posted on December 31, 2000 07:44:26 AM new
So is everyone having a good New Year's weekend. I am spending the time trying to set-up my next round of auctions, albeit not many for a while, have to slow down while recovering from two surgeries. Well anyway, I have been reading the previous topics concerning different payment methods, fees, shipping/handling charges, and especially concerning the paypal payments with respect to the fees they charge and how some have presented this information in their auctions. I state a fixed rate, now they will change due to shipping increases, which will be $4.90 for 1# and $5.35 for 2#. I use all new packing materials, wrap each item, ribbon on it, then inside a mailing envelope for protection, printed message in each, printed labels, and delivery confirmation. Most of what I sell is 2#'s and under. I have been offering my buyers a $1.00 discount off the auction price if they use other methods of payment. 90% of my buyers have paid using money orders, cash and billpoint. Now I have decided it is best to reword my payment terms. I would like your opinions on the following, I want to make sure I am not violating any rules either with Ebay or Paypal.
"Payment can be made by money order, cashier's check, electronic check payments through Billpoint, PayDirect, MoneyZap (Western Union), Bidpay, or Achex, personal check with a possible 10 day hold and if you use these payment methods, I will deduct $1.00 from your auction total. This offer does not apply to other forms of payment, ie. PayPal."
Any suggestions or helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. I am still a relatively new seller with a feedback of 147. I have to go to work now and will return in about 6 hours. Thank you in advance for all your help and suggestions.
Happy New Year!
posted on December 31, 2000 07:50:15 AM new
I see no problem in our TOS regarding method of payment. We use something similar, since we personally take credit cards, but also accept PayPal, PayDirect, checks on established accounts, MO's, Cashier's Checks, or Bank Wires.
We do take BillPoint, but I don't like their system, and we don't advertise we take it, since I'd prefer not to. I personally dislike any system which REQUIRES me to send an invoice from their system, as this just adds another step for us in the closing procedure. We promote PayPal with one of their Logo's....we don't promote any other system although we do accept a number of them.
BUT back to your question, your TOS looks fine to me.
Wishes to you and yours for a Blessed 2001. Our New Years Greeting to YOU at this URL:
posted on December 31, 2000 07:58:38 AM new
Though you word it backwards, you are, in essence, charging a fee to accept PayPal.
It won't be long before PayPal will come after sellers that give discounts to other forms of payments but not PayPal.
I know that stores try to do this with credit cards (since it's illegal to charge extra for CC's), but I don't think the discount thing could hold up in court, especially with this new frontier of e-payments: Basically, the customer pays a higher price for paying via PayPal and therefore that is the same as charging a fee.
Just do what I did (and many other sellers are continuing to do).... STOP ACCEPTING PAYPAL!
It's easy.. and it has the added benefit of making your TOS and EOA notices quite a bit smaller. Money Orders and Personal checks only is the way to go, regardless of how much spam you get saying you "must acccept credit cards". No fear of chargebacks or stolen credit cards or locked accounts while still receiving other funds.
You say you personally accept credit cards. I tried that but only to be robbed of over $400. I sold the item, it arrived, no problem right? Well only to get a notice a month later that it was a stolen card. How do you take credit cards while avoiding chargebacks? It wasnt worth the risk to me and that is why Paypal and others looked promising.
posted on December 31, 2000 12:59:03 PM new
You can set up a merchant account to accept credit cards, but it's pretty costly.
PayPal is as good as you make it. If you choose to use it, make sure that each and every sale paid with it meets the criteria for the Seller Protection: you are verified, you have trackable proof of shipping, and you do not ship electronically (e.g. downloads of software) or to addresses outside the US. If you meet the terms, PayPal has to eat the cost of one of your buyers using a stolen card and the only "fraud" claims they pay on are where the seller fails to ship the product. PayPal is the least expensive third party service I know of (except for maybe ExchangePath, but that's much, MUCH worse as far as screwing people over, from what I hear). Just get to know what the potential pitfalls are and avoid them.
posted on December 31, 2000 01:37:25 PM new
I'm home now and I want to thank everyone for their help. I think I might not advertise that I take paypal since most of my payments now are in the form of billpoint (they can automatically send EOA's, I just don't use that feature, I like doing the personal touch) and money orders and checks and cash anyway. If I have to, I can offer it. Once again, thank you and you all have a very safe New Year's Eve celebration.
