eBay Policy on communication
Summary: rroader41 expressed frustration with eBay's policy on communication, particularly regarding the inability to obtain a buyer's phone number when messages went unanswered. They experienced difficulty contacting customer service and found their responses unhelpful. marnotom! responded, suggesting that sellers shouldn't need to phone customers and highlighted that tracking mainly protects sellers, while also sharing their discomfort with sellers calling buyers.
As a long time member, I believe at some time I recall reading that it is a member's responsibility to have a valid telephone number in his/her eBay account.
Yes communication is restricted between seller and buyer, however I had occasion to contact a buyer who didn't reply to at least 2 messages I sent through eBay.
Because my promise to ship was within a day, I telephoned him and learned that the number was not in service which I also communicated in one of my messages to the buyer.
I phoned Customer Service informing them I needed help, to which the off shore lady said that information could not be given. I then requested to speak with her
supervisor and got the same answer that, it was confidential and could not be provided. Inasmuch as eBay will not help a seller even if they have been a member in
good standing since 1999 and need Help I found the response I got from eBay most discouraging and frankly stressful when they supply phone number to carriers of our parcels when
we purchase shipping label; proof being whether it's valid number or not, it heavily confidential when you need it. The issue that I was trying to avoid was to confirm that the buyer read
and knew the shipping options offered, when he paid for an non-trackable mode and if it didn't arrive, eBAY would refund him his money.
An alias email is provided on some shipping orders also but I felt he wouldn't answer that even if did reach him. I might add neither eBay contact would divulge their employee number.
john_koenig99
·2 weeks agoI always thought that the phone number was provided for the sake of the postal/courier service, in case they'd need to contact the buyer (receiver).
I'd definitely would not appreciate if a seller contacted me out of the blue.
marnotom!
·2 weeks agoLong time members of eBay generally conclude after selling for a while that it isn't worth babysitting their buyers.
Tracking is for sellers' protection. Its value to buyers is generally minimal.
I appreciate that my response is a bit off-topic, but in my opinion, there are rarely circumstances where telephoning a customer is necessary. As a buyer, I'd probably be squicked out if a seller phoned me.