eBay Messaging

[mchgrt]

Hello All,

When you get a message from another eBayer through eBay Messaging, eBay sends you an email. You can directly reply to that email and the message will be transmitted through eBay Messaging to whomever sent you the message.

My question is this - Can eBay track what IP you're using when you send that email? So is it or is it not safe to reply to eBay Messaging emails in order to communicate with your buyers? Or, should I only use the website?

Thanks

[JamesNorth101]

Though Gmail its fine to reply directly to emails.

Make sure images are disabled though.

[ilcarletto]

Just use the mail reply button... do not dare clicking any link inside the mail from ebay...

[mchgrt]

Yes my images are disabled. So there is nowhere in the email headers, etc that the originating IP (My PC) is visible?

[JamesNorth101]

No, everything will be sent and routed though the Gmail servers, so the only IPs that they will see with be Gmails

[ilcarletto]

Originally Posted by JamesNorth101

No, everything will be sent and routed though the Gmail servers, so the only IPs that they will see with be Gmails

No, sorry you are right... just the Google server is shown... my mistake.

Not really true... an email sent via GMail web interface can still reveal sender IP.
They have to specifically look for it but it can be disclosed.

[muzzie]

Correct, gmail with images turned off can be used. But still, best way is to answer from the ebay itself.

[mchgrt]

Thank you for your responses! Just to confirm, I've checked multiple emails with headers and can't seem to find my IP. I know sending messages through eBay is the best method, but this way I save having to create and log a new IP for every message to which I need to reply

[123]

Can simply download thunderbird then reply through all emails through that, just leave images disabled

[muzzie]

Originally Posted by 123

Can simply download thunderbird then reply through all emails through that, just leave images disabled

For all who believe that answering through Thunderbird while using google SMTP is safe, have a look what is inside a message that is being relayed through google email servers, obviously a failed stealth operation:

Received: from [MY.LOCAL.NETWORK.IP] (MYHOST.MYISP.COM [MY.HOME.PUBLICREAL.IP])
by mx.google.com with ESMTPSA id r6sm1391239lbw.11.2015.02.02.14.08.04
for <my_stealth_user_email@gmail.com>
(version=TLSv1.2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 bits=128/128);
Thu, 02 Apr 2015 12:05:05 -0700 (PDT)

compared to what is there when answering via gmail website:

X-Received: by 10.112.188.227 with SMTP id gd3mr43335301lbc.0.1428005747812;
Thu, 02 Apr 2015 13:15:47 -0700 (PDT)
Received: by 10.114.76.178 with HTTP; Thu, 2 Apr 2015 13:15:47 -0700 (PDT)

No any sign of real IP.

Beware!

[SilentHill]

I am actually going to start implementing this new procedure.

Logging in to ebay on the right IP to reply to messages is by far the safest way to go.