Block messages from blocked accounts

[VintageTreasures]

I now have confirmation that if someone has messaged you through eBay, blocking their account does NOT block them from messaging you again. Even though this person has never purchased from me and I have never responded to their messages, AFTER I blocked them the strange messages have continued.

I think a way eBay could improve would be to block all communication from any accounts (that have never purchased from you) after you block them. I wouldn’t expect this if someone has purchased something from a seller as they may need to communicate about the item they bought. But if you have never sold to someone and they are sending you strange messages you should be able to block them from continuing to send those messages.

To me it doesn’t make sense that (even if someone has never purchased from you) if they have messaged you previously you can’t block future messages from them, even if you block them from buying from you. If someone has never bought and can never buy from you, why would they need to message you? And how could a seller block an account before the first message reveals that the person who has that account is mentally unbalanced?

[Sharyn]

Click on “Account” in your My eBay then click on “Site Preferences”, scroll down until you see “Buyer Requirements”, click “Edit”, scroll down to the last option, and click to block members who are on your blocked bidder list from contacting you.

[Amatino]

Oh, VT, sorry you’re experiencing this!

And yes, I agree with you that eBay should BLOCK buyers who are on your blocked buyer list. It’s nuts that they can continue to message you even after you’ve blocked them, if you have never replied!

@Sharyn, that doesn’t work if the buyer has already messaged you. I’ve actually seen the messages from blocked buyers and there’s a whole host of very bitter complaints on the eBay community about this exact problem.  Also on Reddit.  If they messaged you on an item once or purchased once they can still communicate on THAT item but no others.

VT, the only way to stop this whackjob is to end the listing and then use Sell Similar to create a brand new listing. Being blocked, s/he should not be able to contact you even for this item if you create a new listing for it. You will probably get a flurry of emails from the buyer in protest at you ending the listing!

[VintageTreasures]

Sharyn, thanks, but I do know that. I’ve always had option clicked and I did double check that it was clicked before I got this most recent message from the person. It doesn’t block someone who has already messaged you from messaging you again unfortunately.

[VintageTreasures]

Amatino, thanks! For some reason it never occurred to me that if I create a new listing for the same item the person will not be able to contact me re: it – due to them now being blocked and them not having sent a message already on the new listing. I’ll do that!

[Sharyn]

Thanks for the explanation. THANKFULLY, I have not had this issue, so I assumed that the setting would prevent block buyers from contacting me. I hope that Amatino’s trick works for you.

[VintageTreasures]

Sharyn I imagine the person could still continue to send me messages on the ended items since I’ve had people message me on ended items before. EBay really should fix this, it’s no fun having weirdos sending you messages.

[workhorse]

I had one guy sending me tons of messages even though he was blocked. I called ebay and they eventually did stop it.  They initially said “just ignore it”.  After I framed it as a question, “does ebay permit users to persistently harass other users?” they changed their tune and escalated it.  They even told me the person was going to be banned.

[Sharyn]

VT – Don’t forget to report this person if you haven’t done so. You might want to call eBay if it continues and consider what workhorse posted.

[VintageTreasures]

Thanks workhorse, Sharyn and Amatino. I appreciate your help!

[Author]

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