posted on December 3, 2000 06:20:27 PM new
I'm dealing with a real strange case, the first like it that I've heard of . A bidder on one of my auctions suddenly announced to me that I must either take their money from Paypal, or they won't go through with the transaction. I asked the woman why she couldn't go down to the store and get a money order [assuming she doesn't have a checking account]. I'm waiting the response. I advertised that I would take a check or MO in my initial ad. Didn't say I'd take Paypal. No one asked me if I did. Now I'm being TOLD to take it or get nothing. Any thoughts?
posted on December 3, 2000 06:28:15 PM new
Your listing says nothing about Paypal. If it is a rather good and profitable sale, it's your call...On the other hand, it's a shame to let her go around bossing her way through Ebay and who know where else...
You might consider adding that you do not take Paypal, right on your listings, if you still have some going. I quit Paypal, put it in listings, and no one has complained.
******************** Gosh Shosh!
posted on December 3, 2000 06:31:49 PM new
I agree with Shosh although I would tend to take the hit. I'd explain to this bully that you ONLY will accept the terms that you've clearly listed.
There are a few goofballs out there that do this to suck you into signing up to Paypal so that they can get their commission. It happens to me once every six months or so.
Sometimes it's hard to be fair and honest and still deal with someone like this who may even leave you NF if you don't give into her.
posted on December 3, 2000 06:33:47 PM new
There have been lots of stories of people generating paypal payments without paypal being offered. This person is trying to bully you into accepting payment. I'd inform this bidder that PayPal acceptance was not indicated in any way on your auction and by insisting on paying by that method you will consider it a breach of your auction terms. As such, you will file a Non-Paying Bidder claim with Ebay for this auction.
posted on December 3, 2000 06:35:43 PM new
I'd point her to the TOS in the listing, and suggest that if she did not wish to abide by the terms to which she agreed when she bid, that I file for NPB and FVF. Point her to the NPB and FVF consequences for bidders, and let her make up her own mind how she wants to proceed.
posted on December 3, 2000 06:37:10 PM new
I did not say that I would take Paypal, and I don't as a matter of policy. I only said I'd take Check or MO. This woman is now telling me I MUST take Paypal or she won't pay. If I file a FVF, what should I give as my reason?
That I wasn't paid? That she didn't comply with TOS? I can see someone saying to ebay, "but I offered to pay using Paypal" and ebay saying, "we'll let this one go this time, mam" and letting it go.
posted on December 3, 2000 06:44:25 PM new
Never assume the worst (or the best...), You might be surprised by Ebay's response, although you may have to explain and give details to Safe Harbour, because their format does not provide room for explanations... Too cut-and-dry...
posted on December 3, 2000 06:53:19 PM new
hmm I Sorta wonder if you can file NPB after refuseing a resonable payment plan and method.
This is not a nonpaying bidder its one offering credit card payment Through a service that is technically free to sign up to use up to $500 in 6 months.
If this seller complains to ebay I wonder if they would even refund listing after a seller refused payment.
TOS Only goes so far its not like she is asking you to go out and apply for the worlds most expensive merchant account.
Remember Ebay to is a business with customers to keep happy while buyer dont pay ebay nothing to buy they do buy the Item that genorate there largest income which is your FVF.
posted on December 3, 2000 07:21:41 PM new
Moreover, the bidder is trying to, um, change the rules in the middle of the game. Can't remember the exact wording, but "bidder refused to abide by TOS" is one of the NPB choices.
posted on December 3, 2000 07:26:09 PM new
Collegepark ~ there's the reason in the credit request for a bidder not following your TOS. Ebay does recognize that the seller's TOS should not be changed after the auction has ended and that a bidder should abide by the TOS.
posted on December 3, 2000 07:29:18 PM new
When someone demands to pay with a particular credit card payment service, there's always the possibility that there's credit card fraud involved.
But beyond that, you have the right to set the payment terms that are acceptable to you. If you only want to accept live chickens as payment, that's your right.
OK, but we're talking about reasonble payment, right? Personally, I don't accept cash as payment for a variety of reasons. If someone told me that it was cash or nothing, it would be nothing. And, as long as I specify this in my terms, I certainly have the rights to file an NPB (and a neg, really) for anyone who bids and then refuses to abide by those terms.
posted on December 3, 2000 07:48:18 PM new
I draw the line at chickens
But if the form of payment is fairly simple to turn into $$ Or even if it is dollars I will usually Accept it.
I seen a auction not long ago Where the buyer was accepting paydirect, billpoint, paypal, exchangepath, bidpay,money zap and at the bottom it said if you perfer to pay in silver coin please feel free to do this too. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on December 3, 2000 08:23:29 PM new
The bidder in this case apparently has some negs already in her feedback that make me leery of Paypal, even if I had decided to waive the TOS. Some of the folks were quite angry at her as a SELLER. I don't know what she sold, as the auctions are no longer online, but from her website [she had a link with her letter], she apparently writes what I would term soft core porn. I'm approaching the next highest bidder. How does it work with a FVF if you end up selling to a lower bidder because the high bidder won't go along with TOS? Do they adjust the fee? Does the NPB get a warning? This is a big headache for only about $8.00.
One other question. I noticed that some of the feedback for this woman had a "follow-up" from the feedback giver after her response to initial unfavorable feedback. How is that done? I thought it was a one shot thing with feedback.
posted on December 3, 2000 08:41:03 PM new
For 8.00!!!! I thought this was a big sale, tell her to pay by your terms or forget it! file a npb and leave her the appropriate feedback, so other sellers will be warned!
posted on December 3, 2000 10:23:05 PM new
If you go to your "MY ebay" page, click on feedback, at the bottom of the page you will see a place to click on to respond to all feedback left. I think then it brings up feedback left about you, and out to the side of each feedback left is a place to click again, then you can respond. I think that's right, it's been awhile.
As for the buyer saying either you take paypal or she wont pay, then file your NPB alert and be done with her.
Don't let it worry you.
posted on December 4, 2000 05:14:37 AM new
When you file for NPB/FVF and have sold to bidder #2, the FVF is indeed adjusted down to reflect the lower purchase price.
It is definitely NOT worth the potential headache to knuckle under to this woman. $8? You've got minimal profit in this item as it is; you don't need to invite more time and trouble. Paypal?? Suuuuuure, I'd sign up with them, give them a CC and my bank account info for a questionable $8 sale.....
posted on December 4, 2000 05:20:29 AM newamalgamated, if someone sends you cash, do you return it? I rarely have a buyer tell me beforehand the type of payment they will be sending. I accept checks, money orders, or bidpay. The times I have been paid via cash, they didn't announce in an email they were sending cash, it just arrived that way.
As far as the post in question...I would politely tell the buyer to either pay under my terms, or they wouldn't get their item.
posted on December 4, 2000 05:38:07 AM new
Remember the name of the game is SELLING - and how do large companies operate, they accept every possible type of payment. Public pressure demands they do this. You can either accept such payments or decide that you aren't really serious about selling.
THE CUSTOMER is the issue - NOT what you like, or what you want to do or don't want to do.
THE ISSUE IS SERVICE -
We have our own business, an antique shop, and we naturally have a credit card Merchant Account, BUT on line we also offer BillPoint (which I personally hate), PayDirect (Which I am not too fond of), AND PayPal (which I love). BUT we wouldn't have to offer any of these as we can accept credit cards ourselves, but we accept them as a courtesy and convenience to our customers.
posted on December 4, 2000 05:43:45 AM new
There are plenty of B&M business that don't take certain types of payments either. Our local pizza shop stopped taking checks recently, none of the gas stations near us will take a personal check either. Sam's Club only takes Discover Card or their own Credit card. Until a few years ago, Kaufmann's didn't take any credit card but their own. I can't think of any restaurant around here that takes checks. Many places don't take American Express.
It is up to the Merchant to set their payment terms. If the buyer doesn't like it, they can move on. Why is this such a difficult concept to understand?
posted on December 4, 2000 06:03:17 AM new
Collegepark - you accept the forms of payment that are comfortable for YOU. It's your business. File an NPB, send Safe Harbor a copy of all correspondence between you and this bidder and in 10 days file FVF.
I wonder if all the people who are telling you to take PayPal, whether you want to or not, are willing to take American Express directly on an $8 sale if a bidder insists on it?
Sure, it's expensive. But it's a reasonable form of payment.
posted on December 4, 2000 06:07:33 AM new
Until I read this question, I could not imagine a situation in which
I would leave negative feedback. Now, I do!
Paypal is not a "reasonable" payment method in my opinion.
It's a risky payment method.
The amount of the sale is not relevant...8.00 or 800.
posted on December 4, 2000 06:56:24 AM new
Online payments protect the buyer, and eBay is encouraging payment with CC with their instant purchase option.
If a buyer is ripped-off, they can chargeback on their CC and get reimbursed.
Besides, it is easier than driving to a store to buy a MO.
Why would any honest seller object to taking online payment?
posted on December 4, 2000 07:03:42 AM newWhy would any honest seller object to taking online payment
Are you implying that a seller is automatically dishonest if they don't use online payments? That's nonsense.
I stopped using PP when they showed their dishonest side. Many sellers are small time and can't afford to have their money tied up while PP plays games with their terms and rules.
My feedback of 263 with no negs speaks for itself. I just don't want to mess with online or CC payments. It doesn't mean I'm dishonest.
Is my local Pizza shop dishonest because they won't take a personal check? Is Sam's Club dishonest because they won't take Visa?
posted on December 4, 2000 07:03:48 AM newWhy would any honest seller object to taking online payment?
Have you been living in a vacuum for the last 3 months and read NONE of the seller-horror-story Paypal threads?
driving to a store to buy a MO.
Last time I checked, you could get a MO online at Bidpay. And this seller accepts CHECKS, which require nothing but sticking a stamp on an envelope.
But that raises another question: Why would any honest buyer object to sending a check or MO, when those are the acceptable payment forms noted in seller's TOS? What reasonable buyer would try to bully a seller into this, particularly post-auction?
posted on December 4, 2000 07:14:39 AM new
When I buy something I read the TOS before I bid. When I sell something I expect the buyer to read mine. I accept checks, MO and billpoint. If thats not enough, they don't have to buy from me. I will listen to suggestions but I don't like to told what to do. They can sign up for Billpoint as easily as I can sign up for Paypal.
posted on December 4, 2000 04:46:45 PM new
The woman had another doozy for me. She wanted me to be sure that the book was not subject to cigar or cigarette smoke [so help me God!] because the person she was getting this for had asthma! Can anyone here tell me how passive smoke would effect a book?! I think I've heard everything now. I'd almost love to post the email, but know it's against the rules. She claims her daughter has been in the hospital and she failed to order new checks. Her note indicated that I'm some kind of cruel heartless individual. That she would go out and 'borrow' a check somewhere.
In anticipation of a possible no-pay, I contacted the next highest bidder, last night, who is rational. I take a hit for 50 cents, but I don't have to deal with more of this BS. I'm thinking about telling the high bidder that as her situation is so "desperate" that I'll cancel the sale with her, and, oh, by the way, DON'T EVER BID ON MY AUCTIONS AGAIN. This is for a pair of books. Apparently she has had problems with another regular ebay bookseller, who left her a neg.. After reading some of the soft core stuff on her web site [she has a web link on her email] I think this is a fruitcake I'm dealing with. I'm tempted to give a neg, or AT LEAST a neutral with the "facts" [ludicrous as they are at times]. What do you think?
posted on December 4, 2000 04:53:50 PM new
As far as the passive smoke goes, YES items such as books, clothing, etc are very prone to picking up the smell. Someone with asthma could have serious trouble with them. If you've never been in a home or smelled items from a long time smokers home, you have no idea how strong the smell of smoke can be. Bleah...
As far as the rest goes, I would probably tell this bidder that it is obvious that this sale is not going to work out, and you are cancelling the sale. Or, you could tell her that you have smoked a pipe for 15 years, and the book reeks.
posted on December 4, 2000 04:59:09 PM new
The book doesn't smell, but the deal does. I may just leave a neutral with the "facts" after canceling the sale.
Too cut-and-dry...
