Why is Ebay forcing some sellers to choose a default payment method just for bidding?

[firedawl]

I have been buying and selling on Ebay since 1998.  I have stellar feedback as both a buyer and seller.  I have NEVER been late on a payment and pay promptly.  I like using paypal and having the option to use whichever account I choose to pay with depending on how much money or credit is available on the accounts I have linked to paypal.  Sometimes I like to split payments between accounts, sometimes I like to just use a credit card and not use paypal at all.  Why am I being forced to set an automatic default payment method out of the clear blue?  Why is my freedom being taken away?  This is only hurting sellers.  We all know in an auction format competition is key for a seller to get a good price, so if I don't bid, that hurts a seller, which in turn, hurts ebay's bottom line as well.  REMOVE THIS NEW FORCED DEFAULT PAYMENT CHOICE!

[downunder-61]

Discussed Many Times 

[wastingtime101]

Hey @firedawl. Non-payers are a big problem on this site and, unfortunately, they are the ones to ruin it for all the good buyers like yourself.

eBay rolled out auto-pay on offers as a way to combat this situation.

Was the listing auction format or were you submitting an offer? If it's auction format then this is early testing stage. eBay said they'll be adding auto-pay on auctions but gave no timeline. If it's anything like auto-pay on offers, it will take a while to roll out sitewide.

The only way around it is in the seller's control. The seller would have to add you to their exemption list (or turn off the requirement for all buyers).

Since most auctions end within a week, I'd suggest figuring out which payment method you'd like to use before bidding. If it's a high priced item and you have to split payment between 2 sources when using PayPal at checkout, you can contact the seller to explain that and ask if they're willing to put your ID on their exemption list.

[adamharman]

The whole thing is ridiculous. IF you had the option to select the payment method and delivery address for each transaction it might just be workable but automatically using the same for everything just doesn't work for me. I use the same ebay account to purchase items for personal use, for my business, and for an employers business. Each payment has to come from a different account, and I often need to have stuff delivered to the site where I'm working. This was easy when they were selected at checkout, but now I have to set up multiple ebay accounts and make sure I'm logged into the correct one before I even start. Or I can just take the easy option and buy elsewhere.....

I know some sellers are moaning about non payers, but then it needs to be applied to buyers who have been reported for non payment and not just to randomly selected buyers. I have 2500+ positive feedback going back over 20 years, almost entirely from buying, and the majority mentions fast payment so why am I being penalised??

Personally I have a problem with dodgy sellers, at least once a month (generally more) I have an item not turn up so I message the seller asking for tracking. Some provide tracking and chase the carrier, then either the item turns up or the seller refunds which is fine. But at least half don't reply then I have to open a case with ebay and wait for them to refund me. What is being done about this? Nothing as far as I can see!

If a buyer doesn't pay, it's annoying for the seller but they still have the item so have not lost anything and can relist the item after 4 days. If the seller doesn't send the item after the buyer pays, then it's not only annoying for the buyer but they're left out of pocket for 2 weeks until ebay process the refund. Annoying when it's a fiver for a pack of socks, nightmare when it's several hundred for an item that I need urgently for a job. I'm basically being used as a free bank loan for scam sellers!

[bluewater-vintage]

I agree .. it's absurd! I just got hit for the first time with a required credit card to make a bid in an auction .. AND a few days ago I also just had a non payer on one of my auctions  .. BUT the problem here is the absurdity of Ebay's solutions .. hammer is the only tool they know. This is a Billion dollar company that is unable to program choices into the transaction flow? Non paying buyers are a problem and as a seller I expect Ebay to have rules that honor these legal commitments to "Buy" (absurd that they allow non payers off the hook by cancelling orders instead of enforcing payment) but at the same time as a buyer I demand that they get it right and offer a transaction flow that allows payment choice and combined shipping options for multiple auction wins from the same seller. These are NOT mutually exclusive and they are completely feasible with CC holds, etc. Many other auction houses simply put a hold on and then when you "check out" you can choose other payment methods. If you don't check out your original card gets charged as it should. This can and should be figured out without these pigeon hole solutions that satisfy neither buyer or seller. Technical solutions are quite possible but it requires expertise and an understanding of the problem from both sides of the transaction .. something the 10,000 lb. gorilla seems to lack.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

It is more a problem  for some buyers than other buyers.

There are a lot of buyers who always use the same credit card for all online transactions.

I do not want to start a discussion on why sellers like @firedawl might want or need to make a decison about payment method as close to payment time as they can, suffice it to say that they do.

Are the people at Ebay who define the new features not aware of the alternative buyer behaviors - probably so, so so are the people in the same role at most of the other marketplaces.

And the biggest online marketplaces never consider the buyers who love PayPal.

[kh-vince]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.