posted on October 31, 2001 05:06:41 AM
You can not turn it off...As I understand it, the checkout will always be on but you can decide not to use it. While Ebay calls it "optional", it is only optional to not use it. It will always be there...
posted on October 31, 2001 05:09:42 AM
OK, so now I get why everyone is so upset.
I have had two auctions close since it started, and both have sent me emails not understanding what to do.
Sounds like eBay has the same logic as all big companies these days. . .let the management make the decisions and don't consider the end user. . . I work for a large company and test software and I'm just blown away by what marketing and management decide to do with stuff like this. . . why doesn't anyone ever ask the end user what THEY want. . .grrrr
We can see that the use of the term "optional" has caused some confusion in the context of the
new Checkout feature. I thought I would take an opportunity to explain what we mean when
using that term.
The entering of the Checkout Details and Policies IS OPTIONAL in the sense that the seller can
select the "I am not specifying checkout details" or the "I am specifying Checkout details" radio
buttons on the regular Sell Your Item form.
What IS NOT OPTIONAL is the inclusion of the Checkout button and the Checkout Details and
Instructions & Return Policy sections of the completed View Item page. This part will not change
if the seller selected the "I am not specifying checkout details" radio button.
If the seller opts-out of entering the Checkout details, the Checkout button will only allow the
buyer to enter their shipping information and a message to the seller. It's also worth mentioning
that buyers are not required to complete the Checkout process in regular auctions unless the seller
makes it part of their terms and conditions.
In the eBay Stores environment, things are different for the buyer and seller. Previously all sellers
who listed items in their storefront were required to use a checkout process. While the
requirement to this has not changed, the flow of the checkout process has changed some. After
clicking on the Buy It Now button in a Stores listing page, the buyer must complete the Checkout
process before they are committed to purchasing the item.
I hope with this information, it is now clear what we mean by "optional".
Regards,
Jerry
eBay Community Development Specialist
posted on October 31, 2001 05:27:09 AM
Why don't they just say we're shoving it down your throats whether you like it or not. Accept it or get lost! No reason for the long-winded doubletalk.
The longterm gameplan might be to eliminate all of these Auction Management services that are piggybacking off eBay's success. Meg doesn't like to share the spotlight or the success (case in point the ill-conceived and self-serving Auction 4 America promotion).
posted on October 31, 2001 05:30:02 AM
???????? now explain all that to some buyer who just got on. Two years here and lots of sales I have no idea what you just said. Let us deal with our buyers in our own simple way. My way,,,,,,,,send me your address. they send address I send postage. Simple done deal. Why complicate this?????????
posted on October 31, 2001 06:14:36 AM
Mr. Jerry, you state in this post "Buyer not required to complete the Checkout details in regular auction" if the seller has not chosen to specifying checkout details. The way that Checkout is displayed, I'll eat my hat if most buyers would think they had any choice.
posted on October 31, 2001 08:18:24 AM
eBay Jerry-Please tell Meg that "checkout" is a mistake. I pay the ebay bill each month, I am your customer, and absolutely hate what ebay has done.
posted on October 31, 2001 08:57:39 AM
I don't fill out checkout, and in the "return policy" box I say DON'T use checkout, I will email the winner. I haven't had any buyers try to use it.
Either you have dumb buyers or you are clicking the wrong boxes.
posted on October 31, 2001 09:19:50 AM
HAHAHAHHAHA, Great idea! I just put a message in the return policy. Ignore whatever E bay tells you. Wait for my personal notice. hahahhaha, Like Chubby Checkers said back in the 60's, "COME ON EVERYBODY". block this insanity of paper work out NOW!!! (actually this insane typing). Soooooooo easy E bay. My way is easy, Send me your address, I send the postage, end of typing. Thanks for the great idea! oh! Also, I was not aware but I did the same thing in the message to the buyer, I thought it stayed but it changes back to empty.
posted on October 31, 2001 11:07:11 AM
Wiser heads than me (snyderstr) on the eBay Discuss New Features board figured out how to not have Checkout appear on your auctions at all.
You need to sign in, and then list your auctions from the eBay Canada "Sell Your Item" page, which has the option to list in U.S. dollars. (Checkout has not yet been implemented on the eBay Canada site.)
Of course, that probably means you have to be willing to ship your items to Canada as well as the U.S., as you are listing on the Canadian site.
posted on October 31, 2001 11:27:16 AM
Hate this checkout feature ~ clearly stated shipping amt on auction and winning bidder just paid me using checkout and NO SHIPPING ~ right.. like i am going to foot the shipping bill on my auctions.. with all the charges we must pay as sellers.. I'll be friggen broke
posted on October 31, 2001 11:28:59 AM
I cannot sign up for eBay payments as I do not live in USA or Canada. I do however sell on the .com site instead of the .co.uk. This could get even more confusing!
posted on October 31, 2001 11:47:58 AM
I use another auction listing software and I can't enter anything into the text box in Checkout unless I opt IN to Checkout and enter the shipping, my name, address, etc. I can't put any nice Don't Use Checkout message on my auctions!
posted on October 31, 2001 12:29:42 PM
The 7 auctions I had closing last night gave buyers the Checkout option, I wrote to everyone as soon as the auction ended stating that I didn't want to use Checkout because I wanted the personal contact with my buyers. EVERY ONE of them wrote back and said they agreed with me. So if the sellers don't want it, and the buyers don't want it, why do we have it? I have cancelled my Billpoint account because of it, I hope eBay will soon realise that the majority of us sellers like to "speak" to our buyers personally. About 40% of my buyers are repeat buyers, some have become real friends, and I think we have enough automated resposes in life, let's have some personal contact, that's how my selling has grown.
No reason for the long-winded doubletalk.
