posted on December 4, 2000 05:07:30 PM new
Read what happened to me tonight under the message Exchange Path or Paypal and you might change your minds. I'd forward her letter to support@Ebay and let them know she is forcing you to sign up for a program you don't offer.
posted on December 4, 2000 06:41:09 PM new
LOL Meya
Bleah...
I purchased a hardcover book from a seller a while back and as soon as I opened the box the smell of stale old cigarette smoke hit me like a tidal wave. Each time I opened it or flipped a page, I'd get a waft of the old, stale smoke smell.
I'd never experienced that before but can tell you now that books can indeed reek if kept in a smoke filled household.
posted on December 5, 2000 04:17:21 AM new
CollegePark -
eBay has repeatedly said that the winning bidder MUST pay in the manner the seller specifies. If your auction does not list PayPal, she has no right to suddenly insist on it.
As a reason for the NPB ... pick whatever seems closest to the situation. "Refusal to follow TOS" is a possibility.
Yes, books from smokers' households REEK of stale smoke.
Tell her that you will not change the terms - check or MO are the only acceptable forms of payment, and NPB warning and FVF penalties will be forthcoming.
We accept American Express and don't limit it to the amount of purchase. ONE that is illegal. Two, you never now when that $8.00 buyer will turn into a $100 buyer - of course you seldom have an American Express Card Member paying for an $8.00 item with a credit card.
When you are a "store front" you can be a bit picker, if that is your approach, but start watching the TV ads for mail order merchandise, and other PROFESSIONAL type ads that relate to mail order, they take every type of payment in the book - they are out to get the customers and they do.
I personally believe in following the example of those who are spending millions in advertising and KNOW what it takes to get the customer to complete the sale, and the more methods of payment one accepts the more opportunity to procure the buyer.
One has to get past the "personality" issue, or feeling YOU are being oppressed or pressured, and deal with this issue merely as a good business decision.
posted on December 5, 2000 05:47:58 AM new
Well, the last time I checked, Buy.com didn't take PP either. They also will not take a personal check for any wireless product. This is their decision and their option.
Amazon.com does not take PP either. And they both have certain restrictions concerning any payment.
It is up the Seller to set the terms. Do you think Amazon feels pressured or oppressed by those who like to use PP?
posted on December 5, 2000 05:48:23 AM newstart watching the TV ads for mail order merchandise, and other PROFESSIONAL type ads that relate to mail order, they take every type of payment in the book - they are out to get the customers and they do
Coincidentally, one of these "PROFESSIONAL type ads" was playing on the TV as I read your post.
The price of the item is fixed. As their aim is to sell many thousands of these items, and they have a budget large enough to purchase national TV time, one can assume they are not a one-person business operating out of a spare bedroom (as am I). And they charge $5.95 "S&H" for an item that can't cost more than $2.50 to ship Parcel Post. Other ads of more expensive items offer a payment plan.
Do you suggest that we follow this retailer's other business models? I mean, hey, why just stop at the forms of payment accepted?
posted on December 5, 2000 06:13:18 AM new
"One has to get past the "personality" issue, or feeling YOU are being oppressed or pressured, and deal with this issue merely as a good business decision."
JWPC -- there's no "personality" issue involved here. And I honestly don't see where oppression even enters into the argument.
Many of us find PayPal to be a very poorly run business and have made a sound (for us) business decision NOT to accept it or to STOP accepting it.
Btw, I have yet to see PayPal displayed among the credit card logos in TV ads for what you call "PROFESSIONAL" mail order type businesses.
posted on December 5, 2000 08:16:20 PM new
Bidder's wrong for not reading your auction TOS. But jwpc said it best...to compete today a business needs to do whatever it takes to make easy for it's customer's to pay. Not doing so just limits your sales. If you're doing business in an electronic marketplace, it just does not make sense to not take advantage of electronic payment options even if they are imperfect. PayPal cost far less than my merchant account and so far I personally haven't had any problems with them or BillPoint. (Billpoint does cost more though)
As far as the examples like Sam's, Pizza joints and gas stations that severely limit their customer's payment options...well their loss. I don't shop at Sam's Club anymore, the local Subway that won't take plastic or checks gets zero business from me, and there's very few gas stations in my town that don't have plastic pay-at-the-pump.
Orwellian as it might be we can't escape the fact that we're moving to a cashless society.
Auctions that only take money orders and not Billpoint or PayPal...I don't bid on them anymore. I got better things to do with my time than wait in line at the 7-11 to buy a money order. I don't see the economic sense in paying BidPay $5.00 for a money order for a $10 auction.
When I'm selling I get far greater response and quickly close my auctions when I offer online payment options. Auction ends on Sunday afternoon, payment is in my PayPal account by Sunday night and the item is out the door and in the mail by Monday afternoon. Not so with the money order crowd...it's taking an average of 15 days to get the stock out the door and adds to the overhead and heartburn.
posted on December 5, 2000 08:54:21 PM new
It is your business and you run it the way you want to, period. She sounds like a bidder I had. My bidder said "either I have to pay you by PayPal or I cannot go through with the auction." At that point, she just pissed me off because of the principal involved. I listed the auction, and if she had taken the time to bid, she was under the obligation to read the TOS and adhere to it, and I told her so. I also said, if you want to forgo the auction because I will not adhere to your terms, go right ahead. I will do what I have to do, and follow this to its sad conclusion. She sent a check! And someone not following TOS stated, is a reason for filing and getting FVF.
