Making Winning Bidder IDs Anonymous

Early last year, we began to anonymize bidder IDs on listings. This change was designed to protect bidders from fake Second Chance Offers and other malicious emails.

However, today the winning bidder’s ID is currently visible to everyone after the listing ends, and this continues to lead to fake checkout offers and other spam. Consequently, it also leads to unpaid items, as winning bidders who fall victim to these fake emails often send payment to someone other than the seller.

Based on the positive results we’ve seen by anonymizing bidder User IDs, as well as our commitment to protecting all bidders from becoming targets for fraudsters, we’ve decided to extend anonymized User IDs to winning bidders, as well. This change will be implemented sometime next week.

As always, the following information will still be accessible:

1. Sellers will be able to view all bidder IDs on their listings.
2. All members can click on the bidder ID and view the bidder’s Bid History page, which will detail the categories in which they’ve bid over the past 30 days.
3. Feedback pages will show the same information as now – buyer and seller IDs, with comments visible to all.

Onsite Buyer Messaging about “Free Shipping” During the Feedback flow

Free Shipping is a great way for sellers to improve their DSRs and attract more buyers. To enhance the accuracy of Feedback left on these transactions, beginning next week buyers will be reminded that the seller offered Free Shipping on the transaction as they are leaving Feedback for the seller.

We’d also like to let you know that in July we introduced messaging to remind buyers when their transaction was an international transaction.

Since Feedback is often left days or even weeks after payment is made, providing these reminders should increase the accuracy of buyer Feedback and help ensure sellers who do cross-border business or who offer Free Shipping receive appropriate DSRs for Shipping time and Shipping & Handling cost.

Thanks for taking the time to read about these updates on eBay, and we thank you for your support.