I am confining myself to what I feel is morally correct, not what is legally binding in lengthy user agreements that I expect perhaps only one us has read. If that.
As for eBay - charging both a non-refundable listing fee (+ more fees for more photos etc) and
then going on to charge a 10% final value fee, is in my opinion a bit much.
I'm in Dennis's camp when it comes to user agreements and holding up your end of a bargain. If you don't like eBay or PayPal's terms and conditions, there's a simple answer...don't use them. However, you will limit the number of eyes that will see your product and quite possibly, the person who would be willing to pay the most may not see it. You want to play, you have to pay. Whether it's 10% to eBay or 30%+ to a high end auction house (which will also charge your buyer a similar fee). All that caviar isn't cheap, you know.
Seller then said "NO, DO NOT BUY IT NOW". If you do i will cancel it. Come in person, inspect and pay cash. Seller was 2.5 hour drive..I tried to arrange to view but by the time I was able to travel(3hr drive), a local guy had bought the watch, and I missed out.
What I've read here is that some sellers would list an item, solicit offers on it, only to be told that the seller will only sell outside of eBay. I wish I had the power to cancel that seller's account, because that is fraud. The last time I looked, fraud was a crime in most jurisdictions. The fact that eBay is asleep at the switch is their problem, but it doesn't make that action justifiable under any circumstances.
Several forums I visit have stickies in B/S/T to the effect that "it's against PayPal's TOS to ask the buyer to pay fees." This holds whether it's
PP + 4%
PP gift
PP family/friends
PP net to me
With respect to the "4%" question" -- remember that this fee covers the buyer and seller in a transaction regardless of whether you choose to use a credit card or not. Buyers are protected to differing degrees by their credit card companies and sellers are assured of having good funds and not having to worry about bad checks or forged money orders.
The choice of the type of payment accepted should be left up to the parties involved, but I would never buy on eBay without using a credit card. Same is true even here on ΩF, unless I know you or you come very highly recommended by someone I know. On a private deal, I have no problem paying the 4% if the value is there. To me, it's a cost of doing business. If your margins are that tight, you likely aren't buying at the right price to make a decent profit. That's not my problem, please don't make it so.
Yup, when it comes to multinationals avoiding all the taxes that I pay, then I don't have an issue or problem with playing a similar game if the opportunity arises.
I see no justification for attempting to cheat a business out of a fee that you both agreed on because
you think that they are evading taxes. Every state and country has laws that define what is and isn't considered tax evasion (as opposed to avoidance, which is both legal and expected). When you get a job as a tax auditor in your jurisdiction, then you get to make that call. Otherwise, either just assume they are operating legally or if you really think they are operating illegally in your country, then you have the right to boycott them. Tax evasion is a legal issue, not a moral one.
Sorry for being so long-winded here. I'm actually quite surprised that we are even having this conversation.
gatorcpa
