App creators want to make a ton of money?

[paparoke]

Calling all app creators that want to create a million dollar plus app. Here's what you do... Go to WhatNot and see the cesspool of scammers that it is, then you duplicate a similar site, except you add:

1. Ability to invoice one-time payments. No more getting charged 30 cents per transaction. The obvious money grab from WhatNot.
2. Allow sellers to collect shipping from buyers and purchase labels themselves. Another money grab from WhatNot.
3. Force sellers to title their auctions with a simple card description, no more Auction #xxx, which leaves buyers wondering what they bought. Nothing like buying 20 cards from a seller and not knowing what the card is.
4. Vet all your sellers. Ensure they have a reputable account on Ebay or another reputable platform. Only the most trustworthy sellers get selling priviledges. Scam behavior=Ban.
5. Vet your buyers too. Non-payment=Ban. Scam behavior=Ban.
6. Monitor the shows. Loud, obnoxious, foul-mouthed sellers get warned and then booted for persistant behavior issues. Keep it like a card show, no one acts like these clowns at a show.

There it is. Your wealth awaits you, please make it happen.

Sincerely,

Card Community

[Son of Gamera]

Originally Posted by paparoke

1. Ability to invoice one-time payments. No more getting charged 30 cents per transaction. The obvious money grab from WhatNot.

While I agree with you generally on this stuff, a quick point of clarification on this one. The 30 per transaction fee goes to Square, not Whatnot. This is a standard fee for all credit card processors.

[Snowcat]

Whatnot needs more moderators/admins to monitor and respond to complaints and issues. Agreed, the blue print for these sites is a money maker if they'd do 25% of what actual card collectors ask

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by Son of Gamera

While I agree with you generally on this stuff, a quick point of clarification on this one. The 30 per transaction fee goes to Square, not Whatnot. This is a standard fee for all credit card processors.

I am certain that WhatNot does have a deal in place for reduced fixed processing fees with the payment processor. Even if it is 25 cents, they are making a killing. I firmly believe they won't allow combined invoices for this reason.

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by Snowcat

Whatnot needs more moderators/admins to monitor and respond to complaints and issues. Agreed, the blue print for these sites is a money maker if they'd do 25% of what actual card collectors ask

Imagine a dedicated app that did these things. WhatNot would either have to alter their app or they'd be done in the card biz.

[bradical]

The problem isn't with the app, it's with the hobby.

No amount of moderators and administrators are going to stop people from creating duplicate accounts, logging in through proxies, and various other shady behaviors to try and scam others.

I use WhatNot for some other hobbies I am interested in, and I have never had any issues on there except with the card sellers.

[tbc]

Originally Posted by bradical

The problem isn't with the app, it's with the hobby.

No amount of moderators and administrators are going to stop people from creating duplicate accounts, logging in through proxies, and various other shady behaviors to try and scam others.

I use WhatNot for some other hobbies I am interested in, and I have never had any issues on there except with the card sellers.

You could deter it some by requiring business licenses or something else that people either can't create daily or is time prohibitive to constantly go after

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by bradical

The problem isn't with the app, it's with the hobby.

No amount of moderators and administrators are going to stop people from creating duplicate accounts, logging in through proxies, and various other shady behaviors to try and scam others.

I use WhatNot for some other hobbies I am interested in, and I have never had any issues on there except with the card sellers.

But that's what I'm saying, they could make the vetting process more stringent and only allow legit good sellers/buyers on the app. This would at least shrink the scam behavior that is rampid on that site.

[Crosby 87]

Originally Posted by paparoke

But that's what I'm saying, they could make the vetting process more stringent and only allow legit good sellers/buyers on the app. This would at least shrink the scam behavior that is rampid on that site.

So what does your vetting process steps look like?

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by Crosby 87

So what does your vetting process steps look like?

To be a seller, I'd say you need to provide proof of solid feedback from a reputable account like Ebay, blowout, beckett...etc. You provide the user name so that the site can validate your record and they can also message you at that account to verify that is you. If you are new and have no sales record, then maybe you go into a probationary period and you have to submit, say $500 that is held for 60 days, until you prove you can sell without significant incidents.

As a buyer, same thing, provide valid track record that shows your feedback as a buyer. Also, validate your feedback left for others to weed out chronic negative feedback submissions. New buyers with no track record would also be probationary, also put money down for 60 days and prove they aren't a PITA buyer.

That would be a start for me.

[bradical]

TBH, the only way to solve fraud is to use an escrow-type approach.

1. Sale is made
2. Buyer sends money to escrow
3. Seller sends item to buyer with a label created/provided by app
4. Item is received by buyer and acknowledged in app
5. Shipment has to be validated from tracking
6. Money is distributed to seller

[Budler]

Originally Posted by bradical

TBH, the only way to solve fraud is to use an escrow-type approach.

1. Sale is made
2. Buyer sends money to escrow
3. Seller sends item to buyer with a label created/provided by app
4. Item is received by buyer and acknowledged in app
5. Shipment has to be validated from tracking
6. Money is distributed to seller

What happens if the seller sends a package without the card or wrong card? Buyer says there is not card or wrong card in it.

You can never stop fraud online. Someone will always figure out a way.

[bradical]

Originally Posted by Budler

What happens if the seller sends a package without the card or wrong card? Buyer says there is not card or wrong card in it.

You can never stop fraud online. Someone will always figure out a way.

You'd need to have a window from when they receive the item, like 3 days, to alert that the item is incorrect and report the issue through the app with some supporting photos, otherwise the funds are distributed from escrow.

[Budler]

How can a buyer prove he did not receive a card in the package? Or How can a seller prove he send a card.
Do we need to video everything when sending and receiving packages. Even that can be fake.

So there is no real way to solve fraud completely. We just have to live with it and hope it does not really hurt too bad.

[bradical]

Originally Posted by Budler

How can a buyer prove he did not receive a card in the package? Or How can a seller prove he send a card.
Do we need to video everything when sending and receiving packages. Even that can be fake.

So there is no real way to solve fraud completely. We just have to live with it and hope it does not really hurt too bad.

Of course there is no way to eliminate it 100%. However, if you can control the data and not leave it up to the buyer/seller to exchange on good-will you are taking the right steps forward to help mitigate future fraud.

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by bradical

Of course there is no way to eliminate it 100%. However, if you can control the data and not leave it up to the buyer/seller to exchange on good-will you are taking the right steps forward to help mitigate future fraud.

I agree, it can be mitigated, but not eliminated. Something needs to be done, because the scamming in the card world is pretty bad and it seems that no one fears criminal prosecution.