new eBay scam, sorta

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Posted By: jay behrens

I've notice a number of sellers are now offering free shipping, but with a catch. You get free shipping as long as you pay by cash, check or money order. If you use PayPal or a credit card, they are charging between $10-15 for shipping. Reeks of charging you for PayPal/credit card fees.

I haven't read the sellers rules lately, but I would think something like this is against eBay policy.

Jay

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Posted By: Judge Dred

The sad part of this is that ebay will ignore this issue because in their eyes it's the sellers right to set shipping charges, even though it appears that the seller is trying to recoup their CC or paypal charges

Even though it reeks of charging you for PayPal/credit card fees I'm sure ebay will not do anything about this.

It's kind of like the criminal that gets away with murder because of some legal technicality. Ok, so this isn't murder but if it was I'm sure that ebay would debate whether or not there was a technicality available to the seller or whether or not they could create one.

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Posted By: steve k

Ebay policy listed below copied from their website -

Payment: Surcharges

Sellers may not charge eBay buyers an additional fee for their use of ordinary forms of payment, including acceptance of checks, money orders, electronic transfers or credit cards. Such costs should be built into the price of the item-this policy reduces the potential for confusion among bidders about the true cost of an item. Further, some forms of payment surcharges, such as credit card surcharges, are forbidden under the laws of many states, including California.

Can a seller add a surcharge to the final price of an eBay item? Yes, in three instances:

Sellers may charge a reasonable shipping and handling fee to the final price of their item, providing that this fee is disclosed in the listing. A shipping and handling fee can cover the seller's reasonable costs for mailing, packaging and handling the item. Shipping and handling fees cannot be listed as a percentage of the final sale price.
Sellers may pass along the costs associated with using escrow, if the buyer chooses to use escrow. Use caution when considering escrow. To avoid being deceived by fraudulent escrow services, use www.escrow.com, eBay's approved escrow service.
Sellers may choose to accept payment in a different currency than the currency listed on eBay. If the buyer chooses to take advantage of this optional payment method, the seller may pass along to the buyer any costs associated with the currency exchange, provided that the costs are disclosed and agreed to in advance by the buyer.
Note: Some types of payment surcharges are permitted on some of eBay's international sites.

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Posted By: Jeff S

I'm usually as up in arms as the next guy about various forms of eBay rule-bending, but...

As long as it's a "discount" for paying certain ways, it's seems okay to me. True, the difference between a discount and a surcharge is really just semantics. But come to think of it, maybe its the eBay rule that's misguided here.

After all ... we don't object when car dealers give us discounts for paying more in cash up-front (thus saving them money) or when one-man shops give us discounts for paying cash instead of using a credit card (thus saving them money).

It just seems ridiculous that eBay would prevent sellers from doing something that is a) completely justified by expenses, b) completely honest (as long as they're up-front about it), and c) would probably encourage more sellers to offer paypal (though I suppose it might cause fewer buyers to use paypal, esp. for big-ticket items).

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Posted By: jay behrens

part of the reason they have rule against surcharges for paypal/credit cards, is that it is illegal to do so in many states. It just easier for them to ban everyone from doing rather than trying to figure out who can and cannot do it.

Also posted this because I am sure other people are like me, you scan the auctions so fast that sometimes you forget to look at the shipping charges,

Jay

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Posted By: Dan Elsass

So, it is ok for Mastro Net and others to put the major juice on their Ebay auctions at 20% (as opposed to the 15% you can get on the auction site itself), but it is not ok for sellers to recoup some of their Credit Card or Paypal expenses? That does not make sense to me at all.

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Posted By: jay behrens

Dan, if you've read all the thread then you know that I said "scam, sorta" knowing that it's not a scam in classic sense. It's also been pointed out in this thread that it is against eBay policy to to have a surcharge if you use PayPal or a credit card as well as against the law in numerous states. So yes, I, and many others, have a problem people trying to get around the law.

Personally, I'd take advantage of the free shipping, but I know there are many people like myself that skim auctions and occasionally miss the shipping charge. I made the post so that no one ends up buying something from one of these sellers and suddenly finds out that they have a $15 shipping charge a card on a $15 card.

Jay

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Posted By: Jason

What is reasonable? That is ebay's way of making you think they are covering all bases. One person's "reasonable" charges will vary from the next person. I get sick of hearing people whine about charges on ebay. (not anything personal intended to anyone here) simply........IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE WAY SOMEONE CONDUCTS BUSINESS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BID! If they want to charge extra to recoop paypal or ebay fees so be it. If you don't like it then you certainly do not have to bid. I personally don't care. If I like the item and shipping is reasonable then I buy it. This country's values are so out of whack and alot of problems stem from bitching and moaning of lazy, spoiled people. WAH WAH WAH! Sorry but I had to get that off my chest.

Jason

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Posted By: Joe P.

Reading comprehension .... sorta.

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Posted By: Dan Elsass

Jason, you hit it on the head. That is what I was TRYING TO SAY, but was taken in the wrong text. Buyer beware! That includes this type of auction, Mastro getting 20% from Ebay bidders for juice on their auctions... etc. My shipping on all of my items has always been $425. That pretty much covers them World Wide... Kidding!!!!!!