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Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

I had someone call me asking questions about my product and whether to buy on ebay or buy direct from me. Of course I say direct. Then a day later the listing was taken down for Direct Sales.

I aware ebay monitor messages, so only this phone call would have caused this listing removal.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

How did they get your number from the listing?

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Who called you? eBay?

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Supposedly an ebay member/bidder called me. eBay allows bidders get seller's phone numbers by clicking a few links on the website. I've never tried it myself though.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

eBay would usually clearly identify themselves when calling and if you have CallerID it will show them calling from either area code 408 (CA) or 801 (UT).

When eBay or PayPal calls me, I usually know straight away it's them even before I pick up the phone.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

I probably need to clarify my question. Does ebay go undercover as a customer and call a seller to see if they do direct sales?

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

he reported you, ebay listened and took down your listing
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Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

When a buyer has your phone number, it means:

1. The transaction is already completed.
2. YOU will know, because you'll both get the same email and the the contact info of each other.

If you didn't get the email with this info, that means the buyer didn't get it from eBay contact request.
I highly doubt eBay would call people like this and have the man power to do so, plus they'll be in a lot of trouble if they do.

It's possible one of your team members know what you are doing and reported you.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

I agree with Saijin, unless you are one of the top 10 sellers on ebay, I doubt they would bother calling you. Ebay reps are always busy and unorganized. Most likely this is a coincidence

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

So this setting is for completed transactions only?
https://i.imgur.com/tgBvL13.jpg

The caller and I do not have a completed transaction, so the only way he got my phone is if he manage to connect my ebay userid and my business website which has my contact info. I will give a return call to the caller and ask him how he got my phone number.

I work alone, I don't have any team members. I didn't get an email from ebay about contact info request.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Why did you give out any business info if you did not know the ID of the caller?

You should always be wary with phone calls.

:pop2:

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

I didn't know one has to be wary of phone calls when one sells on ebay. I have craigslist listings too. Email and phone is how I conduct my craigslist business. I'm thinking of selling on Bonanza and Ebid too.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

I just can't imagine them calling just to 'test' you. It seems unlikely...

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Yeah I agree. I was being paranoid.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Yes, eBay doesn't want people to know what your contact info is.
They are afraid you'll do business outside of eBay and evade their fees.

So that contact info is just for completed transactions alone.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Eb has really been taking a rather draconian approach to how they deal with perceived off platform sales.

Their stock has not been meeting expectations they now they they are "separate" from PayPal, there is a lot more pressure to perform financially. They are also being pressured by Amazon and other sites.

eBay isn't being "greedy", they simply want to make sure you give them ALL the fees they think they are entitled to. :)

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Rightfully so.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

It's ok to bring about discussion

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

As I mentioed, I suggest completing the transaction on eBay the first time... after that... it's really none of their business if you deal with the client directly.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

It would be illegal (for ebay or any other company) to call for you and than use that call against you.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

You had "someone" call you asking questions?

Are you POSITIVE they were calling from eBay?

Something doesn't sound quite right here.

I have had eBay call before, but it's pretty obvious when they do. The CallerID usually shows a 408 or 801 number (California or Utah), they identify themselves, and use your full name.

I had my first account suspended years ago for direct sales and I never received any communication other than the standard "Your account is suspended" message from eBay. My guess is that the mysterious stranger who called was another eBay seller looking to rid himself of a competing listing. Unfortunately there are sellers on eBay (and Amazon) who won't hesitate to rat-**** another seller for just the possibility of a slight advantage, even a temporary one.

If eBay were suspicious enough of you to take action they would simply suspend your account, not task an employee to investigate further. Individual sellers are disposable to eBay.

Re: Will ebay call you to investigate Direct Sales?
 

Yeah, we're disposable to them, but convenient at times.

EB's new corporate motto should be:

Sellers: They're the toilet tissue we wipe our company butt with! And everybody KNOWS how important toilet tissue is.