posted on December 20, 2004 08:18:12 AM new
We do a lot of complaining about buyers, but I got this note with a PayPal payment:
Note: Thanks! Added 50 cents for convenience of Paypal.
It's just 50 cents but it made my day!
**********************************
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on December 20, 2004 09:12:17 AM new
I've had several buyers who added 50 cents or a dollar for PayPal fees.
I STILL wish Ebay would let U.S. transactions request an extra percentage for PayPal, as they do elsewhere. Why not??? I'm told it's illegal to ask for it now.
posted on December 20, 2004 04:35:15 PM new
Actually it's easier and legal (also recommended by eBay) to bump up your 'handling charges' to cover PayPal's fees. You can always offer a discount for cash payments such as direct bank deposits, money orders, checks, Yankee Pesos, etc. Most of our customers pay direct into our bank accounts, except US ones which must now mail us payment (to comply with the Patriot Act). We've also adopted Euros as our preferred currency (was US Pesos... sorry... Dollars) and repriced all our stock accordingly.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Everyone!
Roadsmith, wrote:
I STILL wish Ebay would let U.S. transactions request an extra percentage for PayPal, as they do elsewhere. Why not??? I'm told it's illegal to ask for it now.
Tain't strictly illegal (except, I believe in CALIF) -- HOWEVER, it DOES violate the MERCHANT AGREEMENTS with both VISA & MASTERCARD to charge a "surcharge" in the USA!
In the UK, things be DIFFERENT -- OTOH, they drive on the WRONG side of the road, so what can ya expect???
posted on December 20, 2004 04:51:30 PM new
Roadsmith; Tomwill;
Remember that P/P is just a clearing house for credit cards. Therefore in many states it is illegal to put on a surcharge for paying by CC. It is not just CA, there are at least 5 or 6 more that make it illegal.
posted on December 20, 2004 05:33:00 PM new
Agitprop: I've never charged a handling fee. So how would this work? I send the buyer a PayPal invoice (which I don't do now), spelling out final bid, shipping charge, handling charge to cover PP's fees without saying that's what the handling charge is for, to stay "legal."
In my auction description, I give the total shipping cost unless it's going to be more than 1# priority. Would that be confusing to buyers?
If you were going to offer a discount for cash, money order, etc., what percent discount would you give?
Have you done any of this yourself? Has anyone else here?
posted on December 22, 2004 01:25:09 PM newRoadsmith,
You really should be charging a handling fee to cover your packaging costs and time (unless you enjoy working for free - if you do - contact me as we can always create a job vacancy)...
I'd change your TOS to state something along the lines of "Shipping and Handling: (old shipping rates + PP fee on total: you do the math)", then add "discount for non PP payments is (your average PP fee)". You'll probably want to round numbers to make calcs easy. A 3 to 5% discount for cash is usually sufficent incentive to get customers to pay as 'cash' especially with larger sales. Also you reduce your need for reserves against credit card and PP reversals. Basically a win-win situation, and yes, this is what many eBay sellers do to legally charge for PP. After all PP is really of most advantage to buyers.
posted on December 22, 2004 01:53:52 PM new
agitprop,
i know i'll open a can of worms with this question, but what part of the "patriot" act have i missed re: privacy intrusions/electronic banking? i no longer fly in any plane which lands on u.s. soil either, due to civil liberties/privacy issues. thanks!
posted on December 22, 2004 02:07:47 PM new
tom- i would agree with you about the VISA/MC charges, but ARCO (A BP company) gas stations here in Oregon and Washington charge 35 cents to process credit cards. Some McDonalds charge 50 cents for ATM transactions. It is getting absurd. These are multimillion dollar corporations who are making even more money by these, "convenience fees" that they shouldn't be allowed to charge, with perhaps the exception of McD's b/c it is done as an ATM rather than credit card.
posted on December 22, 2004 02:10:39 PM new
Neglus I don't love my buyers (although I do appreciate them for their business) but I think I love some of the wonderful people here on this board!
posted on December 22, 2004 02:55:37 PM new
Two or three years ago I charged exact postage only. I had a buyer who insisted on sending extra money. Same with the second auction of mine she won.
She wrote me a rather stern tongue-in-cheek email and convinced me I should at least cover my packing materials in my S/H. I started doing it then and there and have never had one single complaint about my charges.
The only packages I send "exact postage" now are Priority Mail.
Lucy
Edited to add: My S/H is enough to cover PayPal fees and, in many cases, eBay fees as well. Priority fees are based on Zone 8.
[ edited by ohmslucy on Dec 22, 2004 02:57 PM ]
posted on December 22, 2004 03:40:24 PM new
Why would I employ someone at $10/hour and then have them pack for free? I'm not running a charity here. If it's a "simple" item, we charge around $2. For fragile, awkward, heavy, etc. items we charge something in line with the work involved.
Even with USPS Priority, the peanuts, tissue, and bubble aren't free (nor is the time to pack, post, and deliver to PO).
We get lots of feedback that is positive about the shipping. In my experience, it is the people buying cheap stuff who complain the most and are most likely to leave a negative, so I try to avoid cheap stuff
posted on December 22, 2004 03:46:08 PM new
rustygumbo:
Then, they violated their MERCHANT AGREEMENTS!
Whenever someone tries this on me, I YACK to VISA or MC thru their online complaint form --
The SUBWAY wouldn't take my VISA without PICTURE ID & I yacked & he got a call from SUBWAY CORPORATE and VISA & then he had to call ME & kiss Ralphie's tuckus!
DON'T accept this! They cannot impose SURCHARGES! They cannot require PICTURE IDs (unless yer signature on back is illegible) -- visit the VISA or MC site & peruse the online COMPLAINT forms: tis an eye-opener!
posted on December 22, 2004 03:48:15 PM new
"Even with USPS Priority, the peanuts, tissue, and bubble aren't free (nor is the time to pack, post, and deliver to PO)."
Quite true, Cash, quite true.
However, my fixed rate for Priority is based on Zone 8 so it evens out. I buy only small boxes. Larger ones are free. Boxes are the highest cost packing item for me. Bubble, tissue & ribbon, peanuts are an insignificant expense.
Oh, forgot to mention, my PO is a mile from my house. The absolute longest time I've ever spent in there was 15 minutes at the most.
posted on December 22, 2004 06:31:40 PM new
All those FEES are Buried somewhere in my $29.99 handling fees.....buy a $9.99 item = packing fees....don't like the fees,DON'T BUY from ME! Easy! and of COURSE it IS stated RIGHT in the AUCTION! $29.99 HANDLING FEE. they bid,,,they buy, they #*!@! Waht THEY NEED to do is READ Before,,,,,they BUY! They DON'T! TS......then they NEG and I Return the FAVOR! .....
IT's MY Business! I run it the way I,,,,want to and I will NOT MARCH to anyone elses TUNE....E bay get THEIR CUT,,I Get MINE!
Shipping and Handling has NOTHING to do with E bay......
posted on December 22, 2004 06:59:29 PM new
What I want to know is if it is illegal for us to charge for PayPal charges why is it that paypal can charge us an extra charge, besides the 13 cents, for using their service to print USPS 1st class eDC?
I don't use PayPal anymore for 1st class eDC I go to the shipping assistant. My postal clerk said that if I mail my package from home with my postage, I can still use it by tacking on the 13 cents extra for the eDC. Paypal gets enough of my money. I think in the end it would add up to my benefit.
-- OTOH, they drive on the WRONG side of the road, so what can ya expect???
