Group Buy Interest?

[qiktune]

I think I'm going to head back over to the "give Randy a buck" button and would love for chance to reconsider - give us the opportunity to help out.

The frustration you two are feeling at the moment is NOT what you signed on for.

 

[mshilarious]

44%. Source: eWeek
http://googlewatch.eweek.com/conten..._in_2006_but_has_customer_service_issues.html

I'm surprised it is that high, frankly. It's not particularly friendly by any stretch of the imagination....

Wow, I am really surprised by Google's abysmal rating in the same article. I thought people liked Google Checkout

I just had a look again, I could get a cart + processing for 2.19% + $0.20 + $50 per month from my web provider, vs. 2.2% + $0.29 from Paypal . . . pretty much a wash. No merchant pays 2.9% at Paypal, that's just for small-volume eBay sellers really . . .

Google checkout advertises lower rates, but every time I look at setting up their service, I get confused by the need for a shopping cart provider. And their web site isn't that easy to navigate. I got confused again today But then at 19% satisfaction, I don't think I'll bother.

I know with my web provider, I can call their tech support and complain about minutiae. It's some guy in India who probably wishes I was dead, but it's a live human being

 

[chance]

Now I am getting really upset. 2 weeks ago, I sold some gear to a friend of mine for $1000.00 (just what I need to pay the IRS tomorrow)via pp. My friend got his gear, but Palpay WILL NOT GIVE ME WHAT IS OWED ME.

 

[Zetajazz44]

This might be the solution...

I just PM'd Chance about this but haven't heard back from him, but I thought I'd post it here and get your thoughts on it:


I was just talking to another ISO friend of mine in Atlanta, and his suggestion was to do online ACH's... Basically, online checks... This money would get deposited directy from the GB participant's bank account into Chance's... AND CHEAP TOO! Usually the fees are about 1% + $0.50 per transaction... I've implemented this in the past, but I had totally forgotten about it...

This would be as easy as any method out there, and there is NO RISK INVOLVED!!!!!!!! When the person pays, if the funds aren't in their account, it don't get paid... simple as that... And once the funds arrive in Chance's account, there is no such thing as a chargeback, refunds...etc., thus why there is no RISK for the processor and they are happy to take these types of accounts...

Reason for me even thinking along these lines of ACH is that even if we get a processor that is willing do process these transactions, there is still an upstream provider to that particular ISO/processor... AND, I still believe there is a weasel out there complaining, and if this one complaint came into the chain at any processor upstream from the one we'd be using: "I've paid, but now it's gonna be 3 months until I receive my stuff", we'd be back in the same boat as we are now, and shut down again...

But with ACH's, it doesn't work that way...

Let me know what you all think about this method before I pursue it any further...my fingers are literally sore from typing today...


Randy

 

[matthewinphilly]

Thoughts...

First off, Randy and Chance--major, major properties to you fellows for all your work and dealing with these hassles. We all really appreciate it--I know I do.

Re the ACH idea, I for one would like the possibility of using a CC, given the benefits that come with that for me (miles, etc.), but if that's the best/safest route, then by all means it'd be cool. Just wanted to take you up on your offer to give some feedback.

You and others know way more than I, but is Google Checkout not a possibility? Or is it no good/difficult, too?

thanks again!
mp

 

[Zetajazz44]

First off, Randy and Chance--major, major properties to you fellows for all your work and dealing with these hassles. We all really appreciate it--I know I do.

Re the ACH idea, I for one would like the possibility of using a CC, given the benefits that come with that for me (miles, etc.), but if that's the best/safest route, then by all means it'd be cool. Just wanted to take you up on your offer to give some feedback.

You and others know way more than I, but is Google Checkout not a possibility? Or is it no good/difficult, too?

thanks again!
mp

No, all suggestions are good suggestions! I welcome them...

The problem again comes, using credit cards. Credit Cards are just that...credit/loans/lending...which involve a certain amount of risk to the processor... For everyday after you've paid for goods and you haven't received them, the processor feels like their risk of a chargeback goes up dramatically... You can read the post that I made last night HERE that explains that... and the different models they base their decisions on...

Yeah, we could all agree that we KNOW that the products aren't even manufactured yet...and that shipping would be some 4 months away...and be Ok with that... BUT JUST ONE IMPOSTER, who complains back to a processor within our processing chain, and we're back to square one again..

Here are a few items that ANY card processor frowns on, from a transaction processing basis about this group buy:

1. The products being paid for NOW don't exist yet as they haven't been manufactured.
2. The products are being manufactured outside the borders of the US which limits any recourse they might take should fraud exist.
3. The 3-4 month lead-time for manufacture and shipment increases the chance that someone will back-out and want a refund.
4. This long lead time, means that the processor will in effect be "floating" funds for this entire period, up until the products are delivered to the buyers, and this lengthy time span keeps the door open too long to allow fraud to creep in.

This is why that I suggested ACH transactions... All of these points listed above are moot with ACH... If the money actually exists, and only if it exists, it gets paid... There are no credit/loans/lending going on here, so the processor is at minimal risk...and also why the processing rates are so low for ACH...

Randy

 

[_mat_]

Randy & Chance,

I never said anything before, but I absolutely hate paypal with a passion and this adds more fuel to my fire. A few months ago (november) I got a letter in the mail from paypal's credit card affiliate stating that I owed a $1,500 balance. As it turned out, someone stole my paypal ID and opened 5 credit cards with my name and address. When I called paypal to complain and have them shut down my account, they refused and denied me all of my online privileges. To this day, I still have not regained full access to my account. They were beyond rude on the phone and have the crappiest security I've ever seen.

Paypal shutting us down is no surprise after all of the credit fraud ($5,000 in charges) and crappy customer service they gave me.

Randy, I commend you on delving so deep into something so unselfish. Thank you!

- Mat

 

[ausrock]

Randy,

I'm presuming you're refering to a Direct Deposit/Wire Transfer type thing.....one bank to another. This may be economically viable for guys within the US but having used the facility for purchases from the US it adds a hefty charge for guys o/seas, well at least here in Aust., where both Wire Transfers and/or Intl Bank Cheques (which are posted across) command additional fees of approx., $25AU.....on top of that, it's not uncommon tfor the US banks to charge a processing fee before they hand the funds over........more than once, I've had to send a small amount over to make up for that shortfall.

ChrisO

EDIT....: Also, o/seas banks usually have an association with only one or two major banks in other countries so transferred funds go from the buyer's bank to their "partner" bank and then to the sellers bank.........the "risk" here is that the funds can be delayed by the middleman, or as we experienced about 3 years ago, they can become "lost" in their systems during transfer processing.....we had $3000 disappear for over two weeks (from memory, I think it was The Bank of New York) before it even got to the seller's bank.

 

[drBill]

Chance - Randy,

Hang in there guys. THANKS for all your support, care and hard work. You guys ROCK. There are at least 500 guys out there that feel this way. And it seems at least ONE who doesn't. I hope the truth comes out. It seems it always does eventually.

Best,

Bill

 

[Zetajazz44]

Chance - Randy,

Hang in there guys. THANKS for all your support, care and hard work. You guys ROCK. There are at least 500 guys out there that feel this way. And it seems at least ONE who doesn't. I hope the truth comes out. It seems it always does eventually.

Best,

Bill

THANK YOU!

Yes, I just got off the phone with Chance and we're still all over this problem...like a new suit!

We'll get it all straight very soon...

There are at least 500 guys out there that feel this way. And it seems at least ONE who doesn't. I hope the truth comes out. It seems it always does eventually.

Yep, it does: Numbers 32:23

Thanks again!

Randy

 

[Zetajazz44]

Randy,

I'm presuming you're refering to a Direct Deposit/Wire Transfer type thing.....one bank to another. This may be economically viable for guys within the US but having used the facility for purchases from the US it adds a hefty charge for guys o/seas, well at least here in Aust., where both Wire Transfers and/or Intl Bank Cheques (which are posted across) command additional fees of approx., $25AU.....on top of that, it's not uncommon tfor the US banks to charge a processing fee before they hand the funds over........more than once, I've had to send a small amount over to make up for that shortfall.

ChrisO

EDIT....: Also, o/seas banks usually have an association with only one or two major banks in other countries so transferred funds go from the buyer's bank to their "partner" bank and then to the sellers bank.........the "risk" here is that the funds can be delayed by the middleman, or as we experienced about 3 years ago, they can become "lost" in their systems during transfer processing.....we had $3000 disappear for over two weeks (from memory, I think it was The Bank of New York) before it even got to the seller's bank.

Thanks ausrock for reminding me of this... This is something that I will discuss with the ACH engine providers next call...

I'll do my best to find a good solution for you guys outside the US... I won't forget about ya...

Thanks,

Randy

 

[mshilarious]

EDIT....: Also, o/seas banks usually have an association with only one or two major banks in other countries so transferred funds go from the buyer's bank to their "partner" bank and then to the sellers bank.........the "risk" here is that the funds can be delayed by the middleman, or as we experienced about 3 years ago, they can become "lost" in their systems during transfer processing.....we had $3000 disappear for over two weeks (from memory, I think it was The Bank of New York) before it even got to the seller's bank.

That's very rare. International businesses move billions of dollars/euros/whatever every day via wire transfer, in many years of corporate accounting with transfers in the thousand to million dollar range, I don't recall a problem that was more severe than a fax getting lost in the wire transfer department . . . which just meant the money never got sent . . .

 

[ausrock]

Believe me, in this case it was lost...........I was at my bank when it was sent so that wasn't the problem and a number of phone calls by me to the appropriate people at the Bank of New York confirmed they had received the transfer, they just couldn't find what had happened with it in their facilty and when it did finally turn up in the seller's account, there were no apologies or explanations given.............this was for a Les Paul my son was buying and thank goodness we had an understanding seller.

 

[ausrock]

Thanks ausrock for reminding me of this... This is something that I will discuss with the ACH engine providers next call...

I'll do my best to find a good solution for you guys outside the US... I won't forget about ya...

Thanks,

Randy

Randy,

It may be wise to suggest to all o/seas guys that they contact their specific banks to find out what the banks transfer charges are as this will have to be paid up front and people will need to be aware of this....................... what happens at your end is something you guys will have to sus out, it may be necessary for a "handling or processing fee" to be added to everyone's orders so that Chance isn't out of pocket.

Would it be possible to set up two avenues for payment.........one being the direction you going with the ACH, the other a CC facility for o/seas guys who prefer that method.

 

[earlwgreen]

Hey Randy,

I'm still vacillating between 2 mics and may want to change my order. I went to the User Console but I can't see my order anymore. I know you're trying to get the payment options settled, but just want to be sure I can still change my order before payment.

Am I missing something?

I too am glad you are not using PAYPAL. I've been very leery about them for some time. I also agree that someone in this group buy has stirred the pot. What ever you guys decide to use will be fine. I like the idea of using checks too. It works just as well.

Thanks for all you are doing.

Earl

 

[mshilarious]

Believe me, in this case it was lost...........I was at my bank when it was sent so that wasn't the problem and a number of phone calls by me to the appropriate people at the Bank of New York confirmed they had received the transfer, they just couldn't find what had happened with it in their facilty and when it did finally turn up in the seller's account, there were no apologies or explanations given.............this was for a Les Paul my son was buying and thank goodness we had an understanding seller.

I believe you, but you should also believe me that such problems are rare. After all, the group buy has to depend on international wire transfer to make the payment to China, and I believe it is quite reliable (although I don't have experience with China, just Hong Kong).

earlwgreen, international checks are severely problematic. When deposited into a US account, they go to the international collections department at the bank, which can take up to six weeks. Funds are not made available until received from international collections.

 

[Zetajazz44]

I'm still vacillating between 2 mics and may want to change my order. I went to the User Console but I can't see my order anymore. I know you're trying to get the payment options settled, but just want to be sure I can still change my order before payment.

Am I missing something?

Earl

I fixed this Earl... Please try it and if you have any problems, please let me know...

Thanks!

Randy

 

[earlwgreen]

Sorry Randy, now it doesn't even bring up the site. Says "HTTP 500 Internal Server Error in the IE Tab.

Earl

 

[Zetajazz44]

Sorry Randy, now it doesn't even bring up the site. Says "HTTP 500 Internal Server Error in the IE Tab.

Earl

Sorry about that Earl.. Pleas try again.. I must've gotten ahead of myself when I made the update...

Let me know if it doesn't work for you...again.


Randy

 

[dgatwood]

Sorry about that Earl.. Pleas try again.. I must've gotten ahead of myself when I made the update...

Let me know if it doesn't work for you...again.

Still seeing:

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