BPF - What and Why

[micbr_8101]

I am trying to discern the rationale for the implementation of ebay's new BPF policy which seems to involve:

• a requirement to rid ebay of private sellers – especially those who specialise in low volume, low value commodities,
• an opportunity increase the cash flowing through the system, to hold on to, and benefit from, funds rightfully belonging belonging to sellers, for up to two weeks,
• an attempt to nudge businesses those currently registered as “private”, to reregister as businesses,
• all of the above.

Trying to discourage the low volume/low vale private seller is a denial of its own origin.  Such sellers, with their, often loyal, buyers, are the foundation for the success of ebay as a marketplace and should not be abandoned.

Holding on to funds unnecessarily was a commercial trick used in the past by all banks and financial institutions that was discredited by law long ago - which is why CHAPS payments (for example) now take 24 hours instead of up to 10 days.

Moving businesses registered as “private” on to business accounts is a legitimate aspiration, but surely can be managed in a more subtle, less confrontational way.

Buyers from registered Business sellers are exempted from this tax.  Does this mean such sellers are less likely to deliberately try to defraud a buyer and/or that business sellers are less likely to  be subjected to fraudulent claims?

Now buyers are from private sellers are being made to pay a fee protecting their payments (with the inevitable effect on total cost of their purchases - hugely exaggerated on low cost items), but do they actually get any extra protection on payment of this fee.  My experience suggests up to 4/4/25, buyers were automatically refunded for all reported non-receipt or damaged goods with no opportunity for sellers to dispute potentially fraudulent claims.

There is a huge amount of dissent (and minimal approval) on the community pages, which in all probability  reflects a small proportion of the overall dissatisfaction out there.  Is ebay monitoring and listening to what is being said?  Will there be any reaction?

I suspect not.

[plum993]

In a word yes ebay are aware of sellers and buyers complaints regarding the new changes.

Ebay are like many online venues and they all need to compete to stay alive!

The discussion boards are the place to vent,as this mentor boards is a quick turn around help board for ebay selling and buying 😉

[micbr_8101]

Being "competitive" does not necessarily mean that one has to screw both the customer and the client!!