topic Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay? in Selling

Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

tourterelle33 — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 23:46:23 GMT

Is there anyone out there successfully offering their buyers layby through the current Australian eBay systems?

Afterpay is not the answer for every buyer.

Once upon a time I used to tell my buyer to 'buy it now' but NOT pay - so I would get the buyers phone number at least (used to get email address) so layby conditions and payment information could be arranged - BUT, it now seems that the buyer must 'confirm and pay' otherwise it goes nowhere.

It used to work ok - eBay got their fees (I'm not trying to avoid fees) - I'd tell the buyer to ignore the payment reminders sent by eBay, and I'd have my contact information to proceed with layby arrangements.

Would love to hear if anyone has found a way to offer layby - particularly to new buyers you have never had prior interaction with.

Thanking you!!

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

papermoon.lady — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:10:26 GMT

Ebay offers other options apart from AfterPay, like ZipPay. Even PayPal offers a "Pay in Four" option (you have to apply though, like for any other credit option - having a PP account is not enough). I don't need credit, so I have never used them, but I think they now have stricter rules. There was a thread not too long ago if you search the forum.

If somebody is not accepted by AfterPay, there might be a reason though, and they might have problems with other options too.

I don't think there is an option for a private arrangement between seller and buyer, although if the seller agrees to wait for payment I guess it is possible. I have occasionally done this after winning an auction while waiting for other auctions to complete so the seller would be able to send me a combined postage invoice. I did get reminders (and the seller told me to ignore them because they were automatic).

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

papermoon.lady — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:15:40 GMT

I cannot edit my reply any more. I just wanted to add that with the auctions it was just a matter of days of course. I think the maximum was a week.

I am not sure why you want to offer layby to new buyers?

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

countessalmirena — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:27:44 GMT

Theoretically lay-by may still be possible on eBay, but it’s not protected under the MBG.

As a buyer, I would not use it. If I were a seller, I would not offer it. It seems obvious that eBay have enabled other BNPL payment methods to regulate this sort of transaction… and as papermoon says, there is also the PayPal Pay in Four option. The burden of controlling the payments and schedule doesn’t rest on the seller and is thus far less of a risk for everyone involved.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

tourterelle33 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:43:40 GMT

I just can't find a way to 'wait for payment' - eBay no longer allows you to 'buy it now' and not make immediate payment. About the only other idea I can come up with is to send the buyer an offer, not sure but I think the buyer is able to accept the offer and not be forced to the 'pay and confirm' screen.

When I said Afterpay (and the like) is not an option for everyone I meant perhaps they don't have a credit card - have no idea if those types of options function with debit cards.

Anyway - thank your for your thoughts - appreciated!

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

tourterelle33 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:44:30 GMT

Why not? A sale is a sale

Yes, I'm aware that this person may be trying to scam me - but if they don't make their payments (should we get to a point where we are in a layby agreement) then they won't be getting their purchase.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

papermoon.lady — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:48:56 GMT

@tourterelle33 wrote:
I just can't find a way to 'wait for payment' - eBay no longer allows you to 'buy it now' and not make immediate payment.
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I am not a seller, so I don't know for sure, but many sellers come here complaining that buyers buy something and then don't pay. Are you sure you can't disable immediate payment? From what I know, it is an "option". Have a look at your settings. Or some seller will come here and tell you how to do it.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

padi*0409 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 01:00:29 GMT

@tourterelle33 wrote:

Why not? A sale is a sale
Yes, I'm aware that this person may be trying to scam me - but if they don't make their payments (should we get to a point where we are in a layby agreement) then they won't be getting their purchase.

Apart from the risk to both you and the "buyer" like the sale not being covered by the MBG, if you're aware that there's a possible scam taking place, then not only are you going to lose that sale while the NPD dispute is going through (if you are even allowed to raise one) that item will be unable to be purchased by genuine buyers.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

tourterelle33 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 01:13:54 GMT

I do not require 'immediate payment' - this option is supposedly disabled. Doesn't seem to matter or make any difference. eBay does what is wants with my preferences - including 'combined postage' - that doesn't work real well either, but I think this is particularly when people use mobile devices

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

papermoon.lady — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 01:51:21 GMT

If the issue is the "confirm and pay" stage, if you don't have immediate payment enabled, the buyer can just click on "confirm and pay" and not pay immediately, but they will get reminders to pay. Buyers are supposed to pay after confirming, but theoretically without immediate payment enabled they don't have to pay immediately.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

domino-710 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:06:17 GMT

Just a question - how do you intend to deal with ' part payments ' - what proof will the buyer have of ' part payments '.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

*sons_and_daughters* — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:12:49 GMT

@papermoon.lady wrote:
@tourterelle33 wrote:
I just can't find a way to 'wait for payment' - eBay no longer allows you to 'buy it now' and not make immediate payment.
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I am not a seller, so I don't know for sure, but many sellers come here complaining that buyers buy something and then don't pay. Are you sure you can't disable immediate payment? From what I know, it is an "option". Have a look at your settings. Or some seller will come here and tell you how to do it.

You are correct, you are not a seller, so please stop replying like you are because you have no idea. Immediate payment has been forced onto most sellers for years, even when they have unticked the option in their settings. I don't want the immediate payment option, but I have no choice. If my buyers buy multiple items, which they often do, they have no choice but to pay now after each purchase. Changing settings does absolutely nothing. The settings are the same, yet buyers are forced into immediate payment.

As for being on holidays, who cares? I'm working Christmas day.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

papermoon.lady — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:13:18 GMT

I think that the main problem would be eBay MBG.

With AfterPay and other credit options the payment is considered complete for eBay, but if the buyer pays the seller in instalments, they are not protected if payment is not complete, and 30 days to open a case is not much.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

papermoon.lady — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:27:15 GMT

Experienced sellers advice buyers to add items to their cart and then request a total. I do it all the time. I could name the sellers from whom I constantly buy like that.

Yes, it does not work with immediate payment, but obviously not everybody has it enabled.

is your old account still active?

(PS: There is an option not to view signatures in your account preferences.)

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

domino-710 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:23:39 GMT

The main problem is the installments - what proof does a buyer have.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

twyngwyn — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:25:46 GMT

As I mainly sell at auction, I don't require immediate payment.....I let the buyers bid over a 2 week period, sometimes they pay for the 1st item and I 'hold' until they've finished.....sometimes they don't pay until the end (depends whether they are repeat buyers or not).

If they also want 'BINs' added to the parcel, they do this at the end, by placing in cart.....confirming purchase, then I send them a combined invoice

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

tourterelle33 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:27:02 GMT

Well that is great if that works!! I started to 'play' - buying from one of my eBay accounts with another of my eBay accounts, but when I got to the 'confirm and pay' page I lost courage!!

Just feel as though eBay likes to save your payment methods and as soon as that button is hit, then payment is made. Perhaps I'll buy something cheap from myself and see.

Thanks again for all your help.

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

papermoon.lady — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:29:46 GMT

@domino-710 wrote:
The main problem is the installments - what proof does a buyer have.
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I am not sure how it would work with Managed Payments either??

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

domino-710 — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:29:51 GMT

Are you going to Lay-By it. lol

Re: Layby - is it possible on Australian eBay?

countessalmirena — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:33:08 GMT

eBay is really not the most appropriate venue for selling with lay-by (in my opinion). The whole online purchasing environment has changed dramatically since the early days of eBay.

OP, you know you’ll be charged the full FVF by eBay immediately, unless you indicate within the timeframe permitted that the purchaser hasn’t paid?

The buyer doesn’t need a credit card or debit card. (That’s been the case even with PayPal.) All that the buyer needs is a funding source - bank account. Mind you, they’d be foolish not to have a debit card (checking T&Cs to ensure it has protection of chargeback in the case of a dispute).

Under AfterPay and ZipPay, ditto (As far as I’m aware). These bodies only need a way of grabbing the money, and the buyer only had to click onto the permission field to give the company that defined access to his/her bank account.

I think lay-by works well in bricks and mortar shops and department stores, but in the eBay environment it is now fraught with difficulties.