posted on April 28, 2001 08:50:19 PM
4/27/01 - eBay Marketing Announcements Board
***Changes to Buy It Now Requirements***
Since its introduction last November, Buy It Now has been a popular feature with both buyers and sellers. In early March, at the request of sellers who had noticed an increase of Non-Paying Bidders with Buy It Now, we instituted a policy which required a buyer to place their credit card on file with eBay or go through our ID verify process in order to use the feature. While the effect on the amount of Non-Paying Bidders was inconclusive, many buyers and sellers felt the change negatively impacted their eBay experience. New eBay users especially felt this impact.
After careful consideration, we have decided to remove the credit card on file or ID verify requirements for buyers who have positive feedback, or who are new eBay users. Any buyer who has not accumulated a negative feedback rating (less than zero) can purchase using Buy It Now. Buyers who have accumulated negative feedback (overall rating less than zero), however, will still need to place their credit card on file with eBay or become ID verified in order to use the Buy It Now option.
eBay hopes you continue to enjoy success with the Buy It Now feature. Happy trading!
Regards,
eBay
**********************************
I for one am glad. What say you?
[ edited by bemused on Apr 28, 2001 08:51 PM ]
posted on April 28, 2001 09:00:23 PM
Yea!
I have been on ebay for three years now. Mostly buying, some selling and I have never given ebay my credit card number. I have had to pass on more than one BIN item because I refuse to give out my CC as a form of ID.
I don't know about giving the OK to newbies, but I think anyone with a pos feedback of at least 25 should not be required to have their CC on file.
posted on April 28, 2001 10:40:47 PM
I don't mind newbies at all, in fact a lot of my deadbeats/lates come from people with plenty of positives and no negs. eBay needs all the new buyers it can get.
I just wonder how long it will take for all those buyers discouraged by the CC requirement to get the word about the change. eBay needs to get the word out better since I don't think the majority of users ever read those announcement boards, especially people that just buy.
posted on April 28, 2001 10:50:38 PM
I've had quite a few 0 feedback buyers purchase with buy it now and all of them have paid.
I have a buyer that bid on $800 worth of my items with a 182 feedback rating that hasn't paid and the auctions ended on 3/20/01. She keeps giving excuse after excuse, so I haven't filed a NPB notice yet, just in case she really does have these problems. But I'm starting to lose patience.
I guess you can end up with a deadbeat whether they have 0 or 1000 feedback.
posted on April 28, 2001 11:00:46 PM
goodbuys: I'd keep my eye on the time limit for the NPB, if I were you. Your buyer is experienced enough to string you along until it is too late.
posted on April 29, 2001 01:13:14 AM
This is the difference between eBay and Yahoo Auctions.
Ebay makes calculated changes and will modify or reverse their decisions if the changes have a negative effect.
Yahoo will suffer a complete meltdown rather than admit they made an error. 90+% of Yahoo sellers said their sales took a dive when CC verification went into effect. Buyers with substantial positive feedback could no longer bid on Yahoo. No change, no response from Yahoo.
Yahoo starts listing fees Jan 10, watches their listings collapse by 95%, and does nothing. No adjustments. Not a single intelligent response.
Ebay raises listing fees by a nickel and a dime. Those nickel and dime increases will generate more revenue than Yahoo will make on their auctions for the next 10 years.
I agree wholeheartedly. Even though eBay has some policies and fees that I disagree with the proof is in their continued success and growth. People who constantly accuse eBay of making bad decisions should consider that its pretty amazing that they're able to maintain a global marketplace where anyone can sell just about anything.
posted on April 29, 2001 08:28:38 AM
Well the problem with the credit card verifcation thing is that many buyers still don't pay. Entering thie CC # doesn't make them any more obligated to pay. SO deleting the requirement is a good idea.
I would prefer a seller OPTION the required immediate Billpoint Payment for BIN items.
Sellers would be able to choose from for each item listed.
1)No BIN Price.
2)BIN Price with no buyer restrictions.
3)BIN price that requires immediate Bilpoint.
For items that tend to be impulse purchases I would use #3, but for rare items I would use #1, or #2 with a high BIN.
posted on April 29, 2001 08:34:47 AM
I do not use BIN at this time, but would still recommend you all be careful -- I mean someone could have positive feedback of 5 which included 25 negs, and still be ok as far as eBay is concerned.
So check your bidder's feedback, make sure there is nothing that alerts your radar, especially since you are dealing often with credit card transactions.
posted on April 29, 2001 11:16:46 AM
I wonder how many buyers (especially newbies)who use BIN assume that their CC will automatically be billed? I know, if they bother to read....
