Trademe removes bank deposits as payment option……unreal

Aquarian4442, Not just the end of $1.00 listings but the end of Trade Me I think. 

Callum...I would rather have banking as an option thanks. I don't care about the fee's, you make money off our money going through ping so please don't treat us like children. I don't like ping, I don't want ping...if you looked at my account you would see I have NEVER used ping. Why are you forcing sellers to use something many don't want? Doesn't matter which way you spin it, its wrong. 

I have been told by trademe to ' refrain from directing my buyers to select cash to avoid ping(  I didnt use those last 3 words) , 'trademe will be taking steps to educate buyers on the benefits of ping and the risk of bank transfers to ensure safe trading on site '  I have done over 25,000   trades and never had an issue ....  can anyone tell me how to word pay by cash then we will get each others email address to contact each other with a view to them being able to use internet banking , thanks  .  So disappointed with trademe and  this heavy handed approach they are using , I've come across a handful of traders now who don't want to use ping  so we all miss out if they go elsewhere to buy what they want.

op18 Yes, it's legal. It's their website after-all. They get to set how people pay for things. Just like any other shop or business can. There was some thought it might breach anti-competitive law but Commerce Commission have taken a look and not acted. At least not yet. So you can probably assume that it is all OK. Posts sometime go into pending if there are keywords that trigger it. I usually have 3 or 4 floating around pending. 

littlemissy1 I am not associated with Trade Me. I am a member just like you. 

Gary-NZStocked,

I know what you mean by every man & his dog ... 

Browsing the Marketplace site has become an unfriendly & off-putting experience with multiple Listing descriptions that start off with 'Don't use Ping...' - some end the description same way as they start - some use capital letters for the entire Don't message & some include Bold type. - hardly a clean & clear welcoming message listing after listing after listing... and roll on 10 March 2026. - Cheers.

Just clarifying, bc I didn't see it specifically mentioned in TM's notice yesterday, is the shipping fee part of the commission (success fee), or service fee or *"both** for casual sellers?

I thought the total fee adding shipping in with the sale price for was for in-trade sellers only.

Kia Ora aquarian4442,

Shipping is included with the Ping % fee for Sellers thereby Ping + Shipping at 2.19% for the Seller - Shipping is not added to the Buyers fee. - Yes! it was originally only for In-Trade Sellers but is being included for Casual Sellers Marketplace listings. - Cheers.

"Removing a basic choice of a bank transfer/payment option" for Sellers to decide/offer to Buyers without cost/interference, appears to be an over-reach/imposed as per further $'s..

Sad to say TM has changed/declined, miss the days when personal customer-TM phone contact was open & issues were dealt with/discussed with a real human being for immediate outcome as per great community focus/approach - unlike current TM since as per impersonal corporate style/approach including time-consuming AI/systems & response delays etc..   

You do realise they have removed the 7.99% success fees which means they will be receiving a reduction in fees

The profit will be made using the flow of money going through the ping system.

Yes all these amounts going through their bank ping ac especially if it can take 1 to 2 daya to get it transferred to your acc is not chump change.

I personally will not be using ping ever so it will be just local pick ups i will bid on if the seller allows it via cash only, i have already told old clients not to store and will not bid on future items to be paid for by ping. After 30 odd ys of Trade me its very disappointing to see the stupidity of this.. Never had a issue other than a odd post delivery. So all you sellers far away, i'm sorry but thxs for past service. On course i will not be selling either as they will force me to use ping just like ebay with p/pal.

Thanks to those who have been answering my q. One more q from me.

What's to stop a casual trader from not including shipping costs in a listing, and instead, in the body of the listing, quoting shipping prices. Ie $X nationwide (no RD); $Y nationwide RD.
There is a reason I am asking this.

Nothing really. The issue will be if trademe see's it as any breach.

I have already seen both casual and intrade sellers do it already

IAll my listing state I prefer collection and buyer can pick up. I put shippinf calculated once full address is provided by buyer. Im not a business with a stack of various sized bags and boxes ready to go. Will it need bubble wrap or wont it, is something else going in it, when are the rates going to change, cl states its not a rural address but book a courier says it is and the arguements that come with that. But this wont be my problem for much longer. Yes ut is their site and they can run it as they like but they need to remember that we as casual sellers are their CUSTOMERS this site needs sellers to have buyers

Congratulations to Trade Me, they have finally made the site unworkable for me. After 24 years of constant casual use, over 3,000 positive feedbacks and no negatives, after patiently finding work-arounds for coping with so many of their 'improvements' (I am deeply grateful for BidBud), and seeing views of my listings plummet, I've finally had enough. When I am forced to accept an inhouse payment system, with no choice to opt out and use the nationally accepted methods of cash or bank transfer, and it's 'for my own good', they've gone too far. I've just spent the evening backing up all my inactive auction listings to my own storage, and will do the same with current listings when they expire. I'll not be relisting, but I'll not burn bridges either. If Trade Me should pick up its ideas, maybe I'll have another go...  not holding my breath though ...

cataholik. Cash has not been removed as a payment method. 

There's an interesting item about this on Newsroom today!

Callum, if seller does not put a cash option up not wanting to use ping, there's no way of bidding anyway with limited options or even contacting to purchasing a item. If a bid is placed i don't think he can change description so you a buggered. Some sellers don't want pick ups even if had no plans to do such .. 

donnyscans. I'm not quite sure what you mean here. But yes, a seller can no longer make a listing without having Ping as a payment method. If they haven't ticked cash and they wish to do so, they still can. Even if an item has bids. They can't remove Ping as an option though of course. 

'can't remove Ping as an option'  - not only that but can no longer put bank transfer as an alternative, so no way of gauging how much it matters to buyers. On my non-Ping payment auctions I've been asked just once if I used Ping, and after saying no, still had the sale. When NZ Post first offered tracking for extra $1, I offered both options and nearly all buyers chose untracked, which told me they didn't think the benefit was worth $1. Despite that, NZ Post made it compulsory. I see the same thing here. Instead of the users deciding what value they put on it, it is being imposed.

Gosh, to put this problem of Opted in by default, could you imagine if all men were sent a letter and automatically Opted in to receive Women's health care services? And vice versa?

It's not the done thing to automatically Default all to the same settings.

Good old Nudge Unit and Behavior Scientists at it in the background once again.

Can we suggest those of you who have contributed or read this topic, write to APAX, ask them questions directly and tell them your opinion so they can address these negative consequences within there UK office?

Include a copy of the relevant topics here in Community.

Speaking up and writing to APAX may give us a better voice.

Key summary of changes (seller liability):

Funds can be held

• Trade Me can hold your Ping funds during a dispute
• This includes money already sitting in your Ping balance
• You’re not guaranteed payout to your bank while a dispute is ongoing

🔁 Funds can be reversed

• If a buyer wins a dispute, Trade Me can:
  • Reverse the transaction
  • Refund the buyer directly
• Then:
  • Debit your Ping balance for the full amount

⚠️ You can still owe money after payout

• If you’ve already withdrawn the funds:
  • Trade Me can still recover the amount from you
• If your Ping balance is insufficient:
  • It becomes a debt you must repay

🧾 Debt recovery is explicitly allowed

• If you don’t pay:
  • Your account can be restricted/suspended
  • The debt can be sent to collections

💥 Chargebacks stack on top

• If a buyer goes through their bank:
  • Trade Me will still debit your Ping balance
• You may also be liable for additional costs/fees

🧠 Key takeaway

Ping is not “your money” until it’s safely in your bank and no dispute exists.

⚖️ Practical reality for sellers

• Trade Me:
  • Holds the funds
  • Decides disputes
  • Enforces repayment
• Seller carries most of the financial risk