I assume most of you will now have received the latest newsletter.

I'm referring to this part of it:

quote: "MARKETPLACE NOVELTIES / In order to facilitate the management of transactions, we have added a new feature to the website. This new feature will let sellers choose whether or not they accept payments from buyers without first having sent the invoice.
We have noticed that there were difficulties with transactions both for sellers and buyers: payment was being sent without adding the shipping costs. This difficulty was causing alot more administrative work for all.
If you are a seller, click here in order to go to "My Delcampe > Parameters" and to activate this new feature" unquote

I have mixed feelings and am still undecided whether to go for it or not although I am inclining towards "not allowing buyers to pay until they've received my invoice".

It is true that every now and again I get a payment for the wrong amount and find it annoying. Mostly those are from newbies though and once you've explained to them the peculiarities of Delcampe, they will get it right a second time. On the other hand, there are buyers (myself included), who like to complete there part of the transaction as soon as the item has been bought/won and who are perfectly capable of getting it right.

What are other people's views, please?

I assume most of you will now have received the latest newsletter.

I'm referring to this part of it:

quote: "MARKETPLACE NOVELTIES / In order to facilitate the management of transactions, we have added a new feature to the website. This new feature will let sellers choose whether or not they accept payments from buyers without first having sent the invoice.
We have noticed that there were difficulties with transactions both for sellers and buyers: payment was being sent without adding the shipping costs. This difficulty was causing alot more administrative work for all.
If you are a seller, click here in order to go to "My Delcampe > Parameters" and to activate this new feature" unquote

I have mixed feelings and am still undecided whether to go for it or not although I am inclining towards "not allowing buyers to pay until they've received my invoice".

It is true that every now and again I get a payment for the wrong amount and find it annoying. Mostly those are from newbies though and once you've explained to them the peculiarities of Delcampe, they will get it right a second time. On the other hand, there are buyers (myself included), who like to complete there part of the transaction as soon as the item has been bought/won and who are perfectly capable of getting it right.

What are other people's views, please?

My first reaction has been to choose the option that prevents buyers from paying without receiving an invoice.

I'd like to have seen a preview of the message they will receive when they try to pay though; especially in view of my feelings about the use of broken English by Delcampe staff.

For now though I think I'll give the new option a try as I am fed up of having to waste time explaining that the shipping charge hasn't been paid. So long as it looks ok from a buyer's perspective, that will be fine - after all, it's the buyer that counts!

If this system works and is explained in an understandable way, it will make the site appear more professional.

Don't start me off on their use of English, anyone any idea of how much value is added to a postcard or stamp if given a few "tenderizing" belts with a hammer........

CATEGORIES / The "Christmas" theme is a very popular one for stamps and postcards. This exciting collection contains thousands of surprising and tenderizing items, discover them now on Delcampe

Ha!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG that is funny. Is it meant to be 'tantalising', I wonder??

Well m'lud I rest my case.

I assume most of you will now have received the latest newsletter.

I'm referring to this part of it:

quote: "MARKETPLACE NOVELTIES / In order to facilitate the management of transactions, we have added a new feature to the website. This new feature will let sellers choose whether or not they accept payments from buyers without first having sent the invoice.
We have noticed that there were difficulties with transactions both for sellers and buyers: payment was being sent without adding the shipping costs. This difficulty was causing alot more administrative work for all.
If you are a seller, click here in order to go to "My Delcampe > Parameters" and to activate this new feature" unquote

I have mixed feelings and am still undecided whether to go for it or not although I am inclining towards "not allowing buyers to pay until they've received my invoice".

It is true that every now and again I get a payment for the wrong amount and find it annoying. Mostly those are from newbies though and once you've explained to them the peculiarities of Delcampe, they will get it right a second time. On the other hand, there are buyers (myself included), who like to complete there part of the transaction as soon as the item has been bought/won and who are perfectly capable of getting it right.

What are other people's views, please?

Ha! Well before 9am on Christmas Day and the day's first sale came through; the buyer was new and couldn't understand why he couldn't add the postage and packing charge to the invoice and then pay.... he then emailed me asking for an invoice.

Sounds like the system doesn't flash up a message to the buyer asking them to wait until receipt of the invoice? I will be interested to hear what the system looks like from a buyer's perspective.

Merry Christmas everyone!

I've activated this service, too, and have already had a buyer ask for an invoice so they could pay. The buyer's English was such that they probably didn't notice any peculiarities with the message from Delcampe but it did get me wondering what the message said.

So far this has been working well for me - no hassles at all since I implemented it. All invoice requests have been replied to fairly promptly and paid with the exception of one person - and this one has had their account terminated.

Working well for me too - but again, I really would like to know what the buyer sees.... or maybe there isn't a message at all? Just unable to add in the p&p to complete the payment?

Hello everyone,


I am glad most of you seem to like the new feature. As far as I know, when the buyer goes to his E-wallet to pay the seller, he sees the usual page displaying the invoice with details of the costs. However, the "Pay" button that can normally be found is replaced by "awaiting validation".

I think/hope that is clear enough for most buyers. So far, we've only received a handful of buyers asking what this meant, so it does seem to be the case. Suggestions are always welcome though.


PS: I am to blame for the "tenderizing" cards (quite ashamed of it). As you probably know, I am not a native speaker of the language (I'm an English major) and having to constantly switch between French, English and Dutch makes for the occasional brain overload and oversight. I hope you'll forgive me. I try to provide a good and professional translation for everything and I'm aware that there are things that need fixing on the website, but time is our enemy at the moment.

Kind regards and best wishes for 2012,

@dimitri

Hello everyone,


I am glad most of you seem to like the new feature. As far as I know, when the buyer goes to his E-wallet to pay the seller, he sees the usual page displaying the invoice with details of the costs. However, the "Pay" button that can normally be found is replaced by "awaiting validation".

I think/hope that is clear enough for most buyers. So far, we've only received a handful of buyers asking what this meant, so it does seem to be the case. Suggestions are always welcome though.


PS: I am to blame for the "tenderizing" cards (quite ashamed of it). As you probably know, I am not a native speaker of the language (I'm an English major) and having to constantly switch between French, English and Dutch makes for the occasional brain overload and oversight. I hope you'll forgive me. I try to provide a good and professional translation for everything and I'm aware that there are things that need fixing on the website, but time is our enemy at the moment.

Kind regards and best wishes for 2012,

@dimitri

Sorry Dimitri but I do not think "awaiting validation" is clear at all ....

validate
verb (used with object), -dat·ed, -dat·ing.
1.
to make valid; substantiate; confirm: Time validated our suspicions.
2.
to give legal force to; legalize.
3.
to give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to, as elected officials, election procedures, documents, etc.: to validate a passport.


I would much prefer to see "Please wait for your seller to send you an invoice" or a similar wording.

Is a buyer still to request an invoice? This facility is still needed as if a seller fails to send one this is an easy way to request it without any language problems.

Languages can be confusing at times and a native speakers interpretation of a word or phrase can often be different to that taught in a formal setting - I'm an English major, you serve as an officer in the British Army.

Hello everyone,


I am glad most of you seem to like the new feature. As far as I know, when the buyer goes to his E-wallet to pay the seller, he sees the usual page displaying the invoice with details of the costs. However, the "Pay" button that can normally be found is replaced by "awaiting validation".

I think/hope that is clear enough for most buyers. So far, we've only received a handful of buyers asking what this meant, so it does seem to be the case. Suggestions are always welcome though.


PS: I am to blame for the "tenderizing" cards (quite ashamed of it). As you probably know, I am not a native speaker of the language (I'm an English major) and having to constantly switch between French, English and Dutch makes for the occasional brain overload and oversight. I hope you'll forgive me. I try to provide a good and professional translation for everything and I'm aware that there are things that need fixing on the website, but time is our enemy at the moment.

Kind regards and best wishes for 2012,

@dimitri

Sorry Dimitri but I do not think "awaiting validation" is clear at all ....

validate
verb (used with object), -dat·ed, -dat·ing.
1.
to make valid; substantiate; confirm: Time validated our suspicions.
2.
to give legal force to; legalize.
3.
to give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to, as elected officials, election procedures, documents, etc.: to validate a passport.


I would much prefer to see "Please wait for your seller to send you an invoice" or a similar wording.

Is a buyer still to request an invoice? This facility is still needed as if a seller fails to send one this is an easy way to request it without any language problems.

Languages can be confusing at times and a native speakers interpretation of a word or phrase can often be different to that taught in a formal setting - I'm an English major, you serve as an officer in the British Army.

I assume most of you will now have received the latest newsletter.

I'm referring to this part of it:

quote: "MARKETPLACE NOVELTIES / In order to facilitate the management of transactions, we have added a new feature to the website. This new feature will let sellers choose whether or not they accept payments from buyers without first having sent the invoice.
We have noticed that there were difficulties with transactions both for sellers and buyers: payment was being sent without adding the shipping costs. This difficulty was causing alot more administrative work for all.
If you are a seller, click here in order to go to "My Delcampe > Parameters" and to activate this new feature" unquote

I have mixed feelings and am still undecided whether to go for it or not although I am inclining towards "not allowing buyers to pay until they've received my invoice".

It is true that every now and again I get a payment for the wrong amount and find it annoying. Mostly those are from newbies though and once you've explained to them the peculiarities of Delcampe, they will get it right a second time. On the other hand, there are buyers (myself included), who like to complete there part of the transaction as soon as the item has been bought/won and who are perfectly capable of getting it right.

What are other people's views, please?

I am one seller that will NOT be using this new option as it is currently implemented since it applies to all buyers. I don't feel that this is right or acceptable.

Many of my longstanding buyers would find this imposition a nuisance. They like to make their payments quickly and understand that postage has to be added.

However, I accept that there is most definitely a problem with newcomers to Delcampe who often overlook including postage. They are perhaps used to eBay where postage is automatically included / shown or indeed waived altogether!

Perhaps there is a case for refining this new option so that for example the setting could be ticked for 'all buyers' or 'buyers with feedback less than 20'. Would that be feasible? Would that be more sensible?

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

I am one seller that will NOT be using this new option as it is currently implemented since it applies to all buyers. I don't feel that this is right or acceptable.

Many of my longstanding buyers would find this imposition a nuisance. They like to make their payments quickly and understand that postage has to be added.

However, I accept that there is most definitely a problem with newcomers to Delcampe who often overlook including postage. They are perhaps used to eBay where postage is automatically included / shown or indeed waived altogether!

Perhaps there is a case for refining this new option so that for example the setting could be ticked for 'all buyers' or 'buyers with feedback less than 20'. Would that be feasible? Would that be more sensible?

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

I am one seller that will NOT be using this new option as it is currently implemented since it applies to all buyers. I don't feel that this is right or acceptable.

Many of my longstanding buyers would find this imposition a nuisance. They like to make their payments quickly and understand that postage has to be added.

However, I accept that there is most definitely a problem with newcomers to Delcampe who often overlook including postage. They are perhaps used to eBay where postage is automatically included / shown or indeed waived altogether!

Perhaps there is a case for refining this new option so that for example the setting could be ticked for 'all buyers' or 'buyers with feedback less than 20'. Would that be feasible? Would that be more sensible?

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

I think this is an excellent idea if the Delcampe system can find a way to do it.

I like the fact that I don't have to worry about sorting out payments being made without p&p included, but also, other customers who know the ropes and want to just pay asap may be slightly annoyed.

However, I use the option to not allow payment without receipt of invoice and will continue to do so, as I do find it much more convenient timewise. I send invoices within an hour usually so hopefully nobody will feel too annoyed!

If this suggestion of Hoatzinstamps can't be implemented, then surely the message to the buyer of 'Please await invoice' or something, could certainly be included .... the 'validation' statement just does not make sense at all and should be altered as soon as possible, in my opinion.

Just had a buyer 'go around' the 'awaiting validation' message by simply going to the Paypal site and sending me money. He added a message which got me hesitating about using this new feature. He was confused by the message, or rather a lack of the familiar (to him) "Pay Now" button. He added a note about the confusion ("what's the problem here" kind of wondering) so I wrote back to tell him what I was trying out for the moment.

You know, I had buyers in the past ask what the shipping charges are in the past so some buyers can figure out more than others on the internet. Communication is key and while I thank Delcampe for listening to their users and trying to give us what 'we' ask for, it's never possible to please everyone or have one solution for something when we're dealing with so many different levels of on-line experience.

Clearly the wording 'Awaiting Validation' is confusing. Why can't it simply say 'Please wait for the seller's invoice'.

Problems like this affect the overall credibility of the site because they just haven't been thought through.

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

I'd agree, Alan, and if Dmitri or someone else from Delcampe is reading this, I imagine it'd be a simple fix to just change what the message to the buyer says.

Clearly the wording 'Awaiting Validation' is confusing. Why can't it simply say 'Please wait for the seller's invoice'.

Problems like this affect the overall credibility of the site because they just haven't been thought through.

Alan Catherall
[Hoatzinstamps]

I wonder what it says in the other languages. Part of the problem is that what makes sense in one language, doesn't necesarily (sp?) make sense in another one if it is translated exactly word by word.

Quite a while ago, looking up something in help, I couldn't figure it out in English, so I went to read the same section in Dutch, also without success, then went to the Spanish help section and all of sudden it became obvious.

There is another instance in the t&c's which doesn't make sense (or worse still, doesn't mean what it is supposed to mean) in English and in Spanish, but is ok in Dutch.

I really think Delcampe should start using native speakers for their translations and/or ask for advice after drafting something new, rather than ending up in this sort of muddle.