eBay to Intermediate Payments - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 01, 2018, 11:34:49 am
content: Don't know if this is a good thing or not. I guess we'll see. Historically, everything Ebay does seems to be crap.https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/ebay-to-intermediate-payments-on-its-marketplace-platform/?utm_source=301Redirect&utm_medium=301Redirect&utm_campaign=301Redirect

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 01, 2018, 01:42:43 pm
content: Adding more "choice" for customers isn't going to be greeted with cheers of support from a lot of eBay buyers. It's just going to confuse them.EBay already have muddied the waters by introducing the shopping cart. I have a seller friend who gets regular requests for a combined invoice - only to find there is nothing visible for that customer. They have prepared cut-and-paste text helping step them through the process.This is just one example of the hoops and land mines eBay has embraced that Sellers have to learn in order to prevent things from going sour. All this while eBay maintains "all's well with the world".Whether it is ultimately a good or bad move is neither here nor there - and we won't know for sure until it's all settled in. However, the transition is not going to be comfortable - IMHO.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2018, 02:44:18 pm
content: They said nada about a cruicial thing which is pain in the ass with paypal, and that is : the dispute process. Paypal has been nothing but pile of crap with it. How and if disputes will be handled?

author: PartialDischarge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2018, 04:19:51 pm
content: I'm only hoping for some new initiative/company (blockchain based maybe) to put ebay (and their horrendous webpage and 10% for-nothing-fee) out of business

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 01, 2018, 04:35:59 pm
content: ...and still evilbay is making tons of money, no matter what.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2018, 06:32:53 pm
content: Quote from: Jwalling on February 01, 2018, 11:34:49 amYep, it really depends on how it works in practice. The rest is hearsay.Some true competition in the online selling space would be nice.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 07:28:05 am
content: It seems there will be a full escrow service introduced. Sellers won't get their funds until the goods are delivered.For items that are sent cheaply via letter rate, how will they know? Letter articles don't have tracking unless you add Registered Post ... at $4 a pop.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 09:12:36 am
content: This is basically because aliexpress is eating them alive so they’re going for emulation. This is the first step of circling the drain.I hope they die so we can get a non B2C auction site back on the market.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 09:42:10 am
content: Quote from: bd139 on February 02, 2018, 09:12:36 amIt does sound like they are copying the AliExpress payment system. Sellers will not be happy and I certainly do not see it cutting down on admin costs.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 12:16:32 pm
content: Quote from: Brumby on February 02, 2018, 07:28:05 amThey already ask buyers whether goods arrived on time for the feedback ratings, not sure how many bother to fill it in though.If they do move to needing positive confirmation of delivery in order to get paid it will stop me selling anything on eBay - I don't want to be tied to their "approved" couriers and adding tracking will kill profit on smaller items (ulness they come up with some deal with RM).

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 12:18:39 pm
content: Agreed. If it's tied to RM we're fucked because I've had trivial items go missing when tracked. The only way to get any money back is shitpost RM on twitter.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 12:21:20 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on February 02, 2018, 12:18:39 pmActually using the website to print postage I don't think I've had an envelope go missing. RM are changing their pre-pay postage thing though, hope *that* works as well as the old system.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2018, 12:26:54 pm
content: It usually goes wrong at the delivery end. Basically postman plod comes along and delivers it to the wrong address. The person signs for it at the other end with an illegible scribble and gets some free stuff. The seller doesn't give a fuck because it has been signed for but the buyer raises a case anyway. Then the buy is out of luck as paypal/ebay side with the signature because it exists, not because it is correct. Then the seller gets a negative feedback and the buyer approaches RM for a refund.Whole thing is crock already.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 03:47:56 am
content: I totally avoid Ali now, previous orders took 3 months to arrive, luckily they where not expensive, even paid a few $$$ to have accelerated parcels ... got slower shipping timesthey took almost 20 days after the payment before giving me an shipment made warning pfffffffffmy biggest Ebay complaint would be : offer buyer protection up to 2 months after the purchase, from ebay i had lots of 30 to 45 days waiting times ...

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 06:47:45 am
content: Has anyone here ever had trouble with Chinese sellers on eBay? I have bought hundreds of items and never once had a problem. The only problems I’ve had have been with US sellers. Both instances were misrepresented items. I usually try to avoid buying from US sellers for this reason.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 06:57:27 am
content: Quote from: Dubbie on February 03, 2018, 06:47:45 amYes.Several of those are simply fraudulent - but expectedly so - following the old adage "if it looks too good to be true.....". PayPal claim and problem sorted.Some need a nudge - and will either come through or refund to avoid further hassle.In short, while I have been inconvenienced on a few occasions, I've not really lost out financially.

author: ralphrmartin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 10:18:04 pm
content: Generally I've had good results from Chinese sellers, but beware of "specification wars" where different sellers try to promote their item as having a higher spec than other sellers, making unsustainable claims. I've had this with a magnifying glass, and other obvious cases are batteries with ever higher claimed energy capacities, and "versions" of products which are higher than the latest official version. But things like small electronics modules, tools, etc generally do what is claimed.Note that many things are cheaper on AliExpress than eBay, because of their relative costs to sellers.Just be prepared to either wait a long time for delivery, OR pay highly for quick delivery.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 11:18:53 pm
content: I'll go along with that.To be clear - the problems I have had have been a small percentage of all the purchases made. If you are careful and have a realistic expectation, my experience with Chinese purchases (95% of which are sub $20 per item) has, overall, been quite positive. Certainly enough for me to maintain interest in sourcing goods from there - if I can wait that long.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 07:17:28 am
content: QuoteNote Ebay per se, but my experience of Chineses support suggests that if you can't send a video of the problem it tends not to exist.I think this is a language thing: Google Translate doesn't necessarily help understand some foreigners problem, whereas a video should be pretty self-explanatory. However, it does lead to strange things and I once had to send a photo of an LED lamp not lit to show that it was faulty. The photo was accepted and I got a refund...

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 08:20:38 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on February 04, 2018, 07:17:28 am

author: station240
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 09:07:31 am
content: If Ebay really wanted to improve the situation for sellers, they would start by cracking down on the small but annoying numbers of serial fraudster buyers. Claim every single item you buy was damaged, counterfeit, or never arrived, get free items, Ebay do NOTHING to stop that nonsense. What about the moron sellers and buyers that mail bricks instead of phones.Tracking numbers don't show the actual destination address, only the suburb/post code, international shows even less sometimes. So sell 100 items, mail one to each state, give everyone the same set of tracking numbers and claim it's all been delivered.I really suspect this "Intermediate Payments" is more about screwing over the small or personal sellers, with more nonsense and fees to make it harder to sell anything.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 09:24:59 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on February 02, 2018, 07:28:05 amQuite.My limited experience is that about half of the purchasers don't bother to leave feedback. (I've had zero complaints!)What happens when couriers accept parcel but then don't deliver it for some reason or other?I see from the ebay help page thatQuoteMaybe it is simply a way of fleabay etc improving their cashflow by sitting on our money.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 12:06:55 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on February 04, 2018, 09:24:59 amMaybe? There's no "maybe" about it in my mind!!

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 02:07:25 pm
content: When I started selling on eBay, the funds were tied up for 21 days. Because I wasn’t using their aus post satchels, I was out of pocket the postage until the money cleared. Once you get a few sales with no complaints, that disappears which makes it a bit easier.I know eBay and PayPal charge fees on the total amount to stop people charging $10 for an item and $100 for postage, it would be nice if they didn’t charge you final value fees on items that you purchased postage through them for. While it’s not much, every little bit helps.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 03:44:44 am
content: Quote from: PTR_1275 on February 04, 2018, 02:07:25 pmExactly! When buying postage through them, they know how much you paid for it.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 04:06:43 pm
content: Quote from: bitseeker on February 05, 2018, 03:44:44 amWhy would they do that and loose revenue?Everyone is used to the "eBay tax" on postage, grumbles about it but realizes there is little that we can do except not use eBay.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2018, 10:01:50 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on February 03, 2018, 03:47:56 amI'm not sure how the seller took 20 days, usually they have to ship within a week or so or the order is cancelled automatically.The slow shipping issue (after its shipped) is 100% canada post/CBSA issue, and nothing to do with aliexpress or ebay.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 05:37:15 am
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on February 05, 2018, 04:06:43 pmOh, I know. They'll squeeze every last penny they possibly can from anyone they can.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 05:53:32 am
content: ... and then they'll look for ways to squeeze more.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 07:37:09 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on February 02, 2018, 07:28:05 amThat will be the day I stop selling anything on ebay entirely. I've already cut way back since they got so far slanted in favor of the buyers.

author: Decoman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 07:42:55 am
content: In my experience, sales listings contain weird information, like conflicting information, lack of information, and there is apparently a language barrier.Of all the stuff I've gotten off eBay, I think only once or twice did I never get my package (small chap stuff).

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 07:54:27 am
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on February 05, 2018, 04:06:43 pmThey would earn significantly more revenue from me because I'd sell far more stuff on ebay. Due to the absurd system they have now of charging fees on the shipping cost, unless I'm positive I'll make enough to come out ahead I don't even try, I sell elsewhere or give the stuff away instead of risking losing money on the deal. The end result is I probably sell 1/4th as much stuff on ebay as I would otherwise.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 09:34:57 am
content: Quote from: james_s on February 06, 2018, 07:54:27 amA valid point.However I suspect that eBay have hard data to know whether their revenue went up or down when they introduced the fees on the whole transaction including postage - and I'm guessing that it improved revenue overall otherwise they would have revered the policy.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 03:14:19 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on February 02, 2018, 12:21:20 pmThat service is a pile of shite anyway as most post offices these days are franchises and they only get paid anything if you buy from them. Take a parcel in with an Ebay prepaid label on it and they don#t like it and they lob the parcel in the general direction of the mail bag if its small enough to be lobbed. You buy the stamps for that parcel from them and they will get up and walk the parcel to mail bag and gently place it inside.One post office actually told me that I shouldn't be taking prepaid post into them, instead I should be supporting them by paying them for the postage so they can remain open. Just one more example of big corporate greed, we don't have enough post offices open these days.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 03:35:55 pm
content: Quote from: Specmaster on February 06, 2018, 03:14:19 pmYes, our PO counter is the same - to a point I can understand why, but as far as I'm concerned if RM want to offer an online service to buy postage but don't want to pay PO counters to handle it then it is a matter between the two of them; I'm not going to be made to feel guilty about it.I mostly use it (RM online postage) for stuff which can go in the post box, for small parcels which still don't need tracking the local delivery office is not much harder to get to than the post office so I go there. It used to be a sorting office but got downgraded, at the time you could get them to accept tracked stuff - I don't think they do that any more but they're OK with pre-paid, non tracked stuff and I don't get the "postmistress stare".Medium stuff goes via My Hermes as I drive past a drop off point on the school run so it's no hassle to stop by for the 2-3 minutes it takes.Larger/heavier stuff goes UPS - I leave it in the hall and the neighbour unlocks the front door to let the courier in - I just have to make sure they're around. Being retired they seem to spend half their lives on cruise ships.

author: PointyOintment
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 04:01:26 pm
content: Looks like they're planning to end their partnership with PayPal soon? Looks like I might be willing to use eBay soon.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 06:12:46 pm
content: Quote from: PointyOintment on February 06, 2018, 04:01:26 pmWhy, whats up with paypal then, I love it. Never had any trouble with it.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 07:15:18 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on February 06, 2018, 09:34:57 amIt probably did, but only because the previous system was broken too. Previously it was possible to grossly inflate the shipping cost in order to skirt around paying fees. Now that you can buy the postage directly through ebay it's not possible to inflate the shipping, they know exactly how much you paid for it. Shipping purchased through ebay should be exempt from the final value fee, it would create even further incentive to buy postage through ebay.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2018, 08:39:48 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on February 06, 2018, 07:15:18 pmI totally agree, I just don't see it happening.

author: PointyOintment
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2018, 03:02:15 am
content: Quote from: Specmaster on February 06, 2018, 06:12:46 pmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal#Criticism

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 05:19:52 am
content: Quote from: bitseeker on February 05, 2018, 03:44:44 amWhilst they are obviously not averse to making a profit, I think the issue with postage is probably down to simplifying the backend (and/or having shipping as a separate entity). I say this because you get a discount on shipping, so that's kind of negating the tax they add at the end.For instance, today I used Ebay to send a parcel via Collect+ for £6.78, but the exact same service direct from Collect+ would cost £7.29.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 07:36:26 am
content: It's completely ridiculous that you can lose money selling something, the fee should never be more than the profit. I won't sell anything big and heavy anymore, got burned once where it sold cheaply and cost me more in fees than I earned in profit. Never again, since then anything I'm not sure will sell for enough either gets sold locally, donated or thrown away, ebay doesn't make a cent.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 07:41:38 am
content: If it’s less than £20 back on an item then it goes to the charity shop or in the bin here. It’s not worth the hassle. Breaking even isn’t an option either as the only gain is one less thing which you can get by chucking it away.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 08:00:21 am
content: Quote from: james_s on February 09, 2018, 07:36:26 amThat's not eBay's fault.The cost of selling an item is a fundamental component of any selling price. The other cost is, obviously, the acquisition cost. The other side of the equation is the selling price - which is generally targeted to be the maximum that the market will pay for a desired rate of turnover.The difference is the profit - or loss.It doesn't matter whether it's on eBay, a bricks and mortar store or a yard sale where the cost is only time. It's your choice where you sell. It's also your choice whether you try at all.Sometimes it is better to just toss something - even if it is still useful.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 08:00:50 am
content: I don't mind breaking even if the thing goes to someone who can use it rather than throw it away. In some cases it wouldn't bother me to lose a few bucks giving it to someone who needs it, but to lose money because I'm giving it to ebay to cover their absurd fees annoys me.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 08:03:16 am
content: Your annoyance is understood - but eBay will have given you exposure that you would not get without a lot more effort. That's what you are paying for.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2018, 08:30:54 am
content: There are a lot more cost effective places to get rid of some stuff than eBay. The only thing eBay brings is an audience and then that has no determinism. All you get left with sometimes is an obligation to send it.