The Oz Round Table boards > The Round Table

I'd like to do some selling but I'm scared of Paypal's 'discretion'

(1/4) > >>

frangi:
Hi, thought I should open a new thread for my second query, which is about Paypal

I'd like to sell some items. They're taking up valuable space. 

Most (but not all) are pick-up sized items.  We've sold via pick-up before without problems.
However, the last time we sold anything, we were able to stipulate that payment should be
via Direct Deposit or Cash on collection.  If we sell now though, we'd be required to accept
Paypal if that's how the buyer wished to pay.

I've read about buyers lodging false charge-back claims with Paypal after they've picked up the item.
We're not prepared to be scammed that way, which is why we haven't listed items for sale.

Advice on Ebay advises we should make a note of the buyer's licence plate number and even run off
a copy of the buyer's actual licence or other recent document containing the buyer's address, plus
their 'phone number/s, etc.  Ebay advice also advises to obtain the buyer's signature on a dated
invoice. 

But to what avail ?  If the buyer lodges a false claim-back though Paypal and is successful, is ebay
suggesting we should physically challenge the buyer at their address ?  That's not the kind of thing we do. 
Anyway, it could be very dangerous to attend a buyer's physical address -- they might beat us up ! 
And they'd know where we live and could retaliate violently.  What if we weren't home and they harmed
members of our family, or even our home itself ?  In an extreme instance, couldn't such a scenario include
serious bodily harm or even murder ?

I've sought reassurance in Paypal's fine print, but the word 'discretion' disconcerts me a great deal.

It appears everything is at the mercy of Paypal's 'discretion'.  For example, Paypal may or may not overturn
 a false claim-back .. at its discretion.  And if I sell a postable item and the buyer falsely claims they've not
received it -- again, Paypal might or might not withdraw the payment from my account and return it to the buyer
 (or even freeze my account)  at its discretion.

Nowhere within Paypal's fine print, am I able to find cast-iron assurance that my interests (and reputation) as a
seller will be safeguarded by Paypal.  It seems to me that the Paypal 'guarantee' is open to interpretation .. at Paypal's
'discretion'. 

I don't feel safe using Paypal.  Is there anyone here who can persuade me it's safe to use Paypal ?

*CountessA*:
This is one of the major drawbacks for PayPal!

You're obliged to offer PayPal, of course - and you cannot say "PayPal not accepted" for a pickup item. And you're absolutely correct - this leaves you completely vulnerable if the buyer decides to defraud you. It's even possible that the buyer picks up the item, is happy, then two weeks later damages the item, tries to get a refund from the seller who refuses (rightly so), and then thinks angrily, "Well, I can claim that I never received the item, and I WILL get my refund". That scenario is a realistic possibility.

You've got a couple of choices.

1. Have you thought about listing on Trading Post? The site is http://www.tradingpost.com.au. You're not forced to offer PayPal there. It's also free to list at this stage, so unless you actually sell the item, there is no cost involved.

2. You might try listing on Oztion. I don't know whether the market's big enough, but I believe that too is free to list, and again - no forced PayPal there.

3. If you really need to list on eBay to reach the market, that puts you in a very nasty cleft stick. You could try the following: It's in the way you word it, I think.

Rather than say "Pickup is not available for PayPal", just say: "Postage by trackable courier MANDATORY for PayPal. Buyer must choose courier postage option at checkout if paying by PayPal."

Shaneoz has confirmed that the seller can state that registered post is mandatory for buyers using PayPal, and the trackable courier issue is simply the same issue with a slightly different face (the pickup face).

Good luck, Frangi - the whole "pickup" scenario has become a bit of a nightmare with the enforced PayPal option on eBay.

frangi:
I'm very grateful for your response and advice, Countessa, thank you  :)

For a moment there, I was terrified the moment you mentioned the alternative venues such as Oztion
and Trading Post.  I cringed in anticipation of harsh warnings and abuse from ebay.

Then I remembered this is a free and open forum where such matters may be discussed honestly. 
What a relief and pleasure it is to be able to do so.

I'm going to investigate the alternative auction venues ( Oztion and Trading Post ) and to consider your
suggestions, thank you again.

Wondering also if there exist other venues so far not mentioned and if it would be of benefit to Oz Round Table
members and browsers of this site if a discussion thread were dedicated to the various alternative venues, pros
and cons, etc. ?

Thank you again  :)

*CountessA*:
A discussion about various online auction and selling alternative venues would be very welcome. eBay has cornered the marketplace, of course, but some of its policies may actually be offsetting the previous potential marketplace (number of potential buyers) which was the main reason for listing on eBay.

brumbymg:
Frangi - this is one of the things I like about this place...


OZtion,
                Trading Post,
                                          Grays Online,
                   Etsy,
Amazon

... and not a slap to fear!! (Takes a bit of getting used to I must admit)

oh yes ... and eBay, of course.

*ducks for cover*

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page