Is the UK Ebay-Paypal Link Legal?

[bigdave24]

Just chatting with someone and we were talking about having to use paypal if you want to sell on ebay,and no other options for taking card payments etc(unlike the U.S)and they seemed to think it seemed odd,especially as they are now separate companies,unlike Amazon that processes its own payments.

No more than a Sunday afternoon chat,but interested in opinions etc,as it does seem against free trade etc.

Thanks

[JamesNorth101]

Accounts from many many moons ago (pre 2007) have the option to not have to accept PayPal

Everything since then you have to offer PayPal. No way around that and it doesn't look like it will be changing any time soon

[phaz0rz]

It's their company so they make the rules, right?

[bigdave24]

Seems odd,now they have split that ebay UK wouldn't be open to a more US style choice of suppliers?

I'm sure I'm right in thinking you can use a different card processor in the states?Or maybe not???

[phaz0rz]

From USA ebay:

" Sellers can accept credit card payments to their Internet merchant account directly through eBay checkout by providing their payment gateway account information. This is a free service for eBay sellers. Buyers pay immediately using the Pay Now button. Payments are securely and instantly processed online from eBay checkout through your payment gateway. Sellers receive an email telling them they've been paid and they know they can ship the item."

So, having a merchant account with which you can process your own credit cards is the only way to avoid using Paypal to process payments in the US.

Ebay and Paypal "split", but they're still very loyal to each other and they still share all the same info as they did before.

[bigdave24]

I get the reasons to link up,and stay linked,but I'm surprised the option to add your own merchant account is unavailable,would of thought its against some sort of free trade rule,now its not "in house" processing?

I thought that was how Amazon got to use it,as they handle all of the processing and don't outsource it?

[GreenBean]

Status quo.

ebay/paypal UK perceive no need to change "a good thing".

Thus it continues.

[phaz0rz]

I can only assume USA Ebay offers that option because the USA market is the largest for them. Many large corporations sell on USA Ebay and I doubt those companies would be willing to use Paypal for their payments when they've already been accepting credit cards on their own for years.

Could also be a trust issue. Allowing sellers to use merchant accounts removes some of the buyer protection put into place by using Paypal.

All of this is purely speculation, of course. I really don't know.

[bigdave24]

All good points,hopefully the status quo will change,and soon!

[GreenBean]

WARNING EBAY CO UK LINK

Selecting Payment Methods

Under some circumstances sellers may use other options.

We tend to be amendable prior to Christmas sales for the UK.

[bigdave24]

You still have to offer paypal though GB,which is a shame when they are so difficult to deal with!

[Play]

Like you said, in the UK Paypal is mandatory. No such thing as 'free trade' on ebay. You do what they tell you to do im afraid. The split between ebay and paypal can be ignored, and shall be ignored as nothing actually split!

I get a lot of waffle from ebay when I sell items for cash on collection. They expect me to take Paypal payment, let the buyer collect the item, and then do a chargeback when they get home.

[richie2065]

It will be in both company contracts that you have to offer PP as primary payment method otherwise you are devaluing the company the moment it is sold