Yet another Ebay thread

[AaronB]

I already know where you guys stand on this subject. I have seen the flame threads when a seller came here to say that they were annoyed because a buyer wouldn't pay them their fee for accepting Paypal.

Well, here is what I just received from a seller regarding an auction that I won:

Thank you for the fast PAYMENT, but i have not send you the invoice yet!

IF you choose to pay with PAYPAL

please look at the auction again for this statement

"Paypal =è Paypal will charge a small amount of fee to use their system; I don?t want to responsible for this fee, if you want to use Paypal, please aware of this fee; otherwise, I am not taking paypal."


So if you want to pay me by PAYPAL you owe me another 3.1% of the total
$252.5 x 3.1% = $7.82 more

So I ask from you, how exactly should I word my response?

BTW, seller has a feedback score of 214/98.6% and has been a member since March/02. I am suprised that they think they can get away with this.

EDIT: Link to auction

 

[imported_LoKe]

I honestly don't see a problem. If he doesn't want to use paypal, he shouldn't have to.

 

[KK]

I think if he stated that in his auction then you ought to pay it.

 

[Fenixgoon]

IIRC, that's illegal according to ebay/paypal rules or something like that

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Hmmm, first reaction would be to say "tough luck, as per the paypal terms of service you can't add a surcharge". If you -do- do this, however, you'll probably have to deal with trying to get a negative feedback removed. Maybe hit up the ebay community boards for the best advice.

I'd personally try and lay things out as clearly as possible. If paypal was listed as an acceptable payment option, no little "note" that he leaves in the item description is going to supercede the Paypal terms of service. Now if he doesn't want to accept Paypal at all, that's fine, but he can't list it as an option.

 

[SuperSix]

Is it IN the auction text? Link?

If it is, you should pay the additional fee, and you agreed to the auction terms and placed a bid.

If it IS in there, take it as a lesson learned, one that has cost others MUCH more.

 

[KarenMarie]

your choice. pay the fee or find another way to pay the seller.

 

[AaronB]

It is in the auction but Paypal doesn't allow this. 6 one way half-a-dozen the other.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
IIRC, that's illegal according to ebay/paypal rules or something like that

Yup, make sure that he ends up with a negative feedback, and that you end up with zero feedback. Ebay wont allow him to post hate feedback if he broke the rules.

 

[AaronB]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
IIRC, that's illegal according to ebay/paypal rules or something like that

Yup, make sure that he ends up with a negative feedback, and that you end up with zero feedback. Ebay wont allow him to post hate feedback if he broke the rules.

Someone who understands what I am talking about.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Originally posted by: AaronB
It is in the auction but Paypal doesn't allow this. 6 one way half-a-dozen the other.

While the item descriptions are basically binding, this only holds true if they don't break any rules.

 

[KK]

"otherwise, I am not taking paypal."

He's not taking paypal, whats so hard to understand about this?

 

[AaronB]

My tentative reply:
Regardless of what your auction states, Ebay/Paypal does not allow an additional fee to be assesed in the use of Paypal for payment. You can either ship the item that I won and paid for or I will post negative feedback and alert Ebay/Paypal about your auction(s) that are in violation of their rules.

This will be my only communication on this subject.

 

[envy me]

It is a legal transaction. He can charge whatever he likes for his item, including any handling fees (which could be considered as this paypal fee). If you do not like this, if you are uncomfortable with this, then by all means, don't bid on his items. Simple as that.

Wow... people should stop complaining.. If they don't like something, ignore it and move on and buy something more expensive without those paypal fees, simple as that.

 

[SuperSix]

Originally posted by: AaronB
My tentative reply:
Regardless of what your auction states, Ebay/Paypal does not allow an additional fee to be assesed in the use of Paypal for payment. You can either ship the item that I won and paid for or I will post negative feedback and alert Ebay/Paypal about your auction(s) that are in violation of their rules.

This will be my only communication on this subject.

Nice.

Please don't bid on any of my auctions.

kthxbye

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Originally posted by: envy me

It is a legal transaction. He can charge whatever he likes for his item, including any handling fees (which could be considered as this paypal fee). If you do not like this, if you are uncomfortable with this, then by all means, don't bid on his items. Simple as that.

Wow... people should stop complaining.. If they don't like something, ignore it and move on and buy something more expensive without those paypal fees, simple as that.

It's not a legal transaction. And he can't charge whatever he wants, he can charge a reasonable handling fee. Granted, this can be very subjective, but the fact remains that he can't do whatever he wants. If the auction says he will accept paypal, he will accept paypal.

If he had termed the additional fee as simply handling, that might be fine, but he is adding a fee to accept paypal, which is clearly against Paypal TOS. He "could" offer a discount for alternate payment, but he cannot add a surcharge to cover the fee he is assessed for accepting paypal.

Any chance you could PM me a link to the auction?

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: envy me

It is a legal transaction. He can charge whatever he likes for his item, including any handling fees (which could be considered as this paypal fee). If you do not like this, if you are uncomfortable with this, then by all means, don't bid on his items. Simple as that.

Wow... people should stop complaining.. If they don't like something, ignore it and move on and buy something more expensive without those paypal fees, simple as that.

WRONG!

 

[cirthix]

postal money order FTW

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Originally posted by: AaronB
My tentative reply:
Regardless of what your auction states, Ebay/Paypal does not allow an additional fee to be assesed in the use of Paypal for payment. You can either ship the item that I won and paid for or I will post negative feedback and alert Ebay/Paypal about your auction(s) that are in violation of their rules.

This will be my only communication on this subject.

I would probably rethink this one a bit, as it gets a little overbearing and might be considered by some as feedback extortion.

 

[envy me]

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer

Originally posted by: envy me

It is a legal transaction. He can charge whatever he likes for his item, including any handling fees (which could be considered as this paypal fee). If you do not like this, if you are uncomfortable with this, then by all means, don't bid on his items. Simple as that.

Wow... people should stop complaining.. If they don't like something, ignore it and move on and buy something more expensive without those paypal fees, simple as that.

It's not a legal transaction. And he can't charge whatever he wants, he can charge a reasonable handling fee. Granted, this can be very subjective, but the fact remains that he can't do whatever he wants. If the auction says he will accept paypal, he will accept paypal.

If he had termed the additional fee as simply handling, that might be fine, but he is adding a fee to accept paypal, which is clearly against Paypal TOS. He "could" offer a discount for alternate payment, but he cannot add a surcharge on a paypal payment.

If you take a step back and look at the situation it is simple.

The seller is losing money by using paypal. Whether it be 3% 5% or 10%. If wishes to incorporate that % back into the sale, he is entitled to. If ebay or paypal are allowed to charge a % for someone else's items, then by all means the seller can charge WHATEVER he wants for HIS item.

I don't see the problem with this. If people like yourself don't agree, or don't like this, then why are you wasting your own time, and other people's time in bidding or buying items like this?

People can sell their wares for as much or as little as they like. If you don't like it, BUY IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: AaronB
My tentative reply:
Regardless of what your auction states, Ebay/Paypal does not allow an additional fee to be assesed in the use of Paypal for payment. You can either ship the item that I won and paid for or I will post negative feedback and alert Ebay/Paypal about your auction(s) that are in violation of their rules.

This will be my only communication on this subject.

I don't think you need to say much more than this. Perfectly written. You can't charge extra for paypal. And don't post BS about reasonable handling fees, he explicitely says the extra fees are to pay for paypal.

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Originally posted by: envy me

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer

Originally posted by: envy me

It is a legal transaction. He can charge whatever he likes for his item, including any handling fees (which could be considered as this paypal fee). If you do not like this, if you are uncomfortable with this, then by all means, don't bid on his items. Simple as that.

Wow... people should stop complaining.. If they don't like something, ignore it and move on and buy something more expensive without those paypal fees, simple as that.

It's not a legal transaction. And he can't charge whatever he wants, he can charge a reasonable handling fee. Granted, this can be very subjective, but the fact remains that he can't do whatever he wants. If the auction says he will accept paypal, he will accept paypal.

If he had termed the additional fee as simply handling, that might be fine, but he is adding a fee to accept paypal, which is clearly against Paypal TOS. He "could" offer a discount for alternate payment, but he cannot add a surcharge on a paypal payment.

If you take a step back and look at the situation it is simple.

The seller is losing money by using paypal. Whether it be 3% 5% or 10%. If wishes to incorporate that % back into the sale, he is entitled to. If ebay or paypal are allowed to charge a % for someone else's items, then by all means the seller can charge WHATEVER he wants for HIS item.

I don't see the problem with this. If people like yourself don't agree, or don't like this, then why are you wasting your own time, and other people's time in bidding or buying items like this?

People can sell their wares for as much or as little as they like. If you don't like it, BUY IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!

It can be all in the wording. You're right, to a point. But what you're failing to catch is how this particular auction appears to be in violation of Terms of Service that the seller has agreed to. In this case, if the auction was listed as Paypal accepted, paypal is going to be accepted. No disclaimer in an item description is gonna hold up. He either agrees to Paypal's terms or he doesn't.

On one hand, you've got the seller. In return for the convenience and ease of accepting paypal, he pays a very nominal fee. I completely understand his reasoning on the matter, but the simple fact is that he is in the wrong.

 

[envy me]

Originally posted by: Lucky

Originally posted by: AaronB
My tentative reply:
Regardless of what your auction states, Ebay/Paypal does not allow an additional fee to be assesed in the use of Paypal for payment. You can either ship the item that I won and paid for or I will post negative feedback and alert Ebay/Paypal about your auction(s) that are in violation of their rules.

This will be my only communication on this subject.

I don't think you need to say much more than this. Perfectly written. You can't charge extra for paypal. And don't post BS about reasonable handling fees, he explicitely says the extra fees are to pay for paypal.

Ok so... what is the paypal fee 3%?? 4%?? whatever it is. If I were to sell an item and charge a 3% or 4% handling fee (NOT a paypal fee just handling) would that make you happier?

 

[Lucky]

I think your sales would probably suffer, but I don't see a problem with that.

 

[envy me]

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer

Originally posted by: envy me

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer

Originally posted by: envy me

It is a legal transaction. He can charge whatever he likes for his item, including any handling fees (which could be considered as this paypal fee). If you do not like this, if you are uncomfortable with this, then by all means, don't bid on his items. Simple as that.

Wow... people should stop complaining.. If they don't like something, ignore it and move on and buy something more expensive without those paypal fees, simple as that.

It's not a legal transaction. And he can't charge whatever he wants, he can charge a reasonable handling fee. Granted, this can be very subjective, but the fact remains that he can't do whatever he wants. If the auction says he will accept paypal, he will accept paypal.

If he had termed the additional fee as simply handling, that might be fine, but he is adding a fee to accept paypal, which is clearly against Paypal TOS. He "could" offer a discount for alternate payment, but he cannot add a surcharge on a paypal payment.

If you take a step back and look at the situation it is simple.

The seller is losing money by using paypal. Whether it be 3% 5% or 10%. If wishes to incorporate that % back into the sale, he is entitled to. If ebay or paypal are allowed to charge a % for someone else's items, then by all means the seller can charge WHATEVER he wants for HIS item.

I don't see the problem with this. If people like yourself don't agree, or don't like this, then why are you wasting your own time, and other people's time in bidding or buying items like this?

People can sell their wares for as much or as little as they like. If you don't like it, BUY IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!

It can be all in the wording. You're right, to a point. But what you're failing to catch is how this particular auction appears to be in violation of Terms of Service that the seller has agreed to. In this case, if the auction was listed as Paypal accepted, paypal is going to be accepted. No disclaimer in an item description is gonna hold up. He either agrees to Paypal's terms or he doesn't.

On one hand, you've got the seller. In return for the convenience and ease of accepting paypal, he pays a very nominal fee. I completely understand his reasoning on the matter, but the simple fact is that he is in the wrong.

Then by letting him charge a 10% handling fee and have it posted as a handling fee instead of a paypal fee that would be acceptable?