FICA RICA BOBSA > PROTECT YOU and YOUR COMMUNITY!

[KAIZER SA 10]

In this day and age where internet crime and corruption is on the up, the need to have registered buyers and sellers has become necessary. Why am I saying this? The answer is simple. To protect the interest of each member and to stop scammers. Any major auction house around the world requires you to register as a valid buyer or seller before you can trade. This not only protects the auction house but protects both the buyer and seller. Far too many people register with fake user id’s and email addresses and bid on items with no real intention of purchasing. Imagine the nightmare for the seller when he consistently tries to make contact with the buyer but gets no response. On top of this he has to then file a none payment with the auction house to avoid paying the necessary commissions etc...

 

Our South African government has realized malpractices in business and has stepped up to PROTECT YOU,the community, by implementing FICA. Our South African government has realized the despicable crimes committed over cell phones and it is now by law that cell phone providers comply with RICA to PROTECT YOU,the community,by implementing RICA.

 

WHEN are we getting BOBSA?

 

I would like to know the views of the forum members..... Should members be required to be verified as valid buyers or sellers before the purchase or sell an item.????????

 

Regards

KAIZER SA

Edited October 26, 2010 by KAIZER SA

[brands online 10]

In this day and age where internet crime and corruption is on the up, the need to have registered buyers and sellers has become necessary. Why am I saying this? The answer is simple. To protect the interest of each member and to stop scammers. Any major auction house around the world requires you to register as a valid buyer or seller before you can trade. This not only protects the auction house but protects both the buyer and seller. Far too many people register with fake user id’s and email addresses and bid on items with no real intention of purchasing. Imagine the nightmare for the seller when he consistently tries to make contact with the buyer but gets no response. On top of this he has to then file a none payment with the auction house to avoid paying the necessary commissions etc...

 

Our South African government has realized malpractices in business and has stepped up to PROTECT YOU,the community, by implementing FICA. Our South African government has realized the despicable crimes committed over cell phones and it is now by law that cell phone providers comply with RICA to PROTECT YOU,the community,by implementing RICA.

 

WHEN are we getting BOBSA?

 

I would like to know the views of the forum members..... Should members be required to be verified as valid buyers or sellers before the purchase or sell an item.????????

 

Regards

KAIZER SA

 

Hi, you do raise some valid points, but one has to look at this from all angles. BOB does require a refundable fee to register as a seller. this does put in a certain measure of security as all payments leave a paper trail, even if electronically. Being a 'verified' seller means BOB verifies on paper that you are who you say you are, that's about all.

 

On the buyer side, a factor that has to come into play in SA is that the culture of online shopping while around for a while is still very much in it's infancy and there is a rather cautious mindset on the side of the consumer already. I can't speak for BOB, but as a seller on BOB, I can say that implementing strict measures and requiring stringent details will scare more away from the site than attracting them to it and that would in turn be bad for the BOB community as a whole.

 

That's not to say that either buyers or sellers should run amok or be allowed to run amok either. It's maintaining the balance between good business sense and keeping it 'clean' that I think keeps the BOB staff most busy. Buyers and Sellers on the site share that responsibility with BOB. After all, stricter measures usually only lead to wiser criminals, E-bay and loads of the other international sites are privvy to this.

 

Just my two cents worth....:whistling:

[BumbleBabe 10]

I agree and disagree.

 

A verified user is not just verified who they are but also a credit check is done, this should give you great confidence in verified users.

 

How ever, there are unverified users that are great sellers and buyers. This is where the ratings comes in, they should also be responsible to keep their ratings up too continue selling or buying.

 

Just my thoughts

[YSLMAGIC 10]

Hi, you do raise some valid points, but one has to look at this from all angles.

 

On the buyer side, a factor that has to come into play in SA is that the culture of online shopping while around for a while is still very much in it's infancy and there is a rather cautious mindset on the side of the consumer already. I can't speak for BOB, but as a seller on BOB, I can say that implementing strict measures and requiring stringent details will scare more away from the site than attracting them to it and that would in turn be bad for the BOB community as a whole.

 

That's not to say that either buyers or sellers should run amok or be allowed to run amok either. It's maintaining the balance between good business sense and keeping it 'clean' that I think keeps the BOB staff most busy. Buyers and Sellers on the site share that responsibility with BOB. After all, stricter measures usually only lead to wiser criminals, E-bay and loads of the other international sites are privvy to this.

 

Just my two cents worth....:whistling:

as much as i hate filing snc's i have to agree with you , most people out there are very sceptical when it comes to shopping online and if too much effort had to go into just registering as a buyer there would definitely be a drop..........so i can rather deal with the 3 clowns out of 10 new buyers,who waste our time ,thenlose the 7 who once complete atleast one purchase , especially if they win something on auction just cant stop coming back for more :grin:

[Vertigo 10]

Hi all

 

I agree with YSL, as a consumer i would hate to have to "jump thru hoops" in order to buy online , just cos of a few clowns.

 

Nevertheless I think this topic should be moved to the "selling on bid or buy " section.

 

I think a good way to make BOB sellers file less SNC's is if bid or buy gives the buyer an option to become a verified buyer and BOB takes a fee for a credit check (same as a verified seller)

 

Hey I would do it if i just joined BOB and i have an option.

 

Just a thought.

 

Regards

Imraan

[Guest Guest]

Overseas participants cannot get verified

 

Hi Imraan, Kaizer et al

 

As an overseas buyer I cannot get "verified" because I do not have South African documents (I have discussed this with Cuan). Regardless, I believe that a person's past history of transactions and the length of time they have been involved on BoB is far more valuable than any "verification" process.

 

Kind regards

 

Scott Balson

Edited October 27, 2010 by ndoa18

[PBGold 10]

Thats true, I would rather buy from someone who has a 100 positive ratings and not verified, than someone who is verified with no ratings.

 

Of course, you get that element that will give you a negative rating for no reason other than to be nasty, which is my gripe for another day.

Edited October 27, 2010 by PBGold
Spelling

[ECONOZONE 10]

And the new buyers that say excellent service ect and then rate you neutral. Crazy

[qball 10]

This was my reply to Kaizer SA:

 

"We do understand your concerns and you make some valid points. However, from a business point of view, creating more "barriers to entry" on our site for new buyers, would result in a loss of new users coming to the site and transacting. As a business we need to grow, putting such measures in place is not going to solve the problem and will definitely lead to a decline in buyers and sales for all concerned. There are a number of logistical, operational and financial reasons why this would not be viable. Firstly, to try vett every new buyer on the site would be impossible and would take up 99% of our available time and staff resources. Even if they did provide us with the documentation this does not guarantee they will conclude a transaction, this will only be determined once they concluded a transaction and then fail to complete the payment. Financially it would not be viable either, as there is a cost in doing ID, criminal and credit checks, and it can take up to several weeks to get this feedback from the verification service, by then the buyer has left the site and no longer wants to use it. I can assure you, things like FICA, RICA etc. are great in principle but have no "teeth". We have dealt with fraudsters who specialise in ID theft, and have easily fooled the banks with fake documents and addresses. I know for a fact that when I bought some pay as you sim cards from a Vodacom dealer, they didn't capture any details even though I showed them my ID and proof of residence. All these processes are flawed and are not going to eradicate any of these issues. Even if we do receive their documents, we cannot guarantee their identity, their address or their intention of paying/concluding deals.

Unfortunately there are no guarantees when transacting online, it is part and parcel of this type of business. We try deal with these the best we can, and have processes like ratings and SNC's to assist sellers who have these issues. I can also tell you that eBay does not vett or verify their buyers. By creating such barriers for new buyers, this would deter a lot of legitimate users from coming and using the site, this will affect everyone's bottom line, including ours, but especially yours. The majority of newbies that come to the site, are wary, are not well versed in online commerce and need to be educated as time goes by, but having said that the majority do conclude their deals."

Kind regards

Cuan

[brands online 10]

my sentiments exactly...

[brands online 10]

And the new buyers that say excellent service ect and then rate you neutral. Crazy

 

Lots of that happening to us too recently...