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Before the Auction: Using Multiple User IDs

by Dennis Prince

Just as you might have multiple bank or investment accounts, a business credit card and a personal credit card, or even a utility vehicle and a luxury sedan, so too might you consider having multiple user IDs at your favorite online auction site.

But before we go any further here, let's clarify something: No, this isn't registration abuse, and no, it isn't the crooked use of numerous cyberdisguises to pull off assorted auction schemes and scams. Rather, the responsible use of multiple IDs at auction venues actually allows you to better manage your auction business and pleasure, as well as effectively protecting you against some auction outlaws.

Are You Sure It's Legal?
Actually, it is legal, or, at the very least, manageable. At eBay, spokesperson Kevin Pursglove had previously conceded, "Many of our users have determined that it is useful to have multiple user IDs for their businesses." At Yahoo Auctions and Amazon.com Auctions, it's clear that users have used multiple IDs, though neither site has been as forthcoming as eBay in declaring there is good business sense behind the practice.

Although Yahoo requires valid credit card verification for each registered ID, the company reportedly has stated that an individual can have one valid ID for every verified credit card number that is submitted. Since it's not unusual for an individual or small business to manage multiple credit card accounts, the green flag for multiple IDs essentially has been waved. Therefore, securing multiple IDs requires nothing more than completing the registration process for as many IDs as you believe you'll need (more on that later).

And within the auction communities, while it's true that misuse of multiple IDs is uniformly condemned, many longtime sellers (and buyers) understand that responsible use of multiple IDs at auction sites is not only generally permitted (spoken or unspoken) but also can be key to efficiently managing auction activity while adding an undeniable level of homegrown fraud protection.

Good Use of Multiple User IDs
When it comes to managing auction activity, it's wise to learn from your accountant. If you run your own auction business but also dabble in personal sales or bidding outside your business dealings, it's smart to clearly separate the two. To that end, creating a business user ID (perhaps designated as a business name) and a personal ID will help to ensure that your business and personal worlds don't overlap in a way that blurs the clear division between the two--which is especially important in terms of tax liabilities and business expenses.

Then, too, some business owners create multiple IDs within their business structure, potentially allowing business partners or employees to each conduct auction sales and purchases concurrently. This can effectively manage different product portfolios or commodities within a business, allowing the business owner(s) to easily assess the costs and profits associated with each commodity they might manage.

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