posted on December 2, 2000 06:33:47 AM
Quick question: I just got an email from BidPay telling me that someone is paying me via that service. I am not signed up, and have no interest in doing so at this time. But if I don't sign up, how would I get the money? Is anyone familiar with this service?
posted on December 2, 2000 06:56:56 AM
I also had a buyer pay for her purchase thru BidPay. It was a very efficient transaction and I was very impressed. Good communication from BidPay, good instructons and information. And the "international" money order came thru the mail promptly. I was tempted to put this service on my auctions. However, the buyer then told me that the charge to send me the money order was.... $5.00 !!!
I think that is a bit much..
posted on December 2, 2000 07:07:16 AM
Bidpay is actually one of the cheapest ways for international buyers to send money. The $5.00 fee is VERY reasonable compared to alternative methods. I also ship as soon as I get the second email from bidpay (the one stating that the transaction is approved) and receive the western union money order within a few days.
posted on December 2, 2000 07:12:07 AM
keziak, go ahead and do the happy dance. I have found BidPay to be very reliable, and my international customers think it is a deal. All you have to do is wait for the Western Union money order to arrive before shipping your item. Just make sure the address you have and the address BidPay supplies you for the buyer are the same.
posted on December 2, 2000 07:20:45 AM
I have not used bidpay, but WILL say that there is a thread over at Ebay where someone stated that the money order they received had a stop payment placed on it, and bounced from her bank. Now, I would not be worried, but I WOULD cash the m.o. at your local western union rather than depositing it in your bank. And, I would ship after receiving the actual money order, but that is just my 2 cents.
Here is one of the threads I am referring to:
http://remarq.ebay.com/ebay/transcript.asp?g=&tn=19260005&sh=fe9bd245771c0ecf&str=bidpay+stopped+payment&idx=0
[ edited by kidsfeet on Dec 2, 2000 07:28 AM ]
posted on December 2, 2000 07:52:33 AM
I've used bidpay extensively over the last year, and advertise same on my auction pages.
Excellent service, very reliable, never had a problem with Western Union money orders from $50-$500 Well worth the $5 fee IMHO.
posted on December 2, 2000 08:11:39 AM
I've used Bidpay and didn't balk at the $5 charge. We live 30 minutes from our PO and I can guarantee at least a 15 minute wait in line to get a MO at any given time I go in there. I figure the five buck charge is a deal if I consider the cost of my time and the cost of the gas to get me to and from the PO.
posted on December 2, 2000 08:24:24 AM
thanks, all. This group is so great!
BTW, at the P.O. this morning I saw this other guy who I know is an eBay seller. We've chatted a time or two. He seems to be more of a fulltimer than I am, at least, he is always mailing tons of packages. Anyway, I asked him if he's noticed a slow-down recently and he said YES in capital letters. : - ( He's making up for lost income by selling more stuff.
keziak
glad to get the payments by BidPay or whatever, at this point!
posted on December 2, 2000 09:00:05 AM
I've used BidPay a couple times and list it on my auctions as another payment option. I like it. They use Western union money orders. I don't have to worry about electronic deposits, or cashiers checks from the "Fourteenth Multinational Farmers, Fisherman and Poppy Growers Bank of Bogota!
I agree that five dollars is a little steep, but if the buyer don't mind, I don't either In most foreign countries, thats probably a bargain!
posted on December 2, 2000 10:04:19 AM
Hello keziak,
Is it our transaction you were talking about? Do you have a different name on ebay?
Anyway, it will work perfectly for you with Bidpay. I'm using it since they started last year for approximately 100 times and never had any problem. Their service and emailing is always fast and reliable.
Their are only two drops of bitterness:
1. It's limited up to $500
2. The $5-flat rate is only true, if the payment does not exeed $100. If it does, it's getting more expensive. The surcharge on it is 2.25%. So for a $500 payment I have to pay a total charge of $16.25. I don't think that's really bargain.
And if I get it sent by Priority Mail it's another $6.
posted on December 2, 2000 01:30:40 PM
From the seller's perspective, being paid through Bidpay is no different from receiving a money order in the mail; it's just a different way for the buyer to purchase the MO.
There is one advantage to registering -- Bidpay will verify the mailing address the buyer enters against the one you registered with, reducing the risk of the MO being mailed to the wrong address due to a typo.
posted on December 2, 2000 01:56:55 PM
albreguet - I think it's someone else, but not sure without know your email address! I'm keziak on ebay, too. : - )
posted on December 2, 2000 03:32:10 PM
keziak,
Sorry, but your question just was matching to the one I received a few hours earlier by my seller. You see, you're not alone.
In this case BidPay was just a substitute for PayPal. She ask me to pay that way, but my account keeps beeing restricted for an unknown reason.
Michael (albreguet on eBay as well)
I have found BidPay to be very reliable, and my international customers think it is a deal. All you have to do is wait for the Western Union money order to arrive before shipping your item. Just make sure the address you have and the address BidPay supplies you for the buyer are the same. 
In most foreign countries, thats probably a bargain!