I’d like to register with Ebay, but they demand a LOT of personal info, along with my real (not a free, web-based) email address. I flat-out refuse to use a credit card online.
How much spam does Ebay send and how much personal info do I need to hide/mung/fabricate in order to protect my privacy?
BTW, their “privacy policy” page is down.
If you refuse to use a credit card online, then you can’t register. it’s that simple. Fabricating a number is fraud.
–Cliffy
You could set up a checking account specifically for e-bay transactions and get a check card. That’s what I have done.
My ISP lets me set up some number (I think 5) of e-mail accounts, which I haven’t bothered to do, but if your ISP is similar then you could set up an account name specifically for ebay, and let them spam it to death if they so desire.
The amount of spam I get from ebay seems to be proportional to how often I use it. If I don’t do anything with ebay for a while I don’t seem to get any spam, then as soon as I bid on something or buy something I get a whole bunch of spam for the next few days.
Please learn to read for comprehension. Nowhere did I say I was intending to commit fraud or try to fake a CC number.
FYI, as long as the registrant uses ISP-based email address (rather than a free web-based one) Ebay does allow people to register with the site and participate in auctions WITHOUT having to give a credit card number.
My question was simply as stated: if I allow Ebay to have my email address, how much will they abuse and prostitute my personal information (like my telephone #, mailing address, email address, etc) with spam and other unsolicited mail?
I’ve been a member of Ebay for about 4 years and haven’t gotten any e-mails I didn’t ask for (end of auction, placed auctions, and outbid notices). You can set your personal preferences concerning such 3rd party intrusions.
I have a friend who deals exclusively through Ebay and he hasn’t been spammed to death either.
I have an email address which I use for these boards, eBay, and two mailing lists to which I subscribe. I also gave it to my boyfriend, my best friend, my parents, and my grandmother.
In the nine months I’ve had and used the address, I have gotten NOT ONE SINGLE PIECE of spam. I have gotten only the mail from the people I mentioned above. And yes, I’ve participated in several auctions, and I count the various emails from the sellers as included in that.
Just anecdotal, but hey.
Corr
I don’t get any spam from eBay either - except the email I ask for - bid notices, outbid notices, and saved searches. When you sign up, read all the info carefully, there are newsletters they send out, but you can request not to receive them.
It’s a good idea to give your real contact info (phone number, address) because if someone does try to contact you and find your contact info is incorrect, eBay will kick you off. I gave them all my info, and haven’t had any problems I can trace specifically back to eBay.