AuctionBytes Blog
Covering auctions, collectibles and marketplace selling.

AuctionBytes Blog The AuctionBytes Blog has been giving a voice to online merchants since its launch in 2005. Named one of the world's top 30 blogs in 2008 by "Blogging Heroes." Weigh in with your thoughts on the joys and pitfalls of selling online.
Mon Mar 13 2023 15:57:36

Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?

By: Ina Steiner

Sponsored Link

eBay lets sellers block buyers, but does it go far enough? eBay states on its help page that it gives sellers control of who can buy from them through its Blocked Buyers list feature. According to the eBay help page:

"eBay sellers have control over who can bid on and buy their items. You can block individual buyers or set buyer requirements based on specific criteria."

"If you've had an issue with a buyer and don't want them to purchase or bid on your items, you can add them to your Blocked buyers list. They'll be unable to place bids or buy from you until you remove them from the list."

It also explains:

"You can also choose to block buyers based on certain criteria. For example, buyers living in a country you don't ship to, or buyers with excessive canceled orders because they didn't pay for items."

But sellers have long sought ways to share information about bad buyers so they don't have to wait to encounter them themselves - they can learn from the bad experiences other sellers have gone through.

One reader recently asked whether EcommerceBytes would consider hosting a list of suggested eBay Blocked Bidders. The explained their thinking, writing: 

"To provide some measure of credibility, I would have eBay member ID, eBay item number, amount of transaction, and a reason the reporter blocked the member; ie. abused returns, malicious FB, and a few others, along with the eBay handle of the reporter, and EcommerceBytes handle if different."

That way, the reader explained, "Anyone looking at the list can take reports with the appropriate grain of salt. Let's see if we can help others avoid unpleasant dealings with these assorted low-lifes."

eBay is in a far better position than we are to evaluate buyers and determine their worthiness to conduct business on its marketplace. 

How well do you think eBay does in suspending buyers who cause problems by not paying or engaging in bad behavior? What solution would you offer to sellers to avoid bad buyers?

Comments (24) | Leave Comment | Permalink
Readers Comments

Perminate Link for Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?   Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Fri Mar 17 12:06:02 2023

100% useless

I dumped mine and it had over 200 ID's on it

If I find a seller has blocked me I just call a friend to make the buy for me.

Perminate Link for Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?   Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?

by: Weirdbooks This user has validated their user name.

Fri Mar 17 17:05:12 2023

@Getagrip
''Our practice is to cancell any order and block any buyer who has opened the account within the past week.''

That is almost the strangest thing I have seen posted here re: eBay.  You are blocking customers because they are new to eBay?   What?

Most people who order from us do so once.  Why would I care when they started their account?  Their money is as good as anyone else's.  If I have concerns about fraud then I insure, used Sig Required with ID or Registered Mail, etc.

eBay is an anomaly in that you can even see when an account was started.  When I sell a $2000 book on ABE or Amazon, I have no idea when that buying account was created, nor do I care.

Not only is your attitude ultimately self-defeating it somehow feels like discrimination.  An 18 year old decides to start collecting some widget or another, and you block them because they haven't been on eBay for years?  

Baffling.

Perminate Link for Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?   Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?

by: Modlcitizn This user has validated their user name.

Sun Mar 19 18:58:42 2023

Quote: "A mass BBL will be quite impractical. There are millions of eBay accounts, the chances that you will encounter someone else's bad buyers is almost nil."

eBay may have millions of buyers, but in niche hobby markets we all buy from and sell to a finite audience.  I had a buyer who bid a few of my auctions up.  He paid for them.  Next time around, with some healthy winning bids,  I took a look to see if he paid yet, and saw he went NARU.

Soon after I had a buyer bid and pay for a few items. I went to ship and immediately recognized the mailing address. (it was a postal box store)  He had paid, so I shipped.  And next I saw this account was also NARU.

And he was reincarnated a third time too.  

Looking at his feedback, he had bought from several other sellers I had done business with.  They confirmed the same story!    He finally disappeared!

Perminate Link for Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?   Is eBay's Blocked Buyer List Adequate to Protect Sellers?

by: Modlcitizn This user has validated their user name.

Sun Mar 19 19:05:30 2023

Quote: "If I find a seller has blocked me I just call a friend to make the buy for me."

Funny story. I saw a seller with listings of large lots of what I sell. So I bookmarked them.  Next thing I know he does the "Send Offer"  on them all!  I was pleased enough, but I messaged him letting him know I was the buyer of all five lots and asked if he'd combine shipping in one larger box.

His response?  "I don't sell to resellers, only collectors!"  Yes, I had bookmarked them with my sellers account.  Oh well.

Then I thought about it....  I had my daughter bookmark the same 5 lots.  Different last name and next state over!  He did the "Send Offer" thing.  She responded asking for combined shipping and he agreed!    I picked up the merchandise the next time I saw her.

I hope he recognized his inventory in my store!    

Click to view more comments
1 2 


Login is required to post comments.
To sign in to leave a comment, fill in the form below. If you have not yet signed up for AB Verify, or if you'd like more information, go to the Registration Page.

Login for AB Verify
Be sure and use your email address and password to log in.
 
Email:
Password:
 
 Forgot Your Password?
 Even though you are signed in with the AuctionBytes Blog, you will have to sign in to the EcommerceBytes blog. But you can sign in with your existing AB Verify info.