JKSTUFF2000
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posted on January 13, 2001 04:55:42 PM new
Amazon is totally amazing!!---I received their email, telling me that I "MUST", and "AM REQUIRED" to now sign up for "Amazon 1-Click" as an option for payment on my auctions. I am just at a loss for words!!
My Real Concern Is: "IF AMAZON CAN'T KEEP UP WITH OUR AUCTION LISTINGS, AND EVERYONE OUT THERE KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY CAN'T....WHAT IN THE NAME OF HEAVEN MAKES THEM THINK THAT THEIR SELLERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH LETTING THEM 'TAKE CARE OF OUR MONEY'?!?!--AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY "LOSE" OUR MONEY AS THEY "LOST" OUR ADS?????
I DEFINITELY DO NOT HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN AMAZON TO LET THEM CONTROL PAYMENTS FOR MY ITEMS. AT LEAST, AFTER LOSING 145 OF MY AUCTIONS, I COULD SIT FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND RELIST THEM...WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY HAVE "TECHNICAL PROBLEMS" AND HAVE NO RECORD OF OUR PAYMENTS, TRANSFERS TO OUR BANK ACCOUNTS, ETC., ETC.??
I feel as though Amazon might, just might, have the right to 'REQUIRE' me to use this payment option, if they weren't charging me a listing fee and closing fees.
They're 'squeezing' their sellers to death. I know I have no recourse....but I think the "principal" of their "dictatorship" is WRONG!!!!!!!
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misscandle
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posted on January 13, 2001 06:09:02 PM new
You do have recourse. Don't list with them in the future. That is my plan. To be honest, I had already come to that conclusion before I received their e-mail. The bids and hits just haven't been there for me, despite my pricing my books low and paying extra fees to get them featured.
I'm saddened by this.....I used to love Amazon. But, I don't understand their thinking regarding their Auctions and Z-Shops.
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suz23
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posted on January 13, 2001 09:52:57 PM new
I more or less, have been told by amazon that regardless of how sucessful I have been on their site that because I have no access to an american address , that I can no longer sell on their site! How very disappointing but I guess I will be leaving soon to return to ebay. What a shame . THey had a great site but started all their improvements! What a joke.
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sanmar
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posted on January 23, 2001 12:12:46 PM new
I HAVEN'T LISTED WITH aMAZON FOR A LONG TIME. tHEY DO NOT HAVE THE CUSTOMER BASE TO GET THE RESULTS I GET ON EBAY. THE COSTS ON EBAY AREN'T THAT BAD, IF YOU DON'T TRY TO SELL NICKEL DIME ITEMS.
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suz23
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posted on January 23, 2001 04:22:29 PM new
Did you receive a date for this ultimatum?
I can't get a us bank account in the states. I have a us bank account out of Canada but they won't accept it. So I am wondering when they will kick me off their site? I haven't received any further e mail notice but I am only listing some books that most of the time sell better on amazon but amazon hasn't had an auction tab for weeks and my bids are only from people that I email who had previously bought some of the same items. I am amazed that I keep listing! Oh well , off to list at ebay! (not suz23 on auctions!)
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troywolv
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posted on January 24, 2001 10:03:29 AM new
Hi all:
Troy Wolverton here from CNET News.com. I'm working on a story about Amazon requiring its auction sellers to use its payment service. I'd love to know what you think about this new policy.
You can contact me directly at [email protected].
Thanks!
Troy
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suz23
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posted on January 25, 2001 12:58:14 PM new
Wrote to Amazon and complained that I don't have and cant have a U.S. account based in the states. Their reply: sorry no one click for you and we will follow through with the policy of everyone using one click~ its good for you! as a seller. I could try and sell off their british site!
I still ( dont ask me why!) want to sell of their site but in fact even if I could use one click they only deposit once every 2 weeks. Billpoint at least deposits every few days and will convert to Canadian at a small cost. and you don't have to join Billpoint. Though I suspect some auction sites are seeing if amazon can get away with it. ( not suz23 on amazon or anywhere else)
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canvid13
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posted on January 25, 2001 01:49:11 PM new
Hey Suz,
I am in Montreal and have no problems with One Click. All you have to do is set up a bank account over the border. Most even offer ATM services.
As for One Click, you don't have to wait for two weeks. You can initiate a transfer any time. I think there may be a $100.00 minimum to do a transfer before the two week period.
Also, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Amazon is forcing anyone to use One Click but they just want you to be able to??
I know for me that in all of my 2000+ listings I only accept Amazon payments.
I know all auction sites have their pros and cons including Amazon but believe me, Amazon payments is the best service of its type available.
Jamie
canvid13
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transfans
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posted on January 25, 2001 08:46:32 PM new
I'm definately interested in hearing from any Canadians who have been able to setup with Amazon Payments. I have the required US bank account, but they seem to want a bunch of extra info off of me, like utility bills and social security number. I'm extremely upset at the prospect of being forced off Amazon by this new policy of thiers. They've been shunting business away from auctions and zshops for some time now, but I'd continued to use them, as I still found a use for them (and I loved their single monthly listing fee. Ebay could learn from that one). I've been very vocal with Amazon in my views against this new policy, but all I get back is non-answers. I don't WANT to give up using Amazon, but if they continue with this, I won't have much of a choice.
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canvid13
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posted on January 26, 2001 06:35:56 AM new
You have to find the right bank and get a PO Box. Banking in the US in definately not like in Canada and the policies from one bank to another are dramatically different.
Amazon is usually pretty helpful once you get these items.
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suz23
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posted on January 26, 2001 08:52:53 AM new
Hi THanks for your help , canvid 13. Much appreicated. but amazon is definately forcing every one to use their amazon payments method of one click~ I have written to them but they " are sorry to lose my business. " I ha ve a us bank acount based out of toronto but I don't live near the border and can't travel down there at the moment. I think is it very unfair of amazon to make sellers use their and only their method of amazon one click though buyers can pay any way they want. I will be closing up shop at amazon and do all my selling on ebay though I hate to limit myself to one auction. Selling on ebay is very different but I will adjust ( just a hobby ) . I had already returned to ebay in the summer with all the "changes" that amazon is doing to their auction site~ I still sold a lot of "romance and children's books" on amazon but my sales have slowly declined and I haven't seen a z shop or auction tap in weeks! I think they have just given up on auctions and are trying to squeeze every cent from the sellers before closing down the site. Not having anyway for new buyers to even about auctions is the end for auctions on that site. But thanks again canvid! Much appreciated. Suz23 ( but anywhere else!)
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canvid13
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posted on January 26, 2001 09:32:31 AM new
Hi Suz,
I think you may be a bit hasty and silly here. All you have to do is take a day trip over the border at Niagara Falls and open a US account and register a PO Box. You should be able to get an ATM card with your US bank account.
That's all you need. Then all you have to do is pull out your loot either by using the Atm card or writing yourself a check.
US funds accounts in Canadian Banks are still Canadian accounts.
And frankly why wouldn't you want to use Amazon payments?? Do you enjoy getting envelopes with missing info and having to wait and deal with all of that??
I know it's a pain and that Amazon of late has forgotten how to support its sellers, but once it's done you can still do business.
I think it's worth the extra bother.
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suz23
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posted on January 26, 2001 03:09:20 PM new
THanks again canvid~ sound advice but unfortunately I don't live near the border , not even a day trip and I don't drive ( short distances only as I injured my neck in a car accident and can't drive long distances) so for some of us it would be rather difficult to open a us account. However, I will keep what you have said in mind. I think because I sell "romance and or children" the buyers have been wonderful! Only 1 check bounced and that was a video person! Thanks again for your useful advice ( and I admit , I am a bit upset that amazon would tell me how to run my auctions! personality issue for me as I don't even like my bosses telling me what to do~ I noteiced lately that they avoid me mmmm wonder what that means! ANyhow , I think I will see what happens in February which is their month to do all the changes which will benefit me ( like no auction tab for weeks on end) I will still sell till then and maybe I am better off at ebay~ I am certinly selling a different type of book there ~ and that's the good thing about auctions. When there are changes , you have to think "change" and have to change in order to survive. Good for my brain !!! Really I would consider paying someone to drive me down to the states if they put back the auction tab! and had items ending rather than featured. Suz23 ( not suz23 anywhere else. )
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Zazzie
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posted on January 26, 2001 03:17:48 PM new
There are ways of opening a USA based account without travelling to the states.
If you deal with the Bank of Montreal they can open one up for you via Harris Bank---and NO--this is not the US fund account they have available for account holders. The account is IN the USA
Talk to the BoM bank manager---also try emailing banks in the USA and see if they will open one up for you ---you may have to pay for some ID's to be notarized before the info is sent. I know of someone in Ottawa who did this---it is a checking account so all you have to do is write yourself checks whenever you want the money---if you haver Billpoint or Paypal you can have that money deposited there too.
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transfans
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posted on January 26, 2001 04:08:55 PM new
For those in Canada who have managed to setup an Amazon account, how do you deal with the 'what zip code will this be sent from?' I know you can just type in any old zip, but I wonder if people get excited when they expect a package from zip code 12345, but it comes from postal code A1A 1A1 (not to mention the fact that of course shipping takes longer from Canada to the US, so buyers probably also get a little excited about that too). Just wanna know what I'm getting into before I jump in 
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lovepotions
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posted on January 26, 2001 04:49:39 PM new
I don't feel you all should be forced into going across the border and getting US bank accounts. Not everyone can do that. Some have but is amazon realy worth it?
Is it worth going to such great lengths just to sell on Amazon.com?
If I were Canadian I would be highly offended and feel discrimintated against. Instead of scrambling and traveling across country borders to suit their demends I would just pack up and move somewhere that I am appreciated. Canadians aren't the only ones getting screwed here either.
Do you think a British citizen is considering flying across the Atlantic to get a US account to stay at Amazon.com??? I seriously doubt it.
http://www.lovepotions.net
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baerbaer
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posted on January 27, 2001 05:07:40 AM new
canvid13 Would you please email me at [email protected], I need to ask a Montreal question!!
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genie9
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posted on January 27, 2001 09:10:39 AM new
I did well on Amazon last winter / spring and will always consider them an alternative. In order to get around Amazon's new payment requiremnts, I am listing on the U.K., france and Germany sites. Luckily my husband is from Europe and is fluent in French and German so I am able to list in those languages as well as have English text available for US buyers. Anyone from Québec should not have a problem listing in French.
Most of my business was from the U.K. in any case. The only concern is being careful about understanding the market one is trying to reach. Obviously tastes differ region to region ( American Kitsch is not going to sell abroad) but American movies, Bestsellers and antiquarian books, Finer and genuine Antiques, militaria, etc do well in these markets. These markets are also very price conscious.
Good luck to all my Canadian sellers. We have to be very smart but there is an excellent opportunity present.
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suz23
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posted on January 27, 2001 10:39:43 AM new
THanks for the great advice~ ( especially zazzie as my sister-in-law works at Harris bank and I will write to her today.) and I guess I was insulted being a Canadian and all!However I hate to limit myself to e-bay and some things do well on amazon~ especially if you are willing to wait till the right buyer comes along. ( P.s. how can you sell on the british site if you are from canada~ amazon did mention this to me as an alternative) thanks again to everyone for the advice given. Much much appreciated. suz23 ( not anywhere else!)
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