Rob Chesnut

We've also received a lot of feedback from the Community about how we can improve the user interface, and we've been working hard to do so. Specifically, we want to replace some of the transparency that was removed when SMI was first introduced, without affecting the protection we're providing for bidders.

This week, we'll be making the following adjustments to SMI:

1. Enhancements to Search by Bidder. When members use the Search by Bidder feature (found under Advanced Search), they’ll now be able to see all the details of that bidder’s bidding activity on items below the $200 threshold.

2. Sellers can use Advanced Search to research potential buyers. Sellers will be able to use Advanced Search to conduct full research on their current bidders for a 48 hour period after the bid is placed. In addition, they will also be able to research the activity of any member who sends them an Ask Seller a Question email or uses Best Offer within a 48 hour period of the email/offer being sent.

3. Safeguarding Member IDs on listings with a Reserve or Buy It Now over $200. If a bidder bids on a listing where the Reserve price or Buy It Now is above $200, their ID will be anonymized just as if they had placed a bid over $200.

4. Anonymous bidder IDs for Best Offers. The IDs of buyers on the Best Offer history page will no longer be fully displayed to viewers – the last part of their ID will be hidden by asterisks. However, the seller of the item will be able to see the ID in full, as before.

To learn more about SMI, please read our FAQs, which have been updated to reflect these new changes. As always, I appreciate your support as we work to keep the marketplace safe.

Sincerely,

Rob Chesnut
Senior Vice President, Global Trust & Safety