Am I the only one complaining about Atuopay???

[jfgeneralsales]

Why  am I not informed that something I am bidding on has autopay turned on ? I should know this before I bid. It should be listed next to the price for that item.  This is misleading.  I don't want this feature. Ebay tells me I have to contact the seller and ask them to turn it off.  If I don't know it's on how am I supposed to do that. Should I contact every seller on Ebay?  As if they would turn it off just for me.  If you are going to have this feature it has to be visible in the ad!

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

Sellers can turn it off... but most sellers aren't even aware it exists. 

EBay opted sellers into it, sellers have to opt out on their own. Sellers aren't aware they have this setting "on" because they didn't do it, it was done for them without their knowledge.

This is all 100% EBay's doing, and they didn't announce or communicate it, so sellers are even more unaware than buyers. Buyers at least know its happening, but not WHY. Sellers don't even know its happening unless buyers tell them, and even then they're likely confused because they don't realize they have that control.

[evry1nositswindy]

This was done in response to the huge number of non-paying bidders and non-paying buyers who make offers.  As a seller, I like it.  So many buyers act like making an offer is a game and never pay.  In the 4 days it takes me to be able to cancel the sale due to non-payment, it could have sold full-price to someone else.  

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy · Accepted solution]

I feel the "program" should be reserved for those who don't pay.

If you dont pay, you get enrolled for a period of time. After that you get another shot. You don't pay again, your enrolled again but for longer.

This program as it is will deter buyers. It may prevent non payers but definitely turns buyers away.

Actually, also steers buyers to "Buy It Now" instead of making an offer so thats a (+) though. 

Flawed system regardless. Coming from both a buyer/seller perspective

[backspace5]

I no longer keep any CC or paypal info stored on any sites due to my card getting hacked. But I guess this will not prevent from committing to buy if the autopay feature is on. I agree, that should be clearly stated and not hidden.

[evry1nositswindy]

Why do you think it deterse buyers @ajs_coins_and_alchemy  @jfgeneralsales ?  I really don't understand, not trying to be difficult.  You were going to buy and pay anyway, right?

[kensgiftshop]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

Why do you think it deterse buyers @ajs_coins_and_alchemy  @jfgeneralsales ?  I really don't understand, not trying to be difficult.  You were going to buy and pay anyway, right?

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That's what I don't get?

If you're going to pay for the item if you win or the seller accepts your offer, what difference does it make if you provide the payment source before or after?

[evry1nositswindy]

@kensgiftshop I read a thread that said they made offers on several items and then wanted to decide which ones to pay.  This kind of person is part of the problem.  It's not a game.  I removed make an offer from all of my listings and have stopped sending/accepting offers due to 'buyers' like this.    

[jfgeneralsales]

They should be targeted.  Not punish everyone.

[kensgiftshop]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

@kensgiftshop I read a thread that said they made offers on several items and then wanted to decide which ones to pay.  This kind of person is part of the problem.  It's not a game.  I removed make an offer from all of my listings and have stopped sending/accepting offers due to 'buyers' like this.    

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I think buyers like that are the main ones that don't like it.

I don't do offers either, the price shown is the price they pay and if they don't like it, they can find another seller.

[jfgeneralsales]

I did it once on an offer.  I never even saw it when I bid on the first one.  It automatically charged my card. What if I had wanted to use another card?  I need to have control. It should be on everything or on the listing.  If I make a bid on something I like to log in to pay through Capital One.  I get 4-5% back this way.  With autopay I don't have this option.

[jfgeneralsales]

It prevents me from using my Capital One account to earn 4-5% back. I have to be loggged in through them when I pay to get it.

[evry1nositswindy]

Sorry the system is perfect, but maybe it will improve.  This is already an improvement for most [not all]. 

Sellers also used to have to wait 6 days to get refunded for unpaid items and the fees were charged up front.  We had to wait that whole time to get our fees back.  Now it's 4 days and the fees are not charged up front.  Most definitely an improvement, but still not perfect.  I, personally,  think 4 days is ridiculous.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

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@jfgeneralsales wrote:

It prevents me from using my Capital One account to earn 4-5% back. I have to be loggged in through them when I pay to get it.

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Woah, thank you, I 100% didn't even think about this...  I mostly bid on auctions and rarely make offers, I'm only subjected to pre-pay offers and not auctions, so I haven't considered this since it hasn't effected me yet ...  However, I buy on EBay to resell on EBay. Average $6,000/month buying for resale. I ALSO USE MY 4% CAPITAL ONE REBATE. That's freaking $240/month I would lose in rebates... I'm not talking pennies here man...

I also have an EBay mastercard I use, I earn 5x points for every $1 spent (works out to 3.3% ebay cash back, works like an ebay gift card only) this program doesnt allow me to use those points to pay for items, I've got somewhere around $900 in EBay points that I couldnt use if subjected to this program.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

Why do you think it deterse buyers @ajs_coins_and_alchemy  @jfgeneralsales ?  I really don't understand, not trying to be difficult.  You were going to buy and pay anyway, right?

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That's what I don't get?

If you're going to pay for the item if you win or the seller accepts your offer, what difference does it make if you provide the payment source before or after?

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@evry1nositswindy @kensgiftshop 

If you honestly don't know why it deters buyers, read the forums. People are complaining about it left and right.

100% agree if a buyer is willing to pay why does it matter? Right? But the problem is you're only looking at the "intended ourpose" of the program, and not the actual impacts and collateral damages...

Ignore malfeasance and assume good-willed buyers...

-In it's current format, combined shipping becomes impossible w/o seller refunding buyer. (Some buyers worry about trusting seller, some buyers complain they are paying "$62 in shipping charges to he refunded $58 of it")

-It has limited payment options. It does not allow me to use my EBay rewards points (credit card rewards). It does not allow certain defered payment options like "Pay In 4" (my understanding is it's like a Pay Pal short term loan, payment program for an item).

-Buyers being unaware, go to place a bid (snipe) at the last second and can't because they have to pre-authroize payment.

-The process is "more work" for a buyer and they don't appreciate doing "this work" since they don't even know if the seller will accept their offer. They feel they are wasting time

-Buyers are simply offended to be subjected to this ... as they put it "I'M A 20 YEAR BUYER WITH 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND I ALWAYS PAY FOR MY ITEMS, HOW DARE YOU!!!!" (yeah, i know how flawed some of that ststement is)

-Buyers like OP are distrustful of program as it's not clearly advertised. They are suspicious of it.

-It's not universal and sellers can turn it off, some buyers may then blame certain sellers and steer clear of them.

There are likely more (good & bad) reasons buyers are deterred... but a lot of this is "customer experience" issues. True and determined buyers will suck it up and do it. But what about casual buyers? I mean, the day and age of internet brought easy and instant gratification ... the buyer doesn't appreciate the "hoops" they are now jumping through. Some buyers are completely distrusting of it. EBay did NOT announce it to buyers & sellers in any meaningful way. Buyers go to EBay to complain and EBay tells buyers to go talk to the sellers. The sellers don't even realize they have control over the system & settings. It's a massive cluster and it's seriously flawed.

I stand by my assertion this program should be a "punishment" for non-payers. I think this program, implemented correctly, could negate the need for sellers to add buying restrictions for buyers w/ unpaid items. Sellers blocking buyers with 2 Unpaid items within 12 months ... this program done well could make that need for blocking buyers completely unnecessary. Those who dont pay have to pre-pay.

I'm immensely thankful I am not subjected to pre-pay bids on auctions. As I said in an earlier post... long story short I use a Capital One Rewards program, that I need to log into and navigate from their site to EBay and THEN pay for an item in order to receive a 4% rebate (cash back) on my purchase... if I was forced to pre-pay everything, i wouldnt be able to use my rebates, and I would lose ~$200+/month...