eBay.com are adopting the “Donate a pound” eBay for Charity program which has been running in the UK since November 2008. However there is a major difference in how the program has been implemented.
In the UK a random (eBay chosen!) charity is suggested with the option to donate £1 by clicking a box whenever you pay for an item. In the US users can choose their favorite charity or charities and they will have the option to donate between $1 and $25 each time they make a purchase.
Importantly for eBay.com users there will also be the option to opt out and not have the collection tin rattled in their faces every time they make a purchase on eBay. I like this, I do support a few charities chosen for personal reasons, but I want to choose when to support them but loathe being badgered for donations. Also eBay have yet to make it crystal clear what happens to buyers who make a donation and subsequently are refunded by the seller – it’s not the seller requesting the donation, it’s eBay.
Hopefully at some point in the near future the UK version of charity in checkout will be upgraded to the US version and I’ll be able to choose the charities I want to donate to…. I’d probably even start donating at checkout if I could choose the charities I want to support.
2 Responses
Hi Chris,
The “My Favourite Charities” feature has just been launched in the UK. eBay is planning to promote the option later this year, but it’s available now.
Visit the “My Favourite Charities” page in your Donation Account to have a look. Grateful for any feedback.
Here’s a direct link:
https://signin.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?SingleSignOn&runame=MF-CGT123-SSOsignIn8276UK&ruparams=page%3dmyfavorite