posted on March 29, 2001 08:51:12 AM
I read this, and thought the sky was falling. I immediately went to Paypal (I had not gotten notice that this bidder notification was taking place), and looked, and it is turned off. I have no idea why some of you had it default to being on, but mine is off. I love Paypal, have never had a problem (only been using it since April), and I think the fee is very reasonable next to what others charge,especially credit card companies.
Doris
posted on March 29, 2001 08:54:16 AM
I checked & mine wasn't on either.
Could it be that those of you who had it automatically turned on use the same password as your ebay password? Or have PP logos automatically inserted in your auctions?
I only ask because I use a different password for PP & insert my own logos & my notification wasn't turned on.
posted on March 29, 2001 09:06:21 AM
Here's why they only turned on some seller's accounts:
"Since you've used our automated auction tools (such as AutoLink and Instant Purchase) in the past, we have
enabled the Winning Bidder Notification tool for your auctions. We realize some sellers already use similar notification tools from third party vendors, and we wanted to make you aware of this new feature in case
you wish to ensure that your buyers only receive one payment notice per auction."
Uh, I love the last line. Who on earth would want more than one payment notice per auction to go out???? Come on PayPal. You blew this one so badly! Now go turn the damned things off, send out new e-mails begging for forgiveness for your stupidity.
I had just turned the damned thing back on to have PayPal insert their logos in my auctions - this is what I get? Funny, when they ask for your password for enabling the logos, they didn't mention that they'd be using it to access MY buyer's e-mail addresses. ARGGGGH!
posted on March 29, 2001 09:28:29 AM
What I find interesting about PayPal unveiling this new feature is the timing. BillPoint is currently running a promotion encouraging sellers to encourage their buyers to use BillPoint as the preferred payment method. Participating sellers will have listing fees refunded for all listed auctions through I believe it was April 15th that are paid for via BillPoint. My guess is PayPal was non too happy about this, and by default "opting" PayPal sellers "in" they have gotten to the buyers before the sellers could with a "please consider using BillPoint" e-mail.
I wonder how many buyers went ahead and used PayPal after receipt of the auto e-mail that might have used BillPoint if they recieved the seller's EOA notice?
posted on March 29, 2001 09:29:30 AM
So, this explains why I've been answering emails all morning from confused buyers! What really makes me mad is the letter is signed "Thanks, Pam"!!! Can they sign my name to something I didn't write or agree too! I love the convenience of Paypal and have stuck with them through everything, but this is ridiculous.
Thank you for your comments and concerns. I will be sure to include them all in the end of day report.
As an fyi, the decision to opt-in was made because you have used similar auction tools of ours in the past. It is easy to turn off/on and it is a modifiable field (so that sellers can include certain information in their emails---such as shipping,terms, payment instructions for non-PayPal payments,etc).
Hi vargas,
Fee increase messages as sent via email and they are posted on the web site.
As it relates to increases, advanced notification will be given on fee increases (the rate is 2.2% across the board, but there is a 5.00 cap on echeck payments).
There is no index I can point you to, but I would like to add that are rates are still the best in town and that there are several options you have:
Withdrawing money
1. You can send money to another PayPal User
2. You can withdraw to a bank account
3. You can withdraw by check
4. You can withdraw by debit card
(users that are PayPal preferred can effectively knock the rates from 2.2 to .7%, or 1.5% by using their debit card for purchases)
You also have:
1. Charge back protection (provided that you follow the details of the Seller Protection Program).
2. Downloadable logs for ease of transaction viewing or for records (for tax time---money received,fees paid,etc).
3. Referral bonuses are rewarded provided the buyer follows certain steps.
4. Money Market-earn dividends on balances in your account.
Fee increases have been rare and they are done, like any other business, to remain competitive and profitable. The increase goes into effect Mid-April and nearly weeks of notice were given.
There are also ways to offset the fee increases (see above) and earn dividends/get it back quicker.
posted on March 29, 2001 10:02:12 AM
For those of you with broader minds than mine, help me out here......
If I try this unsolicited service to see how it goes, the notification doesn't factor in shipping charges, correct?
So when I charge "actual shipping/insurance" and don't know what that amount will be until until the item is packed, weighed and the insurance calculated on the winning bid amount, how can the bidder possibly know what to add when making their payment. My thinking is that I will still have to contact the bidder with this info, so the notice from PayPal isn't gaining me anything, it's just and advertising piece for PayPal.
posted on March 29, 2001 10:07:16 AM
hmm, just checked mine and it had defaulted to on, also. my paypal email said "Since you've used our automated auction tools (such as AutoLink and Instant Purchase) in the past," yet to my knowledge i've never used any of their automated auction tools. i've always gone in after launching the auctions, and had them put in the paypal logo only to existing auctions. is this considered an 'automated auction tool'?
regardless, having paypal insert their logos into my auctions, when i tell them to, is a far cry from wanting them to automatically send out my eoas - especially without telling me about it first! thank heavens i don't have anything listed at the moment.
i'm already not happy about what's inserted along with the logo - making it look like i prefer payment via paypal, when that's not true - i prefer money orders.
i don't like this at all. nor do i like it that my preferences were set to receive 'special promotional email' from paypal, which i've now turned off. nor did i get any notice from paypal about increases.
up until now i've preferred to use paypal for online payments, but i too will now look more closely into billpoint and the others.
posted on March 29, 2001 10:16:58 AM
Kitty, I didn't get any e-mail about the fee increases either. Great thing to hear about on top of this crap with them sending spam to my buyers...I get to pay more now?
posted on March 29, 2001 10:18:10 AM
kittyx3> Maybe the reason you did not get a notice is because you may have declined that option. (about them sending you any updates or notices) Could that be?
Paypal Damon? If we turn off this automatic email sending stuff, does it also turn off the automatic insertion of the logo about taking paypal in our auctions? If it does, then I am otta there. I have enough to do without having to go in and copy in another HTML code to tell folks about you. And from this point on I request strongly...... Ask me before you mess with anything to do with my auctions or my bidders, ok? How I choose to conduct my Eoa's is none of your concern and none of your business!
Now everyone who is having a hard time turning off some think tank wizzards idea of pumping up PayPals bottom line to get award of the week there:
For those of you that do not want to use this newest "We just went ahead and added it to your
Paypal account" feature of Paypals, do this:
Log into your account
Click on profile
On the left, click Preferences
on the left again, click Bidder Notification
Page down
uncheck the box that says Bidder notification.
posted on March 29, 2001 10:38:25 AM
argh [what a cute, and very appropriate in this case, name],
you'd think a rate increase was important enough subject to send out a notice, wouldn'tcha?
furkidmom,
nah, that can't be it; everything was defaulted to on! i just now turned off the 'promotions/surveys' thingy. speaking of this, what's 'web accept notifications'? i left that on, but have no idea what it is. anyone?
posted on March 29, 2001 11:14:41 AM
I was too lazy to do my own EOA notices last night, and now I am kinda glad I didn't -I would have looked REALLY stupid! This is just plain spam with our names on it - The scary thing is I got alot of paypal payments this morning - What a great way to steal business from Billpoint! FOR THE RECORD paypal, I do not appreciate you sending out notices to my customers. Ebay has recently enacted a (albiet half-a**) new way of commmunication to reduce spam, and now I am an unwilling particiapant in more. Next time you wish to start something "new", give us an email BEFORE you start it so we can be aware of whats going on! You are alienating your last customers!
posted on March 29, 2001 11:17:09 AM
Thanks UARU! This is somwthing I would never have noticed without your message. I disabled mine this morning and hope, if enough people do the same, Paypal will realize that they can't just add things "willy nilly" without peoples consent. They are skating on thin ice, and I am definitely debating if I want to continue with them!
Did you know that PayPal is the preferred online payment method of over 7 million people? To learn more or pay for this auction item through PayPal, just click on this link:
(PayPal payment url)
For more information on my shipping, insurance, and other policies, or if you would like to pay for this item with a method other than PayPal, please see this auction listing for details.
As a WBN this is totally useless. The only way it could be "customised" and useful is if all my shipping charges were the same for every auction.
I'm glad I disabled it before my auctions end tonight. Can you imagine the confusion of the winning bidders. They get the WBN from auction watch with all the details then the "WNB" from paypal saying basically "check the auction for shipping information then pay with paypal. If you want to pay by other means contact the seller"
Again, thank you for your comments and concerns on the messaging and the notification. I do apologize for any confusion or any inconvenience that this has caused you.
I did want to cover some of the basic questions relative to Winning Bidder Notification---
1. It can be turned on/off at the account Profile (or you can find it at the Sell Tab).
2. There are no fields for shipping, but some users that are going to utilize the service have come up with some ways to make it work for them:
a) For those that run single shipping price auctions---they are going to include the information in the field that can be modified about terms or leave a note for the user to reference the auction information.
b) They are going to include their other terms, such as other payment methods, in the text field with information like name, address, etc.
c) Some users that are running multiple auctions with multiple shipping costs have considered designing an html page, with an html link included in the notification, that directs the user to search out the shipping terms,etc.
The fields for the modifiable text can include any information that the user desires (a little over 1000 characters).
I am not ignoring the concerns of the users that are not going to use it, but I am trying to include some information for those that are considering using it and what they can do with it.
The price change issue has been on the web site for several days, in addition to any emails that went out, and I would invite users to please check the policy updates link when they log into their account (or take note of the last modified date). I have, however, also included some general information on how users can offset the price increase and effectively use their account to make transactions easier and more efficient.
As you know, I do take all feedback, regardless of how slight it may seem to some of the users, back to the company (so that your concerns, worries, frustrations,complaints,etc.) can be expressed and heard.
posted on March 29, 2001 12:46:49 PM
Damon: I've been waiting for an eMail or telephone call from SOMEONE (anyone?) at Paypal with the following information:
HOW does Paypal obtain the eMail addresses of our winning bidders on eBay?
eBay has recently rolled out an eMail Forwarding system designed to PREVENT SPAM.
eMail addresses between SELLERS and WINNING BIDDERS obtained on the eBay site are suppose to be exclusive to the SELLER and their Winning Bidder - ONLY. Otherwise, it is NOT AUTHORIZED.
IF Paypal is notifying OUR CUSTOMERS without our prior knowledge OR permission... it is considered by many sellers (and our customers... and possibly by eBay) as INTERFERENCE in our Auctions Billing Process, A VIOLATION of the USER AGREEMENT and Unwanted SPAM.
SOOooo I would be very interested in knowing just HOW PayPal is obtaining those eMail addresses!!
posted on March 29, 2001 12:56:48 PM
Big Thanks {{{uaru}}}. Only one got through before I read your thread ~ EXCELLENT timimg since I had about 20 auctions ending today!
thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
good question, dottie. curious to read an answer.........
only ZOOMIN here
posted on March 29, 2001 01:15:24 PMIF Paypal is notifying OUR CUSTOMERS without our prior knowledge OR permission... it is considered by many sellers (and our customers... and possibly by eBay) as INTERFERENCE in our Auctions Billing Process, A VIOLATION of the USER AGREEMENT and Unwanted SPAM. SOOooo I would be very interested in knowing just HOW PayPal is obtaining those eMail addresses!
Dottie,
There are several auction services/tools that will send out winning bidder notices. They only require to have your eBay password to be able to perform this task. You'll find if you have a BillPoint account that eBay will push buyers to use BillPoint in the eBay EOA also (which you can't turn off). If PayPal is in 'violation' as you believe then eBay and BillPoint would also be equally guilty.
Sometimes things aren't as sinister or as unreasonable as you think.
posted on March 29, 2001 01:16:28 PM
From Paypal Damon and I quote..."I am not ignoring the concerns of the users that are not going to use it, but I am trying to include some information for those that are considering using it and what they can do with it."
As far as I am concerned, PayPal knows what they can do with it!
posted on March 29, 2001 01:51:19 PM
uaru: No No No... Paypal did NOT have my permission to troll for my Winning Bidders eMail addresses and SPAM them in MY NAME!
posted on March 29, 2001 01:58:59 PM
This thread makes me SO HAPPY that I closed my account with PAYPAL in November! Probably 85% of my customers now pay with Billpoint and I LOVE BILLPOINT!!!!!!!
I have a "NO PAYPAL" logo on my auctions and DAILY I get asked WHY I no longer accept Paypal? And I TELL THEM EXACTLY WHY! And then they respond telling me that they are CLOSING THEIR PAYPAL ACCOUNTS!!
I also read another thread recently where Paypal is giving 1.5% back on your debit card purchases if PAYPAL is the ONLY payment method you offer in your auctions?!?!?!?
posted on March 29, 2001 02:01:14 PM
thanks so much, I did not receive anything in my emails, I know I did not delete it, there are certain ones I always open. I am very prompt with my EOA's and yes, it would certainly make a buyer think they were purchasing from someone who doesn't have it all together. Does anyone know when this started? I have been pay palled to death these past couple of days. Now I am wondering why.
Latte
posted on March 29, 2001 02:27:51 PM
I recommend that you all change your eBay passwords, because PayPal can be "harvesting" email addy's when they log into ebay under YOUR account to get YOUR winners info.
I have defended you faithfully PayPal, and you stick it up my a** when I have my back turned...NICE!
Care to explain to my bidders why you sent notices with one price, and I now have to tell them that PayPal is so screwed up, that they don't know that SHIPPING is not included in the final bid price's?!
Who the F*ck do you think you are to email MY bidders?
posted on March 29, 2001 02:32:00 PMTHANK YOU PAYPAL for screwing up once again! WOOHOO!! Every time you guys screw up that means less and less people I have to tell "sorry, I don't accept Paypal" and that also means more and more people who will pay me with BILLPOINT!!
posted on March 29, 2001 02:35:42 PM
PayPal's NEXT new feature!!!
NOTE!!! THIS IS NOT A REAL PAYPAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Dear PayPal Buyer,
PayPal is pleased to announce the launch of Losing Bidder Rebidding, a new and completely free tool for our auction buyers. Every time an eBay (TM) auction you have been outbid on closes, you can have PayPal automatically search for another similar item, and make a "Buy It Now" bid on your behalf, in order to insure you are not outbid again. An automatic payment will be made immediately to the seller from your PayPal account, which will make it extremely easy for your seller to quickly get your item to you.
BENEFITS OF LOSING BIDDER REBIDDING
PayPal's Losing Bidder Rebidding tool is designed to make buying through online auctions easier for you. In addition to making it simple for buyers to avoid being outbid, Losing Bidder Rebidding helps you in the following ways:
* Your sellers are contacted quickly (less than an hour after the auction's close), which can reduce the time it takes to have your item shipped.
* Encourages sellers to accept PayPal, which means you can be protected by having the option to CHARGEBACK your purchase if you are not satisfied with it.
* Over the limit on your credit card? Now, you can easily add a second (or third) credit card to your PayPal account! Just tell us what you want, and we'll spend your money (or borrow some) for you!
Once again, this is NOT a real PayPal announcement!!!
But then again, who knows what other half-baked ideas they're cooking up...
There is no need to change the user id or the password. Please log in on your account and simply deactivate your preferences under the Profile or the Sell tab for this feature.
posted on March 29, 2001 02:45:24 PM
Damon: I am STILL WAITING for a direct answser.
HOW does Paypal obtain the eMail addresses of OUR winning bidders (OUR CUSTOMERS) in order to send them paypal winning notices (SPAM) without our prior knowledge or consent?
posted on March 29, 2001 02:50:02 PM
How dare you use our accounts to send spam. We did not ask nor want you to contact bidders without our permission let alone use our accounts to do so. Last straw, no more Paypal.
I would like to add that are rates are still the best in town and that there are several options you have
I was going to stay away from posting in this thread because it doesn't directly concern me, however, the above comment is misleading. How are your rates the best in town? I use billpoint and I am paying 2.25% (including the automatic deposit fee). Also, echecks are free (except for the automatic deposit fee). I don't have nor do I plan on using your debit card for purchases.
So, at this point, paypal does not have the best rates. Since I get a lot of echecks, for me, billpoint is by far the best deal.
