posted on February 15, 2007 12:05:14 AM new
My customers try to complete their checkout and too often they cannot complete their address entry for automatic shipping calculations. They get this error:
Calculated shipping API error, please try again later
I've sometimes been able to manually complete my customer's checkouts by repairing simple mistakes like an incorrectly placed comma or space after the zip code.
The problem is that the checkout is supposed to be a time saver and convenient. My customers are irked and payments for my auctions are often delayed due to this. Am I the only one with this problem?
Stefany
Stefany
Visit My Store: J J Smith - http://shop.vendio.com/paintings/
Join My Mailing List here: http://www.vendio.com/ml.html?op=1&u=paintings
posted on February 15, 2007 04:15:58 AM new
The problem is that the checkout is supposed to be a time saver and convenient for you not your buyers. Buyers hate any checkout and some including me do not buy from sellers that use anything other than eBay checkout.
posted on February 15, 2007 06:08:14 AM new
I agree, I send invoices to my buyers. I do not require them to fill out forms. If a seller requires a checkout, I do not buy from them. Why should I do their work!!
posted on February 15, 2007 08:32:45 AM new
paintings: As you can see, sentiment against third-party checkouts runs so high that some people will hijack your thread just to vent.
You need to contact Vendio Support for help with this. I don't run into this problem because I use eBay's Checkout system.
It amazes me how some usually-smart merchants, people who sell a lot more than you probably do, completely miss the boat when it comes to receiving payment. There's one megaseller -- Gotham City Online -- that won't even LET you pay for your auction win right away. You have to wait for their system to process the sale internally. THEN you can go through their yucky third-party checkout. This is just so wrong. Imagine going to Bloomingdales, buying a sweater and being told, "Sorry, you can't pay for it now. Come back in an hour."
posted on February 15, 2007 02:10:23 PM new
The reason sellers use the third party checkouts is not necessarily to make order processing easier but to upsell clients other items in their non-ebay stores (Vendio, Marketworks, Channel Advisor, website etc.) Some sellers have even figured out ways to use Google Checkout with their checkout and are saving big $$ in PayPal fees - it's tempting...
-------------------------------------
posted on February 15, 2007 02:52:21 PM new
I don't want to say "duh" but of course that's why people use third party checkouts: upsells, getting permission to put the customer on a mailing list, compiling a database of customer info, a whole raft of things that the seller is likely to want a whole lot more than the customer does.
At some level customers realize this, which in my book makes them smarter than the sellers who use those checkouts.
Let me see, I just sold you something so instead of THANKING you I make you do a bunch of work and oh yeah as a result of all that inputting I'm going to try to sell you something else that you probably DON'T EVEN WANT. Brilliant, really brilliant.
If you have to save on PayPal fees so badly that you're anxious to annoy your customers, better rethink your business plan.
posted on February 15, 2007 05:10:27 PM new
I use ebay checkout. Its easy for me.. easy for my clients... and fast. I get my money for the most part right after auctions end. My theory... until futher notice ... if it ain't broke don't fix it!
PS I used to use the vendio checkout... I had more people write and say how do I checkout? and blah blah blah. it took a few weeks of listening to that before I said
I GIVE Ebay checkout it is.
posted on February 16, 2007 06:51:01 AM new
I used to send out individual invoices on each sale, but I don't anymore. When I take advantage of a cheap listing day, I upload approximately 1200 - 1500 items. There is no way, I could send out individual notices, before the anxious buyers are emailing me and asking payments details. The ebay invoice and checkout (while not personal)saves so much time. I do send out an email when I mail out the package saying that feedback was left and the item is on the way. That is my chance, (also on my enclosed invoice) to let them know of other venues, that I sell on.
posted on February 16, 2007 10:47:46 AM new I think I have had 1 email from a seller in the last 50 wins.
No wonder buyers are leaving ebay in droves. If sellers are not contacting buyers, the trust level will go out the window and will be the death of eBay. Not to defend eBay. They brought this upon themselves.
And as far as building a customer base, that's not the way to do it.
posted on February 19, 2007 12:52:12 PM new
I recently stopped using Vendio checkout because of general buyer aversion to such things. I now send an ebay invoice but still use Vendio for the other steps like shipping notification and FB because those are still time savers.
posted on February 19, 2007 01:52:36 PM new
Same here Pelorus - though I never did use Vendio checkout. It's too bad that Vendio's checkout couldn't be totally invisible when the PayPal option is selected. I have the PP payment feed turned on but Vendio doesn't pick up payments for multiple items. I have to download my PayPal payments and manually combine and update payment on the multi orders - a huge time waster!
-------------------------------------
posted on February 19, 2007 09:09:36 PM new
Vendio is currently hosting thousands of my auction images for which I pay a pittance. In addition, if I sell a painting by an artist whose work I sold on eBay two years ago, I can pull that auction out of my vendio archives. One is lucky to find their eBay auctions 30 days after an auction. In addition, I can schedule winning bidder notifications, thank you notes, payment reminders, automatic feedback. Ebay's checkout doesn't even compare with these features. These time savers not only save me time, but they save my customer time as well.
It is true that I have another venue or two available, but this is not why I offer vendio checkout. Big deal, now I get to put a link to my other venues in my email. This has no effect on my customers at all. If they choose to click on the link, it is their choice and a few people exercise it once in a blue moon - and I'm happy with that.
I have been using vendio for 8 years. 5 years before eBay ever offered a checkout. Why should I change now?
I have been reluctant to switch checkout to eBay because then I will then have two checkout systems to maintain instead of one. I want my customers to complete their checkout because I want their accurate shipping details and phone number, something that is not always maintained on eBay. Why would anyone think this is a seller's responsibility?
If a buyer is reluctant to provide up to date information, I am cautious to sell to them. After all, we are just one or two people on the other end of the telephone wire, with kids, bills, illnesses, etc., not some big company with lots of employees, plenty of benefits, and a giant slush fund.
Ebay purchased Paypal a couple years ago. It is in their best interest as a monopoly to control information and make it difficult for anyone that they believe may cut into their profit/market. Old timers who have been using eBay for 6 years or more will know what I am talking about.
Ebay has changed a lot since I began.
Stefany
Visit My Store: J J Smith - http://shop.vendio.com/paintings/
Join My Mailing List here: http://www.vendio.com/ml.html?op=1&u=paintings
