posted on January 8, 2007 12:06:07 PM new
Does this mean if you have bids on items priced over $200, the bidders will be anonymous to both other users AND the seller?
A Message from Rob Chesnut – Launch of Safeguarding Member IDs on eBay.com and eBay Canada***
January 08, 2007 | 10:04AM PST/PT
Rob Chesnut
A couple of months ago, I told you about an important new initiative called Safeguarding Member IDs (read my announcement from November 2, 2006). Safeguarding Member IDs (SMI) is a significant step forward in protecting eBay's bidders, who have increasingly become targets for unwanted commercial and malicious spam, such as phishing, spoof, and fake Second Chance Offers.
SMI adds a new layer of privacy by replacing specific User IDs with aliases (bidder 1, bidder 2, bidder 3, etc.). To ensure buyers continue to feel trust in the bidding process, SMI also provides an updated Bid History page with aggregate information about the bidders involved in a given listing, as well as their other recent activity with the listing's seller.
posted on January 8, 2007 12:53:52 PM new
Hmmm. Shucks. When bidding for others, I often research the other bidders' histories--how high are they willing to go on items, etc. Now that'll be gone on the higher-priced items.
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You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,
'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'
- Dave Barry
posted on January 9, 2007 12:59:10 PM new
Re: PayPal Security Key.
Oh Yippee!
Another key to loose around my house!
As if I didn't spend enough time looking for my car keys, my glasses, my gloves....
My bank does this now every time we log in, but they send the ever-changing code automatically through the email.
At least I always know where to find the email!
Wonder if Paypal will eventually make this mandatory...
Re: eBay safeguards:
I research like roadkill for myself and as a bidder I do not like it.
And personally, on a many levels, I do not like it.
BUT as a seller...I wonder if it may actually have a side effect of generating more bids.
(Hope springs eternal!)
posted on January 9, 2007 01:51:06 PM newThe results we're seeing for all three launches indicate that these changes are having the impact we are striving for
That is to grub every last penny we can out of our sellers pockets and make it much more difficult to do business with their buyers.
posted on January 10, 2007 01:05:44 AM new
Over on eBay Australia they are really pent up about the introduction of bidding aliases under the guise of Safeguarding Member IDs.
The reason? A few years back there were some well publicized cases of shilling on eBay's Aussie site. When they were reported to eBay - nothing happened. After getting no where with eBay, a few of the shiller's victims contacted the media and all hell broke loose. Loads of stories on the TV news and newspapers about shilling on eBay and how "little old ladies like your grandmother were being victimized" or "mugged on eBay". (That one of eBay's biggest Aussie auction competitor was owned by one of the media outlets pushing the story was 'conveniently' not reported.) The end result was eBay blitzed their own Aussie forums of all mention of the incidents. So many Aussie eBayers still have a bad taste in their mouth at the mention of anything that will help, let alone encourage more shilling...
