Thread: New PayPal Policy

We haven't heard anything for sure, on this thread, about whether this really is a new policy, applying to more sellers, or whether it is simply the system of Paypal holds which has applied for a long time. They apply it to particular sellers (not, I think, with particular buyers) for reasons which can include recent registration, a low level of activity or period of dormancy, a high-risk location or type of merchandise, a succession of disputes or bad service, or their being pretty sure someone has got away with something they can't be sure about. There are probably other reasons we don't know about, and they can range from the totally innocent to the totally guilty.

In all cases the eBay policy applies, that a Paypal hold is not a valid reason to delay shipping. If the seller can't pay shipping, his supplier or dropshipper etc., it simply means he hasn't the liquidity to run a business, and the remedy is not to run a business.

eBay motors and a few other categories are exceptions in various ways, but for most purchases eBay policy doesn't require anyone to use Paypal. It requires him to offer at least one online means of payment. He can't oblige the seller to supply his credit card details by phone or in writing, or at all to himself. While a seller can take a check if the buyer asks him to, he isn't oblliged to, and in most areas can't state it in his auction. Here are the permitted online payment methods:



For most categories, sellers need to offer one or more of the following electronic payment choices:

PayPal

ProPay

Moneybookers

Paymate

Credit card or debit card processed through the seller's Internet merchant account

Additionally, payment upon pickup and Bill Me Later are valid payment methods as well.



Payment methods not allowed on eBay:

For most categories, sellers can't ask buyers to:

Send cash through the mail

Send cash or money orders through instant, point-to-point cash transfer services (that are not banks) such as Western Union or MoneyGram

Mail checks or money orders (except for items in categories specifically permitted below)

Pay through bank-to-bank transfers (except for items in categories specifically permitted below)

Pay by "topping off" a seller's prepaid credit or debit card

Pay using online or other payment methods not specifically permitted in this policy


Here is the link: Accepted Payments Policy

Even when the use of Paypal was entirely optional, the majority of eBay sellers and practically all safe eBay sellers chose to accept it and pay for it, as a useful service which brought in the buyers. Even nowadays it should take some pretty unique merchandise to persuade a buyer to use even one of the other online services, which don't offer Paypal's level and ease of protection. For some new system to be viable, it would have to be at least as advantageous to buyers. Comparisons with Amazon aren't really valid, because there a seller is making a transaction with Amazon's name on it, arranged via the same search system as sales of Amazon's own stock, so it is naturally easier to suddenly part company with Amazon, than it is eBay.

It isn't much in anybody's interests to sacrifice anything (e.g. popularity on one hand, and volume of sales on both) for the sort of interest that is available on cash deposits nowadays. I also don't believe the majority of protection disputes arise outside the three week period, but that isn't really the point. Now please understand that I don't have the slightest reason to think the original poster is guilty of sharp practice, but there is a lot of it about. Even if late June cases are only reaching refund point now, there is great deterrent value in the seller's knowing that a lot of July payments are held in the Paypal system, and if he behaves discreditably, will never get out of it.