posted on December 20, 2000 11:45:57 AM new
Hi, I have been looking around on My eBay and starting looking at the ID Verify information. I have been selling on eBay for almost 2 years (in three days) - do I need to complete this to continue selling? Or is it just to sell in "Great Collections"?
Has anyone gone through this process? Does it help with your sales?
posted on December 20, 2000 11:58:23 AM new
You don't need to, and it's unecessary. Your feedback should speak for itself. All sellers need a credit card on file anyway, so unless you are a just-registered seller, that you are not using a stolen credit card for your account (implying that you are a "real" person who is accountable) should be obvious to anyone. It's just a scheme for ebay to net a few more bucks.
posted on December 20, 2000 12:19:35 PM new
Hello CassieBear,
ID Verify is a "hoop" eBay has you jump through at the cost of $5.00. You provide certain personal information to Equifax (not eBay) and Equifax uses it to ensure that you really are the person behind the credit card you registered with on eBay.
I think eBay actually charges the $5.00 but the implication is that it is to pay for Equifax services. ID Verify must be renewed each year.
Even though eBay says it isn't making money on ID Verify I suspect that James' opinion is closer to the truth.
I have never heard of anyone noting lost sales or bids because they did not have ID Verify. That might change in the future if eBay is able to get a significant percentage of sellers to sign up for ID Verify.
posted on December 20, 2000 12:31:58 PM new
I agree that a well-established feedback should be all that it needed.
If I were to want a new car or a new credit card, then sure, there will be a credit check...no problem. But I am not going to volunteer yet more very personal info to anyone, just to sell or buy on Ebay. It does cost 5.00 and needs renewal every year, at another cost of 5.00 for...what? thin air?
If a Seller or Buyer wants to know about me, they can find out when I started on Ebay.
I do not often see the verified icon , so cannot be that popular.
posted on December 20, 2000 12:37:57 PM new
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts...My opinion was much the same but you never know so I thought I'd ask.
I really love the ability to ask questions here and get straightforward, honest answers.
Just have to let you know, Shosh, that I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts here!
posted on December 20, 2000 12:42:14 PM new
I have a virtually spotless feedback rating. However, I sell fairly high-priced items and I figured that, somewhere along the line, if it gets me even one more bid it has more than paid for itself. So I did it.
That said, I think only a small portion of bidders even notice it, and of those, even fewer have any idea what it means. I guess you could explain it in the auction text.
Anyway, I think the level of trust with bidders is going down hill quickly, regardless of your feedback. This MIGHT be a way to at least partially counteract that.
posted on December 20, 2000 12:51:39 PM newcasiebear Thank you...Same here: you always have very well though-out, interesting questions...
amalgamated2000...You are right! about credibility capital going down hill! Yet, just because one is verified is not going to guarantee a flawless transaction, because nothing will...It all comes back to gut-level faith and trust beween two human beeings...Sometime we win, sometime we lose..
What will it be next? A copy of our Bank Statement, showing the daily balance?
posted on December 20, 2000 01:52:43 PM new
<b>Thanks</b> everyone for your thoughts and opinions! I suppose if this catches on then I may look into it further but for now, I'll just pass.
I am a small part-time seller and don't need any more fees. My feedback is 263 unique with no negatives so that should speak well enough for me.
posted on December 20, 2000 04:15:57 PM new
Hello cassiebear. I wouldn't bother with the $5 verification because I think eBay has another PLAN up their sleeve.
The AB recently had a message entitled "Shill Bidding Prevention on eBay" and a quote from that post says "Changes under consideration include enhanced member verification" I think they're referring to the post by a PINK on the Trust and Safety Board on November 3 which asked for opinions on a new program designed to improve trust and safety on eBay. This is a direct quote from the PINK about the program:
QUOTE
One way would be a program that allows sellers to offer higher insurance coverage provided they (1) have their identities verified, (2) have a certain level of feedback, (3) accept credit card payments or escrow, and (4) participate in mediation.
Their items will have an icon that will communicate the added coverage and safety.
How the program may work: A seller with a feedback of, let us say 50, and is ID Verified will be offered the chance to list the item with increased insurance if they indicate acceptance of credit card payment or escrow and mediation.
If he/she indicates acceptance, the seller's item will display an icon and be covered by increased insurance. The insurance program will be similar to today - no cost to sellers - fraud protection for buyers (for non-receipt of item or item misrepresentation) - standard deductible of $25
, so cannot be that popular.