Ebay community username

[jice65]

Does my username here on the community have to be the same as my ebay id/username? 

Or, can I change my username to one that I prefer for these forums? If so, how do I change my username for the forums?

[inceptions]

Hi @jice65 

You can't change your user ID just for community posts. You CAN open another account to use just for posting on the boards.

It's more helpful however to post under the account you use for buying/selling because often the information there helps responders provide better answers to questions.

[gosimus]

@jice65 

< how do I change my username for the forums >    

What some members have done is to create a separate account, that they use only for posting on the boards.   

The following from https://www.ebay.com/help/account/creating-account/creating-ebay-account?id=4191 

Opening a second eBay account

You can open more than one eBay account as long as you use different email addresses and usernames for each additional account. 

All you need to do is sign out of the account you're currently using, go to the Registration page - opens in new window or tab, and follow the steps above to create a new account. 

Be aware that you can't use more than one account for activity related to the same listing. For example, you can't bid on the same item from multiple accounts or bid on an item you're selling from another account. You can find out more in our Multiple accounts policy. 

If you want to move an email address from one eBay account to another, you'll need to remove it from the first account and wait 60 days before you can add that email address to a different account. Learn how to change your email address. 

[rock.star]

Your username on the forums is the same as your eBay ID.

There are many who open a second eBay ID to use on th forums, it is known as a posting id.

[jice65]

OK, seems like a second account is the work around. Seems like an oversight not to allow a different username (many other services of various types decouple the username from the account ID). 

[inceptions]

@jice65 

It's intentional rather than an oversight.

If you post under a new user ID with zero feedback and no active listings, the replies you get will be predicated on the assumption that you have no eBay experience (you've never bought or sold anything), and the responses you receive will be geared to that - a brand new member who doesn't know much, if anything, about how eBay works.

For example, here are some common questions that we would need more information about if you were to ask them:

1. My items aren't selling. How can I improve them?

2. How should I respond to the negative feedback I received?

3. How can I change the feedback I gave a seller?

4. Why is eBay holding my payments?

5. Do I have to accept a return because the buyer changed his mind?

6. How do a get a coupon for eBay shipping supplies?

7. Why did the shipping label cost more than what the buyer paid?

8. The buyer says my item was not as described. What should I do?

8. I could go on and on...

As mentioned though, you CAN open an account just for posting if you want to. Just expect more effort on the part of responders to extract info from you as needed versus providing a response based on information that would normally be available to them.

[woodland_gnome]

Whether you should use a second account to post depends on your reasons for posting.  If you are seeking help with your buying/selling issues the answers will be more accurate overall if we can see what you are selling and have some idea about your buying.

If you are going to be answering questions and trying to help others, a posting ID is the way to go.