My buyer got a warning from eBay about sending contact info...

[sin-n-dex]

I listed a token pretty cheap, and sold it to a buyer who gave me an address in the US (near the border). I sent out my standard "I'm in Canada and I ship Mondays" message and he replies that he's in Canada and would I mind sending it there instead.

It's a cheap token, and I agreed. He messaged me his address, which I received. A few hours later he sends me a message telling me that he got a warning from eBay about sending contact information and he doesn't know how to provide me with the address of where it should be shipped. (Although I had received that message).

I do get that prior to a transaction you can't do it, but I didn't think it was an issue AFTER  your purchase AND pay for your item to send a message like that. I know you're supposed to ship to the address on file, but on cheap items I sometimes get responses that buyers are in Canada and would like to know if I'll ship it to them directly instead. (They don't realize I'm in Canada... or at least they didn't read my description of the item to find that out).

C.

[fashunu4eeuh]

You are right, it is supposed to be ok to exchange contact info after the transaction. The buyer can reach out to customer service to point this out as the warning is inaccurate. Here is the policy below, though it does not clarify that contact info can be sent after the transaction. It is not spelled out but common sense dictates that it is allowed after the sale, duh.

Sellers are free to send the item to a different address than on their transaction if they so choose to take the risk. I have done this on occasion at a buyer's request. Just depends on the circumstances.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behaviour-policies/publishing-contact-information-policy?i....

[iart]

I've recently had buyers send me their phone numbers and addresses. So this might be new.

Maybe ebay is trying to clamp down on the rising scams. Perhaps the thieves use the contact info to get sellers off ebay where they can scam them.

Also, why would a buyer care about being punished by ebay? Assuming they're only buying. What's ebay gonna do? Suspend them for a few days, sending them to another site? Makes no sense.

[pburn]

I've received one of those warnings before . . .

It's been awhile, but, IIRC, I was sending another member the email address of the community team here at eBay. The "warning" popped up about contact info. I thought it was a bit humorous, since it was an eBay email address.

Not that I'd encourage anyone to do it, but I think it's just standard "shot across the bow." More of a stern reminder than anything else. I certainly never heard another word about it.

[a_c_green]

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@iart wrote:

I've recently had buyers send me their phone numbers and addresses. So this might be new.

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In fact, the buyer's phone number is displayed (for at least a couple weeks or so) in the Purchase Details record, so the OP could phone him up.

[luckythewinner]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

but I didn't think it was an issue AFTER  your purchase AND pay for your item to send a message like that

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Here's are  a couple imaginary messages after a buyer purchases a $1,000 item and pays for it.

SELLER: "My selling fees are $123.80.  If you agree to cancel this transaction, I'll refund you in full and you can buy it from me on Craigslist and I'll reduce the price by $50 and we'll both come out ahead!"

or .. 

BUYER: "Your selling fees are $123.80.  If you agree to cancel this transaction and refund me in full, I will buy it from you on Craigslist for $50 less and we'll both come out ahead!"

That is why eBay does not want buyers and sellers exchanging messages after the sale. 

[southern*sweet*tea]

Your buyer should have began his message with "Greetings, kindly ship to this address". The bots would have ignored it completely. 😑

[stephenmorgan]

I received the message before.  It was not a warning, the message was prevented from going thru because of the eMail being in it.

Nothing I need very often, but I have found that if I had a established business relationship with the person and the item being messaged about, the message went thru.

Do not know if it has changed as I have not needed an email address for a very long time.

[robxznyc]

Since eBay began to hide buyer's email address in order detail last year I confirmed with CS that it's ok to exchange contact info post transaction. Did he share contact info with other members besides you? 

@luckythewinner this could happen, but 1) they'd need email address instead of shipping address. Although buyer's email address is hidden in order detail, there are other places on eBay sellers can access this info. 2) discount offered post transaction gives buyer much less incentive compared to eBay's money back guarantee and causes seller to lose PayPal fees. 

[bigdeals.etc]

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@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

Sellers are free to send the item to a different address than on their transaction if they so choose to take the risk. I have done this on occasion at a buyer's request. Just depends on the circumstances.

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I’ve done this many times on a case by case basis too. Never has a buyer told me they got warned by ebay, so either this has never happened to any of my buyers or they just didn’t choose to tell me about it.