posted on September 14, 2000 10:50:41 AM
Not stating my opinion about PayPal one way or the other, what if.......
- you didn't fill out all the "optional" information on the request money, send money forms? The "optional information is "for an auction" button, auction number, auction name etc.... if the buyer merely wrote a message "here's the money I owe you" and the seller wrote back "thanks".
- you didn't automatically or manually insert the PayPal banner into your auctions.
If the minimal amount of information was included on the transactions
- E-mail address
- Amount owed/sent
Would it not be just a person to person transfer?
By putting the optional information, is it somehow easy to track if someone is using the service for Business purposes.
Just pondering. Ethics might come into play, but as previously stated, I do not want to comment on the PayPal incident.
posted on September 14, 2000 10:59:46 AM
It's also possible to pour gasoline on oneself before smoking...how soon do you think these workarounds would last when some bidder doesn't follow directions
posted on September 14, 2000 11:29:23 AM
You are presuming they read and follow directions and you are also asking them to help shield you from paying fees which PayPal has a right to collect.
It wouldn't take a bloodhound to trace your auction payments. They just match your email address and auctions and you'd be toast. I'm no legal beagle, but I wouldn't want to chance it.
It took me all of two hours yesterday to make a choice and I did for the sake of my business and customers. If I won't be honest with my vendors, how can I expect my customers will think I play it straight with them.
And if you think it's ok for your customers to lie for you, what makes you think they won't lie to you?
It is about ethics. And this isn't a happy example. If you think you can one up PayPal, you'll be just like them.
posted on September 14, 2000 11:51:21 AM
I suspect that PP will consider you a business based on how many PP payments you receive, not what the comments said. I cant see them taking the time to read the comments. At one time it said that if you accepted over 30 payments a month, you were a business. My guess is that now they will enforce that.
You said a key word in your reply. Customers. I don't have "customers". I'm not a business. I never acted like one, I never said I was one and the IRS agrees with my logic. If you are a business (full time seller) on Ebay, then your right, it would be ethical to sign for a business account. Which I'm gathering you did just recently. Do you feel you owe PayPal for loss fees since you were probably signed for a personal account when PayPal really considered you a business? I wonder if Ethics will make you pay. I don't know your situation, but just wondering.
You bring up a good point, and one I would be able to live with. If there was something in writing that said, after this amount of transactions, you need a business account, at least I would know up front what the rule was. When they are made up as things progress, that's when people get upset.
We put a clause in our auctions that says that we can not accept payment through Paypal unless the item sells for X amount of dollars? Like $10.00 or more, or $20.00 or more?
I am only a small seller and average about 19 transactions through Paypal a month. Most of those transactions are under $10.00. That does eat away at my profits since Ebay is already getting their cut first.
Just an idea but I would like some input on this suggestion.
I think that is well within your rights. Some don't like to take checks over a certain amount, I don't see what's wrong with not taking PayPal unless it IS a certain amount.
posted on September 14, 2000 12:23:28 PM
vsassy: My experience is that most bidders dont bother to read. Even those that do only see what they want to see. It's very difficult to run an auction with two sets of rules. Back when I took CC, I was told that I could not charge extra for CC but I could give a discount for non-CC. So I added a handling fee in bold "handling fee of $x will NOT be charged if you pay by check, money order, paypal, etc." Or I give free shipping if paid by check, money order, etc but not if paid by cc. By the way, payplace gives a $5 referral fee, so I give free shipping if customer signs up to payplace with my link.
I can't imagine PayPal holding me liable if they never clearly defined their terms of business shifting from voluntary to quasi voluntary with a threat...they still can't seem to get that one straight. I am assume they mean profit making now, which is the only reason to be in business. I don't owe them anything until I signed up as a business and then they began taking it.
BTW I am a small seller and could have easily have settled for a personal account without losing sleep. I just sleep better.
posted on September 14, 2000 12:54:03 PM
You hold a good arguement. I don't want you to think you ethics are inquestion, they are not. This is simply just a messageboard, I don't know you and vice versa.
Next question: Why would two people need to set up personal accounts on PayPal? If I want to send my mother money (or vice versa more likely!), why would I need PayPal. For me to get the money and withdrawl to my Bank Account, wouldn't it be easier to just send a money order via mail.
I would like to see the percentage of people registered to PayPal that don't sell or trade on online auctions or websites. This upgrade has got to be effecting the masses. Did they know this? Talk about ethics...
posted on September 14, 2000 07:19:52 PM
PayPal is probably one of the easiest ways to send someone money if they are set up to deposit the money in their account. No checks, MOs, stamps.
You should see some of the ridiculous charges for wiring cash to someone. I'd take PayPal any day.
Most of the PayPal users are mainly buyers NOT sellers. I don't think this will really affect anyone once the dust settles. People get upset fast, complain, and then they get back to work.
We're seeing a vocal minority on the threads. I doubt this will be a big deal next week.
posted on September 14, 2000 07:28:59 PM
Ok, I have a good one that I haven't seen answered as yet. What if, and I have had this happen, your buyer pays you twice or three times by mistake.
Do they then get that percentage of that money? I think they do. And if you are like me and just send it right back to them, explaining the double payment, they get part of that money again.
So now they have gotten the fee when the buyer sent it to me and then they got another fee when I send it back to the buyer for accidentially over paying.
>>"So now they have gotten the fee when the buyer sent it to me and then they got another fee when I send it back to the buyer for accidentially over paying."<<
Unless your buyer is also a seller they would not get a fee when you send the money back. You would however get charged twiced if someone sent you a double payment.
posted on September 15, 2000 12:59:27 AM
Everyone,
Once again, threads concerning PayPal are dominating the eBay Outlook. I am going to lock this thread, and ask that you confine your comments concerning PayPal to one of the PayPal threads that have been left open in the eBay Outlook, or post in the Partner Services Forum.
