Members can send messages to each other through eBay. We encourage open communication between our members but we don't allow our members to use these options to send spam, offers to buy or sell off eBay, threats, profanity, or hate speech. We also don't allow members to exchange email addresses or links that do not directly help buyers and sellers complete a transaction on eBay.
Make sure you follow these guidelines. If you don't, you may be subject to a range of actions, including your messages being blocked, limits of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.
Please remember that we don't have control over communication unless it takes place through eBay. Also, posts on eBay discussion boards aren't covered by this policy. However, we do have a discussion boards usage policy.
Want to reduce the amount of email you get from us?
We don't allow our members to send each other spam. "Spam" is an email (or part of an email) that is both unsolicited and commercial in nature.
Unsolicited means the message was sent without the explicit request of the person who received it. Commercial means the message discusses buying, selling, or trading of goods or services.
Some examples of spam include:
Unsolicited email offers sent to potential buyers
Email messages sent to a member on a mailing list without that member's prior permission
Invitations to join a mailing list that aren't related to a transaction
Messages that include links that do not directly help buyers and seller complete a transaction on eBay
Email and websites impersonating eBay – Some members have reported receiving requests for personal information in email messages that look like they were sent from eBay, but weren't. Learn how to recognize spoof (fake) eBay websites and how to report spoof emails.
If you have received spam from another eBay member, please report it.
If you received a warning for violating our spam policy and you believe it was sent in error, or you were suspended for violating our spam policy and would like to learn more, please contact us.
We don't tolerate threats of physical harm using any method including by email or on our public message boards (such as our discussion boards, Answer Center, and other community areas).
Example: "If I don't hear from you by tomorrow about the item I purchased, I will come over to your house and break your legs."
If you receive a threat, please report it to us immediately. Also, report it to local law enforcement. In addition to contacting law enforcement, you should consider contacting your local phone company if the threat was made by telephone or the other member's Internet service provider (ISP) if the threat was made through email communication.
If, through the email evidence you provide, we confirm a serious threat of physical harm was made, the offending member's account will be indefinitely suspended.
Members aren't allowed to use profanity or hate speech in their communications with other members through eBay. If you receive a message with this kind of language from another eBay member and the message was sent through eBay, please report it to us immediately.
Additional information
As outlined in our Privacy Policy, we don't sell or disclose your information for marketing purposes. Your email address is only disclosed to members involved in an eBay transaction with you. eBay will investigate and take action on reports of misuse of this information.
Why does eBay have this policy?
Communication between members is a key part of the eBay buying or selling experience, and we want to keep it as open as possible. But it's important that our members feel safe, and don't feel like they're getting unwanted email from other members.
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