roadsmith
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posted on February 17, 2002 09:11:10 PM
I am not registered with BidPay but have received two payments through them and like the way they operate. I would like to continue in that way.
If I were to put into my auction terms that I ACCEPT BidPay, would that be at all confusing to buyers? Is there a downside to continuing this way, or should I register with BidPay? (And then do they need my credit card info and would they do direct deposits? See how much I don't know?!)
Your advice is welcome.
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blueyes29
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posted on February 17, 2002 09:41:46 PM
BidPay is great...especially for international customers. I registered but, if you've received payments without registering, it's probably not necessary. It's a no-hassle/no charge to sellers system.
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nanasturtles
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posted on February 17, 2002 10:09:28 PM
I second that! Bidpay is a great option to add to your auctions to let your buyers know that you do accept credit card payments thru Bidpay and the seller does not have to pay any fee's! YIPEE!!
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twinsoft
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posted on February 17, 2002 10:24:18 PM
BidPay is the most reliable payment service. They mail you a Western Union money order, and there's no worry about chargebacks. If you register, you don't have to give them any CC info, just your address. That way they know where the payment is supposed to go, and the buyer needs only provide your email addy. BidPay won't do a direct deposit as far as I know. After all the nightmares with Paypal, believe me I prefer it that way. On those few occasions when there was a lost payment, BidPay gladly sent a replacement money order with no questions asked. The only downside is that they charge $5 to the customer, so you can imagine most Paypal die-hards won't care for it. BidPay is the only electronic payment method I accept.
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jdk156
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posted on February 18, 2002 06:56:31 AM
My second one is on it's way as of today and I LOVE it! You don't have to sit and wonder if the buyer REALLY put it in the mail. I'm going to mail the pkg. today and she will get it about the same time I get the M/O. I have not registered but I think I will do that today.
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paloma91
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:12:47 AM
I agree with everyone else. Although it is expensive, it is safe and secure for buyers and sellers. As a seller, I had a problem last week. The buyer's address didnt match what Bidpay had. I emailed them and got a reply with 30 minutes. The same rep stayed on the issue with me until it was resolved. (It was a new bidder whose legal residency was outside the USA but was going to gradulate school and actually live INSIDE the USA. So I was actually mailing inside the USA) A little scarey for me but the rep was kind and reassuring. Great Customer Service.
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sponge
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posted on February 18, 2002 10:44:12 AM
My only experience with Bidpay.....and right now, I am giving some thought to adding it to my auctions......was when I received something I purchased from England. It was repaired, and the seller refunded me through Bidpay. After four weeks and countless attempts to contact customer service, I still had not received the payment, although Bidpay told me that it had been sent. Their only customer service was through e mail, no human customer support. I finally posted a question to the AW board, and within hours I had a response from someone from Bidpay who lurked here, and I had a money order delivered by Fedex overnight. The moral of the story? Just because Bidpay says the Money order has been sent, it isn't necessarily so, although when I finally got the attention of someone with some clout, it all ended well. My two cents, and as I said, I am considering it for overseas customers on my auctions that I am about to list.
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loony
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posted on February 18, 2002 10:51:40 AM
I use BIDPAY in all auctions.
I sell from Canada and it is 'No Hassle'.
I tell buyers"Bidpay does charge a $5.00 fee, but then an Int'l MO costs $3.00-$4.00 + 60 cent postage , so differance is minimal and without the PO line-ups."
However some 'redneck types' get all hot and bothered over charges. Can't win them all!
From my experiences I highly reccommend.
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roadsmith
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posted on February 18, 2002 12:22:21 PM
Thanks, everyone! I'm convinced and will register with them. I do think, though, that I won't ship until I actually have the M.O. in hand. . . .
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dixiebee
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posted on February 18, 2002 02:40:49 PM
I advertise BidPay in all my auctions, with most users being international. I know that I sold something to a US buyer recently that was paid with BidPay. She was a newbie and found it very easy to use. As someone else said, it was only $5 and she was using it more for the convenience than anything.
I do hold the shipment until I receive the money order and tell my buyer that up front. No problems and many satisfied customers.
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sparkz
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posted on February 18, 2002 03:21:32 PM
Roadsmith,
Bidpay is the only online payment service I use, and I can recommend them highly. There are no wishy washy rules or constantly changing terms of service. Everything is straight forward and easy to understand. The best part is its free for sellers and no worry about chargebacks. It's not necessary to register with them to use their services, but there are two big advantages in doing so. First, you will be able to see a history of payments made to you, including the money order number. That's especially helpful if a payment goes astray in the mail or if a mail server crashes at either end. Second, you will have access to the logos and clickable links to place in your auctions.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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dacreson
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posted on February 18, 2002 04:31:44 PM
I also have added Bid Pay after seeing it in action as a seller. Saved me $8.00 over PayPal/Billpoint on ONE transaction! I'm happy
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loony
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posted on February 18, 2002 04:53:48 PM
Just wanted to add:
I always ship as soon as BIDPAY confirms, that is on receipt of the second Email.
They will even replace a lost MO, so there is no risk.
FYI Bidpay is now owned by Western Union.
I also post FB at that time as in fact the buyer has kept his end of the contract. It is now up to seller to keep his end of contract. (And that means 'item as described') so there is no reason for an honest seller not to post at this time.
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buyhigh
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posted on February 18, 2002 06:02:26 PM
Question since I am supposed to get a Bidpay MO from an International buyer who is now MARU. Does Bidpay notify you by e-mail that MO has been mailed or do you just wait for the Western Union money order arrive in the mail?
buyhigh
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loony
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posted on February 18, 2002 06:54:30 PM
BUYHIgh
I ship ONLY when the 'Authorization Email' comes from Bidpay.
They send 2 Emails:
The first is to advise that 'JoeBlow has selected Bidpay etc etc----
The 2'nd says 'Payement has been authorized and we HAVE sent you a MO etc etc----I find that the second email comes generally about 1 hr after the first.
Particularily with a NARU wait for 2nd email (and maybe for actual MO to arrive),either way he cannot neg you as he is NARU'd.
With BIDPAY they will not confirm until his CC has been verified and they have reserved funds to cover the MO that they send.This way they eliminate fraudulant / stolen cards and cards that are maxed out or overdue.
That is what makes BIDPAY different. They VERIFY funds!
They guarantee!
Other services have you/ your CC/ your bank acct to guarantee the buyer's funds.(That is what all the flap is about: Reversals/ frozen accts etc)
[ edited by loony on Feb 18, 2002 07:01 PM ]
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buyhigh
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:00:47 PM
loony - Thank you.I never got e-mail from Bidpay and over a week has elasped so I guess it was a bad deal all the way around.
buyhigh
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loony
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:03:44 PM
buyhigh
Welcome, this is what boards are all about.
I have had much help over time so I like to jump in when I can help.
Bet you Int'l was from HongKong!
[ edited by loony on Feb 18, 2002 07:05 PM ]
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buyhigh
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:15:12 PM
Actually YES! That was the location he put down when registering although his home address was in Taipei, and his e-mail addy was out of Taiwan. Actually I think he was Naru because he bid on items where shipping was to US only - unwelcome bidder. Registered on the 10th of Feb and naru on the 13th. Have you had dealings with this guy or are you just guessing?
buyhigh
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sparkz
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:28:07 PM
Buyhigh,
Once in a while, there can be an email glitch at Bidpay's end and you may not get the confirmation email for a week or more. As I explained to Roadsmith in my post above, when you suspect this may have happened, you can go to your account history at Bidpay, if you are registered, and see the status of the transaction. If a money order has been sent, they will give the date and time it was sent and the serial # of the m.o. I've only seen this happen once. It was around the Holiday season this year when their email server got the hiccups.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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buyhigh
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:39:37 PM
I do not have an account with BidPay because I do not ship internationally and list very little. I agreed to ship although I put down US only and figured the bidder being brand new and possibly not totally proficient in reading small print English missed the shipping item in red above the description. I decided to be "Mr. Nice Guy" in this case. Besides this happened once before a year ago and the bidder paid with a Western Union MO. so it was a smooth transaction. Is there any other way of checking or do I just wait?
buyhigh
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loony
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:41:03 PM
LOL
It seems that the great majority of 'problems', particurarily with CC's is from that area.
I have 'overheard' on a few boards horror stories of both bidder and buyer problems.
There was a string af buyers 'stung' with very pricy laptops that were supposidly to be shipped from another country, but 'wire transfer' to me here.
Then BIDPAY specifically states in the 'authorization' email to ship only to the specific address that they tell you.
I gather it is the registered address of the CC. Guess that is to avoid a stolen card usage. (Suspect BIDPAY is covered if stolen card was non reported at time of payement.)
It seems that the ethics in that part of the world are guite different from what we know.
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buyhigh
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posted on February 18, 2002 07:58:45 PM
Since this guy bid and won 25 items in the short time he was on e-Bay - enough type stuff to outfit a Taipei chapter of the Hell's Angels, I guess I can contact the other sellers, At first his e-mails back were great - even wanted me to post positive feedback when MO received - now nothing.
buyhigh
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alwaysbroke
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posted on February 19, 2002 04:56:32 AM
This info is so helpful that I'm printing it out. You've convinced me to accept BidPay even though I don't ship inter'l.
Thanks to all.
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drjackk
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posted on February 19, 2002 10:32:17 AM
Bid pay is the only third party I will deal with.
Paypal is a joke and had it only for one week. Could not even access my account and no one would help me.
I have had bidpay on over 200 transactions as a seller international. great people.
Don
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