Ebay buyer wants to do an off-ebay sale? What to do?

[ponyqueen]

[edit to add: find my etsy shop by searching their site for "skyglory"]

Nothing subversive intended- I just started listing/selling some watercolor prints on ebay (for the first time ever! I'm so nervous!), and it didn't take long for someone to inquire about commissioning an original piece. Of course, I DO take commissions! ...But at my esty shop or here on the Arena.

How can I let her know this without getting reprimanded/shut down by ebay? I feel like, if I even MENTION in the *monitored* ebay message that I take commissions through my etsy shop, ebay will shut me down.

This is our only correspondence so far...

buyer: I'd love a twinkle eyed gingerbread. Do you take commissions? If so how much

Me:  Good afternoon! Thanks for your interest in my pony watercolors! Unfortunately I am unable to take commissions through eBay.

buyer:  If I gave you my e m a i l could we do it then?

Me: (composing this Arena query!)

I suppose there might be a way to do a commission on ebay, but I'd really rather not! I prefer the process on etsy/arena or independently.

Thoughts?

fyi, my etsy shop is located at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SkyGlory?ref=hdr_shop_menu

[Thunderwing]

I have told people I am called Thunderwing on the MLP Arena, and have never had a problem. You could phrase it like "You can find me on the MLP Arena as *username*."

[Haruna]

That is tricky :/ Good on you for trying to abide by Ebay's rules. That's the honest thing to do and not every seller does. One thought I have is that what Ebay actually doesn't want you to do is sell the item currently up for auction offsite; their rules don't cover items that you haven't listed or that don't exist yet (as in this case). It seems like it would be safe to mention your Etsy shop and that you take commissions there, since Ebay doesn't deal in commissions. Anybody else want to weigh in on this?  I feel a little nervous advising you to do this, since I'm not 100% positive Ebay would be okay with it. Hopefully more people can weigh in.

[banditpony]

say ok.

If they can get through the filter and provide an email, then give them your Etsy through the email. I'd give as little info as possible through ebays messages.

[kitkatvintage]

If you are not discussing buying a specific item you currently have on eBay outside of eBay, it is not really breaking any of their rules.

Has she bought something already? If so she should be able to find your email connected to the Paypal payment. Alternatively if you write a note on a piece of paper such as "email me: name@service" then send it as a picture attached to a message, it will not get caught in eBay's email filter.

[lunar_scythe]

I would simply tell the person you don't want to discuss it through ebay, but they can find you on etsy as "name" or here as "name".

If they seriously want the pony, they will be willing to put in a little work, even making an account if they have to would only take a few minutes.

[Carrehz]

I would simply tell the person you don't want to discuss it through ebay, but they can find you on etsy as "name" or here as "name".

If they seriously want the pony, they will be willing to put in a little work, even making an account if they have to would only take a few minutes.

I think this, too. You're not actually selling anything that's already on eBay to her, so I don't see anything wrong with letting her know how to contact you outside of eBay

[ponyqueen]

Thanks everypony!