"this operationrequires the account to be logged in"...what?

Okay this is getting more and more common. I see a seller listed as online on poe.trade. I whisper him. The whisper goes through and I do not get a message saying the character is offline.

I try to invite the character to a party and then i get the message saying "the operation requires the account to be logged in". That implies the character isnt logged in at all...so how is he showing as online and why can my whispers go through?

Anyone know whats going on?

Nobody?