eBay

coxengines · ‎10-05-2008

Would like to issue $25 gift certificates for sale on eBay. These can then be used to purchase items that we have for sale on eBay (or off-eBay).

How do I avoid having to pay FVF's twice if the certificate recipient buys through eBay?

Can certificates be sold on eBay that are for use solely to purchase my items off-eBay?

If the certificates show the web-address of my off-eBay store, can a picture of these be included in the listing, or would I have to mask that part?

Each certificate would be a assigned a unique identifier so that I can void the thing after it has been used.

Can one set up a "certificate/coupon" rule in Paypal that would recognize such a certificate and prevent the unique identifier from being used more than once?

Thanks in advance.

Xena

lina-mallows · ‎10-05-2008

xenalook- a nice thought!
Though, knowing eBay, not paying TWICE is a long shot.
AND- if you do issue a "gift Certficate", you may well be subject to Provincial regulation, when doing so.

coxengines · ‎10-05-2008

you may well be subject to Provincial regulation, when doing so.

That being? Expiry dates?

Xena

lina-mallows · ‎10-06-2008

Ontario put into place the NO EXPIRY date for most Gift Certificates issued in ONTARIO.
However, as eBay will expose these 'certificates' in other areas of jurisdiction Canada and the US???- you may bump into some interesting other issues.

Some US STATES require that the balance of an unclaimed certificate be turned over to their treasury! I wish ONTARIO brought in similar legislation.

REALITY- about 30% of all certificates issued ARE NOT redeemed. (There are STATS out there regarding redemption.) Why should any company benefit from this lack of action on the part of the consumer? Just like the Bank of Canada and unclaimed Bank balances- they are not kept by the bank. And what if the business goes bankrupt before redemption? Certificates- and Gift Cards are not insured. All around- stores love issuing them. How many people enjoy getting them?

coxengines · ‎10-06-2008

Yes, I am aware of some of the "bumps" out there.

Official stats are that about 20% of gift cards, etc are never redeemed. Of course stores love them;-)

However, my question was not about the morality or legality of these certificates. I am simply trying to wrap my mind around how to actually pull this off for the Christmas season without incurring FVF's twice.

I'm nearly there after putting more thought to it but suggestions from others would go a long way, I'm sure.

Xena

momoftwingles2 · ‎10-06-2008

Xena,

Have you asked on the US Power Seller list? There are many more active members there and surely someone will be able to give you some thoughts to ponder!

Susan
momoftwingles2