German ski website wants my passport number?

Working on a transaction for some ski gear from Germany. Given my complete lack of knowledge of German, the email communication is going pretty well. Just about ready to pull the trigger, and they wrote "And please send me your Identity card number ( from your personalpass)." I replied asking if they are asking for my US Passport number, and they said yes. Anyone know why they would want/need that info? As far as I understand, it is not uncommon for hotels to ask for that info, for example, in Europe. And, I don't think there is any risk in giving it out...my understanding is it isn't like a social security number. But, I'm still curious, and just wondering if there is a different thought out there (that I shouldn't give it out).

Thanks...

I would not do that. There is no reason for them to need that information.

Customs would be my guess - want to know who the goods are being sent to. It's the war on terror after all, and you wouldn't want those bad terrorist men getting their hand on ski masks - think what they could do with that anonymity!

edg

Put down 69696969696969 or something.

this is indeed fairly common in europe, almost always in hotels or even sometimes when paying with a credit card in shops. they want the number that is on german id cards for this kind of purpose, whatever the idea behind it may be. or the us equivalent of that, which is your passport number, i guess.