posted on February 18, 2003 12:39:47 PM new
I have the PayPal option and button on all my auctions now and I've been astounded at how fast the payments are coming in. It's hard to keep up with shipping! Which is good.
HOWEVER--I do NOT like the bite PayPal takes out of items that sell for less than $10. And I'm hesitant to build into the low-end items what PayPal will charge for fear it takes the item out of reach for a buyer.
1. Does anyone out there limit PayPal payments to no less than a certain $ amount?
2. I know it's not okay to charge extra for PayPal use by buyers, but is it okay to offer a discount for cash?
I've seen lots of threads here about it, but now I'm paying more attention because I am directly affected! ~Adele
posted on February 18, 2003 12:46:12 PM new
I have seen in auctions the payments above a certain amount option...mostly above $10.00 can be paid with paypal.
posted on February 18, 2003 01:19:09 PM new
Adele,
Discounts for cash are OK but I'd word it differently otherwise you're going to have some idiot stuffing an envelope with greenbacks instead of a MO or cashier's check.
And from what I've observed, there will always be someone who can not read and will both use PayPal and take a discount.
posted on February 18, 2003 01:56:58 PM new
I don't accept PayPal payments for less than $25. Most of what I sell are consignment items and for the lower-priced items, the PayPal fees take a hefty chunk from my commission. I've had to refund a few payments because buyers didn't read my description/TOS OR the EOA I send out...but, so far, no one's complained and all have said they understand. And, so far, I've received 100% of the payments.
posted on February 18, 2003 06:53:40 PM new
Okay: Stupid question #1: HOw do I remove the Paypal button just for one auction? It's coming on automatically since I agreed to it.
#2: Would you, then, put the $10 or $25 lower limit for buyers to use paypal into that "payment instructions" box at the top of the page when auction is over? Or state it in your auction?
posted on February 18, 2003 07:54:37 PM new
I can't believe you people griping about P/P charges. I use my P/P card all of the time for business related expenses, i.e. gas, FedEx & USPs charges. I get 1.5% cash refund & am earning 1.45% Interest on the $$ in my account. I figure that P/P doesn't cost me at all. Plus the fact I have my $$ immediately. Anyone who has ever been in the retail business in a brick & mortar store can ID with what I am saying. The faster you can turn over your inventory & get paid for it tha more you can make. Get real you neophytes
posted on February 18, 2003 08:08:57 PM new
Maybe you can add an additional amount onto your S/H on items under $10.00 or better yet add it to all your auctions. Maybe a 50 cent or even an extra dollar will make up your difference in no time. I have a low ticket item that my S/H is $2.25 and it only costs me $1.19 to send and my buyers never object to paying that because I have the lowest S/H charge for the item than anyother seller.
posted on February 18, 2003 11:25:40 PM new
Roadsmith, rather than focus on the Paypal costs of specific auctions, look at your costs in total, or the average cost per auction.
If a few auctions sell for less than $10, any of those buyers can come back and bid up other auctions or end up buying something for a high dollar amount.
Keep all of your auctions Paypal friendly for your customers, unless the majority of your auctions consistenly sell for low dollar amounts. If you do so, you will have higher selling-rates and higher ending prices, plus more satisfied customers.
The most important rule to remember as an eBay seller is to Maximize Your Bidding Pool.
posted on February 19, 2003 01:49:33 AM new
Almost all of my auctions sell for under $10 and I have finally come to accept PP charges as a cost of doing business. My s/h charges for all of my postcards are $ 1.50 (postage=.38 and mailer=.25) so I figure the PP fee is in there somewhere. I have tried offering discounts for checks/mo's and limiting use of PP but figure in the long run it is best to stay PP friendly. And my time is worth something too! All of those mo's/checks have to opened, identified (no one remembers to reference the auction when they send payment), endorsed, totalled and deposited - PayPal transactions are so much easier to handle and there is a handy history to refer to when questions about payment arise. And then there is the follow-up on late payments...I think you just have to grin and bear the PP fees!
posted on February 19, 2003 05:57:54 AM new
As a buyer I find the electronic payments a strong incentive bordering on compelling, when I'm buying, especially on the low cost items. My wife says she wants some sort of soap, or a type of candle, and I look on eBay.
Ah here's one.
Click, click, click, click, click, click.
Okay, dearest, light of my life, I ordered your soap or candle or whatever.
Mailing a personal check is just too labor intensive for this old man for a candle or bar of soap.
Yes, PayPal takes a larger chunk out on those small sales. What's the alternative?
posted on February 20, 2003 08:27:30 AM new
Anytime you don't put PP in an auction you are just shooting yourself in the foot. Making it as easy as possible for buyers to make a purchase is sooo important.
I also use the PP debit card at the post office, so never have to think about having money for postage.
posted on February 20, 2003 11:27:45 PM new
Lots of good suggestions and thoughts here. Thanks, everybody.
I'm not ready to get the Paypal debit card just yet, but I have to say that my bookkeeper (my dear long-suffering husband) just loves Paypal! So much easier for him to keep track of things.
And I know already that it's making a difference in my sales, especially now when sales are slower and down a bit. So I'll just keep Paypal as an option and think hard about perhaps encouraging buyers in my end-of-auction messages to send a check or money order if the total is under, say $15 - encourage them, but not insist.
posted on February 21, 2003 12:34:09 AM new
unfortunately paypal isn't a bank so I'm not going to be using it as one... (debit card)
dont like the idea of keeping a certain amount of money in my account. the balance is always $0.00
I've calculated how much paypal made off of my transactions.. and they made quite a bit... most of these transfers aren't even credit card too. they're instant ones via banking accounts.
I'm actually glad lately that more buyers are sending me money orders.
posted on February 22, 2003 07:40:05 AM new
I don't worry about the PP Fees, I just add alittle to my shipping to cover them. Most of my items sell for under $10 but I make some off the shipping. Most of the sales on E-Bay are probably for $10 or under. If you sell alot in a month you can still make a good profit.
