Ebay ?, Accepting payment from unconfirmed address

[Robinette]

I am so frustrated right now. I would like your input and advice...please.

I have been selling on ebay since this spring. It is going well, my feedback is almost to 300 and 100% positive. Well, for now anyway.

A payment came through paypal from a buyer and their address was unconfirmed. I clearly state in all my auctions that I only ship to confirmed addresses if paying through paypal.

This buyer just registered the day he made the purchase (it was a buy it now) and his paypal account was brand new, unconfirmed address and unverified. So his payment was denied and he is mad. Wants to know why. I explain the reason, give him my phone number to call me, (I know sometimes an email can come off harsh or he just may not understand since he's new.) I tell him I will ship once the correct form of payment comes through.

He emailed and stated that he no longer wants the items, another seller had no problem accepting his payment. Tells me I am a bully and will leave feedback stating so.

I'm not a bully! Those are just my terms. But now I will most likely get a negative and there is nothing I can do about it. Very frustrating! How is it that a nonpaying bidder can leave a negative?

I need to file an unpaid item dispute, he is gonna really love that!

So my question is this, is it really necessary to only accept confirmed address payments from paypal? So many sellers don't and I wonder if I am hurting my business by requiring it.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[lbgraves]

You are only protected as a seller if you accept from confirmed accounts & ship to verified addresses. I would stick to PP's rules so that you aren't stuck with chargebacks for not following them.

 

[tinaluis]

I bent the rules a couple of times and shipped to unconfirmed addresses but only when selling small ticket items -- Disney VHS movies which typically sold for about $5 - $8. I wouldn't do it for a big ticket item. Just my $.02. I also hate that eBay lets a NPB provide feedback -- totally unfair. Good luck with this one.

 

[Robinette]

The item was for just over $250. That is why I am afraid of getting a chargeback. I do ship priority mail with delivery confirmation. Will that alone protect against fraud?

 

[lbgraves]

I am guessing that you have a business account if you sell at that amount. The DC would protect you if they filed a claim. There are so many scams with buyers lately though. I know a couple people who sell & they have had paypal make them refund because a person claimed that the item didn't work but when it was returned it did work.

 

[ceecee]

I have accepted for low amounts, but not over $100.00. You can still get a charge back even if the address is verfied and they are confirmed. It happened to me. Before you accept the payment, it tells how long they have been registered and how many sellers they have paid. If he's new and has none you did the right thing. Just respond to his negative with the reason and people will understand, even if he does leave you negative.

 

[Ava83]

I just bought something on EBAY were a confirmed address was requested. I went and checked what that exactly was and found that my address was confirmed.

But becasue it was in the buyers terms I put a note in saying that if they had any issues with my payment to let me know and we would figure it out.

Point being is that those are your terms and you are doing nothing wrong and the buyer should be flexible.

Peg

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

Robinette,

I would NOT do it. WIth an unconfirmed address it doesn't matter -- they can do a chargeback even if you do the delivery confirmation.

ALSO, this is very important ... even WITH a confirmed address you need SIGNATURE confirmation for items over $250 ... delivery confirmation is not sufficient.

Hope that helps ... his being angry over this tells me he could be trying to scam you .... especially with a high price item, just registering, etc. I'd be very careful dealing with him ... and I believe the rules with ebay just changed and IF he leaves negative feedback as a npb the negative feedback can be removed (not 100% sure about that tho ... the rules just changed and I think I remember reading about that.)

lorie

 

[PrincessKitty]

DON'T DO IT!

I have shipped to an unconfimed address when the person has plenty of positive feedback (20+) and the item is very cheap (less than 15 or 20 bucks). I would NEVER do it for an expensive item. Your buyer should just confirm his address!

If he gives you a negative, you can respond to it explaining something like "I cannot ship a $250 item to unconfirmed Paypal address." I would also give him negative feedback.

I do wonder if he is trying to pressure you into taking the payment so he can scam you!

 

[Robinette]

He no longer wants to pay for the item. He is mad that I refused his payment, even after I twice tried explaining to him how to confirm an address with paypal. I really think the whole thing confused him, he at one point sent me an email saying..."my confirmed address is 1234 Main Street"

That is why I ask if it's really necessary to request this of bidders, but from what you are all telling me, it is a must. And I will accept the advice of sending with signature confirmation too, thanks for letting me know about that.

It's upsetting cause I have had quite a few people trying to pay with unconfirmed addresses and they seem unaware of what I am requesting of them.

 

[Colinsmom]

I also require that in my auctions, and experience similar frustrations. You definitely did the right thing - much better to take a negative (that you can explain away; no one will hold it against you) than lose $250!!!

 

[rflorek]

Robinette,

I would NOT do it. WIth an unconfirmed address it doesn't matter -- they can do a chargeback even if you do the delivery confirmation.

ALSO, this is very important ... even WITH a confirmed address you need SIGNATURE confirmation for items over $250 ... delivery confirmation is not sufficient.

Hope that helps ... his being angry over this tells me he could be trying to scam you .... especially with a high price item, just registering, etc. I'd be very careful dealing with him ... and I believe the rules with ebay just changed and IF he leaves negative feedback as a npb the negative feedback can be removed (not 100% sure about that tho ... the rules just changed and I think I remember reading about that.)

lorie

Lorie is correct. This is from the Paypal site:

Protection Policies - Seller Protection Policy

How do I qualify for the Seller Protection Policy?

In order for a transaction to be eligible for protection under the Seller Protection Policy, the transaction must be marked as SPP eligible and sellers must:
Have a qualified Verified Business or Premier Account
Ship to the confirmed address on the Transaction Details page
Retain reasonable proof of postage that can be tracked online
Require signature receipt on items equal to or more in value than $250.00 USD

 

[DiscussDisney]

I alway re-direct my buyers to paypal if their address comes up unconfirmed. So far I have been lucky, eveyone has been super nice when I deny their payment for the unconfirmed address. I explain to them that it is for their protection as well as ours. They definitely understand when you tell them about hijacked/stolen accounts, etc.... Don't send without the confirmed address, at least not for expensive items!

 

[seashoreCM]

If your auction description says Paypal only with confirmed address (all mine do) then you do not have to accept Paypal with an unconfirmed address and the buyer is still obliged to complete the transaction paying using another method.

You may file a non-paying buyer dispute and follow through to the point you get your final value fee (commission) refunded and the buyer gets a strike (the usual eBay sanction too many of which suspends him) against him.

But now I will most likely get a negative and there is nothing I can do about it. Very frustrating! How is it that a nonpaying bidder can leave a negative?
It.

Happens all the time.


Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Robinette]

I have not heard back from him and I don't think I will. I have to wait till the 1st of September to file the unpaid item dispute.

He has not left me any feedback as of yet but I am no longer worried about it. I have gotten some great advice here from you all and I thank you it!! I will just respond to any negitive fb he may decide to leave me in a professional, not emotional, way.

I'll post if I hear anything from him again.

Thanks all!