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[OM] Re: [OT] Paypal charges, was interesting items still get good price

Subject: [OM] Re: [OT] Paypal charges, was interesting items still get good prices
From: "Simon Worby" <simon@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 09:51:31 -0000
Andrew Fildes wrote:

> This is an occasional topic here. In fact, 3% is quite reasonable - <snip>

Yes, it is reasonable. And in theory I have no problem with asking for 3%. If 
the buyer's don't like it they don't have to buy. I used to charge 3%, but now 
I can't, so I certainly don't see why I should pay anyone else 3% when I can no 
longer charge it myself.

> Personally I have been known to ask for a premium on Paypal equal to 
> about half the charge - I figure it's only fair that the buyer should 
> share the expense of the transaction as I am a private seller, not a 
> dealer, and all the considerable expenses involved in selling on eb*y 
> are not tax deductible.

They would be if you declared the profit you made on selling things!

> And, after all, tradition auction houses 
> handling art, etc., often hit both sides with a fee.

They all have their own rules which you abide by if you want to buy/sell 
through them. Just like eBay.

> The only way that one can do this legally now is to bury the Paypal 
> premium in a 'handling' charge. Perversely, eb*y does not forbid 
> charging for a currency exchange transaction! The trouble is that high 
> handling or exchange charges tend to outrage buyers, who assume that 
> you are trying to rip them off.

It might be worth not trying to charge extra, thereby not putting people off, 
and take the hit yourself and offset it against the fact that you had more 
bidders and sold your item for much more?

> On the occasions that I've requested a 
> 5% premium in the listing and eb*y hasn't noticed, buyers have never 
> complained or refused to pay it.

What you don't know is how much more you might have sold the item for had you 
not asked for the extra 5%. I find my best buys on eBay were where the vendor 
wanted a cheque. Not being able to pay with PayPal certainly seems to put 
buyers off.

> Simon, if you can find a way to organise a free transaction or to build 
> a fair cut of the fees into an auction, I'd love to hear it!

There isn't one. But if you buy & sell it all comes out in the wash.

Regards,

Simon
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