posted on May 23, 2001 10:10:47 AM new
This from the AuctionBytes NewsFlash:
May 23, 2001 - What Happened to Privacy on eBay?
eBay is distributing bidders' email addresses in end-of auction notifications for Dutch auctions, in effect broadcasting email addresses to other winning bidders. eBay recently instituted changes to their email system in an effort to protect their users from Spam and to protect their privacy. But AuctionBytes.com has discovered that users who have bid on Dutch Auctions receive an email after the auction ends containing a list of winning bidders for that item - along with all of their email addresses. A Dutch Auction is an auction format for sellers with many identical items to sell. Dutch Auctions can have as many as 1,000 winning bidders.
When asked, eBay spokesperson Kevin Pursglove said he was unaware of the fact that eBay revealed all of the winning bidders' email addresses in the end of auction email.
posted on May 23, 2001 04:54:15 PM new
May it's just me, but doesn't it seem just a tad hypocritical that eBay is protecting our email addresses from Spammers, but if you win a Dutch Auction, the EOA email contains ALL of the winning bidders' email addresses?
A person could conceivably harvest thousands of addresses by bidding on those .01 cent feedback building auctions and waiting for the EOA emails. Served up on a platter.
