Strange, creepy message from eBay

[chapeaunoir]

www.ecommercebytes.com/C/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2018/7/1531576938.html

I dimly recall the fact that you can get charged FVFs for exchanging contact information with another eBay member even if you don't sell anything. Apparently, also, if someone asks you if you can take a transaction off site, instead of setting them straight and offering to complete the transaction legally on-site, you are not supposed to answer at all or - ding! 

Still, I can't get over that really strange message eBay sent - it reads like something that should have come through Winston Smith's little communication tubes in 1984...just to make sure he knows that Big Brother is watching. 

[Tabby]

This is especially ridiculous in light of the fact that some eBay sellers of high-dollar jewelry and watches get away with putting their telephone number in their listings.

Here's an example, where the store banner includes the phone number:

www.ebaystores.com/SANT-BLANC-Fine-Swiss-Watches

[Deleted]

I can understand Ebay trying to collect on off sale transactions where buyer and seller meet on Ebay. But there needs to be absolute real evidence that a transaction happened.

There is no way I would pay Ebay a fee because they thought I transacted outside the venue. I was thinking about this when I ran a small truck auction last week or the week before. It was an old Chevy 3100. I had it listed in local online groups and put a disclaimer that I'd pull the auction if I had a local buyer and it had no bids.

I did just that. I pulled the auction the same day I listed it. 

How come every new Ebay policy, that is discussed, my first thought is.. they're going to get sued. lol 

They remind me of the phrase - desperate people do desperate things. 

[chapeaunoir]

Exactly - I understand the necessity to keep eBay transactions ON eBay, but this is just paranoid behavior.

And yes, how about that Swiss watch seller? They have different rules I guess?