Ping not all it is made out to be!

A seller can only sell something with Ping or afterpay as ways to pay.   As I understand it, if you try to pay another way Trade Me is unhappy with you and can shut you out - but I could be wrong.

Everyone who joins trademe has a ping account as part of their membership

And AJ - if they try to pay another way after wining an auction?

Trademe allows for buyers to pay with cash on pick up as an alternative to ping

Of course, buyers may ask to pay by bank deposit too

Thank you AJ, that is the first time I have heard that we can ask to pay by bank deposit. 

Well its unknown yet whether trademe will allow it - I havent read anything to say they have outright banned it, only firm in the only 3 ways to pay are PING, afterpay and cash. There is nothing stopping a buyer asking any legimate and relevent question.

that is what I thought....

The other issue I have is how long the payment sits in the PING folder before it is released to my bank.. I am loosing money by this happening plus  What about re-instating internet banking at the sellers risk. If sale goes pear shaped then it is the sellers bad.Most people do not send parcels until the money is in their bank account.

PING is doing my head in...

From the questions and answer section on ping changes....'Using bank transfer will soon be against our site policy.'

AJ I think you need to check your answer with Trade Me personnel.

AJ, also from the help questions.

'Offering bank transfer after the sale is against Trade Me's site policy. Only Ping or cash (for pickups) are allowed as payment methods, as bank transfers do not provide the same security or buyer protection. Please use the approved payment options to keep your transactions safe.'

As I said in my caveat, I hadnt read anyrthing saying it was outright banned - thanks for confirming this.,

And if someone does do it anyway...

'Offering bank transfer after the sale is against Trade Me's site policy. Bank transfer has been removed as a payment option to protect users, and all Marketplace listings must use Ping or other approved methods. Violating this policy may result in action against your account.'

In other words... Do it and you will be remove from Trade Me.

AJ, you really got my hopes up for a few minutes before I went searching.  I had a feeling I had read before that not obeying TM would get a person kicked out.

Just to be clear, Im not against the use of PING and Im in no way encouraging others to go against trademe's policy. Whether people like it or not, it's trademe's site and they can set whatever terms they like so long as they are legal. Its members choice whether they what to use the site based on these policies

If something is bought with Cash as the selected payment method, then once contact has been made the buyer changes their mind and asks to make a bank transfer instead, I can't see how that could be stopped? 

It is Trade Me's site but as I have said several times, Ping failed me badly and I feel that after 20 years of being a member, it is unfair that I am being refused the option of not using Ping.

Oh rumplestilstkin, I do like your way of thinking. 

Would this change have come about because of mainly international money transfers using Fintech accounts over say SWIFT to a NZ Bank account?

There's also the FAFT ( Financial Action Task Force) requirements to fulfill and New Zealand has always sat in good rankings so not such a high risk factor with our financial services sector. 

One would expect APAX to have considered NZ ratings there with sound Banking Operators, surely?

Howold, you are blinding me with financial talk and acronyms.

The problem will come when someone either doesn't have their post costs listed, or the buyer selects the wrong postage optiion (eg not rural when it should be). Sometimes I have buyers who want to upgrade their postage method after the auction. Normally in these circumstances, the extra amount is paid via bank transfer. I have seen some suggest to cancel the trade and redo it with the correct amount which seems a bit onerous when a simple bank deposit would resolve it. How is trademe going to treat these with their policy of no bank deposits?

Trade me says that postage can be paid by bank transfer, they are not expecting a cut from that.

Well thats a bit of a contradiction to their policy of not allowing deposits. The PING fee is on the postage too so I expect they do want their cut from it

This is for sales where postage is not listed or an alteration is wanted.

It was interesting reading all the extra info in the 'click here's'.

Yes! it is a complete contradiction to policy however Simon is correct, it is there in black & white a Buyer can use Bank deposit/Internet transfer payment to pay for shipping if this isn't stated on the Listing. 

AJ, the comment about not taking a cut is purely me and not stated in TM's info.

S - a saying comes to mind... Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.

Has the intention to use PING been based on International sellers feedback and surveys as they would use a different bank, some of which wouldn't be recognized Operators to our NZ ones?

As an aside, it is noted Max Key has monies owed to him and his father is involved with BOLT which is a Digital money system.

Note the irony of not been paid CASH...perhaps if those involved had to make payments in person at a bricks and mortar bank this may not have occurred.

It would be interesting to know if those involved in MK situation used overseas Digital Payment providers or a known NZ Bank as an intermediary.

It's wise to do Due Diligence everywhere.

With APAX / Trade me removing our access to see who we are offering Fixed Price Offers to it's creating unnecessary higher risk factors.

May we assume this has changed as part of Anti Discrimination projects going on internationally?

It will be interesting to see what answers you receive.

Ping has been around for a while, most people I have chatted with don't want to use it.  So this master plan of forcing Ping on us is not something the majority of TM users want, or this would not be necessary.

Has our right to use our choice of Bank Transfer and coerced to use PING payments part of the Digital Inclusion Project that has been rolled out Internationally so those who are in countries named in those projects got access to Digital monies for food, services etc?

If so, someone has not done there homework in relation to our New Zealand market, nor are they adhering to Rule of Law.

Isn't it 101 to establish what each countries geographic and other markets are prior to making changes?

Note how all our Banks in rural regions and Post offices closed and who has instigated Government contracts with our Public Service whilst all this has been happening since around 1984.

The Gates way to Online Enlightment cover story in Australian Financial Review 19950130 is worthy of reading as it's relevant to today's world