After Marktplaats recently quietly unplugged its ‘Equal Pass’ payment service, the auction site is now offering another payment option: Buyer Protection. By paying with Buyer Protection you are safer and above all more expensive.
Earlier this month, Marktplaats removed the Instant Pass payment option from the site because it was said to be not secure enough. Barcode was produced after amount and payment reconciliation with Equal Crossing. With this code, the item can be brought to the shipping point and then the money is finally transferred after a successful shipment. This left an open fraud opportunity for sellers. For example by sending an empty box.
Buyer Protection
Equal Pass is actually replaced by Buyer Protection, which also charges additional costs for the buying party. These costs are significant: five percent of the purchase price.
In practice, Buyer Protection works a little differently. This was explained in a press release: “Buyer protection is offered and enforced by the payment partner Online Payment Platform (OPP). When using Buyer Protection, the amount paid by the buyer is credited to OPP’s suspended account. After the payment, both the buyer and the seller are responsible for the transaction. They will receive an immediate confirmation in their Marktplaats Messages, where they can track the status via Purchase or Sale Overview: from payment and shipment to receipt.If the buyer reports within seven days of delivery that the package has not arrived, is damaged, or the contents of the package are different from what was agreed, the money will be held and the buyer can get a refund. If the buyer hears nothing, the seller will still get his money.”
It becomes very difficult for sellers to cheat with Buyer Protection as the buyer has to confirm receipt of the item in good condition. Buyers themselves can make false claims that make the sales process unfair. After all, if something is not right, the buyer can demand his money back. OPP mediates in such cases.
availability
While Crossing Straight has been removed as a payment option, Buyer Protection is now being phased out. This is expected to be available to every user in one to two weeks. Of course, Marktplaats users can also agree on how the payment should be made. For example with cash, iDeal or Tikkie.
Source: Computer Totaal
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
