If I have to commit to a type of payment before a bid, I just won't bid on anything.
I don't use credit cards, so by making me commit to a certain type of payment up front, it means I need to have all the money for every auction I'm in in my checking, or else I risk overdrafts. I never buy something I can't afford, but there's a difference between "cash on hand" (ie, in checking) and what's available after manual intervention. And given I have no control over when auctions end, and it's uncertain if I'll win everything I bid on...
Well, it feels like if the only way to buy a car was a car salesman just ambushes you on the street, and you can only pay with the money in your pocket, no bank transfers, no loans, etc.
27 comments
downunder-61
·2 years ago@berlyn-0
Use the info below to add the card to PayPal.
mudshark(thank you)
sapphire_studio
·2 years agoIf I were in your shoes and I wanted the item bad enough I would just make sure to transfer the money first.
If I was only shopping for auctions that end too quickly for me to transfer the money then I would have a certain amount of buffer money in my checking account ready to go in case something I really wanted popped up that had the pre-authorization requirement. That would give me more ammunition as a buyer to get what I want if it shows up.
But that's just me, maybe you are more stubborn than I am.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoMost of the members who run into this do not bid at all,and don't bother complaining.
So we cannot know what percentage of bids are lost or how much higher those bids would have gone if the ones who noped out had in fact bid.
I said from the start that this was a stupid idea that gave in to sellers who were happy to make their bidders wait seven days to find out if they could buy the item, but didn't have the patience to wait 96 hours to be paid.
And eBay didn't allow sellers to opt in, we have to opt out. As noted above, most sellers are unaware of the new policy.
The advantage for eBay on the other hand, is that autopaid bids cannot have combined shipping, and eBay gets a percentage of every shipping fee, including the non-refundable 30c service fee.
So the "option" annoys buyers, possibly hurts sellers sales and prices, but helps eBay's bottom line with unnecessary higher shipping fees.
Cui bono?
maxine*j
·2 years agoJust an observation, but it seems to be that eBay is merely aligning with what has been an industry standard for decades.
In the mid-1970s, I worked four days a month as a clerk at an auction house. Part of my job was to verify each person's payment information information before handing him his number. No one could bid without a number, and no one could get a number until one of us clerks made sure all was copacetic with his ability pay (usually with a credit card).
The transaction account at Sotheby's requires a bank reference. At Christie's and at Bonham's, a transaction account requires credit card information which is verified. (Bonham's runs the card with a microcharge, for example.)
So, confirming how he will pay before he's allowed to bid is hardly something new in the auction world.
If you are uncomfortable with that, just stick to Fixed Price listings.
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ed8108
·2 years agoA Credit reference is very different from pre authorization of your bid from your payment source.
Were you ever a bidder in Sotheby & Christie auctions & was immediate payment on lots won required ?
Are bidders in Sotheby & Christie auctions now required to authorize them to perform immediate payment of lots won?
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoWe've run a tab in both auction houses, although we (actually DH) has an excellent business reputation.
We've also been allowed to make time payments.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @berlyn-0
I haven't known of a single 'change' ... anywhere ... that doesn't have both an up-side and a down-side. It's going to take a while before any of us know whether having to provide prepayment information will do away with more nonpayers than it does normal payers who feel inconvenienced.
[I strongly recommend getting a credit card. I have only one CC to my name ... which I have attached to PayPal. And I always pay in full every 30 days to avoid interest. [Many people hate taxes. I hate paying interest ... which is avoidable!] I like using a credit card for the extra protection. It's sometimes too cumbersome using eBay's refund system at all ... like when a seller and/or their item is removed.]
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoNeither will I.
I will not be making offers OR placing bids with sellers who have this turned on unless and until ebay gives me the options I have when I BIN, most especially PayPal Credit etc.
If a seller does not have autopay or IPR set up then I have 4 days to pay. Why should it be less for an auction win or an accepted offer?
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoBecause
a.) the 4 days is NOT for you; NOT for buyers; it is 3 days TOO Long that Sellers have to WAIT until they can 'open' a 'non payer' to be able to relist. It is NOT for you to 'HOLD UP' a seller, on purpose.
b.) Auction houses have been requiring 'credit cards' before you even get a 'card to bid' for decades. This entity is just 20+ years behind.
Why in the WORLD should you be able to 'wait 4 days' and then, as many do, NOT pay, causing the Seller to do MANY more steps including 'relisting' and 'waiting' for a new buyer?
campanaelia
·2 years agoSellers can make all the rules they want but buyers are the one's sellers need to attract. and have the final say where they spend their money. If you can't wait the minimum 4 days than maybe BIN with IPR is the only way you should be selling your items.
Giving more time for buyers to browse and bid your items makes more business sense to me. I have a seller that allows me 3 weeks for combined shipping. Guess what? I spend most of my money every month buying from them than other sellers. It keeps me loyal to watching and bidding their items and even the items I don't win I help bid up the price.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoFTR, I have NEVER not paid for an item on offer, BIN or auction.
ed8108
·2 years agoAutopay protection system ?
Ebay has taken pre-emptive action to avoid the risk of good buyers becoming bad buyers, by receiving 2 non payment strikes & then blocked by most sellers.
monroe67
·2 years ago"If I have to commit to a type of payment before a bid, I just won't bid on anything."
OK. Is that a threat or a promise?
You may not be aware that adding this requirement to any listing is solely the decision of the seller.
eBay allows sellers to require potential buyers to provide a payment source before they bid or place an offer or buy outright (on BIN listings).
My selling ID does not have this requirement on any of her listings.
However--Your post essentially tells all sellers who are lucky (?) enough to read your post that you might be a difficult buyer. Some sellers may take pre-emptive action to avoid any difficulties with you.
BTW: "Well, it feels like if the only way to buy a car was a car salesman just ambushes you on the street, and you can only pay with the money in your pocket, no bank transfers, no loans, etc." ???
<Sigh.> If only.
campanaelia
·2 years agoHow is the OP's statement a threat to anyone? Every action has a reaction. The buyers have the final say how they'll spend their money. Many buyers have stated the same thing in this forum about auto-pay.
However--The only threat I see here is assuming, because they said that, they must be difficult to deal with and all sellers should block them.
lisa5768
·2 years ago@berlyn-0
Buyers can not turn off this requirement but sellers can choose to opt out so not all sellers require it. You can send a message to the seller and ask if they have it before you bid. Some do not even know they are opted in until a buyer asks. They can opt out on their buyer requirements page, the settings are near the bottom of the page.
https://www.ebay.com/bmgt/buyerrequirements
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoThe sellers who are requiring payment do not want your business.
They have made a decision based on their history.
IMO if you do not have a "credit card" you should not be buying on Ebay, anyway. It is the best protection. A debit card is not. So you can see this as a positive to help protect you.
The behavior of other buyers has made it clear to Ebay, that sellers deserve to make this decision.
buyselljack2016
·2 years agoThe sellers who are requiring payment do not want your business.
They have made a decision based on their history.
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eBay has made that decision for them
some are unaware that eBay auto selected that option until enlightened by a furious buyer
ed8108
·2 years agoThe auto pay cheerleaders may respond to sellers who complain of declining ebay sales that the fault lies in the poor economy but fails to admit the auto pay system has had a negative impact in discouraging purchases.
campanaelia
·2 years agoExactly, every time I see the best offer option now I don't even bother anymore because every one I tried had the auto-pay pop-up. So even for sellers that have opted out they are losing my sales too. I messaged a few sellers in the beginning and got a nasty reply so I'm done with that too. For now I'm still able to bid but that could end all of a sudden too. Ebay needs to have an icon on the search and item pages to show which sellers have it turned off.
ed8108
·2 years agoI have been placed into ebay's auto pay system for offers & bids
Although a historical review by ebay of my account ,would reveal I pay my purchases timely & no non payment strikes, I suppose ebay in it's infinite wisdom may be concerned that past performance does not guarantee continued good buyer behavior .
Although auto pay may discourage buyer purchasing, I suspect ebay can easily afford the loss of sale revenue resulting from the imposition of auto pay on sellers & buyers.
I understand auto pay was imposed on sellers not as a opt in but allows a seller who may become aware autopay has been placed on their account the ability to opt out
Some have argued auto pay will result in a revenue stream for ebay, but I will allow others to speak on that.
I have sufficient reason to be unhappy to have been included into ebay's autopay system but will refrain from going into them at this moment.
I guess it may be appropriate to now hear from some of ebay's cheerleaders.
buyselljack2016
·2 years agobut there's a difference between "cash on hand" (ie, in checking) and what's available after manual intervention. And given I have no control over when auctions end, and it's uncertain if I'll win everything I bid on...
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I'm also confused. Either you have the funds for the items that you are bidding on,..................... or you don't.
The amount you bid is your choice. The bid(s) would not change unless done so by you.
Not even sure what "manual intervention" means unless it means that you manually spent the "bid committed funds" on something else.
If you don't buy something that you "can't afford" them the bid(s) should not be an issue.
berlyn-0
OP2 years agoThere are very complex reasons for why I have things set up this way, but I have a "prechecking" account where non-savings money sits until it's ready to be spent, then it's transferred to the checking account. I usually do the transfer right before I buy something.
That's what I mean by manual intervention.
buyselljack2016
·2 years agoOK, understood now.
In such a set up it then would be necessary to have those funds transferred. Quite the pain.
hai_5162
·2 years agoIt's frustrating to feel constrained by the payment options on online platforms like eBay, especially when it doesn't align with your financial preferences. It might be worthwhile to provide feedback to eBay about your concerns, as they may consider expanding payment options in the future. In the meantime, managing your bids strategically and keeping a close eye on your checking account balance can help navigate the current system while avoiding potential overdrafts.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoThen simply 'buy' things that are listed as 'buy it now' (and then you can 'pay for it now) and ignore "offers and auctions".
bonjourami
·2 years agoIm confused, why would you even bid if you dont have the money to pay for it in your checking account?
woodland_gnome
·2 years agoThat is your choice. Do not expect eBay to change its rules to suit you.
You can look for sellers who have opted out of requiring pre-authorization of payment. If they have opted out the "Review your bid [or offer]" screen (if any) will not have the field relating to payment or the statement above the button that you are authorizing payment.