posted on October 17, 2001 07:32:43 AM new
about this? Is it true that our name and address will then be posted on all our closed auctions? I am strongly opposed to that, for obvious privacy reasons. I cannot verify if this is true - does anyone here know?
I have been reading the Checkout forum at eBay, and I keep getting madder and madder about this. Checkout should be optional, plain and simple. And what has been eBay's response to everyone's concerns? Ignore them! I think sellers on those boards have had some very legitimate questions, and sadly are getting no response.
posted on October 17, 2001 08:18:37 AM new
You would not believe how many emails I receive asking for my mailing address. Both my listing service and I send out end of auction notices with the information but some people just don't read.
If you are concerned, try using a post office box. That's what I do. No way am I going to give my home address out. For $43/year, it's a small piece of mind.
posted on October 17, 2001 08:29:53 AM new
I guess I wasn't clear. What I read is that your name and address (that you have on file with eBay) will be visible on the auction page to *anyone*. eBay is insisting on putting their Checkout crap on your auction page, whether you want to use it or not.
I don't mind giving out my addy to those who win my auctions, but I *don't* want it visible to any Joe who happens across my auctions. I'm trying to find out if this is true or rumor...
posted on October 17, 2001 08:36:07 AM newWhat I read is that your name and address (that you have on file with eBay) will be visible on the auction page to *anyone*.
If true, THIS would aggravate me mightily. I certainly don't mind my customers having my address (heck, it's on the return address of my packages) but I agree that I don't want every potential spammer or competitor seeing this.
Everytime I think I'm cutting that umbilical cord to the post office, here comes something to change it.
posted on October 17, 2001 09:01:53 AM new
I don't think that is right to have your address on all of your auctions for the world to see
I am an ebay seller and have had guys hit on me when they ask a question about my auction.
One guy even said that I reminded him of a certain person in a movie ( and no, I do not have my picture on my ebay page) ~ I had no idea what that movie was about until I asked a friend and it was about someone getting murdered ,I think it was a Steven King movie ...yikes
I used to sell Real Estate ( new construction) and had to sit at a sample house all by myself and always felt like a sitting duck... well now I will feel the same way
posted on October 17, 2001 09:04:59 AM new
I'm a bit confused. If I read correctly, it's totally your option to use or not use. Here's what I'm reading:
posted on October 17, 2001 09:16:10 AM new
Sadie, here is a quote from that page:
Even if sellers do not provide Checkout details, buyers will be able to access Checkout from closed listing pages, My eBay, and End of Auction notices. They may use Checkout in this case to send sellers their shipping address and request more information. Sellers can respond using their current methods.
Even if you don't select it, the stuff is still there...
Also, you might want to peruse the eBay Checkout message board for more info. There are lots of flaws with this feature, and the board there is a real eye-opener.
[ edited by nefish on Oct 17, 2001 09:18 AM ]
posted on October 17, 2001 09:26:50 AM new
I believe that question was answered on the ebay checkout board. From what I remember, they said only the buyer would be able to access the seller's address, it would not be displayed on the closed auction page. The buyer would need to click the checkout button to retrieve the seller's address.
posted on October 17, 2001 09:29:41 AM new
If the buyer can use it to get the seller's address is there a place for us to change our address? I assume I have to have my street address on my Ebay records? I only accept checks through my PO box as my mail is always getting put in someone else's box here at the apartment complex where I live!
posted on October 17, 2001 09:33:14 AM new
This is what Jerry from eBay wrote:
If you opt-out of Checkout, there will be no way any buyer/bidder could have access to your shipping address. The only time a buyer would have access to your shipping address if is you decided to use Checkout.
Regards,
Jerry
eBay Community Development Specialist
posted on October 17, 2001 10:12:02 AM new
What I don't understand is why people don't go and read the FAQ and other information before the rage against the machine.
Most of the irate posts I've seen regarding checkout are without basis.
I don't see anything negative or positive about checkout at this point. It's seems to me like an elaborate variation of the already existing instant purchase option, that I already use.
posted on October 17, 2001 11:00:52 AM new
Lindajean...again, from what I remember reading on the checkout board, the seller would enter their shipping address at the time of listing the auction...at that time they would enter all the information for checkout (much like instant purchase is structured right now). The response from ebay to this question was that the address was not imported from the user's ebay registration.
Doing it this way means the seller isn't locked into one set of terms for all items, but can tailor checkout for each individual item.
Outoftheblue...I agree with you...many of these "problems" people are finding with checkout can be "solved" if the FAQ and tutorials ebay has posted were read. It does seem very similar to the billpoint instant purchase, which I have used since its inception with no problems. It would be nice if people waited to try the program first before they said it was unworkable. Then there would be actual "hands on" experiences that can expose any actual problems...rather than a lot of imagined problems.
posted on October 17, 2001 12:04:05 PM new don't see anything negative or positive about checkout at this point. It's seems to me like an elaborate variation of the already existing instant purchase option, that I already use.
It would be nice if people waited to try the program first before they said it was unworkable
Oh, I see, as long as you're one of the sellers who uses Billpoint's Instant Purchase option there's really nothing to be up in arms about, is that correct?
Well gee, I don't use Billpoint, and I certainly don't need my high bidders [especially NEW users] looking at a bunch of eBay crap that has no useful purpose on MY auction page. Is that so hard to grasp?
I don't need to "try" the program to know if it will work or not, I don't plan on using Checkout, period, end of story!
I have no problem with those of you that want to use the program, but all I'm asking is that if I don't CHOOSE the Checkout option, that eBay keeps it off of MY auction.
It's no different than the I-escrow campaign from last year. If I CHOOSE to use i-escrow, fine and dandy, but if I don't [which I do not] then I sure as hell don't even want to see it mentioned on MY auction page.
IMO the reason eBay isn't going to allow sellers the OPTION of it showing on their auction page, or not, is obvious.
posted on October 17, 2001 12:46:38 PM new
Amy: Thanks for the information.
outoftheblue: As far as reading all the FAQ and bulletins on Ebay before making statements or asking questions goes -- I don't have time to do much of anything. I try to sign on here once a day to keep up with the news.
Thanks for those with the patience to address issues without us having to chase them down all over the place.
posted on October 17, 2001 12:58:22 PM new
Kiawok...my, I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers...sorry if you thought I was.
There is a difference from someone stating "I will not use checkout" and someone saying "It is a piece of crap, unworkable". You seem to be stating the first statement, I was addressing the second.
Oh, I see, as long as you're one of the sellers who uses Billpoint's Instant Purchase option there's really nothing to be up in arms about, is that correct?
INCORRECT. No, I was just pointing out that from my experience with the instant payment option, which seems to be similar to checkout, there may not be a lot of problems with checkout.
As for keeping checkout out of your auction...at the present time it doesn't appear that ebay is going to do that, but they have modified the statement that will appear in the checkout box for those sellers who opt out of using checkout...it now will read
"Seller will provide these details in the item description or after the listing ends."
instead of
Checkout details not specified by seller
From the comment the ebay customer rep made on the checkout board, the revised statement was an attempt by ebay to make sure the buyers were not turned off from bidding because the seller opted out of checkout and had a blank checkout box (a fear many posting to the boards expressed).
Is ebay going to be HalfBay? Maybe. If they do morph into that, then each of us has to decide if we want to contiue our association with ebay. It is their ballgame and if they decide that halfbay would be better for them then they get to use that business model...kind of like our auctions are our ballgame and we get to decide what business model we will use. But, since we are playing our ballgame in ebay's ball park, their ballgame has dominance over ours. If we want to play by different rules than those of ebay we have to go to another ballpark where the rules are more in line with ours or we build our own stadium.
In other words, if ebay thinks it would be more profitable for them to change the stadium to a football stadium (halfbay)instead of the baseball stadium (ebay)it has been up to now, we either start playing football or find another baseball stadium...because we ain't going to play baseball in ebay's stadium anymore
And if you are sure that the gmae we play is going to change, then it is best to start dealing with that reality now instead of waiting till it happens
posted on October 17, 2001 01:16:57 PM newblah blah blah
ROFLMAO...when you have no logical response, resort to silly comments. (and you are good at it too!)
Now...would you mind giving your reaction to the revised statement that will appear on the checkout box? Do you think it addresses the problem of buyers thinking the seller could be a scammer because he doesn't fill in the shipping and insurance parts of checkout? Does it still make the seller look unprofessional?
Perhaps if you quit talking down to me like I AM a silly little child, I'll quit responding like one?
I don't need the likes of you or anyone else explaining to me [least of all in ballpark terms] how things work on eBay, and/or what my choices are, or will be. I'm a big boy now, but thanks anyhoo.
I saw the revised statement that Jerry posted, WOWEE. IMO it will still be confusing to bidders, especially new ones who will wonder why some sellers have a Checkout option, and others do not.
The RIGHT thing for eBay to do would have been to allow sellers the choice of Checkout showing on their auctions, or not.
I don't need to bend over to smell a cow-pie, to realize I won't enjoy the odor.
posted on October 17, 2001 02:30:31 PM new
If eBay Jerry is correct about having the sellers street address on the auction page after the auction for the buyer to access, then does it follow that eBay would have to embed the address in the HTML or use a script?
I have in the past been able to look at the source code on My Ebay page, and there before my eyes was my user name and password. I think they fixed the security hole about 3 months ago since I can't find it anymore.
But knowing eBay it will take at least 3 revisions for them to get Checkout to at least trudge along. I don't like the idea of Checkout anyway, and having my address on the auction page under any circumstances makes it more unattractive.
posted on October 17, 2001 04:32:51 PM new
Kiawok
I wasn't trying to talk down to you...sorry you took it that way. I will say though, that your original response to my statement about using billpoint I found to be a bit condescending and way to angry a response to my very simple statement.
Use of words like Is that so hard to grasp? sounds like YOU were talking down to ME.
Maybe you got the response you did because of your own post to me and outoftheblue...do you think it is possible?
posted on October 17, 2001 04:58:39 PM new
To be able to use Checkout as it is designed, sellers will have to go to fixed shipping if they want to enter something in that box.
Also, it will never work right as long as it is NOT mandatory for buyers to fill it out. Sellers will be sitting waiting for a buyer to complete Checkout who may NEVER fill it out! How long will you wait? How long should sellers wait?
Also, it becomes duplicate work for sellers who already are using a third party software management program. Why keep going back to Checkout Summary to enter this, enter that, update, etc. when you can do it all in your management program and zap off an email with the details.
It is my understanding that the Instant Payment thing with Billpoint will be going away when Checkout is in place.
Also, which TOS will be the *official* TOS: the one in the auction description or the one in Checkout if they happen to be different?
AS I've said before, I'm willing to take a look at it, but I want to be able to not have it on my auctions if I choose so. If it doesn't work for me then there should be no mention of it on my pages.
posted on October 17, 2001 07:13:39 PM new
Just my 2 cents:
I plan on making it very clear on both "My Page" and on my auction pages that I will email the winners & to disregard all checkout info.
If Ebay insists on posting it, the info I have supplied will be changed to comical hogwash!
posted on October 17, 2001 08:04:17 PM new
Sounds like a nice place to display my web address - the WBN from auctionwatch will give them my shipping info.
Koplah
Ed
posted on October 17, 2001 11:01:30 PM new
I could care less if my buyer see my info, I'm going to send it to them in an email anyway.
The only thing that is needed in regards to addresses is the seller should know the buyers, or at least the buyers zip code so you could calculate shipping on heavy items.
Also someone with half a brain at ebay needs to make it so that if you check the ONLY SELLS TO US box and they don't have a US address on file, then they don't get to bid. That one alone would solve a few headaches a week. Or if you accept international bids you would know the country again so you could calculate the shipping charges.
eBay fees are like being slowly pecked to death by chickens!!!
posted on October 17, 2001 11:20:56 PM new
From what I can see, the new checkout feature will not accept PayPal as a payment option--and that makes ME mad!
posted on October 18, 2001 05:24:13 AM new
My vote is with those who dont want checkout info on our pages if we dont use billpoint.
I know for a fact that it will confuse a LOT of buyers. I have been doing this for a couple of years and am never amazed at how hard it is for people to just read what they need to, never mind having extra stuff on our page that is irrelevant to our auctions.
I dont use billpoint, never have and dont see a need for it in my listings. Why promote a service I dont offer?
I know why they are doing this and why they are doing a lot of the changes they are implementing.
I just happen to think they are wrong and that we have to figure out what we will do based on our own needs and experiences.
I just wish they would remember the old adage "You should always dance with the one what brung ya" They started out as a venue for individuals to sell stuff(whether new or used)to other individuals. Not parts of some vast machine selling only "pratical" articles to another part of the machine.
posted on October 18, 2001 05:25:59 AM new
PayPal has been sent down to the Other category on the new Checkout, like a naughty child being sent to bed for interfering in the parents dinner party! We can still have our PayPal logos but wonder how long that will last? I've asked many times over on the Checkout forum to see what the Checkout page will look like for the buyer when the seller does not take Billpoint but no one has ever answered that question. I still think Checkout is nothing more than a HUGE Billpoint (sorry Ebay Payment Services) promotion.
I'm also seeing conflicting information as to when it will start. One Ebay rep says before October 31 and another is stating sometime in November. Who knows?
