2-step verification does not work for me

[timestreasuresllc]

Now that Amazon is requiring all sellers to use a 2-step verification I am really worried that eBay will stop "suggesting" and start "requiring". 

I have only a landline phone. I do NOT have a smartphone or any mobile device that will accept a TEXT which is what the 2-step verification apparently does.

I have been able to opt out so far.  (Ebay apparently got me into this program somehow, several months ago, and I had to call CS twice - the first one promised to opt me out, but did not. The second CSR actually did opt me out of the program, and I have checked my account settings which shows me not in the program.)

What do I do ?   I am NOT going to buy a smartphone just to be able to get into this 2-step thing, which I really don't see the need for anyway, for a small seller like me with only occasional items selling.

Help or ideas please ???

Thank you!!

[*eponymous*]

@timestreasuresllc  Sign up for Pinger or another free service for your pc/mobile device to receive free SMS messages.

eBay has been phasing out hardware 2FA - two-factor authentication -in favor of SMS 2FA instead.

I never have to get a code to sign-in.  If you continue to have this issue, I'd call eBay and ask why.  Maybe they want you to register a debit/credit card on your eBay account or something simple like that.  Good luck!

[milepost182]

Thank you for the suggestions.

To repeat:  I do not have a "mobile device" for receiving texts. 

I am OPTED OUT of eBay's 2-step verification at the present time.

I have had a credit card registered on eBay since 1998. 

I do not have a debit card and never will.

[milepost182]

I truly appreciate your help and suggestions -- I am just so very, very tired of the hoops and hoops and hoops and always more hoops. I have avoided having to sign up for 2FA - and I have no clue what "SMS" is, let alone SMS-2FA. Sorry to be so naive.

[dtexley3]

SMS is just the formal term for Text messaging.  You can sign up on your pc with the free app suggested which will allow you to receive text messages that are required by some companies for 2FA.  

[*eponymous*]

I'm sorry to not have broken down SMS - short message service, basically text messaging.

When you sign up for a free Pinger account on your pc, you choose a virtual mobile phone number that usually corresponds with your own area code.  You put that number in your eBay account.  When you go to sign-in and get the request for you to enter the code sent to your "mobile number" that actually goes to your Pinger account, you will navigate to Pinger on your pc and retrieve the code.

The only time eBay should be asking you for verification is if you use a computer at a different location than normal, or if eBay detects unusual activity on your eBay account, such as repeated attempts to log-in (which can indicate hacking).

It's really simple:

Go to Pinger and sign up for a free account

Choose a phone number

Enter that phone number into your eBay account.

When you get an SMS from eBay, you will get a tone/sound on your pc.

Go to Pinger, get the code - usually right-click/copy, go back to eBay sign-in.

Enter that code - usually right-click/paste.

For now, that IS eBay's two-step verification process.

Let me do a little more research and, if I find anything helpful, I will post again.

[tunicaslot]

dt - how do you do that?

I also only have a tracfone for emergencies - but have been unable to use some sites due to the verification by text that they have gone to. It frosts my butt as I have no intention of getting a smart phone and can't even tell you my Tracfone phone number as it's for emergencies only. Anyone who needs to have the number already has it - I don't want to waste my tracfone minutes on stupid texts from companies trying to sell me something.

[*eponymous*]

We cannot opt out of 2-step authentication.  The first authentication is the password.  The second authentication is the code.  Some people still use their PayPal fob to sign-in to eBay.  I am one of those users.

Try clearing your browser cache and deleting cookies from your browser(s) and then reboot your computer - if you use Windows, click the Start button and select restart.  Otherwise, you can just click the power button and, when the machine has shut down, restart it.

Now, back to clearing your browser cache and cookies (that's where previous pages you have looked at online are stored for faster loading, but those pages also store log-ins to websites that may be outdated, such as you are experiencing).

Google for the procedure to "clear cache and cookies" (put that into the Google search box), depending on which browser(s) you use - firefox, chrome, IE, etc.  It's a very simple 2-minute process.  After you are finished clearing the cache and cookies on each of your browsers, restart your machine as indicated above.

[*eponymous*]

---

@tunicaslot wrote:

dt - how do you do that?

I also only have a tracfone for emergencies - but have been unable to use some sites due to the verification by text that they have gone to. It frosts my butt as I have no intention of getting a smart phone and can't even tell you my Tracfone phone number as it's for emergencies only. Anyone who needs to have the number already has it - I don't want to waste my tracfone minutes on stupid texts from companies trying to sell me something.

---

@tunicaslot  See the walkthough in my post. Pinger does not let you use your actual mobile no. for their service - it would interfere with SMS transmission through your carrier.  I don't know if they offer using your own mobile no. as a paid service.

[milepost182]

Thank you so much !!  My not having mobile device(s) definitely is not helpful, as I'm not educated about any of these processes, let alone being familiar with terminology. 

So far so good with opting out - the "problem" really can be ignored - when I log into ebay, a prompt then always opens asking to do this "additional security" precauction.  I have been ignoring it.  

That said, I do feel left out when there is an app that mobile users really like and find helpful, but I can't because I'm on a PC.  I have been hoping for a way to actually get apps onto my PC and maybe this is an avenue to do that, I definitely will be checking it out

Thank you again for being so patient and coming back to explain the basics!!!!!!!!!!

[milepost182]

Good for you. I think this is a case of "technology" where programmers are incapable of understanding they need to provide services for ALL not just the uses they are familiar with.

Outlook email is a great example of this. I bought into it and will keep it, but have had a truly terrible time pretty much figuring out how to get rid of the defaults "THEY" think I want and need, when many not only are unwanted they prevent me from doing tasks I WANT to do. Stuff they proudly call "bells and whistles" for my purposes is "Unwanted Garbage."

[milepost182]

In the beginning, I did not realize the system would require sending text, so I did click to do it -- BUT I was able to opt out !!

I had to call ebay CS twice - the first woman promised it was done, but it was NOT then I made a second call and that rep actually DID opt me out.

I can understand this system is beneficial for phones and other mobile devices but not for a PC that is stationary in my home!!!!!!!!!!

[castlemagicmemories]

They should make it text to your phone OR email to your computer.

That makes sense.

[lookng2015]

At least the verification with Amz just requires a PIN be entered and it's the same all the time. Needing to be able to receive a SMS text number every time sucks imho as that's not always an option.

[familyworldtravelers]

I liked the two-step verification process, however, after the pin was not being sent to my phone I was essentially locked out of my account.  Long story short, I called EBAY and they removed the 2-step verification I had set up, and three phone calls later, I was told after the Paypal/Ebay changes, it was no longer an option.  So, If you're locked out of your account, 2 out of 3 folks at EBAY don't know it yet, but it no longer works.  They shut my down so the added security I enjoyed is no longer an option for now (so I was told).