I'm so not in the mood --;!
%*@!_*%!@*)% eBay! eBay, in an effort to 'protect' its users from unwanted solicitations, SPAM, phishing, spoofs, etc. has now made it IMPOSSIBLE for one to contact another eBay user unless you are in an actual transaction with that user. In other words, if I wanted to contact a seller whom I've lost his or her e-mail address, I can't do that unless that person is selling something on eBay now. I also can't contact past acquaintances I've met on eBay anymore outside of eBay's sytem. I can't contact past winners of an auction by a scam seller for information about their transaction with the same seller. Finally, and most distressing for me at the moment, I can't contact a winning bidder to ask if he would be willing to sell me part of his winning lot for a very generous offer X(! I lost an auction for a lot of 150 press kits, 3 of which I was actually interested in. I tried using eBay's system to see if the winning bidder would be interested in selling me just those 3 for half his bid amount, but eBay blocked me. My only hope now is that the seller will help me pass along my question and offer to the winning bidder, which I know is quite awkward and uncomfortable for the seller. Sigh, I should have taken the seller up on his offer and mailed him payment for the kits I was interested in OVERNIGHT via postal money order. I really regret not doing that now.
Before anyone comments about, "Yes, eBay is reasonable about this new security feature especially considering all the SPAM, spoofs, and phishing e-mails I've gotten asking for my eBay or Pay Pal information," ever since I changed my e-mail account 3 years ago, I have only received maybe 3 spoof and phishing attempts for eBay or Pay Pal information. I don't even have a Pay Pal account and the old one that I had wasn't with this new e-mail address, so that throws the theory that SPAMMERS, spoofers, and phishers are getting their information via eBay or Pay Pal itself. I suspect all the SPAM, spoofs, and phishing e-mails I receive is via another source (a virus on someone else's computer that has my e-mail address, worms, etc.), so eBay is NOT at fault in this instance for not securing my contact information. The 'overwhelming complaints' that eBay should step up security to prevent SPAMMERS, spoofers, and phishers from using eBay's database to scam people is unfounded! Just like myself, I suspect all the SPAM, spoofs, and phishing attempts are from another outside source beyond eBay's control, so putting this new secure feature in is redundant and isolating members from one another. I do admit I have gotten 2 somewhat harassing messages from members on eBay using eBay's mailing system, but I only received 1 from each. If they had continued to harass me though, I would have just reported them to eBay and have them blocked.
eBay reminds me of Solaris. All the stupid little things that really don't need protecting have 10-20 blocks on them to prevent one from erasing said things. On the other hand, the really important things that need protection have 0-3 blocks on them that are easily broken. It's so stupidly easy to break into a Solaris system that it's scary. Ask the same Solaris system to delete a few files or open an application via a different window and a different user, it will totally deny you any freedom whatsoever even if you are the super user O~O!
I'm so not in the mood for eBay supporters here ;b, especially after calling eBay's customer support 1-800 number 3 times today about this! The first 2 representatives said I should still be able to use eBay's system to contact other members outside of an actual transaction. The 3rd representative said I was 'misinformed' by the other 2 representatives and said there was really nothing she could do about it. eBay's customer support 1-800 number is nothing but an eBay for Dummies phone number with representatives that have no actual power to do anything but say, "I'm sorry I can't help you."
Before anyone comments about, "Yes, eBay is reasonable about this new security feature especially considering all the SPAM, spoofs, and phishing e-mails I've gotten asking for my eBay or Pay Pal information," ever since I changed my e-mail account 3 years ago, I have only received maybe 3 spoof and phishing attempts for eBay or Pay Pal information. I don't even have a Pay Pal account and the old one that I had wasn't with this new e-mail address, so that throws the theory that SPAMMERS, spoofers, and phishers are getting their information via eBay or Pay Pal itself. I suspect all the SPAM, spoofs, and phishing e-mails I receive is via another source (a virus on someone else's computer that has my e-mail address, worms, etc.), so eBay is NOT at fault in this instance for not securing my contact information. The 'overwhelming complaints' that eBay should step up security to prevent SPAMMERS, spoofers, and phishers from using eBay's database to scam people is unfounded! Just like myself, I suspect all the SPAM, spoofs, and phishing attempts are from another outside source beyond eBay's control, so putting this new secure feature in is redundant and isolating members from one another. I do admit I have gotten 2 somewhat harassing messages from members on eBay using eBay's mailing system, but I only received 1 from each. If they had continued to harass me though, I would have just reported them to eBay and have them blocked.
eBay reminds me of Solaris. All the stupid little things that really don't need protecting have 10-20 blocks on them to prevent one from erasing said things. On the other hand, the really important things that need protection have 0-3 blocks on them that are easily broken. It's so stupidly easy to break into a Solaris system that it's scary. Ask the same Solaris system to delete a few files or open an application via a different window and a different user, it will totally deny you any freedom whatsoever even if you are the super user O~O!
I'm so not in the mood for eBay supporters here ;b, especially after calling eBay's customer support 1-800 number 3 times today about this! The first 2 representatives said I should still be able to use eBay's system to contact other members outside of an actual transaction. The 3rd representative said I was 'misinformed' by the other 2 representatives and said there was really nothing she could do about it. eBay's customer support 1-800 number is nothing but an eBay for Dummies phone number with representatives that have no actual power to do anything but say, "I'm sorry I can't help you."