I'm tired of being the bug. I want to be the windshield for a while.
We all know payment can be stopped on personal checks. I've heard the same is possible with money orders. The buyer for sure has the hammer with credit card payments and it's the same with PayPal and others similar no matter what they say about "seller protection".
I work hard, sell a great product for a great price, bend over backwards for my customers, provide excellent communication and a moneyback garauntee (less shipping) and I still get stiffed. By far most of my customers are the greatest, but in my situation just one or two bad apples are a great loss.
Is there an absolute safe method to receive payment where the seller has 100% power over the transaction or am I searching for the "Seller's Holy Grail"?
Squashed again.
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concealed cash?
Hi Dick,
Long time no see!
What happened this time?
Elaine (who might be one of those cranky customers Mr Lemon is talking about...but I did buy some more stuff later to atone...)
edited to add: Start listing here at OCM! (My one-size-fits-all option...)
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Hi Elaine! Yes it's been a while. I've had to cut way back on my on-line chatting and loafing to keep up with my chores. How are you and yours doing? I'm sure the ranch has you all hopping as usual.
I was on the phone with PayPal three times today about them refunding a CC payment. The buyer now has my item AND his money back! His eBay account has been suspended. The payment is shown as "Returned to" and the buyer's name, but they keep telling me he didn't get it. (I'll assume that's probably true.) When I ask who DID get it they say they can't reveal that info. Then I say well it shows in my account that he did get his money back, and he still has my item. Please tell me how he accomplished this as I want to be able to do the same with my purchases. All they'll tell me is I've been defrauded. DUH!
By who is my question.
I guess I'm just tired.
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BidPay?
If a buyer "sends" cash but really doesn't send it, you can't prove he didn't send it, he claims he did, and you still get pooped on when he leaves a neg for you not mailing the item. I know, I know, he can't prove he "mailed" the cash either. But that doesn't seem to matter.
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Thanks Diane,
I agree 100% and cash was never an option. I was really hoping someone would know of a money order or similar that once deposited or cashed was not reversible. I received a cashier's check drawn on a major bank in NY, from a buyer in Asia, and my bank would not accept it without charging me a $50 processing fee. Needless to say it was returned.
We've got to get this system reversed. The customer is NOT always right.
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Well I think BidPay would work, but the buyer pays $5.00 for it, right?
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I've never tried BidPay Elaine thanks. I'll look into it. Would have to be easy and quick for the buyer to sign up. Heck I'd even pay the 5 bucks if I knew there was no chance of a charge back or refund other than of MY choosing. And I'm very fair.
Hey I'm that way. ;o)
Seriously. I give 14 days money back no questions asked. It just has to be back in my hands undamaged before the refund is issued.
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BidPay has a Service Fee starting at $2.95 for International bidders and $2.45 for U.S.A. bidders, for items costing $10 and under based on the face value of the MO. The fees go up from there which includes an additional 2.5% after the MO face value of $100.00.
BidPay® Service Fees
BidPay charges a non-refundable service fee to the buyer that is based
upon the face value of the money order.
The chart below outlines BidPay service fees.
USA Buyers BidPay Service Fee Schedule
Payment Amount Fee
$10 and under flat rate of $2.45
$10.01 to $30 flat rate of $3.45
$30.01 to $50 flat rate of $4.45
$50.01 to $100 flat rate of $5.45
$100.01 to $1,000 2.50% + $5.45
International Buyers BidPay Service Fee Schedule
Payment Amount Fee
$10 and under flat rate of $2.95
$10.01 to $30 flat rate of $3.95
$30.01 to $50 flat rate of $4.95
$50.01 to $100 flat rate of $5.95
$100.01 to $1,000 2.50% + $5.95
Payment Delivery Options
First Class® mailing for the money order is included in your BidPay service fee. At an additional cost, we also offer Next Day and Second Day Air delivery. Sellers located in the U.S. have the option to have payments sent directly to a U.S. checking account. See table below for details.
Delivery Fee Schedule
Payment Delivery Options Fees
- First Class® Mail Included in BidPay fee at no additional cost
- Second Day Air - US Delivery Only. Cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes. Orders approved prior to 12:00pm MT will be delivered the second business day. $8.00
- Next Day Air - Continental US Delivery Only. Cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes. Orders approved prior to 12:00pm MT will be delivered the next business day. $15.00
- Direct to Bank - Registered sellers located in the U.S. have the option to have payments sent directly to a U.S. checking account. Neither the buyer or seller will be charged a payment delivery fee for this service. Sellers may incur fees imposed by their banks.
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I also thought of BidPay.... and it is listed as approved in the new eBay safe payments policy. Any method not in the new policy won't be allowed soon.
I always wondered about what happens if the buyer uses a stolen credit card to buy a BidPay MO and ship to an unsuspecting seller for their item payment.
Here is what the BidPay site says:
8. What happens if BidPay sends me a payment paid for with a stolen credit card?
Upon receiving notice from the correct cardholder, we will email you with a request to cancel the order. If you have already cashed a money order, we will ask you not to ship the item. If the item has already been shipped, no further action will be required. If you have not cashed the money order and have not shipped the item, we will ask you to destroy the money order and consider the transaction null and void. If the item has already been shipped, we will typically honor the money order, absent unusual circumstances.
If you have had a payment sent directly to your U.S. checking account and the item has already been shipped, no further action will be required.
If you have had a payment sent directly to your U.S. checking account and the item has not already been shipped, we ask that you send us the amount of the payment by check or money order...
Actually that sounds pretty good from a seller's point of view. If they approve a bad card then they may eat the transaction, if the seller has shipped the item and cashed the MO.
I noticed that with BidPay, the seller can go to their site and verify their MO is being mailed. Some sellers might even ship based upon knowing the third party payment is coming. I'd not trust only a BidPay email notice as those might be spoofed just as PayPal notices have been spoofed. The seller is always smart to log into their account and actually go view the transaction payment prior to proceeding with a shipment.
Be aware that BidPay cannot be used for all online sales (just online auction site sales only) as they limit which are permitted in their terms and conditions including:
and in particular you must not use the BidPay Site or the BidPay Service to pay:
(a) penalties or fines of any kind, damages, losses or any other costs or fees that are beyond the normal price (plus applicable taxes) for the goods or services provided;
(b) for gambling services, gambling chips or gambling credits (including but not limited to on-line gambling);
(c) for cash;
(d) for goods which will be resold;
(e) for banking or other financial services;
(f) in connection with illegal business transactions; or
(g) yourself;
....
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Just came from the Bidpay site. I do like the free-for-the-seller part, but seems pretty expensive for the buyer and that will stop most from using it.
I don't think I made my original question clear enough. What I'm looking for is a form of payment like a money order or cashier's check or anything besides cash, that a buyer can send to me, that once in my hands is the same as cash. It's paid and gone from the buyer forever. No way he'll ever see it again without my say-so. No matter what it's gone unless I give it back. I'm in complete charge of the transaction from that point on. A form of payment that places all risk on the buyer rather than the seller.
I'm an honest and fair person. I would do whats right in every situation even though I would have the power to shaft the buyer. The buyer will just have to take my word for it and read my feedback and decide whether to take the risk.
Does this sound unreasonable? Why should it? Buyers are in this position and hold this power with every sale. The seller has to take the buyer's word and read their feedback and take the risk.
The situation now is the exact reverse. The buyer always has the product AND the cash and has complete control over the transaction. The least little thing goes wrong and the seller takes the hit no matter who's at fault.
The buyer has to trust just one person.... me. I on the other hand have to trust the entire population every time I offer an item for sale or auction.
Other than because we let it, why is this so? I bet no one can supply an answer that doesn't boil down to 'just because'.