posted on May 4, 2001 04:43:55 AM
I am using eBay's Bid Blocking feature to prevent a known troublemaker from bidding on my auctions. He's given many negs and is famous in the collecting community for attempting that Buy and Switch routine. I don't want to deal with this person, so I blocked his bids before I listed some auctions last weekend.
Well, yesterday he used the "Ask the seller a question" feature and wanted to know something about one of my items, and that if he didn't like it or if it arrived damaged, would I accept a refund.
As nicely as I could, I explained that I'd rather not do business with him and that I would rather he didn't bid on my auctions. Because this person has such a bad reputation (he has hassled with UPS so much that they will no longer deliver to his home), I copied SafeHarbor when I responded to him.
He has since send me two very rude, threatening emails which I forwarded to SafeHarbor as well.
My point is, if you block someone from bidding, shouldn't that also block the person from emailing you through eBay's email interface? I have received varied opinions on this and I'm interested in what the folks in this forum think. I have sent eBay my concerns about this.
I haven't had occasion to use the bid blocking feature yet (although I thought it was a good idea), so my response is purely theoretical.
I don't know enough about the technical aspects of this sort of thing to be sure it could be done, but it does seem to me that there's no reason a blocked bidder should be able to e-mail the seller (via eBay's e-mail interface) in a situation like the one you're describing.
The problem is that most of the time, a seller who's blocked a bidder has previously done business with that bidder, and has decided, based on prior experience, not to do business with that bidder again. But that bidder might have saved the seller's e-mail address, and would therefore be able to contact the seller (and be just as much of a rude, threatening PITA) without using the e-mail interface.
I haven't looked at your auctions recently (too busy playing with rhodonite ), so I don't know if you have a website link in yours, but for those sellers who do, there would be another way for a blocked bidder who's determined to be a PITA to reach a seller. (Just visit the seller's website, and look for an e-mail address there.)
So how much good it would do to prevent a blocked bidder from using the e-mail interface is kind of moot, IMHO.
Another site I've used has a nifty feature where one asks the seller a question right at the listing, so to speak, and the site sends the seller an e-mail notifying her/him that a question's been posted. The site then sends an e-mail to the bidder when the seller has posted a reply. The bidder never has the seller's e-mail until there's a done deal, and the seller also has the option of not doing business with that bidder. A feature like that might be somewhat helpful in a situation like the one you've described.
The only time I had a problem with a bidder sending me threatening e-mails, I forwarded them to Safe Harbor and to the bidder's ISP (AOL). Never heard from her again after that. I'd definitely block her the next time I list any similar items, and I'd hope she hasn't held on to my e-mail address!
posted on May 5, 2001 07:15:09 AM
Hello Ms. Rhodonite
That's true, he could have gotten my email some way. I think I have it on my AboutMe page but if not it's just a few clicks away. Even so, he used the "ask the seller a question" feature to send me the intial question about the item I'm selling. Mind you this guy isn't the sharpest crayon in the box when it comes to being logical - my name is also emblazoned across my auction images with my copyright information. He knows who I am. We've seen each other at conventions and he's read my stuff. But his email started "To the seller:"
I'd have preferred if he would have found out that he wasn't welcome in my auction camp upon attempting to send me the first email. That way I wouldn't have had to answer his question by telling him myself.
I did hear back from SafeHarbor. They informed me that I can now block bidders without copying them on the email. Typical. I returned my usual "Your form letter didn't answer my question, please have someone read this and respond one on one." That usually takes longer, but I'll get an answer.
posted on May 5, 2001 09:06:21 AM
Why did I bother to respond. Good question that I have asked myself over the past few days. At the time, I thought that if I just told him that I blocked him from my auctions and copied SafeHarbor on that email, he'd slither away.
I have now blocked his email through my ISP (AOL) and I have not heard from him again.
He stays very much within the Harmony Kingdom collecting community in his eBay dealings, so unless you deal with that collectible line you probably don't have to worry about him. If you sell rare and retired collectibles, email me and I'll point you in the right direction for blocking his bids. [email protected].
Meanwhile, I still think that eBay should disable a blocked user's ability to use the email interfece to contact the person who blocked him/her. They could also make it an option:
"Block the eBay email interface for this user? __yes __ no"
posted on May 8, 2001 01:35:11 PM
Marble, I would block his/her bid and also block his e-mail myself. Notify him/her by e-mail that you do not care to do business with them again and ask them not to bid on your auctions, you will block it or cancel their bid upon receipt! I will bend over backward doing favors for nice clients, but resent being taken advantage of!
posted on May 8, 2001 01:56:22 PM
I got an update on this, via email from SafeHarbor. I hope it's OK to post it. Here goes!
*****************************
Hello Xxxxx,
I can certainly understand your frustration over this situation.
Our blocking a bidder and email forwarding system are two separate entities. They have no connection to each other at all.
In this situation, we would suggest that you email the bidder and request that they not contact you any further. If they persist, you can forward those emails to us and we can investigate the situation and possibly take action, if warranted.
I do appreciate your suggestion regarding blocking emails from certain members through the email forwarding system. I wanted to let you know that this is something that is currently in development and will hopefully be implemented later this year.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Xxxxxx
SafeHarbor Department
Investigations Team Lead
), so I don't know if you have a website link in yours, but for those sellers who do, there would be another way for a blocked bidder who's determined to be a PITA to reach a seller. (Just visit the seller's website, and look for an e-mail address there.)
