eBay Makes It Harder To Get Paid

“Cash, checks, and other non-secure methods aren't allowed for most eBay purchases, with a few exceptions.”

This is a direct quote from eBay’s payment policies. Their concern, so they say, is that too many buyers have been cheated by unscrupulous sellers. This may be so, but we think there is another reason behind this. Since eBay owns PayPal we suspect they might be driving sellers and buyers to use that form of payment so they can earn more fees.

“The fastest way to pay on eBay is by clicking the Pay Now button, which allows you to use PayPal, ProPay, Moneybookers, or Paymate.”

The eBay website favors PayPal and promotes the use of that form of payment. We sell high ticket items on eBay and many times the buyer has little or no feedback and/or is not verified by PayPal. We were once able to accept wire transfers or checks from these customers since we were concerned the buyer might be phony. In fact, we have been stung more than twice by buyers who paid with credit cards or Paypal.
Ebay’s change in this payment policy, combined with their ban on all ivory products, has affected our business severely. It seems that eBay has altered the once balanced playing field of their model by now favoring buyers far more than sellers. Their thinking is probably based on the idea that buyers are the heart of their program while sellers can be replaced easily.
We take great issue with that. Without a large and varied population of sellers and items the buyers would have little to choose from.