I must say I enjoy getting stamps from the auctions and approvals. Most seller friends here know that I normally pay SOR invoices every Friday morning. (and if an invoice comes to me Friday afternoon, then it will be paid the next Friday.)
I have been buying stamps here for several years now, but for some reason I don't see the seller's "change in money acceptance" until I get an invoice.
Seems like several persons I've always bought from in the past, using paypal, suddenly do not accept paypal.
Now, most know here, that I normally only buy from those sellers, who accept paypal, and on occasion, I make a "mistake" and buy from someone who does not accept paypal, and I willingly pay the consequences.
But for people who "change" their payment acceptance preferrences, couldn't there be a better way to let us know.
Perhaps a "NO PAYPAL" icon next to the buy/bid button, as opposed to buyers having to read the "fine print" everytime we want to bid or buy?
YES! A sudden change like that should be more obvious! I love the "paypal accepted" idea, too.
I don't understand why the seller wouldn't want to make it crystal clear to avoid annoying loyal customers. It might be an oversight or a result of just not thinking things through - something we are all guilty of doing from time to time.
I believe it is good that you wrote about this problem. I will certainly keep that in mind if I ever change any of my terms and I'll keep an eye out when buying, too!
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"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
I do state in my Shipping and Payment Terms that I accept PayPal, but people have to scroll down and read it. My suggestions follow.
For approval books:
If a graphic of the PayPal logo could appear higher up perhaps under the member name, or just "PAYPAL Accepted" in bold text under the user name, that should do it.
For auction lots:
The same, but under the seller name in the "Seller" column of auction listings.
19. Provide a Description: This may include HTML. Please provide an accurate description of the material that you want to sell. If you make a mistake, don't worry because our system has an editing facility, which you can use to change the details of your auction lot at any time. Be careful if you use HTML because errors in your HTML may make your lot unreadable.
For descriptions for the auctions, but not for the approval books or approval book pages.
HTML can be added in the section for Shipping and Payment Terms (and I have done that), which is a global-type page for a member's auctions and approval books. However, like I said previously, that is way down the page of information. It would be better if it could be added higher on the book information page for approvals.
Here's a link to one of my books. Scroll down almost to the bottom and you can see how the logo I selected looks. I used the smaller one first, but it wasn't very visible (at least on my monitor).
I will add text "I accept payment by PayPal" in the book description of all my future approval books, and in the item description of any auction lots I list, and leave the logo in the Shipping and Payment Terms as well.
Michael, clicked on your provided link and scrolled down. I never even realized that you could scroll down. "PayPal Accepted button" should be right next to the "buy/bid" button directly on the pages. If Possible, instead of being burried in the middle of a paragraph or on a different page.
As a buyer, I like this print: (easy to read and quickly understood)
As a buyer I would not want to try to read this:
***I just don't think (MOO) us buyers we should have to wade through (the second example) every time we want to consider making a bid, thus I suggested a paypal sign right next to the buy/bid button on actual page.
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 06 Sep 2014 01:32:53pm
re: Must be a better way!
Where did you get that Clayton? I changed those terms over a year ago (when I found out PayPal prohibited charging a fee as a prerequisite for using same). Actually that is not a copy of my terms, but it is almost word for word that which I used (I think I charged a fee of 30¢). I do not apologize for charging an "add on" fee and the only reason I stopped it was because PayPal prohibited it.
Folk always have a choice. And if you do not like a Seller's terms, you would be foolish to buy from him. However, sometimes people buy without reading the fine print, which is why, at least on SOR, I will always cancel a transaction at the request of a Buyer. A few pennies are not worth losing goodwill or a friendship over.
Bobby
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 06 Sep 2014 01:41:03pm
re: Must be a better way!
I realized that Clayton after seeing the notation re 1998 catalog. However, it is almost exactly what I did use up until a year ago.
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
Thank you fore sharing that, I had never noticed that icon on any pages I have browsed. So if that is already implemented in the Approvals, that would be great in the auction as well.
Clayton your illustration on the auction bid page is a great idea. I would like to see it on the high level listings, though as well. It would save time as I won't look at lots where PayPal is not accepted.
Thanks for the example on the approval Shipping and Payment screen. I'll try to make mine easier to read like that. I agree with you on having the PayPal symbol higher up on the page.
Arno, does the "No PayPal" symbol appear on the book listings page? I don't recall seeing it there. That too would save time by not having to open the approval book to find out if PayPal is accepted or not.
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 06 Sep 2014 08:45:52pm
re: Must be a better way!
Michael,
I was just bringing to the fore again what already (needlessly?) has been implemented. The seller's terms of sale are listed on the first page of the book and at the bottom of each auction. The topic of the thread is "there must be a better way." In my personal opinion, there is no better way to learn the seller's terms than reading what is posted in plain English for everybody to read. I agree with Clayton that brevity is a virtue when it comes to sellers' terms. I also glean the idea for a simple improvement to reorganize the cover page of the approval books such that the terms are placed higher up and hence visible without scrolling. If further changes are worthwhile, I am not sure about.
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 08 Sep 2014 12:07:04pm
re: Must be a better way!
".... when I found out PayPal prohibited charging a fee as a prerequisite for using same. ...."
A restriction that should be followed by all the club's sellers.
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
webmaster for the ISWSC http://iswsc.org and ATA http://www.americantopicalassn.org 08 Sep 2014 02:48:24pm
re: Must be a better way!
The good ole PayPal debate always rears its ugly head. In my few sales here, I accepted PayPal, and at times I lost in the overall scheme of fees etc... But then I was just getting rid of my excess stuff so I realized that might happen.
IMHO if you as a seller are willing to offer PayPal, you should accept the fees that accompany it. And where there are no mega corporations selling here, the sellers are selling sans any fee or premium being asked of them to use SOR resources.
I agree that this is to be a friendly transaction between fellow members. If a seller is only soaking, cataloging etc. for the purpose of selling here on StampoRama then it isn't just a friendly relationship between club members but a far more commercial one. And here is where the problem lies. My fear is that there is far too much of a commercial aspect entering the club.
I didn't realize "this" discussion had anything to do with Paypal fees, especially since I was the one who started the discussion.
You want to charge fees? So charge fees.
I gladly pay your fee for the convenience of using PayPal. I don't recall ever asking any seller to "suck up" the fee.
I thought this discussion was simply about "ME" the buyer wanting to make sure that a seller accepted paypal, WITHOUT having to pay my lawyer to read the small print for me'
I just don't think "I" should have to "READ" through pages and paragraphs and Terms & Agreements every time I want to consider buying or bidding on something.
I was responding to the statements about that the sellers should pay all the fees. Unfortunately that happened to show up in this thread. That is the problem with discussion threads. They do tend to meander off subject. I will delete my posts to keep your thread on topic.
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"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
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