posted on March 4, 2001 10:32:14 PM new
Hi, Seeking your opinions regarding payment to international customers.
As a seller in Australia I have always listed my auctions in U.S.Dollars.
As such I always accept payment in U.S.Dollars. and absorb the cost of banking such payments here in Australia.
I see many sellers from outside of the USA selling their items in U.S.Dollars and yet expect to be paid either in their local currency or expect the U.S. buyer to pay extra to cover the baking costs of an international currency exchange. Either way it costs the buyer more money than they have bid.
I personally think that this is wrong. What are your views. Would it deter you from bidding if you had to pay the sellers banking costs?
posted on March 5, 2001 12:17:11 AM new
If an item was listed in US dollars, I would expect to pay in US dollars with no additional fees.
Like reddeer, if their terms were stated in their TOS, I simply would not bid unless I just HAD to have it.
If they tried to add fees after the auction ended I am certain that there would be at least one negative feedback involved.
posted on March 5, 2001 12:20:21 AM new
Is that even eBay legal?
Does not make sense to me!
If your auction is in US dollars, then I would expect to pay in US dollars without any added fees. If I was bidding on an auction in any other currency, then I would fully expect to pay to have my own currency converted in order to make payment.
posted on March 5, 2001 02:37:26 AM new
Bitsandbobs, I notice that you are selling from outside USA and yet you accept credit card payment, without declaring any rate to of exchange.
Is that wrong?
Or are you able to process c/c transactions in foreign currency.
Does your credit card merchant facility permit you to negotiate transactions in foreign currency- I think not.
'Would it deter you from bidding if you had to pay the sellers banking costs?'
Only if the total cost to me including all expenses and original price were higher than alternate source?
Seems the logical decision.
"Bitsandbobs, I notice that you are selling from outside USA and yet you accept credit card payment, without declaring any rate of exchange.
Is that wrong?"
You have jumped to an erroneous conclusion.
I sell in US Dollars.
I do not have my own merchant account. I utilise the services of BidPay and CCNow to handle credit card transactions on my behalf.
Both are US based companies. The deal is done in US Dollars. I receive a cheque in US Dollars and when I bank that check I absorb the charges.
What is wrong with that??
Bob, Downunder but never down.
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Mar 5, 2001 04:05 AM ]
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Mar 5, 2001 04:17 AM ]
[ edited by bitsandbobs on Mar 5, 2001 04:19 AM ]
posted on March 5, 2001 05:14:50 AM new
It may be an emotional issue for some because it is attached to political issues.
I just look at the whole package - How much trouble and money is it to me for how bad I want the item?
I think that the more you can fold your expenses into one price and make it simple for the customer the better off you are.
If a bidder sees a widget for $1.00 plus $1.00 shipping and 50¢ packing and 50¢ payment costs = $3.00 total they are put off much more than just saying widget - opening bid $3.00. They don't care what it's all for!
That just opens the door to argueing about how much you need for reach charge. Some poor soul whose little sister got a bigger piece of cake one day 40 years ago will argue all day with you over 5¢ because he doesn't want to be cheated again, and you said the 50¢ was for packing and he, by God knows it only costs 45¢.
posted on March 5, 2001 07:59:47 AM new
bitsandbobs-
Call me crazy, but I don't care what fees (or how many) you want to add to your auctions, as long as you tell me up front how much (in dollars and cents) they are, so that I can figure out what I want to bid.
As long as you tell me the auction includes fees A, B and C, and the total due at the end of the auction = A + B + C + my bid, I am satisfied.
