posted on October 15, 2000 02:40:50 PM
There must be something in the water, and not just with PayPal payments. I had one guy do the multiple PayPal payments, because he sent the minimum shipping stated in the listing rather than reading the EOA notice, then he did his math wrong in figuring the balance owed. BTW, I did learn on that one, if your buyer will PP in $0.10 increments, there's no charge. LOL!!!! The other day I got a MO for $1.40 for a $1.00 item with minimum shipping of $0.55. The buyer had sent the amount for insured 1st Class mail shipping and left out the bid amount. A couple of weeks ago, another buyer paid the $3.20 shipping on a $1.50 item and forgot to include the cost of the item. Needless to say, I edited my EOA notice to clarify that the stated shipping charges are IN ADDITION TO bid price.
If I'd had the problems valerie47 is having, I'd definitely include something in my EOA about "If using PayPal, please be sure to send the correct amount for bid price plus shipping in your initial payment, as $0.25 will be charged for each additional PayPal transfer."
posted on October 15, 2000 02:43:30 PM
I have just re-modified my EOA email and it is much clearer.
I also have this stated about Paypal:
Please send full payment (including shipping and sales tax if applicable) in one transaction. There will be a 25¢ minimum charge for receiving multiple payments for one transaction. (If just sending one payment per transaction there is no charge)
Does that sound ok or is it clear as mud?
____________________________________
The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary.
posted on October 15, 2000 04:07:37 PM
I think that's perfectly clear. I've never had a problem like this (THANKFULLY!), but if I did, I think I'd be pretty PO'd. I really think Paypal should consider a way to fix this!
posted on October 15, 2000 05:20:47 PM
Thanks! I hope it's clear to my customers! You know how some of them have such a hard time READING....
____________________________________
The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary.
posted on October 20, 2000 09:20:25 PM
This just isn't getting any better! I have redone my EOA email to be point-blank clear. I also included:
Please send full payment (including shipping and sales tax if applicable) in one transaction. There will be a 25¢ minimum charge for receiving multiple payments for one transaction. (If just sending one payment per transaction there is no charge)
Now, this customer won 2 items from me, and asked me how much shipping would be for these 2 items. (She could have easily looked this up on my shipping chart also) but I gave her the total for shipping. Later on she Paypals me - and shorted me $3.80!
I have just asked her to forward the balance of $3.80 PLUS the 25¢ Paypal fee. Waiting to hear back from her.
Another problem today - I recieved a personal check in the mail, and my auctions CLEARLY state in big bold letters "I DO NOT ACCEPT CHECKS" and it's also in my EOA email. I wrote the person this morning asking for a different payment method and have not heard back.
This is REALLY getting aggravating.
____________________________________
The only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary.
posted on October 20, 2000 11:40:42 PM
You know what's going to happen now, don't you, Valerie47? Your next deranged bidder is going to send the 25 cents as a third separate Paypal payment.
posted on October 21, 2000 04:51:47 AM
Maybe if the buyers had to pay PayPal 25 cents for every time they sent a payment, they wouldn't make mistakes like that?
I think paypal should charge the sender of money instead. Just like the people who purchase money orders for a FEE. But then would that stop people from using PayPal?
posted on October 21, 2000 05:00:02 AM
As far as people sending checks when your terms say not to, good luck. When I first started I said No Personal Checks, but a full 80% of folks sent them anyway. Not everyone lives somewhere where they can easily get a money order. Once I realized this, I changed my terms to accept checks with the option to hold the item while the check cleared. So far so good, about 320 transactions, probably 85% paid with personal checks, and no rubber ones yet.
Remember, some people live out away from town and a money order requirement could be a problem for them. Expecting someone to drive 20 minutes to a store or post office to get a money order for a small ticket item will either lose you bidders, or get folks who send checks anyway. My experience was that is was like swimming upstream. Also, there are many buyers who for one reason or another are housebound, which is the reason they are shopping online.
edited for spelling
[ edited by Meya on Oct 21, 2000 05:00 AM ]
posted on October 21, 2000 05:44:56 AMbooksbooks: I have actually thought of that! And now I'm trying NOT to think about that part.....
talonis: I also wish Paypal would charge the BUYERS instead of the sellers. Seems like everything is buyer-happy and the sellers have to pay the fees on everything. Just doesn't seem fair.
Meya: I *used* to accept personal checks. One month alone I received 10 bounced checks! I was constantly having to remind people to repay me for the bounced checks and turning them over to collection agencies. On some of them I still never got my money back and I quit taking checks several months ago. Money orders are VERY easily accessable - convenience stores, Wal-mart, post offices - just to name a few. They are everywhere. I also accept SEVERAL different online payment methods. If my customers can't read big bold letters in my auction that say "NO CHECKS" and they send one anyways, that's THEIR problem. I will not accept or deposit the check. No exceptions.
posted on October 21, 2000 12:17:11 PM
Valerie- you're not alone. I've been similarly frustrated on all counts.
I use PayDirect, which is free and has the added advantage, like LAbbie posted, of being able to accept or refuse payments. I've wasted hours anyway because people double pay, or they "forget" to add on shipping charges, etc.
Just 2 days ago I had a lady who sent $9.99 when she should have sent $13.19. I emailed her about it and she said "oh, I thought PayDirect would add on the shipping charges." uh, NO, on this planet that's not how it works. *shaking head.*. So she re-sent the correct amount, and I refused her first payment.
Then there was the customer who bought 3 items from me but didn't bother to wait until I invoiced her for them. She paid by paydirect in 3 separate payments. I think it was pretty nice of me to actually go back and refund some of her money on shipping, because I combined shipping for her.
I get messages from PayPal all the time saying "you've got cash". It's always a source of irritation to me. I clearly state in both my EOA and my TOS that I don't accept PayPal, but people just feel like they have to do it their way I guess. I email them telling them to cancel the payment because I won't accept it.
Meya has a good point- getting people to not send checks is like swimming upstream. One thing I used to do with success was to offer a free gift if the MONEY ORDER was received within 10 days of the auction end. I used to only accept money orders and I still used to get a lot of checks anyway, but there were fewer violations after I implemented my free gift bribe.
I do accept checks now although I hate to do it because all the checks go through my boyfriend's checking account. (I don't have an account.) It makes me crazy that a bounced Ebay check of mine could screw up his finances. But since I don't accept PayPal I figured I better start accepting checks or my auctions weren't going to get any bids at all. If a check bounces on us I'll do my best to cover for it as soon as I find out, but it makes me crazy because his stupid bank doesn't tell us when a check clears, and I don't have access to his financial paperwork either.
Needless to say, I edited my EOA notice to clarify that the stated shipping charges are IN ADDITION TO bid price.
