posted on December 17, 2000 08:33:33 AM
I recently had a buyer who paid via paypal immeditely after the auction closed. The amount closing bid $2.35. S/H was stated in the auction as $1 when paying by money order and $2 when using paypal. The problem is he paid the $3.35 via paypal incorrectly using the lower S/H amount. When I reminded he paid the $1 seperately.
The problem is that I essentially got charged double PayPal fees. Extra $0.35. Should I ask him to send the $0.35, but that wont work because paypal will charge $0.35 for that an I will get nothing. So I guess I have to charge him anothe $0.70
posted on December 17, 2000 08:54:07 AM
It's against ebay's rules to charge your buyers extra fees for using credit card services, such as Paypal.
As far as the double fees - this wouldn't happen at all if Paypal gave you the option to "accept or decline" a payment before it goes into your account.
Just another one of the reasons I quit accepting the money-hungry, lying, untrustworthy service called Paypal!
posted on December 17, 2000 08:58:25 AM
Leave it be. Charging for paypal is against Ebay rules, and you can be suspended for doing so if you continue after a warning from Ebay.
You are talking about .35 here. You STILL net $3.65, .30 more than if your buyer had chosen to pay with a money order. So you are not out ANYTHING, and are ahead .30.
posted on December 17, 2000 09:36:55 AMIt's against ebay's rules to charge your buyers extra fees for using credit card services, such as Paypal.
I don't think this is true. I'm pretty sure I've seen posts of responses from Ebay reps posted here that specifically said that it was permissible to pass on Paypal fees to your customers. They I think they added that they believed that it was in bad taste, or something like that.
posted on December 17, 2000 09:46:40 AM
Amalgamated2000:
Nope, it is absolutely true. In fact, why don't you write [email protected] and see what they say for yourself?
Many auctions have been ended by Ebay for this. The problem is that there are two schools of thought on this. It is illegal to charge a credit card surcharge. But, technically, paypal is not a credit card service by itself, as payments can be funded via the paypal account balance, or their personal bank account.
But according to Ebay, it is against their rules to charge a bidder a fee for the particular choice of payment they choose. You cannot charge a fee UNLESS it is charged to everyone.
To get around it, you CAN state "S/H is $2.00. I offer a $1.00 s/h discount for payments via money order or cash"
posted on December 17, 2000 09:47:38 AM
No, it is exactly true. eBay has clearly stated that charging extra for PayPal or services like it is NOT ALLOWED. They will give you one warning and then if you violate the policy again, you will become NARU'd.
posted on December 17, 2000 09:53:48 AM
The tried and true method is to offer a discount for not paying by credit card.
Always legal.
So if the auction said "$2 shipping, discounted to $1 for those who don't use PayPal", that would be ok.
"$2 shipping for PayPal, $1 otherwise" is also probably legal. No surcharge is described there.
What's not "legal" (we're not usually talking about statutes here, we're talking about rules made up by companies) is to say "add $1 for using PayPal".
posted on December 17, 2000 11:08:36 AM
1) It was worded as a cash discount in the auction description. I rewored it here by mistake.
2)EBay can make all the rules they want but they cannot violate the LAW. IT IS ILLEGAL TO PROHIBIT CASH DISCOUNTS. The credit card companies went to court on this a number of years ago and lost, big time. Also they are rwquired to inform you that cash discounts are allowed under the law, and Ebay does not do that.
I do not encourage the use of PayPal its buyer who ask for it.
I have decided to refund the amount paid less paypal fees, and ask for the correct total payment either via PayPal or Money order.
posted on December 17, 2000 11:28:22 AMI have decided to refund the amount paid less paypal fees, and ask for the correct total payment either via PayPal or Money order
WHAT!
Can you say big fat NEG! which is what a seller would get from me if they tried that crap. " I paid, seller refused payment and then kept part of my money." Also would inform safeharbor.
An eBay seller may not charge a fee, often called a "credit card surcharge," when accepting credit card payments. This surcharge, which is an added cost to the buyer over and above the final sale price and shipping/handling, is not allowed under the laws of many states, including California. For more information, see:
posted on December 17, 2000 12:51:18 PM
Don't you think it is the two different end totals that is the problem here? I mean, buyers do seem to get confused very easily, and don't always read EOA emails completely.
If I were this buyer, and this money was returned to me, then I was expected to make payment again, I would be totally frosted. This buyer at least tried to make it right by PayPaling you the rest of the money. I'll bet many wouldn't have even done that. I suspect you're just hankering for a neg if you handle it this way.
Don't nickel and dime your buyers with misc. charges and add ons. It's not professional and it makes sellers seem nit-picky.
posted on December 17, 2000 01:08:41 PMAn eBay seller may not charge a fee, often called a "credit card surcharge," when accepting credit card payments.
But when you accept Paypal payment you are NOT accepting credit card payment, you are accepting payments from a Paypal account that may or may not have been funded with a credit card.
And just to avoid the semantics argument here, let's say you ONLY accept online check payments through Paypal. NO CREDIT CARDS. You are still charged a fee by Paypal. And this fee clearly does not fit into the prohibition cited above.
[ edited by amalgamated2000 on Dec 17, 2000 01:13 PM ]
By the way, I'm not advocating doing this, and if you do choose to pass on the fees, clearly the discounts described above are the preferable way to do it.
I'm just pointing out that it is not against any rules.
[ edited by amalgamated2000 on Dec 17, 2000 01:20 PM ]
posted on December 17, 2000 01:37:26 PM
Dec. 14 answer from SafeHarbor to a bidder (this was posted on Town Square at eBay):
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.
Sellers are not permitted to add additional fees on their items to make up for the fees being charged by billpoint or paypal. This is considered a violation of our Safe Harbor Charter.
If you have been charged extra fees such as the ones mentioned please send the User ID of the seller and the item number. If the request was sent in the form of an email please send this information, including the full header.
If you have any other questions or concerns please let us know and we will be happy to assist you.
You are being COMPLETELY unreasonable in this situation. You are .30 ahead than if the buyer had sent a money order to begin with. You are NOT out one red cent. If I were your buyer I would forget the transaction, and immediately neg you. If you negged back, no problem. A simple response of "pd via paypal, seller sent money back MINUS fees/wanted re-payment." I must say you are being highly unprofessional in this matter, and would side with the buyer any day.
