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Careful... Reverb is watching.

tb-player

tb-player

Why so serious?
Mar 6, 2019
6,708
29,962
East Coast, USA
#1
For years, if you ever sell something on eBay, you aren't permitted to list your personal phone number or email address in private messages, for fear that a seller and buyer might complete a sale outside of the platform. Fair enough.

I've never know Reverb to check up on that, but I always assumed it happened. Then today, I received the following email from Reverb Support (the email was [email protected] so no, it wasn't spam or phishing):

Hi Jeff,

This is Ria at Reverb.

We noticed the communications and wanted to ensure this transaction was completed securely. Were you able to complete the purchase for the MTD MTD 635- 24 2024 - Natural with the seller directly?

For our records, we would appreciate a reply within 48 hours.

Thank you for your attention to this.
Best,
Ria N. | Marketplace Integrity Specialist​

I went back and found the original correspondence. I was attempting to arrange a meet with a local buyer & gave him my phone number. I guess that must have triggered something in their support dept. Turns out the bass was too heavy and the deal fell through.

It makes sense. They're just protecting their platform. I'm just curious if anyone else has ever received an email like this? If not, this might be a good heads up for sellers. Seems like Reverb might be cracking down.
 
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#6
Unshocking, probably something in their system that captures keywords from the seller. Could also be a way to prevent/ban scammers when people do fall through a bad deal.

Either way, guess we gotta use code words now... :laugh:
 
#8
tb-player said:
For years, if you ever sell something on eBay, you aren't permitted to list your personal phone number or email address in private messages, for fear that a seller and buyer might complete a sale outside of the platform. Fair enough.

I've never know Reverb to check up on that, but I always assumed it happened. Then today, I received the following email from Reverb Support (the email was [email protected] so no, it wasn't spam or phishing):

Hi Jeff,

This is Ria at Reverb.

We noticed the communications and wanted to ensure this transaction was completed securely. Were you able to complete the purchase for the MTD MTD 635- 24 2024 - Natural with the seller directly?

For our records, we would appreciate a reply within 48 hours.

Thank you for your attention to this.
Best,
Ria N. | Marketplace Integrity Specialist​

I went back and found the original correspondence. I was attempting to arrange a meet with a local buyer & gave him my phone number. I guess that must have triggered something in their support dept. Turns out the bass was too heavy and the deal fell through.

It makes sense. They're just protecting their platform. I'm just curious if anyone else has ever received an email like this? If not, this might be a good heads up for sellers. Seems like Reverb might be cracking down.
Click to expand...
Was this a post sale delivery meeting, or so a potential buyer could see the item? I sold some speakers, local only, back in November. Once they sold, Reverb provided me the buyer's information so I could arrange local pickup.
 
#9
I think they've always done this, (or some more primitive form of it) they are just pushing the policy more now maybe?

Me, I always asked a lot of questions about anything I was going to buy, and there was always some annoying little dialog box warning about not exchanging contact info or the unprotected nature of doing deals outside of their platform. Well, duh?!

I am neither a buyer or seller anymore, and if I was, I would not under any circumstances use Reverb or eBay to sell musical instruments. I'd most likely use the local music store I do repair work for as a consignment sale outlet. For small sales, in-person, ca$h Craigslist deals. I might use the Classifieds here or a couple other forums I do support, but I don't intend to help them other folks out anymore. Done got too big for their britches, my Mom usta' say.
 
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#12
Reverb has always done this. It is to ensure they get their cut. If your buyer pays through Reverb and you share contact info after the fact, you will not trip their filters.

This has not happened to me but a friend. He sold privately like you did. He then marked the listing sold and during the process checked off whatever option to avoid paying Reverb its fee. Reverb contacted the buyer asking if the sale went through and when the buyer confirmed it did, went back and suspended my buddy for circumventing the system.

If you want use their services pay their fee.
 
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#17
Something similar happened to me with eBay many years ago. Local music store listed a bass on eBay when it was a relatively new platform. I recognized the store from the pics and went to try it out. Sticker said $800. eBay auction was currently around $200. I offered him $600. He politely told me that if he listed it and didn’t complete it through eBay, they could sue him, or at least fine him, ban him, etc. He said that if eBay didn’t get their fees, they had a habit of coming after people.

I’d like to think customer safety is the reason Reverb contacted you. However, it’s probably just a way to make sure they get their cut.

By the way, I won the eBay auction for $325. I came to pick it up the next day and the store owner just laughed. To my knowledge, he stopped using eBay after that.
 
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#20
tb-player said:
For years, if you ever sell something on eBay, you aren't permitted to list your personal phone number or email address in private messages, for fear that a seller and buyer might complete a sale outside of the platform. Fair enough.

I've never know Reverb to check up on that, but I always assumed it happened. Then today, I received the following email from Reverb Support (the email was [email protected] so no, it wasn't spam or phishing):

Hi Jeff,

This is Ria at Reverb.

We noticed the communications and wanted to ensure this transaction was completed securely. Were you able to complete the purchase for the MTD MTD 635- 24 2024 - Natural with the seller directly?

For our records, we would appreciate a reply within 48 hours.

Thank you for your attention to this.
Best,
Ria N. | Marketplace Integrity Specialist​

I went back and found the original correspondence. I was attempting to arrange a meet with a local buyer & gave him my phone number. I guess that must have triggered something in their support dept. Turns out the bass was too heavy and the deal fell through.

It makes sense. They're just protecting their platform. I'm just curious if anyone else has ever received an email like this? If not, this might be a good heads up for sellers. Seems like Reverb might be cracking down.
Click to expand...
This is not new. They have done this since the dawn of their existence
 
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