OT- Ebay/Paypal, blocking unconfirmed addresses

[kellia]

I saw this recently on a thread and set it up to block payment from unconfirmed addressses. I got my first person who was very unhappy about it! They finally complied and paid, but from the nasty messages I am concerned about feedback.

Do you get a lot of complaints about this? Should I put that in the auction listing?

Thanks!

 

[earthfaries]

Yes you definately need to put this in your listing. It is your right to only ship to confirmed address, and I think the only reason anyone would be upset, including myself being a big ebay buyer, is if it wasn't listed. I won an auction a couple of weeks ago and I didn't see it listed and was surprised to get that message when I tried to pay through paypal. After days he finally let me pay without confirming. Anyway, it is only fair to let people know, then they can not leave negative feedback, because buy purchasing your item, they are agreeing to all your terms. If you did not list it, they could leave neg. feedback, saying you required it, you didn't list it, etc. Hope this helps!

 

[jessica52877]

I also would make sure that I listed it in my auctions. I would think you would have some very unhappy buyers if they went to pay and then weren't able to pay the way they planned on.

 

[kellia]

Okay, thanks! I guess I never noticed it before in any auctions, so didn't think to add it. I guess I really don't understand why people wouldn't do it??

I do also accept money orders and checks, and if he'd wanted I would have cancelled it. I just made this change, so this was my first problem, obviously my error.

Also- has anyone else had problems with Ebay when listing and sending invoices it won't save your payments instructions? Some times it is there, but most of the times it is not. That has been driving me crazy!!

 

[Banana magic]

I just had a similar thing happen to me. I haven't sold on Ebay in a while and I didn't realize about the unconfirmed address situation. I have 2 items that sold, both to 2 different people with unconfirmed address. They both have under 5 feedback (though all positive). One item is $15, the other is $20. Not huge amounts, but big enough for me. As soon as the 2nd one happened, I read more into this, and changed the rest of my listings to reflect must have confirmed address, and blocked them in paypal. I am hoping there is no issue like you have had in the future. I am also hoping that these two transactions go thru okay. I have emailed both to confirm that the address I am sending to is theirs. So far I have heard back that one person uses their work address, and that is why its not confirmed. I guess I have to keep my fingers crossed since it appears Paypal does not side with the seller no matter what the emails or anything say?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I had changed my paypal to accept only payments from users with confirmed addresses then somehow a payment came thru with an unconfirmed address!

Now what do I do???

 

[mmcguire]

Just a little feedback from a former ebay buyer...

Not being able to easily have things shipped to an unconfirmed address is the reason I don't buy on ebay anymore. I have a 200+ rating with 100% positive feedback. I prefer paying with Paypal, and of course my confirmed address is my home address since it's associated with my credit cards and checking account. I commute 40 min to work, and can't drive home to wait for a package. I also don't want things left when nobody is home, nor do I want to drive to someplace to pick it up. I want my purchases shipped to my office because that is what is convenient for me. It's become a real hassle to buy things on ebay anymore, so now I just don't bother.

I know sellers have to protect themselves from fraud, but please realize that not all buyers are criminals, and don't like being treated as such.

 

[pezpam]

Marci's right. Now, my address is confirmed, but I know people who don't want to confirm because they aren't comfortable giving the necessary information to Paypal. They're great Ebayers, but tend to be concerned about hacking and info leaks and such. I'm not sure what the answer is because even knowing them, I get a little worried when a buyer has an unconfirmed address, but so far I haven't had any problems.

Whether it's the address issue or something else, if I get a really hinky feeling about a certain transaction, I'll spend a little extra to require a signature for delivery. With USPS, the buyer can go to the PO when it's convenient for them and they know that they can't just claim not to have rec'd the item. Again, I haven't had an issue with it, but the peace of mind is worth it.

The only real problems I've had as a buyer or as a seller were with people who had good numbers and a very positive rating. It's sad that it happens at all, but out of something like 700 or 800 transactions, I'd say that only 3 were serious problems and 2 of those 3 were resolved somehow.

 

[rflorek]

I want my purchases shipped to my office because that is what is convenient for me.

My co-worker has confirmed both his home address (by adding his credit card to his account) and his work address through the alternate confirmation method. That way, he is covered by a confirmed address no matter when his packages are shipped.

Whether it's the address issue or something else, if I get a really hinky feeling about a certain transaction, I'll spend a little extra to require a signature for delivery.

Even with signature confirmation, you must ship to a confirmed address in order to be eligible for their Seller Protection Policy.



Personally, I confirmed my address by adding my credit card to the account, and I use my credit card to pay for purchases through Paypal to get the added protection that my credit card offers in the event of a problem. I feel safer giving credit card info to Paypal than giving bank account info to them.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

As a seller though once you have a couple of chargebacks because you shipped something to an unconfirmed address then you learn your lesson and play by paypal's rules - even if you don't agree with them.

I don't ship outside the US either because of paypal's "lack of seller protection" policy. I know I miss out on sales and bids but I would rather not risk chargebacks.

 

[kellia]

Help! I now have one person who is trying to confirm, but having problems doing it and another one who doesn't want to (it was added to the auction before he bid).

Has anyone got burned by shipping to unconfirmed address? Should I take it off?

 

[i3utterfli82]

I ship to unconfirmed addresses, and my address is unconfirmed. WHY? Because for some reason ebay's system does not recognize my credit cards address has changed since we moved. It will not let me change it saying it does not match the system. This is nonsense because my credit card statements come to my new address, which we have been at for almost 3 years! I have never had a problem. I do not ship out of the country though.