Can you find a buyer's email after a sale on managed payments?

[kathy507]

After a buyer completes a transaction on the managed payment system, can you find out their email address?   You had the buyer's email address if they paid through PayPal before managed payments.  I would often send a confirming email after shipping an item with details on how to contact me if there were any problems, so having an email was beneficial to me.   (I never spammed them afterward...just in case you were wondering.  I get enough junk email myself!)  

Many times a buyer would respond to my email notification and let me know why they bought the item (often to replace/restore a memory) and I will miss that if there is no way to directly contact them after a sale.

Can you send buyers your email after a transaction in case there is any problem or any direct questions?  Can you do this through the eBay message system without being accused of trying to sell off eBay?

Just curious as I work my way through the managed payment system.

[rebell45]

I believe it's okay for a buyer and seller to exchange contact information in eBay message when they are in the process of completing a sale.

[mam98031]

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@rebell45 wrote:

I believe it's okay for a buyer and seller to exchange contact information in eBay message when they are in the process of completing a sale.

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If there is an existing transaction, yes.

[mam98031]

Buyer email addresses are not available to sellers anymore.  

When you create your shipping label through Ebay or if you just enter the tracking number into Ebay, Ebay generates an email to your buyer notifying them that their item has shipped.

If you feel the need to send them another confirmation you do not need their private email address to do it.  Just send it through Ebay.  

Do you ignore emails in the Ebay email system?

[insa_electronics]

There are A LOT OF reasons why sellers should have buyer's email address. Here are a few:
1. To send LARGE Photos !  ebay messages allow sending photos, but are very limited to certain size, resolution and very often are compressed by ebay.  Also, when you see these photos on ebay site, you can't zoom in even if high resolution photo was sent.
2. In order to send datasheets, PDF, ZIP or other files which can be vital for the items sold. This is not allowed through ebay message system. Also links in ebay item listings is not allowed, which is TERRIBLE, when I want to add a link to the datasheet . Insanely dumb!
3. when cases are opened. It seems LESS AND LESS buyers care to monitor the cases they open. Buyers click open case, then close it the next time they enter ebay, usually without reading what seller has published there. I do need email addresses  to send proof of sending, detailed instructions, photos, etc.

BTW -->> "Do you ignore emails in the Ebay email system?"
Answer:  MANY buyers do ignore them, and/or they do not monitor their email address ebay has.

4. Under EU regulations, it is mandatory buyer and seller to be able to see each other email addresses and phone numbers.

Email addresses were exchanged and everything was working perfectly OK on ebay.com for more than 20 years -- from ~1997 until approx. 2018. What changed in 2018 to necessitate this restriction ? Answer: Nothing!   Is it for buyer's security ? Nope, it is because ebay WANTS to charge more than they really deserve.

A real-life Example: long range international sale. A buyer did not receive their item in ~10 weeks after shipping. Trying to make it easier for the buyer (and because he politely requested), I sent a full refund. A week later buyer informed me he received the item and asked how he can repay me. I don't have buyer's email, I don't have anything. Trying to send a paypal email, or a "paypal.me" link through ebay messages did not work, and on top ebay accused me that I'm trying to sell outside of ebay. THIS ebay attitude towards sellers IS RIDICULOUS and has to end !

I did pay all the fees, and ebay wants to charge me TWICE for one and the same sale. There is NO WAY this is correct !

[buyselljack2016]

In MP that  jumbled/encrypted address shown  sends a message to the buyer email unless the buyer blocks emails.

Using "contact buyer" serves the same purpose.

Sellers do not need my email addy for any reason.

 

[mam98031]

@insa_electronics 

This is an old thread.

Sellers and buyers that have a current transaction CAN share contact information.  So you seem to be making some assumptions that you are willing to bash Ebay over that are unnecessary.

As to your point #3, it is an extremely bad business decision to decide to communicate with your buyer outside of a claim filed in Ebay.  Ebay will NOT consider ANY outside email if the need arises for the particulars of a claim.  So communicating outside the claim is extremely risky.

You ask if I ignore emails from Ebay.  No I do not.  If it is a marketing email I may not read it, but anything else I at least open it to see what it is and NOT assume it is unimportant.  If you have buyers ignoring emails that Ebay sends to them during a open claim process, that is  on the buyer and not in their best interest.  A non responsive buyer in the claims process makes it really easy to win the claim as a seller.

I have no idea what this statement means in context of talking about emails "Nope, it is because ebay WANTS to charge more than they really deserve.".  This statement makes no sense as it has nothing at all to do with email addresses or emailing at all.

As to your closing paragraph.  I suggest to email them before  you refund them and make sure you have their email address just in case at some future date you do need to contact them or send them an invoice because the item finally arrives.

There are ways to accomplish what you need within the confines of Ebay.  Because you aren't aware of them doesn't mean that Ebay is doing anything wrong, it is so much easier than that, you just didn't know that you can share the info on a current transaction.

[kh-valeria]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.