posted on February 3, 2001 04:24:26 PM
I wrote TimeSensitive at eBay last night regarding my question regarding charging to use PayPal/Billpoint, etc.
Well 24 hours later (thank goodness it wasn't an emergency! ) here is what they told me:
Subject:
Re: Charging for online payments (KMM22571034C0KM)
From:
eBay Time Sensitive <[email protected]> | Block address | Add to
Address Book
Reply-to:
eBay Time Sensitive <[email protected]>
Hello,
Thank you for writing eBay. I will be happy to clarify our position
regarding credit card surcharges.
Currently, eBay does not allow for an auction to require the winning
bidder to pay a credit card surcharge. 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, where eBay's servers reside.
Both Paypal and Billpoint do not allow their members to charge their
fees back to a winning bidder. You can review this information at the
following URL:
I hope this clears up any confusion! Thank you for your business, we
appreciate your presence in the eBay community.
Regards,
Zoe
eBay Community Watch Team
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eBay
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posted on February 4, 2001 07:28:13 AM
Perhaps eBay's personnel should read the information in the links they send.
This is from the Mastercard link:
Is the fee added regardless of whether you pay by cash or credit card? If so, it is not considered a surcharge. (Bolding is mine.)
A fee for PayPal use would be charged whether you use a credit card, checking or PayPal balance (equivalent of cash) to fund the purchase. Seller has no way of knowing which method of funding you plan to use. Not illegal. Not in violation of the Mastercard merchant agreement.
The VISA link is dead. It sends you to the main business resources page.
The PayPal link sends you to the full user's agreement. I've thread through it twice this morning to see if a surcharge prohibition has been added. I can't find it. If someone else can, I'd be happy to be pointed in the right direction. Damon has stated that PayPal has no policy on passing along fees.
In short, there is NO LAW AGAINST passing along PayPal fees.
) here is what they told me: