GETTING STARTED
What is MBIDZ?
MBIDZ is an online marketplace that features auctions and fixed price items listed by multiple sellers. Buyers can browse, bid, and buy 24 hours a day. Sellers can list items themselves 24 hours a day as well. MBIDZ is geared towards bringing together buyers and sellers located within Michigan, and beyond. A Michigan resident purchasing an item that will be shipped from a Michigan based seller will receive it quicker and at far less shipping cost than by an out-of-state seller. Also, MBIDZ makes it easy to browse and search listings from multiple sellers all around Michigan.
How is MBIDZ different than Facebook groups, Craigslist or other online selling apps?
How old do I need to be to use MBIDZ?
You must be at least 18 years of age in order to register to bid, buy, or sell items on the MBIDZ web site.
How do I register?
It's easy to get started. Simply click the REGISTER link and fill out the form with your Name, Address, Phone number, Date of birth, valid email address, a public username, and password. A PayPal email address is optional (used to pay for items online). You will be sent an email to verify your registration and that is it.
Why does the registration form ask for a PayPal Email Address? Is this safe?
A PayPal email address is required if you want to pay for your items online directly to a seller. It is not required to setup an account, but many sellers will require it in order to purchase their items. The PayPal email address is the email address that you use to send and receive PayPal payments from. NO ONE will ever ask for or need your PayPal password. Keep your PayPal password to yourself. The MBIDZ web site only needs your PayPal email address setup in order for you to be provided the correct link to complete your online payment with an MBIDZ seller or to pay any MBIDZ fees you may owe, or to pre-load funds to your MBIDZ Seller Account. You can modify your PayPal email address at any time by visiting ACCOUNT SETTINGS in your MBIDZ Members Area.
Is MBIDZ free? Are there any fees to use MBIDZ?
MBIDZ currently allows sellers to place 6 basic auction or basic fixed price listings for free as a trial. After your initial 6 listings are used up, you will be required to subscribe to a store membership in order to continue selling. You may also purchase optional add-ons to your listings. Buyers pay zero buyers premium to MBIDZ. Michigan businesses may also open an MBIDZ Store starting at $10.00 per month.
How do I open an MBIDZ Store?
Create a normal account if you don't already have one and then visit our STORES page to subscribe.
What are the benefits of having an MBIDZ Store?
Store subscribers can add a business logo, their own social media links, offer unique discount coupons, an about me page, and policy pages as well as having customized categories of their own. An easy to share url as well as the ability to have all your listings available in one easy to view page makes your listings stand out from all the others. Store subscribers also get access to the MBIDZ Shopping Cart, where shoppers can shop from various sellers at one time and purchase multiple items from a single seller. All your items in your store are viewable and searchable on your very own store pages as well as from any of the standard MBIDZ pages (or as we call it, the main sales floor).
How does MBIDZ make money to support itself?
We plan on selling advertising space as well as MBIDZ Stores to small businesses that are looking to reach potential Michigan based customers. Businesses can quickly and easily expand their Internet presence by utilizing existing MBIDZ daily traffic with either their very own MBIDZ Store and/or our ad space.
As a seller, how do I collect payment from a buyer?
You the seller choose what payment methods to accept. MBIDZ has no part of the payment process. When setting up either your auction style or fixed price (Buy-Me-Now) listing, you can select the payment methods that you wish to accept. Currently, the methods available include online directly to your PayPal account and/or offline via cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Amex, money order, PayPal.me, Cash.app (formerly Square Cash.Me) , and Venmo.
Why use PayPal?
PayPal is a service that enables you to pay, send money, and accept payments. PayPal uses data encryption and anti-fraud technology to keep your information secure, reducing the risk of online fraud.
As a seller, you are able to receive and use your funds instantly - with no waiting. Sellers also receive Seller Protection against charge backs, and fraud.
As a buyer, you have the security of not giving out your payment details directly to the seller and you also have fraud prevention, dispute resolution and Purchase Protection. If you don't receive the item that you ordered, or it shows up significantly different from its description, you may qualify for Purchase Protection, and PayPal will reimburse you for the full purchase price plus any original shipping costs, subject to terms and limitations.
Buyer has paid for an item online, how do I get it to them?
The seller chooses what payment and shipping methods they wish to offer when they create the listing. Currently, a seller can choose to ship an item via a traditional carrier such as USPS, UPS, or FedEx and they can also choose to offer local pick-up. A seller can use any combination of these methods or just one. Each MBIDZ listing clearly shows interested buyers what methods are available.
What is a local-pickup?
A seller can choose local-pickup for a shipping method when listing an item on MBIDZ. Each seller determines what exactly a local-pickup is. For example, a business may allow you to come to their store and pick-up in person. An individual may choose to meet at a public place instead of their home. The intention of a local-pickup is for the buyer to quickly determine what items can be picked up instead of shipped. This allows buyers and sellers to save time and money on shipping charges. Buyers and sellers can message each other privately and directly in the MBIDZ messaging system to arrange these details.
What is the difference between "Direct Payment" and "Offline Payment" methods?
A Direct Payment is made completely online through the MBIDZ web site using a third-party online payment processor (such as PayPal). MBIDZ provides a direct link to the buyer which goes to the online payment processor where the buyer then follows the online payment process that is provided by that third-party payment processor, after which the buyer is then automatically returned to the MBIDZ web site, where the item is then automatically marked as paid. Offline Payment methods are handled by either the seller or buyer outside of the MBIDZ web site (such as processing a credit card via Square, Cash.app, Venmo, or by handing over cash in person). The buyer and seller make arrangements to provide and process that payment offline somehow. The seller then needs to return to the MBIDZ web site and mark the transaction as paid and continue processing the item as usual by either shipping the item and providing a tracking number or meeting the buyer in person. Direct Payments are always easier for both the buyer and the seller simply due to the ability to complete payment 24 hours a day.
Where can I learn more about the Offline Payment providers shown on MBIDZ?
Here are direct links to each of the providers currently in use on MBIDZ:
...To be continued. The FAQ is currently a work in progress. Please check back...
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