Emailing direct

[partfinds]

Buyer that just set up account purchased item from me above $200. Buyer with PO in address fake phone nr. I sent buyer screenshot and video link to check if he has any other questions and he tells me that he can’t view screenshots because he has no account with ebay.

if he has no account with ebay how is he ab,e to message me? Is messaging now allowed straight from your email box (hit reply and send) or you need to be logged into account to message? 

PS. oh also ebay now shows ebay user email address in the email field- for those that were concerned about ebay allowing direct messaging and that would allow for transactions off ebay.

[714ricki]

Probably using some guest account. 

[partfinds]

Do you need to be logged into guest account? How do you message seller in guest account if log in is not required?

[a_c_green]

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@partfinds wrote:

PS. oh also ebay now shows ebay user email address in the email field- for those that were concerned about ebay allowing direct messaging and that would allow for transactions off ebay.

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An encrypted email address for your buyer is available to you for two weeks following the date of the transaction, after which it disappears. The buyer's phone number is also available, and that remains visible for as long as the Sale record itself remains accessible (three months).

[albertabrightalberta]

@partfinds 

Many people don't have home mail delivery or they don't have a secure location to receive mail so they rent a PO box. There's nothing suspicious about that nor is it disallowed per ebay rules. 

And how do you know it's a "fake phone number?" 

[mr_lincoln]

@partfinds   Chances are the Buyer is buying as a guest, it does not require an eBay account but they are given the option to open one in the future ... however, this transaction would NOT be on an account they open later.

If the item is paid for pack it up and ship it out to the Buyer. 

Here is a link to Buying as a guest, it may help you understand the process better (NOTE: they cannot leave Feedback if they buy as a guest):

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying-guest/paying-items/buying-guest?id=4035&st=3&pos=1&query=Buying%20a...

[ms.rodriguez*]

The phone number is irrelevant.  I started selling here in 1998 and I have never called a buyer.  I also have a PO box since 1998.  Nothing is safer than shipping to a po box. Nothing.

[partfinds]

What about emailing… can they email without loggin ? He kept messaging me (more than once) but stated he is unable to see screenshots due to lack of account. Can you email seller in guest account without account and password?

[mr_lincoln · Accepted solution]

Hi again @partfinds 

The answer to your question is contained in the linked eBay Help Page provided earlier ... the short answer is yes, the Buyer can "Contact" you ... they explain how to do that.

[dnasilver]

PO Box since 1980 and we deal in high value items. USPS insures items up to 50K. PO Boxes are the norm in our industry. 

[wastingtime101]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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The buyer's phone number is also available, and that remains visible for as long as the Sale record itself remains accessible (three months).

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FYI @a_c_green - they extended the sales records with a 2 year look back, but buyer info (phone number, name and street address) are removed after 90 days.

[partfinds]

I don’t mind PO boxes as long as buyer communicates. I was just slightly thrown off when he kept messaging me and telling me he doesn’t have account. Scam crossed my mind for a second. Aparently buyer wants to stay private.

[ms.rodriguez*]

So if I buy something from you and pay, you are going to communicate with me before you ship?  That is going to raise my bp.  You ship to the address in the payment.  That's it. No need to communicate with the buyer.  The address is printed on the payment. Years ago, in the time of money orders and check, I can understand emailing a buyer if you can't figure out their handwriting but not nowadays.   

[reallynicestamps]

If he hasn't paid after 96 hours, you can cancel his purchase as Unpaid.

He gets a Strike, you get any fees refunded, you Block him, you relist.

Choose Fixed Price/Immediate Payment Required for the relisted item and it will remain visible and available to the first guy who actually pays.

We can also set up our Selling Form to automatically cancel Unpaid Items after four days, so you don't have to do anything at all.

[partfinds]

@ms.rodriguez* 

„So if I buy something from you and pay, you are going to communicate with me before you ship?  That is going to raise my bp.  You ship to the address in the payment.  That's it. No need to communicate with the buyer.  The address is printed on the payment. Years ago, in the time of money orders and check, I can understand emailing a buyer if you can't figure out their handwriting but not nowadays.”

I like to make sure buyer read description or item is the right fitment. Multiple times I caught it and avoided return because of communication before shipping. Some items I just ship but heavier items and items that have potentioal of buyer making mistake  I do try to communicate about. Many times buyers thank me for educating them or helping with fitment.