View Full Version : Don't buyers READ anymore?
OK, so I'm selling some of my games a few at a time on eBay. I dont (& have never) accepted Paypal, just simple cashier chks/money orders, maybe hidden $$$ in the mail if it's not too much. I put a line in ALL my auctions about not taking Paypal, easy to see in ALL CAPS & not hard to understand AT ALL.
Lately, after the item sells I'm contacted by the buyer asking "Do you accept Paypal?" This occurred 3 TIMES in my latest round of auctions. I know it's the easiest way to pay, but if I ACCEPTED PP, wouldnt I obviously say so up front? So now I add this to my auctions:
*NO PAYPAL*NO PAYPAL*NO PAYPAL* I DO NOT ACCEPT PAYPAL- PLEASE DONT EVEN ASK! IF YOU PLAN ON PAYING VIA PAYPAL PLEASE DO NOT BID!!!
Just yesterday I got a payment via personal check. I dont state that I DONT accept them, but I never say I DO accept them. That is, I never include them as a payment method. Maybe it was just an oversight on the buyer's part, although the buyer acknowledged they'd pay via cashier chk/money order. But now I write this:
*NO PAYPAL*NO PAYPAL*NO PAYPAL* I DO NOT ACCEPT PAYPAL NOR PERSONAL CHECKS- PLEASE DONT EVEN ASK! IF YOU PLAN ON PAYING W/ EITHER METHOD PLEASE DO NOT BID!!!
Is it just that buyers are racing through the listing, ignoring the "fine print" (which technically it isnt), or are they just so hopped up on seeing/buying the item they lose control?
Sorry, had to rant...plus I cant sleep. I'm done now.
pookninja
03-10-2007, 08:26 AM
no,it seems they dont read.they just bid,and ask questions later.im thinking alot of bidders cant read,thats why you have to have a picture.kids today,i suppose.
jajaja
03-10-2007, 09:00 AM
I was the one who sent the check! Hehe kidding ;)
Its easy to overlook it, but its just pure lazynes. Like 99% of all people at Ebay.com accepts Paypal so they assume that all accept it. My first negative was recieved due to this. I won an auction and later i saw he didnt accept Paypal. He gave me a negative because i tried to find another way to pay, said i made him nervous O_o Crazy seller haha. I've burned myself a few time after this too, but then i had found other ways to pay, but i learned it the hard way. Now i always check for the Paypal symbol.
Kitsune Sniper
03-10-2007, 09:58 AM
No, people are just total idiots. I keep getting requests to accept money orders. If they keep bugging me I block them.
You'd think they know better...
Jimmy Yakapucci
03-10-2007, 10:18 AM
That is one of the reasons that I don't buy from eBay is that I don't use PayPal. Also, when buying from the buy/sell forum here, the first thing I check is the payment method. If they don't take money order, then I go to the next ad. I may lose out on some stuff, but I don't want to deal with paypal.
JY
mr_nihilism
03-10-2007, 10:23 AM
If people spent more time reading a book instead of playing videogames about shooting doodz and saving teh universe, then perhaps they would be more literate.
I'm just kidding of course. The world is full of stupid and/or lazy people.
Slightly off topic, but sometimes if I see an auction where it doesn't mention shipping to Canada one way or the other, I'll ask the seller nicely first before bidding. That way there is no problem.
ryborg
03-10-2007, 01:37 PM
Welcome to selling on ebay.
________
Uggs (http://uggstoreshop.com/)
Sph1nx
03-11-2007, 08:54 AM
As a general rule, assume anyone buying from you have a comprehension and attitude on par with a five year old. Stick to that rule and you'll find transactions go much smoother.
Griking
03-11-2007, 12:33 PM
Doesn't eBay ask if you want to create a PayPal account right after you create your eBay account?
I think that new eBayers tend to think that PayPal is an automatic for all auctions since eBay and PayPal are tied so tightly together at the hip. This is partially eBay's fault IMO.
Something that I think would resolve some of these problems would be another step in the bidding process. When you place a bid on an item there would be another screen that would confirm all relevant payment information; (shipping amount, payment methods accepted, insurance fee, etc..) and the buyer would need to check a box "sign" that they agree to these terms. Not only would it put all shipping and payment info right in the buyer's face but it would also be just one more step to frustrate snipers LOL
jajaja
03-12-2007, 12:24 PM
You can also write "NO PAYPAL!" under item location, then its easier to see. As said, many are just damn lazy to read the whole description, they dont have to be idiots :P
Cauterize
03-12-2007, 01:16 PM
Welcome to selling on ebay.
My thoughts exactly!!!
To be fair though, you might want to look into a Paypal account.
From my observations, auctions not offering Paypal seem to finish a little lower than the ones with Paypal.
I guess its personal preference!
handofg0d
03-12-2007, 02:00 PM
My thoughts exactly!!!
To be fair though, you might want to look into a Paypal account.
From my observations, auctions not offering Paypal seem to finish a little lower than the ones with Paypal.
I guess its personal preference!
But the real question is, is that difference in price enough to offset the associated paypal fees? Typically, I don't think so. I accept paypal personally because it's just easier for me (I don't have any banks close to my home to go cashing in checks) but I hate all the micro-fee's that come with selling on ebay (listing, closing, paypal, and optional features like gallery, etc.) I know, I know... welcome to selling on eBay :)
Starwander
03-12-2007, 02:24 PM
I completely agree buyers on Ebay have become sloth like. They bid on items without reading the item descriptions at all. I think they see the title and say, “Oh, I want that!” and they assume that the item will be exactly what they wanted without even reading the description. One time on Ebay right after the Xbox 360 was released I saw an auction going for $300 some dollars for an Xbox 360 cardboard box! I was completely blown away by this level of stupidity. The seller had clearly written, “This auction is for the Xbox 360 cardboard box, no other items are included.” Though people where having a bidding war over it! People on Ebay never cease to amaze me.
Cauterize wrote: "To be fair though, you might want to look into a Paypal account.
From my observations, auctions not offering Paypal seem to finish a little lower than the ones with Paypal."
Seems to be true, I just figure if the buyer wants my item that bad, they'll take the "extra trouble" for a money order. I dont overcharge on S/H either, so it's not like I get that on top of what a buyer has to pay for a MO fee ($1 or so?) + a .39 stamp.
rik1138
03-12-2007, 07:27 PM
I've actually done this many times myself as a buyer... I will frequently not bid on an item if they don't accept PayPal unless it's something really special. I'm just lazy, I prefer a quick transaction with the computer than going to the PO to get money orders, etc...
But I have, on many occasions, started the 'pay the seller' process only to find at that time that they don't accept PayPal... It's no one's fault but my own, and I do send the money order, but I annoy myself when I just see an Ebay title, and a pic I like and then automatically bid without looking at the fine print...
I like that Ebay allows you to search for items that accept PayPal only... I've started using this on some of 'common item' searches. Another feature I wish Ebay would ad is a way to set up my account so ANYONE that charges more than X dollars in shipping will be flagged differently. That way I don't accidently bid on a 2600 cartridge that the seller states $30 shipping on by accident... :)
When you look at the number of people using the shipping charge scam, you begin to realize just how many people don't bother to read descriptions...
wrldstrman
03-13-2007, 02:08 AM
People dont read I agree and it doesnt matter how many times you write something in the description some tools still manage to screw things up.
lurpak
03-15-2007, 07:19 AM
To be fair....your not making it easy to buy from you.
no paypal
no personal checks
your not insured to send cash in post (even if you do accept it, if it goes missing are you going to send the person...WHO HAS PAID..the item for free ?? no).
money orders are associated with ebay scams (so is asking for cash)..
if I saw an auction like that I would stay WELLLLLL CLEAR !!!
I rekon your loosing a hell of a lot in money in bids by not accepting the prefered payment methods.
Many 'No Paypal' auctions immediately turn me away, and I don't even put in a bid.
Quite a lot of German ebayers (even shops) don't do PP, it's annoying.
lurpak wrote: "if I saw an auction like that I would stay WELLLLLL CLEAR !!!"
Well you dont have to worry, as I dont do international orders either! >:P
In my several recent auctions, only one item didnt sell IIRC, & I only relisted 2 others. As I said, if they want the item bad enough, they'll pay how I ask.
Anyhoo, 100% positive FB (& counting) from people who didnt stay "WELLLLLL CLEAR" speaks for itself.
bangtango
03-22-2007, 01:26 AM
I don't blame him for being reluctant to start accepting Paypal payments. It isn't even the fees. Wait until a buyer tries paying with a credit card and he has to change the classification on his Paypal account to that of a "Business Account" just to finish the transaction. Or how about E-Checks that come in, which take several days to clear (if they actually do), meanwhile you have buyers who assume the second they send those E-Checks over, the second their item ships. So you have pissed off buyers who can't comprehend why you "wait 3-4 days to ship" since they believe you are paid as soon as they click to send it.