posted on August 10, 2001 09:48:31 PM
as a buyer, payment gets processed by online cc methods (and 95% paypal) within 48 hours of auction close. If I have to mail a check it may take 2-3 weeks to get it in the mail. I don't mind waiting for it to clear -I'm usually not in a hurry to receive the merchandise. I avoid "money order only" auctions completely - too much hassle, and have to pay the extra fees.
I'm curious to know why Kiawok said
No worries, I doubt many sellers on this thread would accept your cheque
what did I miss?
Rosie
*There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on August 10, 2001 11:01:26 PM
Harris poll of 1999 was more than likely done with real world, B&M retail outlets...it might not have any validity when it comes to online auctions.
The basic premise of this thread was that those who offer paypal would have more and higher sales than those who did not offer paypal...or, to put it in another way...those who did not offer paypal are lowering the pool of buyers.
There is no empirical proof that this is in fact true...but over the last year or so there has been much ancedotal proof that the opposite may be true..to wit; not offering paypal does not reduce the number of successful auctions nor does it lower the final bid amount realized.
There also has been ancedotal proof that not accepting any form of credit cards does not hinder the success of an ebay merchant.
It just may be that the conventional wisdom of the B&M world that says a merchant needs to offer credit card acceptance in order to stay competative has flown out the window when it comes to internet auctions, and ebay in particular.
We are in a new box...maybe its time to sweep all the old "rules" of business out the door and experiment until we find out what the real "rules" of this new market place are. To use a trite phrase...its time to start thinking outside the box. Its time to examine ALL the old tried and true business maxims to see if they even have any relevance to this new method of commerce.
posted on August 11, 2001 12:35:26 AM
kiawok says... "Perhaps MY customers aren't impulsive, spend beyond their limits"
Ugh? What did I miss? Just because someone elects to pay with a credit card, they're impulsive & overspend? Who are you to judge how a customer decides to pay for goods/services? Unless you are drawing from YOUR own experience.
You stated that don't accept any of the online credit card payment services. Because you're so quick to judge, one could generalize that you don't meet the qualifications these payment services require, or your average sale price isn't high enough to justify the fees.
commentary
No, the Harris poll doesn't survey collectors. But, I'm certain that collectors like the convience of using a credit card just as much as anyone else.
posted on August 11, 2001 12:51:20 AM
Auctionjoe...the fact that a credit card user will spend 2.5 times more than a cash or check customer does tend to suggest that the credit card purchase is impulsive. It is a generally held "truth" that the reason many people use a credit card rather than a check or cash is because they do not have the cash available at the time of purchase whereas with a credit card the item doesn't have to be paid for until sometime in the future.
When eBay started up Billpoint, I was offered "Merchant Status" from the get go.
I sell numerous items in the $100-$500 range, and have sold plenty of items for far more than that.
So far all I've heard from you is hot air, my EBAY stats prove that accepting PayPal, or not, for the items I [as in ME] sell doesn't make one iota of a difference. Most days/weeks/months MY items end at higher amounts than identical items where the seller accepts PayPal. I've been watching this closely for the past year, and PayPal, or No PayPal does not appear to be a determining factor for bidders, for MY items.
Not trying to sway anyone, I just get sick & tired of people stating that folks who do not accept PayPal are losing bids.
posted on August 11, 2001 05:07:54 AM
It is really remarkable, and it never ceases to amaze me, how the Pay Pal vs No Pay Pal debate solicits such passion. It seems to be the on-line auction equivalent of the pro-choice/pro-life debate, where both sides repeat the same arguments over and over again, completely convinced that their position is the only correct position, and can so quickly deteriorate into judgmental generalizations and character assasination.
Is it really worth the energy? Or is it the way we vent our frustrations with this week's faceless NPB or not-exactly-as-described purchase?
We all choose to conduct our business in the way we think best and as long as we are satisfied with the results, no one is going to change our minds. I don't think the decision to reject or accept electronic payments is indicative of one's character just as I don't think a buyer's desire to use a credit card is a sign of some character flaw.
I don't really know whether accepting electronic payments results in more bids or higher bids. I am sure it doesn't hurt me to offer it as a payment option. The value to me is in getting paid faster so I can get the item out the door of my one-bedroom apartment within 48 hours (average time of electronic payment) instead of staring at a bunch of piled up boxes for 10 days (average time to receive check/money order). I am not a better person or a smarter seller because I take electronic payments...I do it because it works for me.
Gerald
"Oh but it's so hard to live by the rules/I never could and still never do."
