posted on October 7, 2001 06:42:19 AM new
eBay isn't concerned about ALL sales being done directly, but they are concerned about ANY sales being done directly between buyers & sellers.
And yes, IMO this is the first move towards a half.com set up.
"Checkout will only allow the buyer to send an e-mail with his/her shipping address and a
message."
Regards,
Jerry
eBay Community Development Specialist
posted on October 7, 2001 07:59:38 AM new
Also, how long will it be before Ebay allows buyers to narrow the Search function down to ONLY those auctions where the seller is participating in CHECKOUT?
That is probably why they are NOT giving us a choice. Every seller who have to either click YES or NO to Checkout on the Sell Your Item page for this Search capability to work.
Pretty soon the Search function will sort down to only sellers who are participating in Checkout and that take Billpoint. The rest of us will be left to fend for ourselves.
I did a couple of the A4A auctions and I found them to be so cold and impersonal! Just an email from Billpoint with the buyer's shipping address. Guess what? I emailed my buyers anyway, thanking them for helping out and telling them when their item was shipped. I also left them positive feedback.
posted on October 7, 2001 12:07:24 PM new
Because I had signed up for Billpoint to do A4A (I know ... bad move) I just received the Billpoint newsletter. If you get it, be sure to read all about Checkout. Will make all the pieces fall right into place! This promotion is ALL ABOUT Ebay's payment services ... not helping buyers and sellers.
posted on October 7, 2001 01:35:10 PM new
paintpower -
For those of us who do not have the distinct pleasure (bs) of receiving that newsletter, would you please copy & paste relevent sections of it here?......... TNX
posted on October 7, 2001 02:38:34 PM new
Let me see if this will work. I had to copy it and open it up in Word to take out all the hyperlinks so AW wouldn't have a hissy-fit. This is word-for-word minus the links:
*****************************************
Checkout - What it means to you
Beginning in late October, Checkout will make it easier than ever for buyers to purchase eBay items. There will, however, be a few changes in the way you list with eBay Online Payments by Billpoint when you use the Sell Your Item form, Mr. Lister or Seller's Assistant:
· On the Sell Your Item Form, look for our new name, eBay Payments, under "Payment Methods" instead of in it's own section. When you accept eBay Payments in your listing, the icon will be added automatically.
· " Checkout Details " has replaced eBay Online Payments' Instant Purchase.
· Using eBay Payments and Checkout Details together is the fastest and easiest way for your buyers to pay on eBay. Your buyer can pay you immediately at the end of an auction when you include "Checkout Details" such as shipping and handling, tax and insurance if applicable. This process will work just like Instant Purchase.
· Your bidder or buyer can begin the payment process by clicking on the Buy It Now button in the listing page or at the end of an auction by clicking on the Checkout button.
· If you listed with "Checkout Details" your buyer will complete the purchase immediately and payment will be sent to you.
· If you chose not to list with "Checkout Details", your buyer can still use the Checkout process in order to provide you with their shipping address and to request more information about any additional charges. Once you update Checkout Details, the buyer can then proceed with the payment process.
· There is no longer a need to send a Billpoint invoice for any eBay item. However, you can update the Checkout Details on eBay and eBay will send an invoice.
**********************************
It sort of looks to me like this whole deal is just to get away from Billpoint users having to send invoices and is sort of getting forced on the rest of us to satisfy Billpoint users.
posted on October 7, 2001 05:08:10 PM new
I don't think any of us is under any illusion as to what eBay's motivation for these Checkouts is, but I have to state that Billpoint users haven't had to send invoices to get payment through Billpoint for a long time.
posted on October 8, 2001 04:56:35 AM new
Billpoint sellers don't send invoices? Wonder why I keep getting all these high bidders who email me and say that if I take Billpoint I need to send them an invoice? Maybe they are as confused about Billpoint as I am! Since I don't take it, I haven't had to investigate any further.
posted on October 8, 2001 05:31:30 AM new
No invoice needed.
I am signed up with billoint "just in case," but I usually don't mention it in my descriptions.
By mistake I had CC/billpoint checked off on a couple of my auctions this month, and I got paid via billpoint before I even got the EOA message.
posted on October 8, 2001 05:55:38 AM new
That's exactly why checkout is a pain in the butt concept for many of us who regularly deal with multiple auction winners.
I've used "instant purchase" on my auctions for some time and I can't begin to count the number of times people win five to 10 of my auctions and pay for each individual auction immediately via Billpoint -- before I send my EOA notice.
Problem is, they pay shipping charges on each of those items --- then I have to go through and make huge refunds.
posted on October 8, 2001 07:02:14 AM new
Just thinking...
EBay is probably using their tried and true technique. Getting us furious and upset...then, once we appear to be accepting this horrible Checkout as inevitable, they can modify it. Imagine Meg's *ever so gracious* letter to users, allowing us to keep Checkout off our page if we opt out (for now, at least).
