Yet another ebay rant...

[salaxi54]

Okay, not actually, but it seems the evilbay can't stop offering surprises...
I purchased yesterday something from China (yeah, i know)
The seller has 100% feedback for at least a year's history. Shipping details mentioned they'd ship by China Post. So, today i got this message:

"Can you tell me your phone number please ?
The phone number is very important for your Country Post and China Post.
If your goods arrived in your Country's ,The deliverer may be not contact with you when you are not at home .Here The deliverer may be call you .

Please believe me !We only hope shipping faster and more safety.

Sure,If you really not want to supply phone number,we still can ship it.But,please tell me"

Lots of people have purchased the same item, no neg. Plus the message came from within ebay, so there's (most probably) no scam there.
My question: what would you do? Just send it? Sounds normal?
I have never been asked for a phone number from a seller before, thus i seem to hesitate..

 

[StrontiumDog]

Your post office doesn't need your phone number, sounds more like the seller is collecting phone numbers to sell on to cold callers

My advice is don't give them the phone number

 

[RED IMPACT]

Give them your mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins...

 

[desiv]

Don't give them your phone number..

I've ordered several things from China. Never gave a phone number. Always received the items.

It's always possible it will get lost, but I would rather take that risk than give out a phone number..

Good luck either way..

desiv

 

[Aacheron]

AFAIK only courier services need a phone number (if they do not found your address, to arrange a delivery, ... )

 

[ChrisUnionNJ]

It may be a customs thing also..

 

[salaxi54]

It's not computer-related or electronics of any kind, and the price doesn't affect customs...

---------- Post added at 11:25 ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 ----------

Told the seller that i was never asked for my phone in the past, and am not willing to do so now. Here's what they replied:

"Hello my friends,
Thank you for your email .
We will ship it via China YANWEN EXPRESS .About 5-15 days,you can receive it .
The phone number is very important for your Country Post and China Post.
Please tell me !!!
Thank you and waitting for your reply,"

 

[-Acid-]

If you really dont want to give your number then cancel the purchase and complian to ebay. Defintely looks like something dodgy is going on.

 

[robinsonb5]

We will ship it via China YANWEN EXPRESS .

If that's a courier service, rather than regular post, then it's plausible that they might demand the phone number - it seems to be pretty standard practice for overseas couriers. I've had to supply recipient phone numbers both sending to and receiving from the States before now.

Is the item you've bought large enough or heavy enough to require courier rather than airmail-style shipping?

 

[salaxi54]

Yes, the item is actually a bit large.. Does that make sense though? I've plenty of courier deliveries in the past, no phone asked.
However, this doesn't involve Hellenic Postal services!

 

[moijk]

Your post office doesn't need your phone number, sounds more like the seller is collecting phone numbers to sell on to cold callers

My advice is don't give them the phone number

What's up with people? If they want your phone number, give it to them. if you don't want - don't do it. The only reason a seller would ask for the phone number would be because some form is asking for it.

The value of one single phone number for anything mischeavous being advertising or whatever your afraid of is nil. The typical asian ebay seller deal in high volume and time is money, so anything that might save them some time they appriciate.

I'm all in for causion on the web, but paranoia is a bit out of my style.

 

[keropi]

give them your mobile salaxi54
courrier services do get help from phone numbers, EMS/USPS/DHL/FEDEX they all like it (have used all of them to receive packages, some actually do phone you)
infact domestic courriers like ACS require you to give phone numbers ...

 

[salaxi54]

@keropi: I trust your purchasing experience mate!