Forgive me if this has been answered somewhere already...

[nodeal]

...but I need to know the answer and couldn't find it on the boards!

I got a few stealth accounts going, and they all have different addresses. Some with addresses I can access, some I cannot.

I want to know if ebay can link me through an address I send to a buyer in an ebay message. For example, let's say a buyer wants to return an item. The address I have listed on this account is not accessible to me, so the buyer cannot return it there. There is, however, another address the buyer could send the item to where I CAN access the mail delivered. The only thing is, this accessible address is already linked to another ebay account I have!

Would it be safe to message the buyer via ebay message and tell him "return the item to the following address..." and then list the return address that is accessible but attached to a different ebay account?

My gut feeling tells me this is not safe, but I don't know what to do! I was reading about putting sticky labels with my real return address over the bogus addresses on each stealth account. Then I can say, "please return to the address on the return label," but that wouldn't work if they have tossed the label in the trash already! It also doesn't work if they open a case against you and you are forced to manually edit the return shipping address into ebay (which obviously would get you linked if you enter in the same addresses across multiple stealths into ebay's system).

If you have addresses you cannot access, what do you guys do to work around this problem?

[smokescreen]

Ebay does closely monitor messages, it could backfire. I dont think they automatically read in the content of messages or have someone who reads all messages but I would be cautious. Can you email the buyer directly?

[rsot]

You get the e-mail address of the buyer and sent him your "Business return" place....it's a good professional move - NOT via eB messaging

[nodeal]

Originally Posted by rsot

You get the e-mail address of the buyer and sent him your "Business return" place....it's a good professional move - NOT via eB messaging

Funny... I would assume contacting the buyer via email outside of ebay would be considered unprofessional. Hmmm maybe im looking at it wrong.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by nodeal

Funny... I would assume contacting the buyer via email outside of ebay would be considered unprofessional. Hmmm maybe im looking at it wrong.

You do NOT risk contacting a buyer like that either.

Some buyers may report the seller to ebay regarding diffierent addresses.

Sandy D posted recently about what to do to reduce your chances of 'harm' when addresses are different.

This is something you can control as the seller from the time the purchase is made.

I will find the thread and post it.

[lolzcat]

Why not prepay their return shipping on usps and set the correct return address. The buyer will be happy and it eliminates the need to tell them the address through messaging

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by lolzcat

Why not prepay their return shipping on usps and set the correct return address. The buyer will be happy and it eliminates the need to tell them the address through messaging

Where's your contingency plan for a buyer contacting wbay to ask why the address is different?

[vogeltron]

This is why I think it is best to have a Mail Box or P.O. Box with a couple of different Business names. Obviously depends on how many accounts you run. That way you can always say they drop ship the items or that's where my returns go to be handled etc. Some B.S. like that. I also prefer when I print out my labels on eBay to black out the B.S. address on those kind of accounts and put a Biz Mail box. So nothing seems odd.

[nodeal]

Originally Posted by Greenie

You do NOT risk contacting a buyer like that either.

Some buyers may report the seller to ebay regarding diffierent addresses.

Sandy D posted recently about what to do to reduce your chances of 'harm' when addresses are different.

This is something you can control as the seller from the time the purchase is made.

I will find the thread and post it.

Please do! When my stealth accounts start selling higher volumes I can see this becoming a real hassle for me regarding returns.

[rsot]

@OP, you are a business on eB - it is not uncommon for business to have different RETURN addresses - look up "RMA" requests - same principle of returning merchandise.