A seller obtained my post code from an enquiry I made about an item they are selling, but how?

[touchwoodtoad]

I sent a message to a seller asking about an item and in their reply they indicated that they could drop the item off to me as my post code was not far from them. How and why can any other ebay member find out my post code from a message I sent? I do not display anything other than my general location in my member info so when I asked the seller how they'd obtained it, he said that it came up when he sent his reply to me. I'd like to know how to stop this happening as I feel it's an invasion of my privacy.

[*vyolla*]

Was it a Best Offer?

You can see postcodes then.

[touchwoodtoad]

No. It was a 'Buy it Now' listing.

[red_magpie]

How and why can any other ebay member find out my post code from a message I sent?

I can't imagine how, especially as eBay goes to such lengths to prevent members from providing contact information!

I don't suppose you have bought anything from this seller before, and forgotten this?

[touchwoodtoad]

I had the same notion, but I checked my purchase history as far back as possible, and my feedback, and no evidence of that. But even if I had purchased from him in the distant past, I don't see the need for anyone to be instantly supplied with my post code again when I'm simply asking a question about an entirely different item. When I asked the seller, he did not know either, stating: "It came up when I sent a message, not the address, just the post code."

[john1297576]

I have never noticed this on messages, although I cannot think of an explanation.