posted on October 26, 2000 11:21:44 AM
I have about $200.00 left before I reach my $500.00 limit. I am not a large volume seller, but most of my items have been selling for $20 - $100.00. I have 3 items listed on e-bay right now that will probably end at over $200.00. I have PayPal logo's in my auctions. If my winning bidders all want to pay by PayPal I will go over the $500.00.
When sending out the letter should I inform them I no longer use PayPal? Can I do this since I advertised in my auction that you can pay with PayPal? (It's not the fees, it the trickery they used and I don't want them in my checking account!). Also, can someone please let me know of other places that take Credit Cards for NO FEES.
Thanks In Advance for your Help!
Cris
posted on October 26, 2000 12:27:26 PM
Personally I think you should be bound (honor bound at the very least) to accept PayPal for these auctions even if it puts you over your limit, because you offer it in the auction description. You set the terms, and surely you had some inkline what these items would go for when you listed them, relative to your PayPal balance?
So if it were me I'd just see what happens, and if I had to upgrade to get these auctions over and done with then so be it. THEN I would close my PayPal account after finishing up these last few transactions, remove the logo from my auctions, and learn from the experience.
Exchange Path is one right off the top of my head that works like pay pal but is currently free. Yahoo Pay Direct is another. I cannot personally recommend "PayPlace" because I've used them and had a very bad experience with them and won't touch that service with a 10 foot pole. I can elaborate if anyone wants, or you can do a search of the message board posts for "PayPlace" and find my post on the whole situation from a few months ago.
posted on October 26, 2000 12:28:00 PM
I'd say that if you advertised in your TOS that you take PayPal, you will have to bite the bullet on those for which there are bids.
HOWEVER, I'd get myself in there and UN-advertise PayPal for any auctions that don't have bids.
Further, in my EOA notice, I'd plead with the buyer to use some other payment option because you want to close your account due to _____fill in the blank _____, adding that since you did offer it in the TOS, you will accept that method if they insist. That's what I did when I was leaving PayPal and one buyer was just a tad unhappy about it but no big deal.
I signed up for ExchangePath (which I like very much and have had no problems with), PayPlace (no experience at all so far) and Yahoo PayDirect. That gives buyers LOTS of chances to use their credit cards. In fact, more options than with PayPal. If you sign up quick-like, you can offer one or all of those as an alternative to PayPal. My buyers have not really objected at all to having some other way to use plastic. LOL -- one said, Oh I'll just go get a M.O. (she wanted it fast) then decided it was too much trouble and went ahead and signed with EP.
As more people flee PayPal, EP and other services will become more common. I think it's a good idea ANYway to have more than one option for these.
But I won't (as I didn't with PayPal) leave much money in any of these accounts -- assuming I GET any bids on current listings!
And DO be sure to let people know why you're leaving PayPal. Users need to know the kinds of experiences and problems some people have been having.
posted on October 26, 2000 12:33:25 PM
You can emphasize other forms of payment and de-emphasize PayPal in your EOA. List every other option under the sun first. Bury PayPal at the end. But if someone insists on using PayPal, you should honor it for any listing that has the PayPal logo.
And for heaven's sake, get that logo out of any auctions that don't have bids!
posted on October 26, 2000 02:34:53 PM
Thanks to everyone for your help. My plan was to honor Paypal if they wanted to use it, but try and get them to use another type of credit card server. After reading the posts, you all seem to have the same thoughts as I had. Thanks for the idea about putting the reason Why I no longer will use PayPal in my letter to the winner. Thanks also for all your suggestions on other sites that take credit cards. I am proud to say that I picked two of them and I am ready to roll. This is my first time using any tye of boards and I would like to thank you all for you help! .....Cris.....
posted on October 28, 2000 12:07:31 PM
I would Honor your buyer who want to pay with paypal I would even upgrade my account if I knew my next run of sales was going to put me over there limit the few extra cents they will charge you isnt going to hurt you in fact you dont miss what you never had.
its no different then deductions from your paycheck you know they are there for sure but basically you dont miss this money cause you never see it in your hand or bank account.
I just did a few billpoint invoices the money is now in my checking account I didnt miss the fees they charged cause I never actually seen it was deducted before I was able to touch it and the money I got was still green and mine. and my buyers were all happy and gave feed back saying just that .
WWW.dman-n-company.com
posted on October 28, 2000 12:11:25 PM
If you advertised PayPal in your auction, you are honor-bound to accept it from your winning bidders if they insist.
But... You could do what I do. Add a short note to your EOA that says something like this:
"Due to the recent controversy surrounding the PayPal service, I do not feel comfortable recommending PayPal to my customers at this time. For your convenience, however, I will accept your payment through PayPal if you feel comfortable using them. Please email me for more information about this if you wish.
Here are a few alternative methods of payment which work very well: (Place list here)
A few will just sign up for ExchangePath or PayDirect and pay that way without futher prodding. Most will email for more information. I just send a few AW message board PayPal links and wait for the ExchangePath or PayDirect payment. Works like a charm.
