paying for ebay items, query

bruneythedog

Advice, please!
I've just finished a listing on ebay, and sold my item and all v happy. But: in the listing I was v specific, paypal only. One bidder, who didn't win, already emailed to say he didn't have paypal but would pay with cheque. And now winning bidder is also saying he doesn't have enough in Paypal to pay, can he pay with Visa Electron...?? a.) I don't know how to accept Visa - I'm a private seller, not a business, and b.) isn't this against the rules - I was v upfront about what payment I would take?

stebiz

Yes get him to set up a paypal account with his visa electron card. Then pay you through his electron card this way. If he can't get him to send a cheque or postal order or cash recorded. If he can't be bothered doing any of this he is a waster!!!

Stebiz

bruneythedog

I got back in touch and said (nicely, ish) 'no, it was clearly specified' and then had second thoughts and wrote again about sending a cheque, but pointed out it would take a bit longer for him. But it's annoying cos some bidders don't read the listing, or just don't care, which worries me in case they're not on the level!
Thanks, Stebiz.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

If you placed the PayPal logo on your auction, the rules state that you have to accept payments funded by debit card e.g. Visa Electron and/or credit card. If you refuse to accept the payment then you would be breaking PayPal rules. Hopefully you have a premier or business PayPal account and not just a basic account.

soolin

I think there has been some confusion between buyer and seller here. It sounds like the buyer has asked whether the seller takes paypal backed by a card and possibly the OP has misunderstood and thought they wanted to pay direct by card.

bruneythedog, confirm to your buyer that you can take a card funded paypal payment and all will be well.

I am assuming BTW that like razorbladekisses says that you have a premier account and not just a basic paypal account.

Soo

bruneythedog

Uh-oh, it's all getting quite confusing!
I didn't have a paypal logo on the listing, I stated that it was the only payment I would accept. The winning bidder later got in touch to say he didn't have enough money in his paypal account, could he pay by electron - but what exactly that means I dunno - that's one of the reasons paypal seemed the easiest thing to me, cos how they pay paypal doesn't have to concern me so much. I thought it was something along the lines that he had a non-verified paypal account (where you can only pay with funds already credited). Heck, maybe I've my wires, n pants, in a twist.
I have a paypal account that accepts payments, but it's not a merchant account, if that's what you mean by premier?
Anyway, the status now is I offered he could pay by cheque or by paypal within 7 days, and he's said he 'should' be able to pay by paypal within that time. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It's not even anything valuable - I'm just selling off some old possessions to pay for a year out, but wanted to keep things simple...
In future, how do you get one of these Paypal logos?
Thanks all for the advice!

Sugar_Coated_Owl

My first thought when you said that the buyer wanted to pay with Visa Electron was that he wanted to pay you through PayPal but funded by his debit card.

It should matter to you how he funds PayPal because if he is funding it by a card and you have a basic PayPal account then you will need to upgrade your account to be able to accept the payment. However this would also mean that you have to pay fees on any funds received into your PayPal account.

I have a feeling that a merchant account is something totally different.

If you have a Premier or Business PayPal account this permits you to tick the box saying you accept PayPal on your auction listings. The PayPal logo then appears

bruneythedog

Ohhhh - the penny drops. I see what you were saying - the buyer was just asking whether I have the kind of account (i.e., premier) that accepts card payments rather than balance transfers. OK, this sounds like good news - I'll get in touch with him and let him know. I thought that everyone who accepted paypal payments on ebay accepted them using cards, hence my confusion.
I've snooped around in my Paypal account and have found the automatic logo and will use that next time.
Thanks all!

soolin

bruneythedog wrote:

Ohhhh - the penny drops. I see what you were saying - the buyer was just asking whether I have the kind of account (i.e., premier) that accepts card payments rather than balance transfers. OK, this sounds like good news - I'll get in touch with him and let him know. I thought that everyone who accepted paypal payments on ebay accepted them using cards, hence my confusion.
I've snooped around in my Paypal account and have found the automatic logo and will use that next time.
Thanks all!

99.9% of the time a seller who accepts paypal knows they must accept all payments, however as there are still some sellers who try and bend the rules and very occasionally a buyer will ask before paying just in case. He may have got stung by a seller refusing payment in the past.

Soo