Seller limits buying options, refuses questions???

[alvinmoneypit]

I've been following an item.  This morning I tried to bid on it.  When I hit 'confirm', I got an Ebay message, "You are not able to bid on this item because you do not have a PayPal account or possibly have not linked it to your ebay account".   So I tried to ask the seller a question and I got the message "Sorry the seller is not able to respond to your question".   I then tried to message the seller directly and was able to do it by checking the box, "This is not about an item".  I have not heard back yet.

My questions are: Why would anyone block questions about an item they have for sale?:  Why would they block their customers by limiting the payment method?;  Is this some kind of phishing scam? 

I have had a Paypal account for over 15 years, I just haven't linked it to ebay for my own reasons.  I've never had an issue paying for any item,  is this the new policy on ebay that all Paypal accounts must be linked to be valid?

[alvinmoneypit]

As far as In know, I haven't purchased from seller before. Seller returned my email, and stated they would 'look into it' when seller returned home. So I don't think they're aware of this issue - this same expensive item expired with no bids last month. Seller has offered it again at the same reasonable price and now has only 1 day left with no bids. I forgot about it last month and it expired without my attempted bid.

[alvinmoneypit]

I have Paypal and it's in good standing except it's not linked to Ebay.  This item is a nice, expensive item in my price range that comes along very rarely.

[alvinmoneypit]

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"why not link your PayPal account? It isn't a security risk to do so ... nobody but you and eBay can see it."

Not knowing what they do with the info, I disagree.  Several years ago,  I believe one of these 2 companies had my info compromised, so I don't think it's harmless to link it.  Nor do I think it is simply a one time occurance.  Unless there are real costs to the company associated with the loss of data, compromised accounts will continue to be the norm with increasing frequency.  This is complicated by ever increasing dumb people allowing their info to used and shared in all manner at the same time increasing desperate scammers devising ever more elaborate acrule of user data schemes to compile user profiles and gain access to their finances. 

That all being said, thanks for your input.  I thought much of all problems could be resolved with user ratings. 

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[myangelandmyprincess]

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@penguins_dont_fly wrote:

@alvinmoneypit

Sellers have very few protections on eBay.

Being able to set Buyer Preferences is one of them. An automatic block of buyers without a PayPal account is one of the Buyer Preferences that a seller can select. If your PP isn't linked to eBay, eBay can't tell if you have a PP account or not.

The purchase block can also be set to block communications with anyone that hits the block.

If a seller is selling high end merchandise, they are more likely to attract what is called "sport bidders". Jokers who have no intention of paying for their auctions.  Or even worse, scammers who will try to fool the seller into thinking they have been paid (fake PayPal notice) or try to convince them to ship before they are paid.

Requiring that a PayPal account is linked to an eBay Account is one way of minimizing risk. (Not get rid of it alltogether) ... most sport bidders and payment scammers do not have a PayPal account linked.

For low risk items and Buy it Now items that require Immediate Payment, this block is not really necessary, but some sellers have it set anyway.

You may run into this more often ... why not link your PayPal account? It isn't a security risk to do so ... nobody but you and eBay can see it.

Linking your account does not enable "quick checkout", or whatever they are calling it these days. It only verifies that you HAVE an account.

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This exactly   

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@alvinmoneypit wrote:

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"why not link your PayPal account? It isn't a security risk to do so ... nobody but you and eBay can see it."

Not knowing what they do with the info, I disagree.  Several years ago,  I believe one of these 2 companies had my info compromised, so I don't think it's harmless to link it.  Nor do I think it is simply a one time occurance.  Unless there are real costs to the company associated with the loss of data, compromised accounts will continue to be the norm with increasing frequency.  This is complicated by ever increasing dumb people allowing their info to used and shared in all manner at the same time increasing desperate scammers devising ever more elaborate acrule of user data schemes to compile user profiles and gain access to their finances. 

That all being said, thanks for your input.  I thought much of all problems could be resolved with user ratings. 

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That don't save any compromising info about your PayPal account or password.  If just keeps the information that you do in fact have a PayPal account   Mine has been linked for as long as I can remember including when eBay in for was compromised.  Even when eBay was componised my paypal account wasn't 

[tweetystwades]

If you haven't purchased from them before, I don't see any reason why they would block you from buying. People get blocked for leaving neg FB, returning an item in condition not as received, returning too many items, or bidding on items and not paying. If you have any strikes for bidding and not paying, they could have their ebay settings set to block you.
They did finally respond to your email, that's a good sign. You may be right, they might not be aware. Or it could be a tech issue. See what they say. If they have no bids on it, you may get another chance to purchase. Good luck.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@alvinmoneypit wrote:

I have Paypal and it's in good standing except it's not linked to Ebay.  This item is a nice, expensive item in my price range that comes along very rarely

If you really want the item, since it is rare, and a good price, just link your Paypal to your eBay account.  Then you should not run into this problem again.  I ran into this years ago, it was an auction, my accounts were not linked, and it would not let me bid.  It was near the end of the auction so no time to change anything.  I lost an item I really wanted because of it.  I linked my accounts.  I think if it really bothers you, you can unlink after this auction.  Not sure, but you can check it out.  But due to this block, that many sellers use, you may want to consider leaving your accounts linked.

Hope you get your item!

[castlemagicmemories]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@alvinmoneypit wrote:

I have Paypal and it's in good standing except it's not linked to Ebay.  This item is a nice, expensive item in my price range that comes along very rarely

If you really want the item, since it is rare, and a good price, just link your Paypal to your eBay account.  Then you should not run into this problem again.  I ran into this years ago, it was an auction, my accounts were not linked, and it would not let me bid.  It was near the end of the auction so no time to change anything.  I lost an item I really wanted because of it.  I linked my accounts.  I think if it really bothers you, you can unlink after this auction.  Not sure, but you can check it out.  But due to this block, that many sellers use, you may want to consider leaving your accounts linked.

Hope you get your item!

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Of course, if you feel so strongly about this, just don't do it.

But as you know, you would then have to pass on this rare item.

Maybe your seller will come up with something, since  you contacted him.

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@tweetystwades wrote:
If you haven't purchased from them before, I don't see any reason why they would block you from buying. People get blocked for leaving neg FB, returning an item in condition not as received, returning too many items, or bidding on items and not paying. If you have any strikes for bidding and not paying, they could have their ebay settings set to block you.
They did finally respond to your email, that's a good sign. You may be right, they might not be aware. Or it could be a tech issue. See what they say. If they have no bids on it, you may get another chance to purchase. Good luck.

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They are blocked under the "not having a PayPal account" because their PayPal account is not linked eBay doesn't see they do have one 

[creoleorchid]

Alvin,

Back in the day, Paypal was fairly new and I had a rash of people bidding on my items that had not set up a Paypal account. Then I had to walk them through it, only to have them balk at giving this "upstart" their banking information. I lost a few sales that way, after having had the item "sold" but the buyer couldn't or wouldn't complete the Paypal process.

So, eBay gave us the option to require a Paypal account from bidders so I jumped on it. So did a lot of sellers. It's not really necessary now but the option is still there and a lot of seller just check it off to be safe.

So if you really want that item,  just go to your ebay account settings and enter your Paypal address. Then complete the purchase, and if you're still opposed to linking it, go back and delete it.

[a_c_green]

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@myangelandmyprincess wrote:
They are blocked under the "not having a PayPal account" because their PayPal account is not linked eBay doesn't see they do have one 

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I've read this whole thread, but I could use a little more explanation here: What is the big deal about linking your PayPal account to your eBay account? I mean, I seriously doubt that not having it linked is really concealing much if any info from eBay (and I'm also not clear on what nefarious things by eBay would be blocked by not linking it).

As I don't think I've ever seen that particular rejection by eBay in my buying account, I suppose I must have linked my PayPal account to my buying account back on Day One, and I can't say I've noticed any Bad Thing occurring as a result of that. What am I missing here?

[alvinmoneypit]

-Several have stated, "just link your Paypal account to Ebay, they only use it to verify that you have a PayPal account".  If this is true,m why is there a 64 page document stating the policy of linking the accounts and not just a 2 sentence one stating they are verifying your Papal account and no other purpose?

[7606dennis]

Actually, it is quite logical for a seller who only takes PayPal as a form of payment to limit potential buyers to those that have a PayPal account.  Why would they not?  What other method did you plan on using to pay?

It is, of course, your choice if you do not wish to link your PayPal account to your eBay account.  However, since there is no way for eBay or the seller to determine that you have a PayPal account, the seller has every right to insist that you prove that you have such an account before permitting you to bid since they only take that form of payment.  That is their choice.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Pay using the credit or debit card option (yes, Paypal still processes it) and not Paypal. This is how guest buyers without accounts pay. To buy with a credit/debit card you don't even need a Paypal account.

[chiaretta]

If you are so scared of what ebay or Paypal could do with your money have you considered using a credit card with a low monthly expense limit and no overdraft allowed?

And do you really think if a worldwide hacking accident happens as it did I believe five years ago in May, your unlinked accounts will be completely safe?

I've been on ebay since February 2000 and recently discovered, with some amazement, that the very first Paypal transaction was in November the same year, I've been refusing to pay any other way since 2005 and will purposefully seek ecommerce pages which accept Paypal as opposed to having just credit cards, one of the reasons I abandoned the river close to a decade ago.

Never had an issue