Why do online sellers ask for my phone number and email?
Independent marketplace sellers often request phone numbers and email addresses directly for customs shipping forms or outside messaging like mockups. This makes buyers uncomfortable because platforms usually handle communication securely, leaving buyers unsure if sharing personal contact details outside the site is safe.
Core Friction Pattern
Analysis of 4 peer accounts across online developer and community forums reveals that “Why do online sellers ask for my phone number and email?” repeatedly surfaces due to edge-case mismatches between standard defaults and real-world environments. Standard troubleshooting frequently falls short, compelling practitioners to develop custom workarounds.
+5 alternative community-tested workarounds cataloged below.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Why do online sellers ask for my phone number and email?
- 1Sellers input their own phone number instead of asking the buyerDid this help you?
- 2Communicating exclusively through the platform messaging systemDid this help you?
- 3Keeping all communication strictly within the platform messaging systemDid this help you?
- 4Refusing to share the phone number and questioning the seller's motivesDid this help you?
- 5Using a separate phone number or Google Voice number for planningDid this help you?
- 6Blocking and reporting the spam numbersDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“First time buying on Etsy so I was a little thrown by the question.”source ↗
“Asking for my name makes sense, but shouldn't they already have my email? Also what about my phone number would make shipping easier?”source ↗
“Shipping I totally understand as I mentioned in the OP but asking for it for a mock up? I've always been sent mock ups via Etsy messaging.”source ↗
“I'm interested in purchasing a custom order from a seller who has asked for my phone number which has made me uncomfortable.”source ↗
“The seller has stated this is for texting mockups which has never happened to me on Etsy before. I think it's safest to keep everything on Etsy.”source ↗
“Ever since, I've been receiving multiple spam calls and texts per day.”source ↗
“I went to a wedding show a year ago and I keep getting texts and calls from a dj because they got my contact info from the organizers of the event.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2How to automatically deliver digital files to buyers on Amazon and eBay
- 6How to hide my home address on e-commerce shipping labels
- 4Why is supplier communication spread across so many apps?
- 3Why am I getting so many spam calls?
- 4Is it safe to send photos of my ID to a private host?
- 2How to register a rural business address without regular mail