posted on April 2, 2003 06:19:42 PM new
Hi
I have a problem, and I need a hand (vendio, eh, interesting!).
I sold an item to a person in Germany. I got a rate at the USPS site, he wants the surface rate, but at the site they don't list insurance as an option unless you do the air mail rate. Can I add insurance?
Second problem, I don't take credit cards and he paid via paypal...by credit card.
I can't now charge him a fee, nor will I at this point (even if later on I decide to accept credit cards I won't charge him one now! It would be unethical, plus, he could bust my chops to ebay).
I am thinking at this point, eat the fee, and get some help with the insurance on surface rate.
All help appreciated.
Japerton
posted on April 2, 2003 07:10:19 PM new
No matter if you take PayPal now or later there is always a fee and you can't charge your buyer. It is against PayPal's and any visa or mastercards' TOS. You can charge a handling fee or put your starting price highter but NO fees to be paid by a buyer.
posted on April 3, 2003 05:46:59 AM new
surface mail to europe can take 6 weeks,italy more like forever.
if insurance is not available with surface mail,he either have to upgrade to air or go without insurance.
may i ask what is the item??
posted on April 3, 2003 07:45:16 AM new he wants the surface rate, but at the site they don't list insurance as an option unless you do the air mail rate. Can I add insurance?
What I would do is sent the payment back via the refund botton on paypal. I would ask that they pay you via bidpay as you can ship any way they like but your azz is covered in case of loss.
I will only take bidpay for overseas sales because a lot of bidders seek the cheapest shipping rates where insurance is not possible. Some are smart that they know it can take a month or more to get there and others start to ask "where's my item after four days".
All it takes is for someone to start whining to P.P. and you are screwed.
posted on April 3, 2003 11:58:11 AM new
Hi
Thanks for the info.
I clicked "deny" on the paypal form.
Explained everything to the gentleman, and after I posted, I said, essentially:
Will make exception for credit card.
Will ship Air Parcel Post with insurance.
And gave him the new rate.
So far no word. Starting to hate paypal because my next auction closed and they paid with a credit card too.
I just did not factor the cost of credit cards into my starting bids.
Not whining, just on the sharp edge of the learning curve here...
Off to bidpay....
**********Just added: Found this at the Bidpay site:
QUOTE:
Q.Is there a fee to register or to use your services as a seller ?
A. No, there is absolutely no fee for sellers unless you choose a payout option other than a money order (i.e. a cheque in British Pounds).
:EDQUOTE
Does this mean I get my money via a check from them in pounds sterling? What about electronic transfers?
Bidpayers? Insight?
Thanks
********************
BTW it's a Nizo Heliomatic.
Thanks folks
Japerton
ps I have "no credit cards" everywhere on my auction.
posted on April 3, 2003 12:06:19 PM new
I absolutely agree with you about insisting on air service. Ground is just too risky - and that includes just about everywhere in the world.
On the "no credit cards" thing ... I would make it more explicit and say "Paypal funded through existing balance or bank-account transfers ONLY!" Because people often just look to see if the Paypal logo is on your auctions and then bid away without paying any attention to your terms, and even if they see "no credit cards" they may not think it applies to Paypal. That's why I've taken all the Paypal logos out of those auctions for which I don't wish to accept credit cards (though every now and then auto-insert kicks in again - arggh, Paypal!) and blocked the automatic Paypal notices.
posted on April 3, 2003 12:23:55 PM new
Bidpay sends you a money order so you have no problems. The bidder can use their credit card to make the purchase. Its fairly low cost to buy a M.O. from them.
Spent some time on their site and read up on it.
posted on April 3, 2003 01:43:53 PM new
Shipping to Germany. I am not sure about from the USA but when I ship to Germany from here, I am not able to purchase insurance. I have friends who have sent items insured to Germany and the German postal authorities just return the parcel undelivered. On the bright side I have always had good buyers from Germany, insurance or not.
Adrian
posted on April 3, 2003 03:37:21 PM new
We ship to Germany in an oversized box. The difference between Airmail and surface is less than $1.00. Surface is risky as there is more time to get lost, Air will arrive in 4 to 7 days. I don't believe insurance is available however from USPS. If you did not state your terms in the auction then just complete the transaction as best you can and rework your auction terms for the next go around.
If you are not willing to ship overseas then you need to state that in the auction or you can get a buyer from anywhere. There are some countries you don't want to ship to.
Lately we are getting a larger audience out of the US and we specify which countries we will and won't ship to from sales on our web site. There is a place to include this in the auction for those specific terms.
All you need to do is except the paypal payment. Ship via USPS airmail and save the receipt as proof that it was shipped. Simple, now you are somewhat protected on a chargeback. It is out of your control once you turn it over to USPS.
Now that we in the US are at war, it might be a good time to add that shipments are at the customers own risk and the seller is not responsible for packages missing or delayed for reasons out of their control including delays by shippers or acts of war.
posted on April 3, 2003 05:38:32 PM newAll you need to do is except the paypal payment. Ship via USPS airmail and save the receipt as proof that it was shipped.Simple, now you are somewhat protected on a chargeback
Somewhat protected?? Far from it. You have no protection period! Best to read up on this on the P.P. site.
Right now the "seller protection" is only good in the u.s. [also good for canadian sellers]
If its a small sale then I take a chance with a P.P. payment. But if its for more than Im willing to risk then its bidpay only for overseas sales. Now you have sellers protection!
Paypal is a good service and I do take a lot of payments that way but just like P.P. I will look after my own azz first and foremost.
posted on April 3, 2003 07:53:12 PM new
I stand corrected on the PP outside USA. But there is very little protection with any credit card sale outside the USA even with a merchant's account.
The safest way to collect payment is a money order even that can be risky if its from Nigeria <G>
posted on April 4, 2003 12:50:26 PM new
Thank you for the responses!
I made the exception and he accepted the method via air, so it's done.
Another question, and I can start another topic, too, if necessary:
How do you factor in costs ahead of time? Like CC's.
Tomwii, you are right, guilty as charged!
I wish I had something as lucrative as monkey porn!
I have just purchased a bunch of items that are new for resale. I am hoping that I can do a 3X mark up, but they are small items. Each should sell for $3 -5 depending on bidding. I plan on experimenting with dutch auctions etc.
(It's a craft item, I know the items well, I am an aficionado, so I know the market well)
Want to cut the credit cards out, mainly because the cost is pretty ugly.
Thoughts welcomed!
Thanks again!
posted on April 4, 2003 01:10:29 PM newWant to cut the credit cards out, mainly because the cost is pretty ugly.
If I was going to go that way but my buyers want to use their CC for payment then you can offer bidpay or payingfast to your buyers. Both sent you a risk free money order.
There is no charge to you, only the buyer.[rates are low]
