posted on March 26, 2001 07:55:14 PM new
Hello all,
I'm a small time seller & I'm just wondering if it's customary for a winning bidder to ask you for your telephone number. A guy with no feedback just won two of my auctions and requested my number becuase "he likes to know who he's dealing with". I've never had anybody request this before & it gave me a weird feeling. Is it just me?
posted on March 26, 2001 07:57:56 PM new
There is no reason for him to have your phone number. I would email him back with shipping information and leave out the phone number.
posted on March 26, 2001 08:08:13 PM new
I'll be shipping USPS Priority Mail & combining shipping for him, so there's no reason I can think of that he would need my telephone number. I told him I could assure him that I am an honest and reliable buyer and seller as my feedback shows and thanked him for bidding. I just hope he doesn't get annoyed and decide to leave negative feedback. I'm probably being paranoid. Thanks for the advice.
posted on March 26, 2001 08:11:04 PM new
cats0eye -
There's no need for him to have your telephone number. If he's determined, he'll get it from Ebay when he requests your info. Of course, you'll be notified, and get his info as well.
"Who's tending the bar? Sniping works up a thirst"
posted on March 26, 2001 08:25:05 PM new
How expensive is this item? If this is his first deal, he's probably just a little paranoid that things won't go through. That first transaction on eBay can be a big leap of faith - basically in his mind, he's just throwing money in a hole, and hoping that something comes back.
And it is true, if he wants your # bad enough, he can get it from eBay.
posted on March 26, 2001 09:18:54 PM new
I once had a seller who pulled my EBAY info ( which included my phone number) with every transaction. I don't know why, it was always the same and my checks never bounced. Every person has their own foibles.
posted on March 26, 2001 09:23:23 PM new
Well, you could just tell him you are in the Witness Protection Program & you aren't allowed to give out your number because if you do, the FBI will come to investigate him.
posted on March 26, 2001 09:58:16 PM new
Greetings earthlings,
As a seller, I ask for for a phone number as part of the info I need in every EOA I send out. I ask politely and actually sort of slip the request in while asking for all the other necessary info. It's not something I have to have but it comes in handy when email goes down or they're not responsive after the initial contact (which happens occaisionally). Most don't send it and it ends there, a scant few actually comment and offer a "reason" for leaving it out. But many do, and I've actually had a few deadbeats give me their number in the initial contact and I was able to call them and ask what was up! I'm sure they were shocked and felt stupid for giving it out! I've called several to explain certain shipping details or to ask preferences on shipping fragile items, It's nice to call when there is a need to discuss issues like that, that are inefficiently translated by email. I have regular customers that I call EOA's to rather than email, and its quite a comfortable exchange. Still a rare occurance to call when compared to all the auctions that we have had
Your buyer may be the same, just asking in the unlikely event that you may give it to him. If they are insistant, I agree with the above opinion that it is likely that being new, they are looking for some security.
In any case, if you don't feel comfortable giving it to them, you could politely explain that while you understand that as a new user, they may be concerned about the anonymity of this type of sale, you are not inclined to supply your personal phone number unless normal email contact becomes inadequate, and only if that happens that ebay can supply your contact info by request as a last resort and for auction related communication only.
At least that way you'll ahve his numbertoo if he goes to that trouble.
posted on March 26, 2001 10:47:17 PM new
hi cats0eye,
no, it isn't customary. i've never asked a seller for his/her phone number, and have never had a buyer ask me for mine. if one did ask, er, yeah, i'd feel funny about the request. even though they could get my contact info through ebay.
maybe it really is just as he says, and he's new, but if you're not comfortable giving it out, don't. i think your email to him is fine. only an extremely unreasonable person would neg you for this. maybe he doesn't know about the purpose of those numbers behind ebay user names? i'm not kidding. i had a newbie with +4 who hadn't the faintest what it meant or how it got there.
posted on March 26, 2001 11:47:13 PM new
This is why I have a message phone.
Depending on what city you live in, they are anywhere from free to $20/mo
Get one, rest easy.
Give it to the customer.
Besides he can always pull it anyhow.
posted on March 27, 2001 05:20:23 AM new
How much money are the auctions for? We talk on the phone with almost every buyer that spends more than $500 for an item (makes both parties feel better to actualy speak to each other on large deals.)
If they are $20 items, I would wonder why, but anyone that was selling something expensive to me that was not willing to speak to me on the phone would make me wonder more.
posted on March 27, 2001 07:56:06 AM new
Good Morning All,
Thanks for all of the advice! He was a bit abrupt with me in his initial emails, or I would not have thought the request strange at all. He purchased two items for $10 each. Maybe he is just new, becuase although I had "Buy it Now" price for $10, he emailed me saying "I want the figures for $10, reply". I said "Great! Just return the auction & click on "Buy it Now". He's probably just wanting to chat, but I've had bad experiences with telephone harassment in the past, so I guess I still have my radar up. Overall I've found eBay buyers & sellers to be exceptionally friendly (not the wacko sort - well, wacko, but in a fun way anyway), so I'll just keep this in mind.
posted on March 27, 2001 11:38:17 AM new
My phone number is included in every EOA and email. Why? Because you encourage BIDDER CONFIDENCE! Its a trust factor...if you can provide your phone number it says to them you have nothing to hide...to me it is a customer service issue...unfortunately though, some sellers can't spell customer service. No offense, but it is discouraging to see many sellers taking a hard ball attitude these days, its apparent in their TOS's and their EOA notices, as a buyer to, it is unbelievable sometimes. Having spent several years in Retail Management, I can say customer satisfaction will make or break your business, every succesful business knows this. But, I understand though if your running just a few auctions a week, you wouldn't have anything to lose anyways.
posted on March 27, 2001 12:26:10 PM new
If a bidder emails me with questions on an item I respond with email, I'll also include my phone number. My EOA includes my phone number also. Supplying my phone number has never an issue or been abused. If they really want it they can get it off of eBay.
posted on March 27, 2001 12:27:32 PM new
I gave out my phone number only twice, the first one called me (on her dime, thank-you!) to 'chat' about her boring little life and yell at her kids with my ear on the phone. Got rid of her FAST and she called back once but I said I could't talk. The second time a woman asked for my # and I sent it (telling her my hours are 8am to 6pm PST) and she called at 5am the very next morning...... said she didn't know what PST was.....! [also didn't want anything, just to flap her lips].
I had a lovely series of sales with a fellow in England, he wanted to phone, I said "I won't allow you to spend that much, also I'm so much wittier on emails!" He still buys from time to time.
I never give it out now. I just reply, "sorry, I do not have a phone in the studio". The studio is the spare bedroom that has morphed into a computer room, but that is all my business!
Don't talk to strangers! Don't eat so fast!
Don't pick at your face, you'll make scars. Mom
edited to 'fix' my spelling, but now it seems worse!
[ edited by immykidsmom on Mar 27, 2001 12:30 PM ]
posted on March 29, 2001 09:45:01 PM new
I have done 100 purchases and only had one problem. The seller told me to call them during business hours on their toll free number... It was nice to save the cost of the call. But I have never needed to give out my phone because there is no reason to call me, I check my email at least 6 times a day, but maybe only 2 times if I am not bidding on things. If they need to get a hold of me that bad can email me and I will call them.
posted on March 30, 2001 06:36:51 AM new
I had a buyer get my phone number from ebay. The reason he wanted it was because he couldn't get payment through on Paypal to work. I was quite surprised when I got the call. Fortunately it was for the best, but I don't think Ebay should be ginving this info out.
posted on March 30, 2001 08:05:18 AM new
Get yourself a toll free number from uReach.com that can take voice mail and faxes. You can log on and get both messages onl;ine and set it to notify you when you have messages waiting.
You can also send faxes directly off your PC without printing them out to stuff in a fax machine.
Very reasonable rates. A little higher for AK and HI and you must OK it for outside the 48.
posted on March 30, 2001 08:47:25 AM new
hmmmm if they want my number, should i give them my pager, my voice mail, my cell phone, or my work extension?
anything but my home phone! I swear at it everytime it rings!
Thanks again for all of the advice. I guess it just seemed a little strange to me because I've never had anyone ask before. It's good to hear from seasoned sellers sho have had more experience with this kind of thing.
Gravid, thanks for the uReach suggestion. I'll be sure to look into it. Well, it's off to do some Spring cleaning. The mold in my shower is starting to develop a personality.
