Business sellers providing a contact phone number

[raindropsies]

There is no legal reason for my contact details to be shown prior to someone buying an item.
I do have a legal responsibility to provide one before a sale is completed if requested by the buyer.
In all my selling career I have only given it out twice on request.
Never needed to give it out otherwise.

I do not want my phone number shown to the general public.

[FBNeNotes]

This site does not have Feebays volume, not even close... so why?????? did you list this poll to run for 2 Months
Do NOT want to have to look at it... forever.

[daron620]

The free listing is not the point IMO. The loss to eBid would be the lost of Final Value Fee.

Yes your right free listing is not the point or is it?. What if all sellers used the free listing type which has no FVF then how have they lost it?

I'm happy to use the contact/messaging system that is in place here on ebid but I would like to have the option to display a contact number as I like to speak to a person sometimes like so many others do.

When in business one has to use all avenues and a contact phone number is one of the oldest so to curtail it seems counter productive to me.

Perhaps I'm too old fashioned LOL!

[daron620]

This is my first ever forum poll and I was not expecting any one to reply so soon to be honest. I'm not interested in volume of sales in any way. What I am interested in is ways to help me earn a decent living.

If there is a way I can lessen your discomfort then please do let me know and I'd be more than happy to help

[TiasTreasures]

There is no legal reason for my contact details to be shown prior to someone buying an item.
I do have a legal responsibility to provide one before a sale is completed if requested by the buyer.
In all my selling career I have only given it out twice on request.
Never needed to give it out otherwise.

I do not want my phone number shown to the general public.

I agree. I have an unlisted number for a reason. I do not give it out except to friends and family.

I have had quite a few questions here on eBid, via the Question and Answer process. Written, so there's less likely to be a misunderstanding and there's an audit trail if needed. After a sale, I often trade emails with a buyer. There has never been a case where I thought I needed someone's phone number, either as a seller or a buyer.

[Mountman]

Do the Distance Selling Regulations apply to auction sites, if so you should display a phone number, also I think it should be part of your customer services, on the other auction site, I have had quite a few customers ring to ask a question about one of my products before they purchased. I think it's very short sighted

[Mountman]

I see somebody here has reported me for showing my phone number in my listings, so I'm going to close them and my account !

[crafters_corner_2]

I see somebody here has reported me for showing my phone number in my listings, so I'm going to close them and my account !

Oh for goodness sake! Could they not have PM you?

That's all we need.

Could it have been Admin that spotted it?

[daron620]

This is my point there are many potential customers that want to see a contact number. While others don't " want " their details known to the general public is understandable but what you " want " is voided when the option isn't there.

[tkauctionworldwide]

The free listing is not the point IMO. The loss to eBid would be the lost of Final Value Fee.

I also agree with those who prefer contact through AAL or PM or Ask a Question.

Agree
The real loss to ebid would be the fvf which is very low and needed to improve the site.
It would be used by some as it as been on ebay to do off ebid sales.