NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER FOR EBAY!

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

So...

Dunno if this is just a trick, or....

But don't really care. eBay's screwed me over FARRRR more times than I can count in the last 7 years, so....I have ZERO issues with dishing it out a bit.

On May 3, they sent me this message:

"You are invited to take advantage of a new eBay service -- Toll-Free eBay Customer Support.

Please keep this phone number handy, and the next time you need assistance from eBay, you can give us a call:

800-717-EBAY (800-717-3229)

This phone number is just for members like you who have been invited to participate, so please be ready to provide your member ID when you call. We also request that you not pass this number along."

Yeah. Riiiiiight.

I'm not gonna pass along UNSOLICITED information, SURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE.



Call up to your hearts content, ladies n' gents!

[Zero]

Thank you sir!

[Shadowmatt]

I got this email, too, but it got pulled into my junk folder. I'm not 100% if it's the real deal, but if other people got it as well, then maybe it has at least some validity to it.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

I got this email, too, but it got pulled into my junk folder. I'm not 100% if it's the real deal, but if other people got it as well, then maybe it has at least some validity to it.

It's valid, because I found it in my eBay folder in my eBay messages, from eBay. It's the same entity that sends me my invoice every month, and it's "eBay", so unless someone's seriously hacked the system.....and eBay hasn't mentioned it...it's legit.

[Shadowmatt]

I got this email, too, but it got pulled into my junk folder. I'm not 100% if it's the real deal, but if other people got it as well, then maybe it has at least some validity to it.

It's valid, because I found it in my eBay folder in my eBay messages, from eBay. It's the same entity that sends me my invoice every month, and it's "eBay", so unless someone's seriously hacked the system.....and eBay hasn't mentioned it...it's legit.

Thanks for the heads up! I know that some of my ebay email gets sent to my junk every now and then as my filter is on lock-down, but I'll add this email to the "safe" list then. Thanks!

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

When I said I didn't know if it was a trick, I meant if it was a trick from eBay itself....to see if I'd give the number out.

[Technique]

I wrote it down. Hope I never need it

[gowaltrip]

When I said I didn't know if it was a trick, I meant if it was a trick from eBay itself....to see if I'd give the number out.

Umm....you lost that trick ZWH...

Im dying to hear some stories of your accounts with the "customer service reps"....I mean SERIOUSLY! Tell us what happens or happened.

<gowaltrip is cringing as he does tech support at a call center.>

[Shadowmatt]

When I said I didn't know if it was a trick, I meant if it was a trick from eBay itself....to see if I'd give the number out.

Gotcha! Thanks for the clarification!

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

When I said I didn't know if it was a trick, I meant if it was a trick from eBay itself....to see if I'd give the number out.

Umm....you lost that trick ZWH...

Im dying to hear some stories of your accounts with the "customer service reps"....I mean SERIOUSLY! Tell us what happens or happened.

<gowaltrip is cringing as he does tech support at a call center.>

Since I deal with corporate customers all the time, and am my company's direct link to our customers, it's my job to make sure that I am always polite, courteous, and professional at all times.

I extend this policy into other life, including dealing with customer service folks. In fact, I live by the policy of "honey attracts more flies than vinegar (though I don't understand why you want to attract flies anyways)" and, when something hasn't gone my way, I always try to get the rep on MY side, to empathize with me, so they will be more inclined to help me with whatever situation I have.

VERY rarely do I ever get hostile with customer service reps, and then it's ONLY if they're just flaming full of attitude.

Usually, when I hit a brick wall, I just hang up and try someone else.

I'm not one of those people that believes in barriers, you see. There's ALWAYS a way to get what you want...you just have to know how far you're willing to go to get it. Sometimes it's worth it...sometimes it's not.

99% of the time, when someone on a message board reads "hostile" in my posts, it's not that at all, but rather "passion." I get very passionate about what I believe in, but the tone of voice, body language, inflection et al is lost in translation to words on a screen.

[gowaltrip]

When I said I didn't know if it was a trick, I meant if it was a trick from eBay itself....to see if I'd give the number out.

Umm....you lost that trick ZWH...

Im dying to hear some stories of your accounts with the "customer service reps"....I mean SERIOUSLY! Tell us what happens or happened.

<gowaltrip is cringing as he does tech support at a call center.>

Since I deal with corporate customers all the time, and am my company's direct link to our customers, it's my job to make sure that I am always polite, courteous, and professional at all times.

I extend this policy into other life, including dealing with customer service folks. In fact, I live by the policy of "honey attracts more flies than vinegar (though I don't understand why you want to attract flies anyways)" and, when something hasn't gone my way, I always try to get the rep on MY side, to empathize with me, so they will be more inclined to help me with whatever situation I have.

VERY rarely do I ever get hostile with customer service reps, and then it's ONLY if they're just flaming full of attitude.

Usually, when I hit a brick wall, I just hang up and try someone else.

I'm not one of those people that believes in barriers, you see. There's ALWAYS a way to get what you want...you just have to know how far you're willing to go to get it. Sometimes it's worth it...sometimes it's not.

Not to dig this up again, but I just seen this. I must say being that I have been on the receiving end of literally thousands of these calls, that is certainly THE way to get the help.

I dont know how many times people call and just immediately start with attitude, cockiness, aggressiveness, etc, etc (you know what I mean). They call needing help or even worse (an accommodation, a free repair, a new device for free, or just plain help operating or connecting a product they know nothing about, but act like they do). And they start off wanting to treat you like an idiot. At that point your going to get company level customer service. Which generally means, I go by the book, do my job, follow company policies (whether in warranty or out.....and if your out...oh, that's a shame sir! ).

But some customers....they know how to talk the right way. They talk with the idea that MAYBE you can help them and show a certain level of humbleness and kindness, etc, etc....Its not kissing butt. Its just telling your side of the story without being so combative and really you may have a situation that is truly unfortunate.

I swear I will do everything I possibly can to help those customers. Stay on the line 2 hours if need be. Work every angle for an accommodation within my power. And take the customers side and represent their situation to upper management.

Trust me, my comrads are pretty much the same way. Sure some of us dont know squat. (weve all had experience with the boobs). But most of us do know what we are doing and we do know how to help you out if you just give us a chance and show a tad bit of sincerity.

p/s ZWH....Id STILL be interested in how your conversations went. Just for the info purposes alone.