posted on August 26, 2008 08:13:15 PM newcan you show me or let me know where this is stated? I would like to know for sure that what your saying is a fact.
If you don't get it by now, there is no way I will be able to explain it to you.
posted on August 26, 2008 08:21:40 PM new
I'm with Tonimar on this. You can email whatever you want but if the customer chooses to forward it to eBay and it violates their selling policies, they can make your listings POOF and get you NARU'd. Edited to add: I think barparts idea is very risky unless you plan on leaving eBay. It can only take one irate customer to report you - very dangerous, especially if you have put non-compliant verbage in an email.
[ edited by pixiamom on Aug 26, 2008 08:26 PM ]
posted on August 26, 2008 08:23:49 PM new
The way I understand it an invoice will automatically be sent at the end of the auction to the buyers and Paypal will be the method of payment. I seem to remember reading somewhere in all this land slide of changes that they will be monitoring sellers who are selling and not generating paypal transactions. So even though you use a private email to generate a check or MO, they will know that the item was not purchased by paypal. Anyone else read this?
posted on August 26, 2008 08:37:44 PM new
Don - I do remember reading about that on the change discussion board. The ebay pink said that of course "legacy buyers" could continue to pay you in the way they have always used. I think they stated that a 16% non-PayPal transactions threshold would throw up red flags (but don't quote me on that). Anyway,
the gist of the discussion is that they WILL be watching the % of your buyers who use PayPal and at some point red flags will cause concern (in the least).
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posted on August 27, 2008 05:58:22 AM new
What if you don't use paypal but credit cards? Can't you still do that? And I think you can use checkout redirect at least until next year.
Beth
posted on August 27, 2008 02:58:38 PM new
Is eBay planning to eliminate third-party checkout?
Yes. We realize that checkout services offered by eBay Certified Solution Providers are valuable services to our sellers. Our plan is not to disrupt these services but to work closely with these providers to integrate them into eBay checkout in 2009. Ultimately, it's eBay's goal to have buyers always pay for their purchases within the secure confines of eBay.
What about Google Checkout, Checkout by Amazon or Amazon Flexible Payment Services? Will these payment methods be offered?
No. The electronic payment methods available on eBay already provide security and protections and are already used by the vast majority of our buyers and sellers. eBay will offer several other electronic payment options in addition to PayPal, namely ProPay to start, with more electronic payment providers to be added in coming months. Google's and Amazon's products and services compete with eBay on a number of levels, so we are not going to allow them on eBay.
Do these changes affect all eBay sites?
These changes only affect the U.S. eBay site. Check other countries' individual sites for more information and updates.
What is eBay doing to educate buyers about these changes and keep them shopping on eBay?
The vast majority of buyers already use the approved electronic payment methods to purchase items on eBay, and these changes won't affect their shopping experiences on eBay. eBay plans to educate and provide incentives to buyers who are heavy check or money order users to retain them. In addition, starting in late October, eligible items paid with PayPal on eBay.com will be covered by PayPal Buyer Protection with no coverage limit and at no additional cost. See eligibility.
If I already offer one or more of the approved payment methods, what do I have to do to comply and when will I need to make changes to my listings?
If you already offer only the approved electronic payment methods to your customers, you're already meeting the new requirements. If you offer one or more of the approved electronic payment methods and methods no longer allowed, you're fine. Starting in late October, your listings will only display the allowed methods. You will need to remove any reference to the prohibited payment methods from your item descriptions.
What if I only accept checks, money orders or other payment methods that will be prohibited?
By late October you'll need to do at least one of the following:
Add PayPal as a payment method to your listings. This can be done through your seller preferences page in My eBay.
Sign up with ProPay to offer this electronic payment option to your customers. We are also working closely with additional electronic payment providers to add them to our approved payment providers list. Learn more.
Accept credit or debit cards through your Internet merchant account.
What if I don't take at least one of these steps by late October, 2008?
You will not be able to list new items or relist using the same templates. Your current listings will remain on eBay.com until they end. Good 'til Canceled listings will be displayed on eBay until they come up for relisting at the end of 30 days.
Do I have to remove references to prohibited payment methods from my templates and item descriptions?
Yes, you must remove references to prohibited payment methods from your templates and item descriptions. This will not be done automatically. If prohibited payment methods are included in your item description, your listing will be in violation of the new Accepted Payments Policy.
What is the deadline for removing references to prohibited payment methods from my templates and item descriptions?
We encourage you to remove any references as you update your listings and listing templates between now and October 2008. We know that this is a busy time of year for sellers, so we will wait until January 15, 2009 before we begin insisting on the removal of prohibited payment methods from item descriptions.
What payment methods can a buyer choose when paying on pickup?
Buyers may choose whatever payment method seller and buyer agree to when they pay on pickup, including checks, money orders and cash. We encourage sellers to specify in their listing description what payment methods are acceptable if a buyer pays on pickup. Also note that sellers may not select "pay on pickup" as a sole payment option in their listing. At least one of the approved electronic payment methods must always be an option for buyers.
Is there an easy way to change my listings?
Yes. You can remove prohibited payment methods through your seller preferences page in My eBay.
What should I do if a buyer demands to pay with checks or money orders?
We know that some buyers will still want to pay with checks and money orders, even after this policy change goes into effect. When this happens, explain to your buyers the benefits that come with electronic payments:
More secure payments
Faster delivery of their purchases
More protection in case anything goes wrong.
Some buyers may be anxious about online payments or may not have a bank account. In these cases, suggest that they try using a prepaid debit card.
What should I do if I have long-standing, repeat customers who insist on paying with checks or money orders, even after I explain the benefits of electronic payments and offer suggestions?
We know this may happen occasionally, and if you accept checks or money orders from these customers a reasonably small percentage of the time, this will not be a violation of the new payments policy. However, we will not allow abuse of the new policy and will be watching for sellers who accept a significant amount of prohibited payments. Remember also, you can refuse to accept these payment methods. If the buyer doesn't pay, you can file an unpaid item (UPI) complaint. Buyers who insist on paying with these prohibited payment methods in a UPI claim will lose the claim and will not be allowed to leave negative feedback.
What happens to my feedback if a winning bidder refuses to pay using the payment methods specified in my listing?
If the buyer refuses to pay using the payment methods specified in your listing, file an Unpaid Item dispute (UPI). If the buyer fails to respond to eBay's requests for more information through the UPI process, provides an inadequate response such as nonsense words, or insists upon paying with an unapproved payment method, any negative or neutral Feedback left by the buyer will be removed.
What if a buyer threatens negative Feedback to demand payment by a method not specified in my listing?
You should immediately report the buyer to eBay. If there is clear evidence of undue pressure, eBay will take action. If a buyer shows a pattern of malicious behavior, eBay will most likely suspend the buyer and any negative or neutral Feedback the buyer left for any sellers will be removed.
What will happen if I ask a buyer to use a prohibited payment method?
Requesting prohibited payment methods from your customers either by email or in your item description is a violation of the new Accepted Payments Policy. Violations of this policy may result in:
Listing cancellation
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Limits on account privileges
Loss of PowerSeller status
Account suspension
What should I do if a buyer demands to pay with checks or money orders? We know that some buyers will still want to pay with checks and money orders, even after this policy change goes into effect. When this happens, explain to your buyers the benefits that come with electronic payments: More secure payments Faster delivery of their purchases More protection in case anything goes wrong. Some buyers may be anxious about online payments or may not have a bank account. In these cases, suggest that they try using a prepaid debit card.
Yes, we all need to be versed in praising paypal. Any ebay cheerleaders still out there?
I will get all of this bold, someday!
[ edited by deichen on Aug 27, 2008 03:28 PM ]
[ edited by deichen on Aug 27, 2008 03:28 PM ]
[ edited by deichen on Aug 27, 2008 03:29 PM ]
[ edited by deichen on Aug 27, 2008 03:30 PM ]
posted on August 27, 2008 03:35:53 PM new
Basically, they are telling us to treat all the buyers who don't want to use PayPal as though they are mentally addled and incapable of handling their financial affairs.
Ummm, no.
(Some buyers are mentally addled but I don't treat them as such until I see the evidence.)
posted on August 27, 2008 07:02:12 PM new
I had to chuckle when I saw this on eBay and repeated here.
What should I do if a buyer demands to pay with checks or money orders?
We know that some buyers will still want to pay with checks and money orders, even after this policy change goes into effect. When this happens, explain to your buyers the benefits that come with electronic payments: More secure payments Faster shipment of their purchases More protection in case anything goes wrong (provided you used a credit card). Some buyers may be anxious about online payments or may not have a bank account. In these cases, suggest that they try using a prepaid debit card (which depending on issuer may offer less protection than credit card).
eBay also need to push these added advantages: Higher costs for buyers since prices must now include PayPal or credit card fees plus charge back fund, and "track-n-trace" courier needed for all items.
At least on the other eBays I can still offer cheap shipping when electronic payments such as online banking, MoneyBookers, or traditional payment options such as checks, and MOs are used. Expensive "track-n-trace" shipping must be used for all PayPal purchases as per their TOS since we ship around 99% international.
There is some hope on the horizon as the Reserve Bank of Australia is in talks with PayPal Australia. They want eBay sellers (who are forced to "offer" PayPal) to be able to pass on those interchange fees to buyers, as all businesses are permitted to do so under Australian law. This would make Australian bank transfers much more popular as they are normally free for both parties.
posted on August 27, 2008 07:52:22 PM new
I don't think it's illegal, since sellers still have the option of offering merchant account CCs. I'm sure eBay has weighed the extra PP revenue to the loss of FVF's from sales to non-Paypal buyers (not to the loss of income of eBay sellers). At least eBay has dropped the facade of not accepting Google-pay because it is a new and unproven payment system. It does not accept Google-pay because it is a competitor.
