@ Scott I bit of a guess but he probably wants to ditch PayPal. There has been a bit of an uproar over their threat to fine PayPal users who spread "misinformation". PayPal has backed off by pretending it was all a mistake.
Between PP fees and HS, I'm losing a real chunk of my profit on stamps I sell for less than $5. Thinking of offering to accept personal checks for US purchasers. Anyone else doing this besides Henry?
Ditto. From the buyer's perspective, this adds the cost of the cheque, envelope, paper, and postage to his or her end of the transaction which is why usage of cheques is likely restricted only to those who don't want their personal information sifted through by PayPal.
While Paypal is far from perfect, and I can understand people being upset about Paypal "censoring" what people say, they are a lot less cost than merchant credit card services offered by the Canadian banking industry. I don''t mind personal cheques, but it takes time for the cheque to arrive and there is the chance that the cheque is no good ( i get bad ones about 1 every 2 or 3 years). At least with Paypal payments the sale is made, stamps pulled and shipped in a day and I'm on to something else.
As long as "retail" sites like eBay, and Hipstamp continue to push PayPal as their primary payment method (and this was a smart integration move on PayPal's part going back decades now), it's not going to change/improve. We're tied to PayPal whether we like it or not for the majority of transactions, because of the "merchant" integration between them. They've enjoyed a bit of a monopoly on the online payment systems, and eBay was worse when they owned PayPal as well. It was the fox watching the hen house. So essentially, for now it's a necessary evil. You don't have to agree with it, but not "accepting it" will limit your own sales potential. Buyers have confidence in PayPal, which is why it's been successful. I remember the early days of eBay where the messy implementation of escrow accounts for "large transactions" existed, and it was an administrative nightmare. So, I don't like PayPal, but I accept it's still the best avenue for most of my online sales.
eBay isn't pushing PayPal so much anymore since the two split apart and eBay started their own version ('Managed Payments,' which is even more annoying).
No, Managed Payments isn't a new payment platform. It is a "misnomer" really. It's just their ability to auto control all the transactions, by whichever payment means is being used. PayPal is still very much attached to eBay, and still by far the dominate payment method on the platform (80%+).
I get that, and that was my point, although possibly poorly stated. Lets try it again...Since eBay now uses Managed Payments, they have control over any payment modality used, be it PayPal, credit card, or other electronic transfer, so in a sense, they have no further need to "continue to push PayPal" since they now have their hand in every cookie jar. They don't care as much today since they always get their cut, albeit PayPal being the clear front runner.
I quit eBay last year, after 23 years, because they were forcing me into using managed payments and would not let me use PayPal any more. As far as I know everyone who is a seller in the US has to use Managed Payments, has to give your password for your bank account plus a copy of your drivers license. That was the last straw after I had almost 50,000 sales with them. That was their loss.
Yeah Bill, we were the same. We were members all the way back to 1998. We still have a buyers account (and we pay by PayPal, so I don't quite see how you can "no longer use PayPal", but we are now here, and much happier for it at Hipstamp as a result of the straw on the camels back. In any case, my other point about PayPal being so naturally integrated into eCommerce sites, it's going to be tough to unseat them. At the moment the "payment system du jour" doesn't offer enough stability and credibility for a serious competitor to PayPal.
For US based sales, yes, but for anything out of the country, no. We have had about 2 transactions a year on Zelle, but they are privately arranged sales, and not posted on Hipstamp.
Hipstamp doesn't allow Zelle as a payment option. Which was exactly my point. They should. Like paying with a check plus the added advantage of the neither the buyer nor the seller having to pay a fee. Paypal buyer protection is a very overpriced "guarantee". One which guarantees absolutely nothing. Which from the perspective of an insurer is the best kind. The percentage Paypal fee for low priced orders is especially egregious on a percentage basis.
With one mouse click you can choose to allow customers to request to pay later with any form of payment you want to accept.- just more work on your part,
Is there a more updated version? Or am I reading this wrong. I just see "checks and money orders". I also read through the terms of service and see no mention of Pay Later at all.
I think his point was that if they contact you to arrange alternate payment, it doesn't really matter if it is a check or Zelle, Hipstamp is no longer involved in the process. Take whatever alternate payment you want.
Seems to me if HIP has tied their wagon to Paypal they might look askance at somebody promoting the use of Zelle in their transactions. I certainly don't want to invest the time to do so and find out that that becomes a new no no. I will contact HIP support and try to get clarification if their policy is indeed that you can take whatever alternate payment you want and describe such in your terms or listings. The language in the pay later terms does not give me real comfort that that is truly the policy.
From the Help Center - NOTE " or to work out payment plans, etc."
What is the Pay Later Feature and How Do I Use It for My Store? As a Seller, you have the option to enable our "Pay Later" feature. With this feature, you will have the option to pre-approve specific buyers at their request, to be able to checkout and pay later. This allows you to arrange alternate payment methods with buyers, such as by check or money order, or to work out payment plans, etc.
Enabling the Pay Later Feature You can enable the option of using the Pay Later feature, by checking off the "Enable Buyers To Pay Later" option under "Payment Settings" on the Members Area > Store page, links also below:
Pre-Approving Buyers Once enabled, a "Get Pre-Approved to Pay Later" button will appear on all of your item listings. Buyers can then click this button to get pre-approved by you. This will send you a message through the Hip Message System. Simply reply to the message, and if you wish to approve the Pay Later request, check off the "Approve Request" checkbox which will appear along with the message.
I spoke with HIP and they are fine with Zelle. I was relying on old information. I am happy to hear that that payment option is included under the Pay Later rubric.
Comments
Other than that, none.
I bit of a guess but he probably wants to ditch PayPal.
There has been a bit of an uproar over their threat to fine PayPal users who spread "misinformation".
PayPal has backed off by pretending it was all a mistake.
From the buyer's perspective, this adds the cost of the cheque, envelope, paper, and postage to his or her end of the transaction which is why usage of cheques is likely restricted only to those who don't want their personal information sifted through by PayPal.
They've enjoyed a bit of a monopoly on the online payment systems, and eBay was worse when they owned PayPal as well. It was the fox watching the hen house.
So essentially, for now it's a necessary evil. You don't have to agree with it, but not "accepting it" will limit your own sales potential. Buyers have confidence in PayPal, which is why it's been successful. I remember the early days of eBay where the messy implementation of escrow accounts for "large transactions" existed, and it was an administrative nightmare.
So, I don't like PayPal, but I accept it's still the best avenue for most of my online sales.
That was their loss.
In any case, my other point about PayPal being so naturally integrated into eCommerce sites, it's going to be tough to unseat them. At the moment the "payment system du jour" doesn't offer enough stability and credibility for a serious competitor to PayPal.
Bob
We have had about 2 transactions a year on Zelle, but they are privately arranged sales, and not posted on Hipstamp.
Hipstamp doesn't allow Zelle as a payment option. Which was exactly my point. They should. Like paying with a check plus the added advantage of the neither the buyer nor the seller having to pay a fee. Paypal buyer protection is a very overpriced "guarantee". One which guarantees absolutely nothing. Which from the perspective of an insurer is the best kind. The percentage Paypal fee for low priced orders is especially egregious on a percentage basis.
Bob
With one mouse click you can choose to allow customers to request to pay later with any form of payment you want to accept.- just more work on your part,
Thanks for the heads up.
I really don't see the ability to accept "any form of payment you want" from this Hipstamp Pay Later Wiki
https://support.hipecommerce.com/portal/en/kb/articles/pay-later-by-check-or-money-order
Is there a more updated version? Or am I reading this wrong. I just see "checks and money orders". I also read through the terms of service and see no mention of Pay Later at all.
Thanks
Bob
Seems to me if HIP has tied their wagon to Paypal they might look askance at somebody promoting the use of Zelle in their transactions. I certainly don't want to invest the time to do so and find out that that becomes a new no no. I will contact HIP support and try to get clarification if their policy is indeed that you can take whatever alternate payment you want and describe such in your terms or listings. The language in the pay later terms does not give me real comfort that that is truly the policy.
Bob
What is the Pay Later Feature and How Do I Use It for My Store?
As a Seller, you have the option to enable our "Pay Later" feature. With this feature, you will have the option to pre-approve specific buyers at their request, to be able to checkout and pay later. This allows you to arrange alternate payment methods with buyers, such as by check or money order, or to work out payment plans, etc.
Enabling the Pay Later Feature
You can enable the option of using the Pay Later feature, by checking off the "Enable Buyers To Pay Later" option under "Payment Settings" on the Members Area > Store page, links also below:
Pre-Approving Buyers
Once enabled, a "Get Pre-Approved to Pay Later" button will appear on all of your item listings. Buyers can then click this button to get pre-approved by you. This will send you a message through the Hip Message System. Simply reply to the message, and if you wish to approve the Pay Later request, check off the "Approve Request" checkbox which will appear along with the message.
I spoke with HIP and they are fine with Zelle. I was relying on old information. I am happy to hear that that payment option is included under the Pay Later rubric.
Bob