What info can buyers see on a personal Paypal account?

flamin_galah

I have a personal Paypal account, the email for which is firstnamelastname@hotmail.com. I want to sell some stuff but I don't want the buyers to be able to see who I am, or my address. I know I can add another email address so I could use a pseudonym in that to prevent my real name from showing in the email.

But if I gave that email address out for them to send payment to me, would they be able to see my name and address as registered to Paypal?

(I'm not trying to fleece them if anyone is worried, I'll be telling them to use the goods & services option and absorb the fees myself, so if there's any issue they're protected, it's just I don't want them to know my identity.)

Flyonthewall

When you send a parcel you should always include a return to address in case it needs to be returned to you. So a buyer would see your address that way anyhow and they'd also get your address if they returned an item.

Most buyers won't pay any attention to your name or address, they've got no reason to. Their interest will be in the item itself unless there's an issue, in which case they'd get your address unless you just refund without a return. Even in the case of a return the buyer is highly unlikely to care about what your address is anyway as they'll have no use for it other than to return the item.

Same goes for any details they can see in Paypal.

soolin

You don't mention where you will be selling, but if this is on eBay then buyers can request your details anyway.

As above though, you really need to have some sort of return address on any parcels going through the post.

flamin_galah

I won't be using Ebay, I'll be using specific sites for this particular kind of selling. And it's important that buyers can't identify me as it could lead to some unwarranted attention. It's recommended that you hide your identity when selling on these sites. Returns aren't really an issue, it's not exactly a typical selling arrangement.

I just want to know what details they can see in Paypal when I give them an email address.

ballisticbrian

Is this item tangible goods that you send through the post?

flamin_galah

Yes. Items that you will probably be selling to people who you really don't want to know where you live.

But really, can't someone just tell me what shows on Paypal without getting into the specifics of what the selling is? I just want to know what information Paypal gives to buyers, and I don't have any transactions in my own Paypal account which can help me- mine all seem to have been to businesses.

ballisticbrian

Click here and scroll down to number 5.
https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full?locale.x=en_GB#5


The reason we're asking other questions is because we know, for example, the post office staff will ask you to put your address on the parcel when you send "Signed For".

Stevie_Palimo

flamin_galah wrote: »

I won't be using Ebay, I'll be using specific sites for this particular kind of selling. And it's important that buyers can't identify me as it could lead to some unwarranted attention. It's recommended that you hide your identity when selling on these sites. Returns aren't really an issue, it's not exactly a typical selling arrangement.

I just want to know what details they can see in Paypal when I give them an email address.

I cannot understand the need for the cloak and dagger act here if you are selling legal items then what is the issue ? , Now if it is illegal then I can understand the need to be discreet but would state that listing such things on a forum is hardly a good idea.

flamin_galah

Thank you ballistic, I couldn't find that for looking.

Stevie, there are things you can sell online that are legal, but would attract the wrong kind of attention if the buyers knew where to find you.

And I've sent parcels many times (to family who live away) without putting a return address on, so I don't think it's essential, and on the sites I'm looking into, not recommended to do so.

I don't want to be 'cloak and dagger', I just wanted a simple answer to a simple question without going into specifics, which I've now got, thanks to ballistic.

forgotmyname

Its not essential to put a return address but if the parcel goes missing you wont get it back.

Imagine your buyers not wanting you to know their address? They are buying the same goods so maybe they dont want you to know where they live?

soolin

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

I cannot understand the need for the cloak and dagger act here if you are selling legal items then what is the issue ? , Now if it is illegal then I can understand the need to be discreet but would state that listing such things on a forum is hardly a good idea.

I suspect the items are legal but likely to lead to people wanting 'more' than the person selling is prepared to give. However, if the items are , let's say in the adult category, then be warned if buyer mentions what he is buying or PayPal suspect what you are selling based on site history, then your PayPal account will be suspended.

I would also note that when this is mentioned on selling sites I read it is often suggested that sellers ask buyers to pay for garden items, which has in turn caused issues for real sellers of garden items!

Lastly, for those that mentioned it, the items themselves are almost certainly only valuable to the person buying, and have no real monetary worth, so likely to be sent via a post box with no return addresses or signature required.

On the Up your income board there used to be a thread along this line, however it was a very long while ago and I don't know if it can still be found.