posted on September 18, 2000 04:14:34 AM new
In addition, both of those services require that recipients register a credit/debit card or a checking account for deposit of the money. They won't send you a check... so far Paypal is the only one I've seen that gives you the option of receiving a check from them.
I know there are many sellers who don't want to give out their banking information and have been getting checks from Paypal.
posted on September 18, 2000 05:50:20 AM new" wasn't this the way the whole PayPal fiasco started, and aren't a lot of people unhappy about being FORCED TO JOIN PayPal to get their money out."
Short of someone coming to your home and putting a gun to your head I don't see anyone ever being FORCED TO JOIN anything. If you feel that the buyers don't want to march out into the snow to purchase a money order you might be right, if you feel the buyers want the convienence of online paying you might be right. Nobody is forcing you do join any service, ever, that is your choice. Even if you feel that competition is forcing you to join you don't have to. Some buyers prefer snail mail payments.
BUT if you want to offer a online payment plan where the buyer plays a modest fee for the convience then those two services work rather well.
posted on September 18, 2000 06:35:29 AM new
I think that it is very fair to tack on the extra fee in the auction. However be very careful as to how you word this. I work for a major CC service and their can be stiff penaltys by the Fed. Gov. if you charge a fee for this kind of service. Just add it in to the price. After all I don't really think that anyone will mind. You are getting your product early by paying now and you don't have to waste gas, time and money going to get a money order or buying a stamp, mailing ect....
posted on September 18, 2000 06:44:05 AM new"In addition, both of those services require that recipients register a credit/debit card or a checking account for deposit of the money. They won't send you a check"
There are only two 21/20* pay services I know of. While they are very useful in international transactions, for US buyer to US Seller I think they're kind of awkward.
http://www.energyflow.com
accepts just about all major credit cards and checks and will snail mail a money order, maximum value is $100.00 ($3.00 fee)
http://www.bidpay.com
accepts Visa and Master card and will snail mail a money order maximum value is $500.00 ($5.00 fee)
*21/20 is a payment system where a buyer in the 21st century can make electronic payments to a seller in the 20th century.
posted on September 18, 2000 07:11:22 AM new
First of all, if you add the extra fee into your starting price EVERYBODY gets stuck paying, even those that chose not to use PayPal.
Second of all, since mid-summer I've been starting ALL my auctions at $1.00 and putting them in gallery. Already I have $.50 invested on an item that there is no guarantee that it will meet its expected price to break even let alone make a profit. In fact there have been some that fell short of getting my money back. Now I have to add to it another $.25 + 1.9% for Paypal. That sure doesn't leave me much for all the labor involve in getting that item ready for auction.
Granted my hopes and it often comes out that I have made up for the loss on other items.
But somehow it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth to start an auction at $1.00 and have to pay $.75 + up front to just get it on.
I say if they think they can get my item for $1.00 then they can spring for the paypal fee if they want to use it.
Oh, and just for the record MOST all of my paypal users are only using paypal for the small dollar items. Anything over $25.00 they send a check/MO or use my merchant account and phone me their CC number.
I think most of the PayPal money is not generated from CC but passed from user to user. I know I try to keep enough in my PayPal account to take care of my buying needs. Ive yet to use my CC through PayPal!
edited for packer by packer!!
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Having a BAD hair & PayPal Day! ... .
posted on September 19, 2000 06:49:48 AM new
Pickersangel The point being made is that the opening bid doesnt' really have much effect in an auction format. The final price will be determined by how high the final two bidders are willing to go. If my bidding limit for your widget is 10.00 dollars I won't end up bidding $10.75 because you upped the starting bid. The only difference it might make is if you sell most of your items at the opening bid. <p>Perhaps you could increase your s&h by a dollar and then offer a discount for people paying by check or money order in your end of auction emails.<p>For myself I've removed all paypal logos from my auctions and deleted all reference to paypal in my EOA notices. I will upgrade my account and allow only international bidders to pay via paypal after they add that feature. I can simply add the paypal costs into the revised shipping and handling costs.
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