Why is my phone number being given out to buyers? Have that turned off in account settings.

[k-nee78]

Ever since I noticed our phone number on transactions we have been getting 10-12 spam calls a day.  In account settings this is turned to 'No' for sharing.  Any idea why it is being shared and how to stop it?

[dhbookds]

Ever since I noticed

Why would you think "noticing" it, would spur the phone calls? 

We've gotten alot more (without being political.....the person who promises to shut them off.......would get my vote)........but, to me, it's the time of the year.......both political calls because of the election, "charities".....the police/fire etc playing on the upcoming time of the year, Comcast, etc. to "save money" because of the economy....... 

[justafemster]

The spam calls have certainly increased here too.  

Lots and lots of hangups and lots and lots of 'you're social security number has been cancelled, unless you call this number' 

But on the plus side, the car warranty calls have all but ended!  BAHAHAHAHA!

Your number got on someone's list and they sold it.  And sold it.  And sold it.  

[postcardcountry]

Car warranty calls have ended now that it was mentioned.

Now the old people calls begin - selling you part b, c ,d, e, f, g, h etc of insurance.

Who knows who is calling and leaving nothing when they get the message machine.

(no caller ID.  Not answering is the cheapest version)

[lacemaker3]

@k-nee78, How or where is your phone number being given to buyers?

I am not aware of this ... I just went and checked my most recent transactions as a buyer, and I can't see the seller's phone number shown anywhere in the Order Details or on the Purchase History page. I don't even see the seller's name  or return address, just their user ID.

@dhbookds, do you know where the seller's phone number is being shown to buyers?

[bimm_corp]

@k-nee78

> In account settings this is turned to 'No' for sharing.  Any idea why it is being shared and how to stop it?

There used to be a toggle in "Selling>Prefferences" that you could set to make your phone number available

to buyers. I think it's still working as I received a phone call from a buyer a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps eBay coders left it active in the last round of changes.

[dhbookds]

@dhbookds, do you know where the seller's phone number is being shown to buyers?

@lacemaker3   It is shown on some sellers listings..........(car parts sellers)......with ebay's Ok. 

It certainly doesn't show on this sellers items that I could see.

Frankly, I took umbrage at the "noticing=spam";  noticing the number doesn't tell you WHEN it showed (if it did)...and therefore you can't equate an increase in spam to the point at which you noticed it. 

[k-nee78]

When I go to order details as a seller I see the buyers  name and address, as before, but now am seeing their phone number too.  When we recently sent an item by FedEx home delivery the label for the package has our phone number on it too.

I know spam calls have increased but this seems to correspond to when eBay changed their format for following orders after paid for in September.  I too ignore them but was curious if others have same issue.

Since eBay is so adamant about buyers and sellers not talking directly to one another it seems strange that phone numbers are being displayed with purchases.

thanks everyone!

[dhbookds · Accepted solution]

Ah, sorry...........you are talking about paid sales.  Buyers have always been able to get a seller's phone # after a sale.....and likewise sellers have access to the seller's phone number.

Don't know if you mean Fedex shows the # on the label......but it stands to reason, they might need/want it for delivery purposes......  I've never seen it on any label I've printed or on anything I've received. 

[lacemaker3]

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@k-nee78 wrote:

When I go to order details as a seller I see the buyers  name and address, as before, but now am seeing their phone number too.  When we recently sent an item by FedEx home delivery the label for the package has our phone number on it too.

I know spam calls have increased but this seems to correspond to when eBay changed their format for following orders after paid for in September.  I too ignore them but was curious if others have same issue.

Since eBay is so adamant about buyers and sellers not talking directly to one another it seems strange that phone numbers are being displayed with purchases.

thanks everyone!

---

@k-nee78,

The seller's name, address and phone number are not shown on the order details page for the buyer. Buyers can't see your phone number, and the request for contact info that @dhbookds mentioned doesn't work anymore.

Here's a link to a thread from 2018, that gives the link to request info for a transaction, but the page didn't work then or now (I just tried it, and it didn't work):

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/What-happened-to-the-quot-User-Information-Request-quot/m-p/28...

You can see the buyer's phone number, because you set it up that way in your shipping requirements, to require the buyer's phone number (some couriers request this). I've had some sellers require my phone number, so I add it for that purchase only, and then remove it afterwards. I've never had a courier use it, though.

[dhbookds]

@lacemaker3 

thanks.........

learn something new everyday........

[bossladynv]

I just had a seller contact me on my phone number that ebay provided... it appears that not ALL ebayers are getting access to buyer's phone numbers, and if you send a message with a phone number in it, ebay will ding you and block the message, so still no clarity on exactly when ebay is giving that out... I've definitely seen phone numbers for SELLERS on auto parts, but being contacted via phone by a seller was a bit disturbing for sure. (they were NOT an auto related seller)

[kh-taylarie]

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