[Milsurplus] Re: Money Orders

[Barry Hauser]

Scott (and gang)

While you've sold a lot with the MO requirement -- it's what you _don't_ 
see ...

MO /certified check auctions generally pull lower and fewer bids and are 
missing some of the high bids that would be placed when paypal is 
offered.  At least two reasons -- yes, one is the convenience -- but the 
other is -- cash on hand.  Someone may be willing to bid well higher -- 
but doesn't have the cash for a money order or cashier's check.  They 
might be able to write one of those credit card cash advance checks, if 
personal checks are acceptable, but not likely.  For a while, Western 
Union MO's could be purchased by CC, but not for some time.  Bidpay was 
expensive, but closed down and then re-started with new owners, with 
some totally different cash transfer scheme -- not WU MO's.

I often see something of interest with a MO/Certified Check requirement 
and pass on it.  I'm not the only one.  Just compare bid histories of 
similar items where paypal was offered vs. not.  Oh yeah, they charge 
the seller 2.9% plus a 30 cent transaction charge, and maybe $1.50 to 
transfer balances into a bank account (if necessary), but that's per 
transfer, not per transaction.  My estimate -- paypal auctions pull 
20-50% higher than MO/Personal check ones, maybe often more so compared 
to MO/Certified Check offerings.

It's all in the missing bids and the amount of the bids.  No they won't 
complain -- just bid according to cash available or pass it by 
altogether.  It's what you don't see... so there's no way to directly 
see what "clearly did not inhibit people..."  You can get some idea by 
comparing bid histories on closed auctions for similar/same items 
offered with/without personal check/paypal options, etc. So, if you're 
not interested in bids from the paypal "high rollers", then be sure to 
stay the course.  No, I don't own stock in ebay/paypal ;-) But, look, if 
you're happy with what you're getting and not aware of anything missing, 
well that's OK too.

Barry




Scott Schappert wrote:
> I think everyone is very busy.  I have sold on eBay and demand a bank
> draft / money order; no one has ever complained, and clearly did not
> inhibit people from bidding on and purchasing $1,000.00-$2,000.00 items.
> I have also stood happily in a bank line and put my life on hold to get
> a bank draft / money order to send to another eBay seller to acquire
> something that I want.  I have had opportunities to acquire things that
> I would roll pennies and (pay to) send them overnight to a seller for.
>
> I have never had problems sending or receiving money orders.  It's all a
> balance, and a trust issue.
>
> To ridicule an idea is an opinion only and does not by any means reflect
> anyone else's opinion.  How incredibly trivial.
>
> Cheers !
>
> SS
>
> Ex nihilo nihil
>  
>