Some explanation is needed...

[bykimbo]

I think the IP address, postal address & phone number of everyone who joins is checked.
To stop people putting in fictitious details, & go on an auction wrecking spree.

But that must happen *at* joining, surely? I can't see any reason why somebody would be able to buy *then* be checked that way - if they need checking, don't let them buy. Doing it in the wrong order would cause more problems than it solved, IMO.

[0ctavias0fferings]

if they need checking, don't let them buy.

No no, we want them to buy LOL

[Gothicina]

But that must happen *at* joining, surely? I can't see any reason why somebody would be able to buy *then* be checked that way - if they need checking, don't let them buy. Doing it in the wrong order would cause more problems than it solved, IMO.

I've got a feeling that getting the joining email with link, is more or less instantaneous,
& that validity checks are done after that.
I know when we had some ex-members join again & troll the forums, it took a couple of hours for the strikethru to appear.

Probably a legacy of running the site with such a very small number of staff.

[bykimbo]

No no, we want them to buy LOL

We want them to *pay* as well. So do the checking instantly, *then* let them buy. Letting them get half-way through then slamming the door in their faces is just stupid.

[bykimbo]

I've got a feeling that getting the joining email with link, is more or less instantaneous,
& that validity checks are done after that.
I know when we had some ex-members join again & troll the forums, it took a couple of hours for the strikethru to appear.

Probably a legacy of running the site with such a very small number of staff.

I see.

At least, I don't, but you know what I mean. Poor strategy, in my opinion.

[0ctavias0fferings]

We want them to *pay* as well. So do the checking instantly, *then* let them buy. Letting them get half-way through then slamming the door in their faces is just stupid.

In most cases where I have promoted an item and a buyer has joined up to eBid to purchase it, they buy and pay instantly, so the transaction is completed long before the "verification" has taken place.

I have discovered that it is necessary to use the buyer's own email address to contact them after the auction as all eBid emails seem to end up in the spam filter. This even happens with my own email client, in spite of my moving them to my inbox every time they still get swallowed by the spam filter.

Perhaps someone needs to find out why email clients are consistently recognising eBid emails as spam.

But that doesn't detract from the fact that every time I have made one of those instant sales the transaction has proceeded smoothly and I have never (she said, touching wood) had any problem with them.

But, I never see any feedback coming through on the site from those sales.

I do know, through email comms, when the item arrives safely and that the buyer is happy with what they've received but that is ONLY through the personal emails I have with the buyer.

Of course, they never come back to eBid ... wonder why?

[madelaine]

Anyone put on temporary hold or guilty of innocent mistakes is emailed with a reason and details of any offending auction. Details on how to reopen their account are also given. This has been the case for a number of years.

Gazza

OK, that is the answer for a seller.. what about a buyer?

And Octavia puts the case for the newbie buyer perfectly. I have a string of them.. buy, pay... sometimes even email to say they are happy.. but never, ever return once they have the strikethru. I wanted them to come back and buy again!

[boandsusan]

Wow! After reading this thread I`m even more nervous about switching over to ebid completely. After selling on that other site for 10 months, I average 33.9% of my monthly sales are returning customers. I would hate any of my customers to see a strike through their name for any reason.

[0ctavias0fferings]

OK, that is the answer for a seller.. what about a buyer?

And Octavia puts the case for the newbie buyer perfectly. I have a string of them.. buy, pay... sometimes even email to say they are happy.. but never, ever return once they have the strikethru. I wanted them to come back and buy again!

I'm so glad it isn't just me

@boandsusan - I wouldn't want to put anyone off but I would say ... eggs and baskets ...

[JanetB]

After reading this thread I am wondering which is worse:

eBid implementing stringent security checks on newbies (sellers and buyers) consequently creating a safe environment for it's members

or

Ebay allowing every hoot n nanny, con and scam artist on their site (to keep the membership amount pumped up) and consequently hurting 100's and 1000's of members.

x