eBay Forcing User ID

Flyonthewall

unreal2014 wrote: »

I'm sure you cannot since such a page does not exist, therein lies the problem, you simply cannot create your own user id from the register page, and you are given the first name the automated ebay system gives you.

To repeat, once you are given this name, you have the option to change it via the control panel edit option. Even when you do this, the original "user id" is still on your user id history which can be viewed by anyone via your feedback page.

My point which you seem to be either missing or ignoring is that you simply cannot create a username from the register page like you used to be able to and the fact they incorporate your own name is ridiculous and a complete breach of privacy.

When I sign up on this forum, do they give me a username, no they do not, you simply create your own, do you understand that?

Even if MSE issued your username to you without your acceptance, I am sure they would not force it upon you and include your full name and would likely create anonymous names such as user1111 or newuser1111 etc.

I've been on ebay for over 6 years. I have noticed the ID link but never thought anything of it. Not once have I clicked it or even thought about clicking it. I bet most people don't even realise it's there and I imagine very few people ever click it. Only reason I can think of to click would be if you've dealt with a bad seller and you think they may have changed their ID.

Even if someone did click it and the username used part of your name I doubt most people would think anything of it. They can't do anything with the information and no doubt some people will sign up with a fake name so you can't even be sure the name is their real name. Besides if you have a fairly common name it really could be anyone. Plus whenever you buy anything it shows your name and more.

It seems rather pointless to assign a username and I'm sure they could make it more random rather than using your name to create it. I wouldn't say it's a breach of privacy though or anything, especially as it's easy to change.

I have signed up to sites that have assigned me a random username and password too and not allowed me to change the username. That's far more annoying (for a start, you can never remember what it is).

campdave

Jesus wept.

unreal2014

Flyonthewall wrote: »

I've been on ebay for over 6 years. I have noticed the ID link but never thought anything of it. Not once have I clicked it or even thought about clicking it. I bet most people don't even realise it's there and I imagine very few people ever click it. Only reason I can think of to click would be if you've dealt with a bad seller and you think they may have changed their ID.

Even if someone did click it and the username used part of your name I doubt most people would think anything of it. They can't do anything with the information and no doubt some people will sign up with a fake name so you can't even be sure the name is their real name. Besides if you have a fairly common name it really could be anyone. Plus whenever you buy anything it shows your name and more.

It seems rather pointless to assign a username and I'm sure they could make it more random rather than using your name to create it. I wouldn't say it's a breach of privacy though or anything, especially as it's easy to change.

I have signed up to sites that have assigned me a random username and password too and not allowed me to change the username. That's far more annoying (for a start, you can never remember what it is).

Hi Flyonthewall, I completely agree with your comments, thank you for taking the type to give more than an incoherent five letter sentence, I appreciate your response completely.

I have to agree with your comments and say that you sound like-minded.

I am more concerned that specifically I have a unique name, so specifically the eBay system did not create a random mixed up user ID, but instead simply created a username and used my full name, with no numbers or even "_2014" (not that this would make any difference in this case), just my name, which though it may be a unique situation, I believe is completely unmoral to say the least and whilst trying to ask politely that they remove it, they have not, and read straight from their eBay handbook with the usual jargon about what you can do and how they claim it is impossible for them to change, you can close your account and it will be gone in 30 days etc

They lack any kind of personal approach and their best advice is similar to that of "try turning it off and back on again".

Whilst I have closed the account, 30 days is still a long time to have to wait to use eBay again (if indeed I do decide to after this), the lesson in this experience is if you are to join eBay, do not enter your first name and surname in the registration page if you are somebody who likes their privacy and have a unique name.

Instead the suggested work-around is to sign up using a completely fake name and when the system automatically creates your user ID, it won't matter as much and you can then proceed to change it via the only way of doing so via the ebay control panel edit function, to which you can then edit your details with your real details and change the user ID to one you will prefer.

campdave wrote: »

Jesus wept.

Highly useful, why would you comment at all if you have nothing useful to say.

barmonkey

I am thinking TSFE

unreal2014

barmonkey wrote: »

I am thinking TSFE

Another wise cracking, useful post.

Sure, if they said your user ID will be created automatically and I didn't read it then you could say I am TSFE, however they do not and you do not realize this until you have clicked on submit.

I won't dwell on this, but anyone who wants their privacy kept just that, should be made aware.

barmonkey

http://ebay.about.com/library/bl_vis_register.htm

unreal2014

barmonkey wrote: »

link

I can use Google too, and I can use the eBay community search function. This page you have posted has not been updated to their new layout.

Edit - To say that page was posted in 2009 or earlier according to archive.org, it clearly has not been updated and anyone jumping on the bandwagon clearly does not know the eBay system as well as they think they do since it has changed now.

campdave

unreal2014 wrote: »

Highly useful, why would you comment at all if you have nothing useful to say.

Because it's an internet forum, and you're making an absolute mountain out of a molehill that you created yourself.

Nothing was forced on you, you didn't read the sign up properly. So just sign up again and chose the anonymous username you desire.

I sell on ebay, and virtually none of the new users that sign up and buy from me have a username "forced" on them bsed on the usernames I see.

This has been pointed out to you several times on the thread, yet you chose to ignore the bits you don't like and pick at the people who don't agree with you. You could have solved the issue in minutes had you just signed up for a new account rather than rambling on like a lunatic on an internet forum.

Good luck sorting out your issue.

harveybobbles

Gosh - what sort of person takes months to decide on an emai laddress and eBay user name and then gets ill...?!

*goes to check it's not April 1st..*

cootuk

What's worse, on the next page they ask for your address too....