they know what this person is doing, because if he keeps doing it they can restrict or suspend his accounts. Make sure to block all the accounts hes using.
svcheck
·11 months agoI posted earlier about a guy who was blocked TWICE and bought 3rd time and scam me
Why is ebay doesn't cover me under seller protection?
I have verified with CS that it is the same buyer, but ebay said SOL
Why ebay is not enforcing their own rules?
mam98031
·11 months agoSorry I have no answers for you. I've experienced this myself with the same outcome you have had.
svcheck
·11 months agoIssue is that ebay has CLEARLY posted policy - it used be called non circumvention policy nd now it is called ABUSIVE buyer policy. And it is also in MBG exclusion terms
But why it is not enforced?
mam98031
·11 months agoI understand that. I am aware of the policies. I just have no answers for you. Your experience has been my experience. I can't answer as to why they don't enforce the rules on this. It has never made any sense to me.
If you haven't done it already, you may have better luck if you contact Ebay through Social Media.
On each Ebay page there is a link to contact Customer Service at the top of the page and again at the bottom of the page.
I would suggest that you contact Ebay for Business on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the better trained CSRs.
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://twitter.com/askebay
https://www.facebook.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 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
https://www.ebay.com/help/home
svcheck
·11 months agoI am on the concierge account (as far i know that is as high as y go short of diamond account). Issue is there is no written policy for CS. They acknowledge written policy on the site, but recite theirs...
I m on it though. They promised to repay me for the case, but my pint is not to get a $100, but to have a working system
powell-collectibles
·11 months agoIt isn't enforced because fixing it doesn't do much for eBay. They care about things that move the needle. Heck, even on something like the false tracking scam, they can't be bothered to add a "delivered to wrong location" option for buyers.