Winter Seller update 2024 - Auto-pay for Auctions
I noticed last week on my Buyer requirements page they dropped the choice to require or not require Auto-pay functionality for Buyers interested in placing bids on AUCTIONS. Here is what the Update says:
What other steps is eBay taking to reduce unpaid items?
We're actively testing solutions that require buyers to provide payment information before they submit bids to reduce unpaid items in Auctions.
I sell a lot Auction style and turned Auto-pay OFF for a number of reasons, these are specific to what I sell and may not apply to others and what they sell:
-The number of Unpaid items I get is fairly low and most items will sell on the next auction cycle or two anyway or the Second Chance offer feature
-Some Buyers message me before or after bidding that they would like or need a little more time to pay if they win or actually won an auction. My UPI cancellation is set to Manual because I have no issue working with my customers, per the eBay credo, it "enhances the buying experience" ...
-I only had one Buyer contact me about having to provide payment info before bidding (they did not bid because of that) and that was the result of eBay adding Auto-pay to my account, not telling me and the default of course was ON. I immediately turned it off.
They have removed the choice to turn it on or off for Auctions and I suspect that is because of their Update announcement above and the changes they made, meaning they are NOT giving Sellers the option to turn it OFF for the Auction flow. Here's the Before and Now look on the Buyer Requirements page.
PROS AND CONS
I am not a fan of having the control of that function taken out of my hands. I certainly did not or would not have voted for that.
This may or may not negatively affect my Auction sales. I know repeat Buyers will contact me if it's an issue but new Buyers may not bid because of it. I may never know if they don't contact me.
Beginning in January this year I started keeping track of Auction sales, BIN sales and Sent Offer sales.
This month 58% of my sales have been from Auctions with about 8 days left in the month. January auction sales were 38%.
I can see requiring a payment method eliminating the following:
-Unpaid items
-Bid retractions
-Shill bidders who use two accounts to run a price up then retract bids to win at a lower price
In looking at UPIs compared to retracted bids on what I sell I would say I get about a half dozen or so UPIs per year and fewer bids retracted.
If anyone knows where there is more definition to this or where we can voice our opinion directly that would be great.
stephenmorgan
·2 years agoOn the NOW screen there is a button that says "Tell us what you think". Could you tell them there what you think about removing the other option?
carlmarxx
·2 years agoThe problem is you can't get anyone from the Ca. Jose Office on the phone .
maccnc11
·2 years agoThey have turned everything over to A.I.
onefootflipper
·2 years agoGet ready for all the auction sellers to now start complaining about their new 40 percent return rates!
mr_lincoln
OP2 years ago@onefootflipper
I don't think it will be that extreme. I am thinking more along the lines of Buyers who will not bid because they don't want to commit to a payment method days in advance of a potential commitment to buy.
chubbycatcollectibles
·2 years agoI personally think this is a bad idea. A lot of buyers sometimes require a few days to make payment and I always approve their requests. This function will serve to reduce bidding and create even more havoc for sellers than it helps. I hope they don't enact this rule.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoeBay has access to information about billions of transactions.
My guess would be that eBay's "active testing" really means they will analyze the statistics from their tests to see if requiring a payment method for auctions results in a net benefit to eBay.
If it benefits eBay, then it will be adopted universally. If it does not benefit eBay, it will not be adopted.
ittybitnot
·2 years ago@mr_lincoln
Try this page:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/2024-Winter-Seller-Update/Reduce-unpaid-items-when-sending-offers-to-buyers/td-p/34301787
mr_lincoln
OP2 years ago@ittybitnot
Awesome, thank you. I will post over there too so my voice will be heard (but summarily ignored) ...
ittybitnot
·2 years agoI will post over there too so my voice will be heard (but summarily ignored) ...
@mr_lincoln
Yes, basically the posts are being ignored, just like all their @ tags have been for the last few weeks regarding this subject and all the weird manifestations going on regarding OFFERS. I was hoping for a different outcome. Maybe they will post one last VAGUE (Seagull) type response and close the thread instead.
With the preference being removed, it makes one wonder if there is going to be something else (worse) in its place with NO way to opt out????
An interesting take:
https://www.valueaddedresource.net/ebay-quietly-removes-payment-method-required-for-auctions/
mr_lincoln
OP2 years ago@ittybitnot
Since they removed the option to turn it ON or OFF that tells me Sellers will have no choice. Maybe they will once they roll it out, who knows. In any event, we really have no say in what is done. Sadly, there will be a lot of sales that go by the wayside with each new change that is made.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoSadly, there will be a lot of sales that go by the wayside with each new change that is made.
@mr_lincoln
As a buyer, my IDs were enrolled (forced) into compliance to provide a payment source in order to proceed for BOTH making offers, and bidding. Fortunately for me, I read here often enough to know the consequences of actually putting up that payment source for sellers that retained those Buyer Payment Requirements, so I never complied.
It was funny for me to see the per year dollar value eBay placed on "enthusiastic" buyers. I spent more than that amount PER MONTH, just not in their special categories. My reward for NEVER being a non-payer, and spending alot, buying multiple items at auctions, was enrollment into NO MORE COMBINED SHIPPING FOR YOU PUNISHMENT CAMP. LOL.....
Again, the more I read on the subject, this is NOT about non-paying bidders, and truly feel eBay is just using it as an excuse. eBay's new actions with regard to offers, don't even require payment at all.
If nothing else, it has encouraged me to find other options for purchasing the products I want. I will still look at yours, however, for I still want that old Lionel car with the ducking giraffe...preferably in blue!!!!!
mr_lincoln
OP2 years ago@ittybitnot
LOL! Yes, I come across that one from time to time ... the trick is to find one that is complete and functioning.
I don't get a lot of Unpaid items, most of them sell the next auction cycle or two anyway.
So for what I do here this change will be more of a negative then positive.
ittybitnot
·2 years agothe trick is to find one that is complete and functioning.
@mr_lincoln
LOL... I'll take one that doesn't function. I am an old lady now and don't even have the track or train anymore. Wanted for sentimental purposes only.
Good luck to you and all no matter what is thrown your way around here!
carlmarxx
·2 years agoThe more ear full from sellers and Buyer traffic drop ,Ebay will reverse themselves on the auto payment and retain it for high price items category's on the next seller update.