1) When we reply using our email (click 'reply') Is it still routed through eBay, and will be saved in MyMessages before it goes on to the intended recipient?

Yes.

2) When I answer, will it arrive in the recipients email with my email address hidden? Or will it be visible.

I'm sure it will be hidden. Not for security reasons, but because they want to prevent offsite sales.

3) Will any content be stripped out of it before it goes to the recipient?

That I am concerned with as well. If information is getting stripped from my emails I will be really irritated.

4) When we reply, will there be any login required? Or any sort of verification before it is sent? (in other words, any way that a phishing email can grab our password using a mock-up of these emails?)

Interesting, I never thought about that. I am pretty sure there will be no extra work on our end. When a customer goes to ASQ, it will generate temporary email addresses for both the buyer and seller. Then we send messages to these email addresses that get routed thru ebay and then delivered to the other party.

If you have ever been on craigslist, its the same thing.

Justin

. . . no offense customgauges - I appreciate your help on the questions. Need clarification on questions 2, 3 and 4 though

Thank you.

Number 3 is what I was most interested in.

I am saving and printing this thread for posterity.

I have my doubts on it, but I will be cautiously optimistic.

I guess I can ask another question...

My signature in outlook (much like your signature here) has my email address and phone number along with some URLs. So what you are saying is all that information will not be stripped out or modified in any way.

I want my customers to have multiple ways to contact me, and plan on still offering those other ways. I want whatever is most comfortable for them.

If they want to call me, fine. If they want to email me directly, that is also fine by me. I have no problems bouncing emails through eBay as I have nothing to hide, but if the customers aren't comfortable I want to talk them in a setting comfortable to them. Are we going to be prevented from doing this?

Justin