New eBay accounts now create a username for you?

[access0ner]

Yo, why the **** does eBay do this now? If I create an account, it automatically assigns a username for you? Then you have to go to Perosnal Information to change it and it shows a weird little favicon showing that you changed your username? why the ****!?!

[dealagreeproceed]

minor inconvenience in your day boohoo...

[jeffweico]

This has been happening for a while now. And, yes, most of us hate their assigned names too. When eBay first started, we used our email addresses as usernames. Then they decided to prohibit that. Then some people used the names of their websites, so eBay prohibited that too. Now, they don't even want your first and last name visible - so they assign some BS username like jefjefwei_us29zqa. This is all done to ensure that no communications take place outside of eBay. They used to ENCOURAGE communication, now they are terrified of it.

Pretty soon, you will get a sale and will have to ship your item to an eBay receiving center where they will forward it to the customer. That way, you have no idea who the customer even is. They will probably also make all of the feedbacks private, only allowing buyers to see the star ratings.

Keep in mind, eBay has NOT announced this yet and I have no idea if it is actually in the works or not, but I can see it coming.

[access0ner]

so the questions that arise are two

1) can you even pick your own username now without "changing" it and having that weird favicon come out
2) & does changing it result in lower selling limits (process of creating the account)

[jeffweico]

As far as I know, the icon is there when you change it. I don't know of a way around it. If you are worried about number two, why not just create the seller account first and then change it? I don't think your limits would automatically change. Many people change their user ID's from these generic ones. You would not be the first person to do so.

[access0ner]

i see what you are saying I guess I can do that first.. Thanks for the advice ok. :-/ I click sell and then start my account from there.. is there anothoer way to create this seller account. Jeffweico?

[slokor]

Its been like this for quite awhile now - at least since the beginning of the year.
not a big deal since the vast majority of users just change their user name as soon as they sign up. That icon only sticks around for 30 days so again not a big deal.
And top answer your question - changing your ID has nothing to do with the limits. I speak from experience.

[access0ner]

just pointing it out. food for thought. nothing major. thanks guys, relieved.

[NewYork]

Here's a question along the same lines... do you think that the speed you change your user ID to something else is recorded somehow, and attatched to your account, and used in some way to grade if you are a repeat account creator? Like,if you create an account and click click click 27 seconds later you changed the account name (which often you wouldn't even notice that one was created for you for at least a few minutes, if not for a day or so if it was your first time and your first account).... that little bit of info recorded in your account "file" or whatever, and figured into the metrics used to assign risk to new accounts.

I'm going to let you think about it while I sit back and take off my tinfoil hat and let it air out... But if you think about it, it would be something of a tell....

[access0ner]

I like the way you think, that makes sense, and that was my initial concern tbh.

Most users don't really know, hey what the heck is a username, you know? It makes sense..

I don't know I don't think so. I think it just helps eBay create a user ID for a user that isn't a user yet.

You know like someone just checking out, it probably makes they're bottom line bigger in the long run. People feel part of the eBay family quicker I guess.

Originally Posted by NewYork

Here's a question along the same lines... do you think that the speed you change your user ID to something else is recorded somehow, and attatched to your account, and used in some way to grade if you are a repeat account creator? Like,if you create an account and click click click 27 seconds later you changed the account name (which often you wouldn't even notice that one was created for you for at least a few minutes, if not for a day or so if it was your first time and your first account).... that little bit of info recorded in your account "file" or whatever, and figured into the metrics used to assign risk to new accounts.

I'm going to let you think about it while I sit back and take off my tinfoil hat and let it air out... But if you think about it, it would be something of a tell....