posted on March 30, 2007 09:35:32 AM
I just have to vent. Almost 50% of my PayPal payments are coming in as UNCONFIRMED when I have stated clearly in my description that I only ship to confirmed addresses when paying via PayPal. One customer has paid me 4 times!! all to the same unconfirmed address even after 2 personal emails from me and the 4 standard ones from PayPal. This takes a lot of time. Can't people read!! How hard is this to understand? I accept checks and money orders, also, so there are options.Arggg!
posted on March 30, 2007 11:14:14 AM
Why don't you save yourself a lot of agita and set your account to not allow unconfirmed addresses?
You're wasting a lot of time this way, and apparently a lot of wear and tear on your arteries.
You will still have to deal with people who don't understand the problem, they've ALWAYS paid this way before, etc., but at least you won't have to do refunds.
Claude
PS If you figure out a way to let confirmed addresses from US, UK, and Canada only, please let me know. I can only get it to require US confirmed addresses.
posted on March 30, 2007 11:53:20 AM
Thanks cash..., after I started this thread, I thought, there must be a way to stop these notices, so I found it and did it. There is a lot of weird stuff on that page, I hope I did not mess anything else up.I will look for the UK, etc stuff now that I have uncovered the other mysteries of PayPal
posted on March 30, 2007 07:52:17 PM
merrie wrote: Almost 50% of my PayPal payments are coming in as UNCONFIRMED when I have stated clearly in my description that I only ship to confirmed addresses when paying via PayPal.
merrie, I'm guessing you want the warm, fuzzy comfort of PayPal Seller Protection. Well, you'll better protection another way - at least within the US of A - provided you ship via USPS.
The USPS offer free "Mail Fraud" insurance backed up by a Five-year Federal Guarantee (of felony prison time). In the many times where PayPal Seller Protection wasn't afforded (unconfirmed address) or the DC wasn't available, I've been able to recover either my funds or the item through the Postal Inspectors, or the helpful services of local Police (usually the fraud or 'bunko' unit). You simply file a complaint with them (similar to opening a PayPal dispute except with legal force) and they contact the buyer to get their side of the story. However, unlike PayPal disputes, they don't automatically side with the buyer and there can be dire legal consequences for those committing fraud or perjury. Usually, all it takes is a simple phone call or in person interview to resolve any "misunderstanding" and either the item or the funds is returned to the seller, closing the case before it gets serious. Many minor fraud cases get settled "off the books" without charges being filed, but the offenders details are now "in the system" and can come back to haunt them should they re-offend.
Let's face it - PayPal isn't really interested in investigating complaints by sellers as it's not cost effective and reduces profits. Sure, they do what appears to be a cursory examination, but it's far easier to simply roll over and side with the buyer and their credit card...
merrie wrote: Can't people read!! How hard is this to understand? I accept checks and money orders, also, so there are options.Arggg!
Remember - the average reading age of a USAian adult is 12 years old. They probably have the same attention span.
The majority of my customers pay me directly, electronically without charge, from the comfort of their home PC. They use online banking to send the payment into my bank account. Sometimes takes a few business days to be credited but other times only takes a few minutes. Safe. Fast. Traceable. Not reverable... and FREE.
I'm happy to entertain checks and money orders too, but they take forever to clear (four to eight weeks for international items).
posted on March 30, 2007 08:45:22 PM
Can't people read/
They can read but they are tired of reading terms of individual sellers!
They used to read 'Gone with the wind' in the about me page on why this and that seller is pedddling a particular product on ebay!
As for USPS fraud protection,I filed a complaint last year on a lady who wrote me a rubber check to the tune of 386 dollars.
I am still waiting,I very much doubt I would ever see the $$,just as I would ever expect anyone to read my life story.
*
Lets all stop whining !
*
posted on March 31, 2007 06:50:39 AM
agitprop, thanks for the additional info. Being forewarned and prepared is great. I use USPS and have had few problems, insured, DC, etc. Not always perfect, but an added layer of protection. PayPal makes unconfirmed addresses seem so dire!!
I really do not like PayPal's rules and methods, but there are few alternatives since so many people use it exclusively.
hwahwa: I read sellers TOS. It is their auction , since Ebay is just a venue, !! Whatever the seller sets as rules, I follow and if I do not like them, I do not bid.
posted on March 31, 2007 08:01:00 AM
Merrie,
Your bidders are top graduates of speedy reading school and once they see the PAYPAL logo on your page,they just assume you love them all,confirmed or unconfirmed.
BTW,some dont even know they have unconfirmed address,and they get confused with verified versus confirmed.or if they change their address,they can go from one status to another.
As for the USPS mail fraud complaint,USPS would also send a copy to the local police which in turn send a letter to the deadbeat.
But if a deadbeat has no money,he can ignore both letters,nothing police or USPS can do.
*
Lets all stop whining !
*
posted on March 31, 2007 08:12:24 AM
hwahwa, you are right about buyers not knowing about confirmed vs unconfirmed. I have explained ad nauseum to some and have given up. I changed my preferences to not accepting unconfirmed so I did not have to instruct people as to the differences. It is less stress. I used to do a case by case decision depending on reason for unconfirmed shipping addresses, feedback, etc. Too time consumming and difficult to know which transaction will create problems especially with sooo many coming in unconfirmed lately.
posted on March 31, 2007 10:54:47 AMBTW,some dont even know they have unconfirmed address,and they get confused with verified versus confirmed.or if they change their address,they can go from one status to another.
This also happens if you update your credit card. It happened to me. I updated my card and it automatically put me in the uncomfirmed status. They simply wanted another $2.50 from me to be confirmed again. Leaches.
Why don't you save yourself a lot of agita and set your account to not allow unconfirmed addresses?
Ebay's latest rule is if you sell on ebay and accept PayPal, you must accept unconfirmed payments.
posted on March 31, 2007 01:18:40 PM
Thanks Fluff, beat me to it.
That's also why I don't sell on eBay Express any more than I'd drive on the Expressway without a seatbelt.
What is a royal PITA is that PayPal won't give you a way to accept payment with confirmed Canadian and UK addresses. They have a confusing selection of options; it would be much simpler and more useful if they had one that said: "I am unwilling to accept payments that will not be covered under Seller Protection."
posted on March 31, 2007 06:50:57 PM
Let's face it, PayPal is by, for and totally to benefit PayPal. It is a virtual monopoly and Ebay makes almost more money from PayPal than from Ebay itself. I wish there were other viable options that buyers would accept, but PayPal is the standard and that is what a majority of buyers want.
posted on April 3, 2007 02:36:16 AM
Gulp, I just had to deny a 702.00 unconfirmed payment. No way I'm taking a risk on that kind of money. Buyer only has 14 feedback and one is a neg. for not paying. I sent him a nice note and how to confirm the address. Hope it works out !
!! Whatever the seller sets as rules, I follow and if I do not like them, I do not bid.