I’m putting a bunch of stuff up on ebay today (much of it whistle related) and I got curious about a couple of things:
How many of you have bought or sold using Ebay’s credit card and E-check payment system, as opposed to Paypal? I believe I’m signed up with Billpoint to use and accept payments this way but I’m wondering if that would actually be any benefit to buyers - seems like everyone is still using Paypal.
I’m also wondering if any sellers have feeback regarding their experiences accepting payments through billpoint/Ebay?
This question is primarily for buyers: Do you ever use the “Buy It Now” option when it’s available on auctions? I just got to the point where I have enough feedback to offer this option, and I’m wondering if people find it useful when shopping, or not?
Any feedback is appreciated.
Loren
P.S. I’ve already got some non-whistle stuff up on ebay, and one whistle related item, which you can view here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=900287853 More to come later today. The majority of the items will be on the very short 3 day auction.
I have sold some stuff but I mostly buy, unfortunately.
I have never used ebay’s systems, only paypal. I have also bought from several people who specifically request buyers to NOT use ebay’s checkout and the like. My impressions is that Ebay takes an extra cut or something.
If you’re already signed up, I would offer both billpoint and paypal as options.
I do use the Buy it Now option. A nice thing that ebay just implemented recently (after talking about it for a year or so) is that the buy it now price shows up on the search results page, when applicable.
Hi Loren,
I can´t tell you anything about the payment as I´m living in Germany where neither paypal nor billpoint are wellknown.
But I do use the buy it now option if I am really dying to buy the thing, most of these are getting more expensive when you do it the regular way and you can´t be sure to get it at all.
All the best, Dagmar
I buy way too much on ebay and don’t use any of the payment or checkout systems offered. I prefer to have some direct email contact with the seller and have had real good luck using that method.
As far as the buy-it-now option, I like it a lot. I’m not above getting up in the middle of the night to place that last minute bid on something, but if there’s an alternative, I’ll probably take it. I know other buyers who use buy-it-now almost exclusively.
Hi Loren,
I have used paypal a couple of times with US ebay and it had worked fine for me but in other threads there was a warning about it. And yes, we use “Buy it now” heavily and especially when it comes close to christmas
Good luck!!!
Brigitte
BTW The Ralph Cook Video I would imagine is hard to get now and I have heard good things about it when Ralph was still making and posting on the old old message boards
[ This Message was edited by: Goldie on 2002-08-16 17:05 ]
I’ve mostly used paypal on Ebay since more people offer that option, but I have used both billpoint and the “buy it now” option a few times. Paypal seemed more user friendly.
I tend to use the buyer option when I’m desperate to have something, or feel the “buy it now” price is a better price than the probable auction results. Or sometimes if there’s little difference between the opening bid and the “buy it now” price, I may pay a little more for instant gratification and to avoid competition.
Loren,
I buy and sell on eBay. Offering the credit card system will help increase sales. The only time I use the buy-it-now to make a purchase is when it is a good deal or a unique item.
The bottom line though is the more options given on ways to purchase an item the greater the odds are that it will sell.
Good luck with eBay
I thought I’d read somewhere that Ebay had acquired paypal, and that soon, billpoint would go away, and there would be only paypal.
As for ‘buy it now’ as a seller, I’ve sold maybe 90% of my goods on buy it now. I usually determine what I think the item will go for at auction (partially by scanning other similar auctions), and then set the buy it now price to like $5 or $10 less. The implied message being “you can get a price break if you save the hassle of waiting for the auction to close”.
I bought my very first Feadóg using Buy it Now. It was the whistle, a booklet and a CD for $10 which I thought was very reasonable. Most other people were selling this package for 14.99, so I snagged it up.
I do shop around. And I have been irreversibly hooked ever since.
I’ve paid using ebay’s payment system and checkout once. It went very smoothly. I received my item very fast because the seller didn’t have to wait for the funds by mail. I think it’s a nice option for those who aren’t signed up for Paypal. I would use it again.
I only use the “buy it now” option if I really want the item bad AND the price is’t over what would be my max bid.
My daughter sold some stuff and accepted a Billpoint payment that turned into a nightmare. (Long story - Billpoint’s fault, actually). If you have a problem, either as a buyer or a seller, there’s no way to contact anybody. You can send emails but they force you to choose subjects, problems, or whatever you want to call it when sending them an email, and sometimes those pre-chosen subjects don’t fit the problem. It took us literally weeks to try and correct the problem. Fortunately we had an extremely friendly and helpful buyer or we’d have been in a real mess. We finally wound up canceling (or attempting to cancel) the Billpoint payment and having the buyer simply mail us a check - then weeks later suddenly the Billpoint payment went through and we had to refund the buyer via check! We’d never use it again.
Susan
Out of maybe a dozen or so Items I bought on Ebay, I have used paypal and money orders. These seem to work best for both buyer and seller. I’ve never used their checkout systems other than to acknowledge the sale and send the seller my info (address, email, preferred pay and shipping methods, etc.).
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Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-08-16 17:25 ]
I’ve used eBay quite a bit as a buyer and, recently as a seller. I have used PayPal a lot on both ends. I’m signed up for “eBay payments” (the new name for Billpoint – apparently their reputation was so bad they had to change the name) but have never actually used it either way.
I've sold about a dozen things over the past several weeks and so far every single buyer has chosen to pay by PayPal rather than eBay Payments or money order.
I've used "buy it now" exactly one time, for a relatively small purchase of an unusual item.
In all I've been reasonably satisfied with the prices I've obtained on things I've sold, with some going for less than I expected and others going for more. Everything I have listed so far has sold on the first try. I have only put a reserve on a couple of items (a guitar and a very expensive effect pedal).
Wow, thanks for all the quick responses! Ebay is obviously making on all of us!!!
So, sounds like Buy It Now, gets a thumbs up, while Ebay’s payent system (the system previously know as Billpoint) get’s a big thumbs down…Guess I stick with Paypal then.
John, since you mentioned guitars, I’ll have a like new condition limited edition Martin Acoustic Guitar up for sale on on Ebay shortly…
Thanks again everyone, I’ll post another message when I’ve got everything listed, or you can simply check my other auctions from one of the previous links.
Hey Loren I recommend you state what method you are going to ship things. “$5 for shipping and insurance” could mean “priority mail is $3.85 and insurance is $1.30” which most ebay addicts will know, or “$5 is mostly my own handling charge, it will be media mail and take a week or two to get there”
One of the biggest factors I look at in bidding is how much shipping is and why.
I’ve sold more than I’ve bought on ebay over the years. I will continue to use e-checks. I will accept money orders and personal checks. I’ve heard too many billpoint and paypal horror stories to continue using these features. Here is a website devoted to paypal complaints. I don’t know how legit it is–I never totally believe anything I read on the net–but I do know that paypal has been investigated for fraud in more than one state.
http://www.paypalsucks.com/forums/showforum.php?fid=5
I think the buy it now feature’s effectiveness depends a lot on your current competition. I’ve used it to undercut my competition, but I’ve also resisted it and I’ve been very blessed with people fighting over my item at the last minute (those proxy bidders, too), rewarding me for a good bit more than my minimum.
Lisa
I seldom shop there anymore, but my wife is a heavy user. We don’t use credit cards. Generally, if the seller specifies billpoint or paypal only, we don’t bid. On closing of an item, we contact the seller in e-mail and request approval to use a personal check. This is virtually always okayed given our feedback (271 purchases, zero negative or neutral feedback). If its international or the seller insists, we use money orders (or occasionally cash (US Greenbacks are usually quite welcome in Ireland and the UK and for really small purchases under $10 or so, less hassle than checks/money orders).
We DO use ‘buy it now’ where the level is either a very good buy or it’s an item we really want.
I guess it’s a little late to add my opinion, sorry. Anyway, I have had a terrible time with Billpoint “losing” a payment and the seller thought that I had never paid. It caused quite a bit of confusion and took a couple of weeks to clear up, so I agree with the other negative opinions.
Hi Loren. I am both a seller & buyer on ebay and have used both Billpoint and PayPal. I have had great success with both of these avenues both buying and selling, with no problems. I am in Canada and have done transactions within the US, Canada and internationally with ease. The “buy it now” feature is also a great tool. Good luck with your auctions!
