Power Sellers Unite

KingKong · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 79

With all the negativity about PayPal (it's really not hard to find "bad news" on PayPal) why limit your sales?

I refuse to use PayPal, not because I was 'burnt', but because so many others have been. Let's say that I purchased an Exphiter from Seller B Ware for $50.00. Next day I get email stating that Seller B Ware had problems with PayPal, and that their account was frozen. As the purchaser, it's really not my problem, right? Wrong! What happens if Buyer B Ware can no longer afford to send the item because of a frozen account? Sure I get a refund, but I also get a headache, not to mention the poor seller has lost my business! Why would I want to take that chance, when I can 'virtually go next door' and not have to worry with PayPal?

When I am given no other option, I simply go to a different site and/or seller. When I am given no other option, I feel like it's being forced down my throat. I don't do much shopping at all on Ebay, however I do the majority of my shopping online.

Now when I go to Wal-Mart, I can pay with my debit card, my credit card, my Wal-Mart card, a check, and even cash. What's my point?
*Wal-Mart is larger than Ebay
*Wal-Mart has their own payment process (Wal-Mart visa or store cc) that is NOT shoved down my throat.
Would you shop at Wal-Mart if you felt that the only way you could get a refund was if you used their cc? I couldn't begin to imagine the uproar, but I think you should be able to see where I am coming from here.

I tend to stick with the smaller venues and other online retailers (yes even Wal-Mart!). I am the customer when I come to your 'virtual store', I demand to be treated with respect and appreciation. I feel that I get that from the smaller venues, and customer service usually can't be beat. They actually want/need my business and I'm not just another cc number to them.

Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree here, I'm not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers, so if anything that I have said (or will say) offends you that's not my intention.

Ok, it's very late and it seems that I am running a little off of my original topic, so let's get back to the point. Why do you limit your sales to those that will only use PayPal? I 'virtually' walk out of your door to your competitors when you leave me no other option.

By the way, I also have several stores online, three do really well, the others I just play with in hopes that one day they may turn into something. I do offer several checkout options for my customers.

pjrcoffee · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 634

Good post.

I try to offer as many options as possible. Why make it hard to buy?

Many here do not have the sales volume to offer credit cards directly but I will offer them when I can. Those buyers afraid of PayPal can use Google Checkout.

Checks are OK as I can wait for them to clear or take the small chance they will "bounce" as long as the buyers know they will be responsible for my bank's check fee. I also will deliver only to the address on the check. Passing bad checks is a crime and people will be prosecuted but why limit your sales in fear of the few frauds? Walmart takes checks. I will, too.

knappschiles · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4035 Location: Wi

I do understand where you are coming from and I'm not offended at all.

For several years my web site offered only PP. Since a bit over a year ago, my site is offering mainly Google Checkout with some PP. I will also take mail-in orders with check or money order too, but prefer the quicker GC/PP way.

Let me tell you why many of the sellers here only use PP or GC. Mostly it's because we are fairly small. I know the name here is "Power sellers", but many of us are "power sellers" only in our dreams.

Personally I have 3 - maybe 5 good months of sales because I have a seasonal thing (seeds). I can't afford a personal merchant account. The fees would eat me up, especially during my "off months". My "internet sales" is only a small part of my reall business - a vegie farm - and it has no need for a merchant account. It a mostly cash business.

So while many of us grumble about PP, we have to suck it in and hold our noses and use them whether we like them or not. Until a merchant account comes along that doesn't fee us to death that is. If some merchant service would be competitive with PP/GC in cost, I'm sure they would get plenty of us small businesses.

Just about all "shopping carts" have "mods" that are easier to set-up for "credit cards" than the mods for Google Checkout. While I love GC, they don't make it easy for you to set it up on a site.

So there is a market out there for a merchant account with reasonable fees. We just haven't found them here yet.

Carol