Posted on 06/20/2004 1:01:39 PM PDT by LuLuLuLu
Most of this is untrue. Pay is NOT a bank, nor is it as safe as a bank, nor is it subject to banking regulations. PayPal charges the same seller fees regardles of payment type on business accounts. Personal accounts can receive payments for free but they are limited on how much can be recieved and cannot receive CC payments.
If an occasional seller, using a personal account is a good choice as it keeps your costs down and avoids accepting CC payments which is the largest source of chargebacks.
However, you are likely to run into buyers who want to pay via PayPal with a CC and will want you to accept the payment. Once you do, you will be upgraded to the business account and pay fees forever. I don't think you can downgrade. So be prepared to deal with that eventuality. If you aren't planning to be a real business, just a hobby seller, then just say no and develope a template email explaining your decision (cause you will use it a lot). This issue has caused a lot of small part timers much negative FB grief.
I had no idea that was the case. I have used eBay for 6 years, but only started selling recently. I offer PayPal and PayPal via credit card payment to pay for the items I sell. Are you saying that the first time I accept a credit card payment via PayPal I will be upgraded to a "business" account automatically?
The advice you are getting is excellent. I have been selling on Ebay for over 6 years. I have sold everything from cars to vintage underwear. It has been no trouble maintaining 100% positive feedback, just be honest and treat the buyers like you want to be treated. Be very mindful of TAXES both Federal and State. The IRS can audit your Ebay activity so ask your local CPA. Packaging is ultra important. My Ebay user name is dallasctyar, do a seller search and read some of the feedback on packaging. I have had much much fun and met some really nice people. Jump in and get your feet wet. Good Luck
You will have to double check their FAQs, but this caused quite a stink on the ebay forums a few months back and I believe this is the case.
BTW, reading the ebay forums is very educational, but never post to them with your selling i.d. because the fruitloops of the world may mess with your auctions.
I have a selling i.d. and a posting/buying i.d. This is the best way to safeguard your personal identity and your business as an ebay user.
"Can't see a mark on it;" that's pretty slick.
My wife works with photographers, and they keep up with the market for their gadgets. Most seem to agree that Ebay is not a great place to buy gear.
It's very important to list in the right category. If I'm looking for something, I search from the front page and follow the links to the best matching categories. The best deals come with items improperly labeled or inadequately described, good for buyers = bad for sellers.
My five cents: Clear photos are indispensable, so take special care with backgrounds and views. If your selling technical equipment, post schematics and specs, or provide a direct link to that info. Also, be absolutely honest & courteous. Hand out positive ratings whenever you can. Courtesy is reciprocated. Package items carefully and ship promptly. Don't gouge with handling fees.
Getting Started - Personal Accounts
Why did my seller deny my payment?
If your seller has a Personal account and you have sent a credit card payment, it may be denied by the seller. Receiving credit card payments is reserved for Premier and Business accounts. Also, your seller may have reached his Personal account receiving limit. Contact your seller for further instructions
It's against e-Bay policy to explicitly charge extra to cover PayPal fees. So the seller either has to increase his handling fee for everyone from the outset, or try to up the handling fee after the item has sold... which will rightly annoy most customers.
If you really want to bid on that particular item, you could always e-mail the seller in advance and ask if he'll accept PayPal if you're willing to pay a higher handling fee.
Yep. Honesty is best. I have one auction running right now that in the description is "Looks like the dog ate it" .... It has 3 bids. LOL!
How many times have you had to leave negative feedback? I also have 100% positive, but really detest having to leave negative feedback for someone else. Because sooner or later I know I'm going to get a retaliatory negative.
It's always been my policy ( as a seller...) to give feedback when I rec'd payment, not wait for the buyer to give me feedback. It seems "blackmail'ish" in a way....But I've had some unrealistic/ignorant buyers too ( yes, usually newbies..).
Concerning PayPal....I don't use them...as for some reason my bank's PC can't talk to PayPal's PC. I do use Yahoo's PayDirect....and have been pleased with it.
FRegards,
I used to leave feedback right away. Sadly, no longer. The customer is less likely to solve a problem if you have already left feedback for what I think is a good transaction. Later, they can just neg. I would rather know that the customer is happy in the form of a positive than find out after the fact that I didn't have a chance to fix a problem when they leave a neg.
Does that make sense? Fortunately, I have no negs yet.
Bump for reference
Just email my wife and say it's for sale on ebay she'll buy it.
OK only kidding well sort of....any way we do both buy and sell on ebay and never had a problem with ebay or paypal.
the only thing I hate is the reserve price thing ..look if you want to sell something and get no less than a certain price then start your bid with that price.....
I won lots of stuff on ebay only to not have meet the reserve price therefor I won nothing
did you post a similar thread on DU moments ago?
Nope.
Remind me to politely decline the next time you invite me over for a glass of milk.
save
Cookbooks are good. Especially ones that are out of print.
You might want to sell glass to a local antiques dealer, after you have already determined a fair value. Shipping glass is costly, and if it breaks, you lose twice - the item is gone, and then you have to return the money. Even with insurance, there are issues.
I never heard that Ebay recommended that.
But I have done both. I leave their feedback the minute I receive payment. Then, I would get snarky feedbacks in return, and it would really hurt me.
So, I would wait until the buyer left me feedback, then I would return it for them. But now, I am back to leaving feedback the minute I receive payment. But I have so many that receive an item, they have their feedback, but I never hear from them again. And I hate emailing them "begging" for a feedback. I just say "Oh well.............."
PayPal has now imposed a "limit" on future purchases unless I give them a bank account number in order be a "Verified" member.
I'm a buyer, not a seller. I have a credit card number on file and I believe that my bank accounts are none of PayPal's business anymore than they are the business of those Nigerians who keep e-mailing us.
Why does PayPal want bank account numbers from buyers when they already have a credit card number?
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