Paypal question...

[Stasher1]

I've seen for sale posts (on this forum and others) where the seller requests payment thru PP using the "gift" option. I know this saves the seller a little bit of money on the transaction, but what kind of protection does this offer the buyer?

How can you file a complaint that you never received your goods when you gave the "seller" a gift of $X? 

[seyone]

I don't think they offer any protection for that. My suggestion would be to pay the 3% or whatever the amount is if your unsure of the seller.

[Stasher1]

Actually, I steer clear of sellers that request the buyer pay an additional 3-4% to cover the PP fees. Imho, that's the seller's cost of doing business. 

I only brought it up as it seems to be an increasing trend, and I don't think many of the buyers have put any thought into the security of these types of transactions.

[seyone]

I hear you on the sellers cost of doing business, but if the price is right and I have to add 3-4% so be it.

As far as the security of the transactions, it is buyer beware. It could be an easy way for crooked "sellers" to scam unsuspecting people.

[hitchhiker]

It's not the cost of doing business.  It's not a business at all.  Isn't that against board rules?  No one is going to get rich and retire selling one or ten used outfits. 

If a seller wants to get rid of an unused reel and wants to accept paypal, the seller should be the one to absorb that cost.  I steer clear of those that want payments as a gift too.  Both parties are protected when it is a sale.  (I think)

It's not a business, it's a private sale.  Paypal is a convenience and sometimes you just have to eat the cost. 

[grimlin]

Actually, I steer clear of sellers that request the buyer pay an additional 3-4% to cover the PP fees. Imho, that's the seller's cost of doing business.

I only brought it up as it seems to be an increasing trend, and I don't think many of the buyers have put any thought into the security of these types of transactions.

Technically,you can pay by Money order if you don't want to add that 3%-4% PP fee.Why should the seller take that lost if he doesn't want to?It's convenience for you to just pay "paypal" and not have to worry about sending a money order through mail that could very well get lost.

I'll pay the 3% if that's what the seller request(for my protection),otherwise I'll ask if he'll take a money order or just altogether turn down the deal.

I usually eat the cost when i sell something...so that's why you never see me selling much of anything,unless I'm just getting rid of it to make room for something else.

[Stasher1]

It's not the cost of doing business. It's not a business at all. Isn't that against board rules? No one is going to get rich and retire selling one or ten used outfits.

If a seller wants to get rid of an unused reel and wants to accept paypal, the seller should be the one to absorb that cost. I steer clear of those that want payments as a gift too. Both parties are protected when it is a sale.  (I think)

It's not a business, it's a private sale. Paypal is a convenience and sometimes you just have to eat the cost.

Correct, but I don't believe "gift" transactions offer the same protection for the buyer.

Actually, I steer clear of sellers that request the buyer pay an additional 3-4% to cover the PP fees. Imho, that's the seller's cost of doing business. 

I only brought it up as it seems to be an increasing trend, and I don't think many of the buyers have put any thought into the security of these types of transactions.

Technically,you can pay by Money order if you don't want to add that 3%-4% PP fee.Why should the seller take that lost if he doesn't want to?It's convenience for you to just pay "paypal" and not have to worry about sending a money order through mail that could very well get lost.

I'll pay the 3% if that's what the seller request(for my protection),otherwise I'll ask if he'll take a money order or just altogether turn down the deal.

I usually eat the cost when i sell something...so that's why you never see me selling much of anything,unless I'm just getting rid of it to make room for something else.

Bingo. I'll typically pay via USPS money order, and when I sell something I eat the Paypal costs for the convenience of being able to accept CC payments.

[b.Lee]

It is actually against paypal rules to request 3-4% fees. You may request handling fees, but not the charges you will incur from paypal.  It is like incurring credit charges

[Pantera61]

1.  The gift option for PayPal and what protection it provides the buyer?  Close your eyes and what do you see?  Nothing, the same protection it gives the buyer.

2.  4% is fair to cover the PayPal fee.  You don't want to pay it, send a money order.  It's no different than paying interest on a credit card.

[Stasher1]

It is actually against paypal rules to request 3-4% fees. You may request handling fees, but not the charges you will incur from paypal. It is like incurring credit charges

It's a violation of most credit card companies' "Merchant's User Agreement" to charge buyers a surcharge for using a credit card, and in some states it's also against the law.

1.  The gift option for PayPal and what protection it provides the buyer?  Close your eyes and what do you see?  Nothing, the same protection it gives the buyer.

2.  4% is fair to cover the PayPal fee.  You don't want to pay it, send a money order.  It's no different than paying interest on a credit card.

Why should the buyer be expected to cover the seller's expenses? Should the buyer also be expected to reimburse the seller for the gas used to deliver the package to the post office or the ink used to print a shipping label?  If they're that worried about their profit, they should figure that expense into their asking price.

[JigMe]

flea market has some great deals, if you would to purchase something for a 100 dollars from a seller. Then the 4% is only 4 bucks. It protects both parties. why not?

Most items for sale are at an super discounted price already, and paying an extra few bucks should be reasonable.

[grimlin]

4.5 No Surcharges. You agree that you will not impose a surcharge or any other fee for accepting PayPal as a payment method. You may charge a handling fee in connection with the sale of goods or services, as long as the handling fee does not operate as a surcharge and is not higher than the handling fee you charge for non-PayPal transactions.

Holy cow....I had to look this up.....

This reminds me....five.bass.limit i want my $6 back now... j/k

[fishinfewl]

Paying w/ Paypal "gift" is safer than paying with money order.

With money order it's almost like sending cash, as it is extremely difficult to recover your money if a transaction doesn't go right. With Paypal "gift" the buyer can always file a dispute w/ his credit card company if he doesn't get the item, that is if it was funded using a credit card which the buyer paid the Paypal fee.

Whether the buyer or seller should pay the fee depends on the two individuals doing the trading.

[cart7t]

I'm not 100% on this but..

If you pay somebody through paypal using the gift option I believe you've sacrificed your right to file any sort of claim. As far as paypal is concerned, you're sending the money to the recipient as a gift, not in exchange for something in return. Then it wouldn't be a gift would it?  Since there is no exchange of merchandise or service in the transaction paypal has no liability to either party in the gift transaction.

Paypal charges a fee on any transaction whether you used a credit card or not. The protections provided weigh very heavily in favor of the buyer, not the seller.

[-nick-]

I'm not 100% on this but..

If you pay somebody through paypal using the gift option I believe you've sacrificed your right to file any sort of claim. As far as paypal is concerned, you're sending the money to the recipient as a gift, not in exchange for something in return. Then it wouldn't be a gift would it? Since there is no exchange of merchandise or service in the transaction paypal has no liability to either party in the gift transaction.

Paypal charges a fee on any transaction whether you used a credit card or not. The protections provided weigh very heavily in favor of the buyer, not the seller.

That's what I've always heard too.

On the other hand I had no idea that you weren't allowed to ask people to pay the service fee. Whenever I post something to sell I ask for the buyer to cover the paypal fees and I'll cover shipping (which I consider a pretty good deal). I guess now I'll start asking for shipping fees and not the paypal fees. haha

[hitchhiker]

I'm not 100% on this but..

If you pay somebody through paypal using the gift option I believe you've sacrificed your right to file any sort of claim. As far as paypal is concerned, you're sending the money to the recipient as a gift, not in exchange for something in return. Then it wouldn't be a gift would it? Since there is no exchange of merchandise or service in the transaction paypal has no liability to either party in the gift transaction.

Paypal charges a fee on any transaction whether you used a credit card or not. The protections provided weigh very heavily in favor of the buyer, not the seller.

That's what I've always heard too.

On the other hand I had no idea that you weren't allowed to ask people to pay the service fee. Whenever I post something to sell I ask for the buyer to cover the paypal fees and I'll cover shipping (which I consider a pretty good deal). I guess now I'll start asking for shipping fees and not the paypal fees. haha

Exactly it's kind of give and take, it all works out in the end (in a perfect world)   :  Eat the fees and save on shipping.  No violations of PPpolicy, and both parties are doing each other a favor.

[firefightn15]

"Why should the buyer be expected to cover the seller's expenses? Should the buyer also be expected to reimburse the seller for the gas used to deliver the package to the post office or the ink used to print a shipping label? If they're that worried about their profit, they should figure that expense into their asking price."

Personally, if the original purchase price is right, I'm not bothered by being asked to pay as a gift or to cover pp fees. I look more at who I am buying from as more of a concern. I agree though, if a seller wants to cover pp expenses, build them into the asking price.

[fish-fighting-illini]

Paypal doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with a credit card. Your Paypal could be a checking account etc.

   You have to have a credit card to back it but you don't have touse it. Thus the states credit card rules may not have anything to do with anything.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Regardless....Paypal has caught on to the fact that people have been paying via gift and now the buyer is charged the fee, you have the option to pay it or not but if you don't pay the charge, it is taken out of the price before received by the seller, just as it is normally. So now, paying via gift waves you're buyers protection and charges the fee as well.

[burleytog]

When I price an item for sale, all possible fees (PayPal, shipping, packaging, etc.) are included in the price.

[K_Mac]

When I price an item for sale, all possible fees (PayPal, shipping, packaging, etc.) are included in the price.

That makes sense to me.  8-)

[TrippyJai]

When I price an item for sale, all possible fees (PayPal, shipping, packaging, etc.) are included in the price.

That makes sense to me. 8-)

Yep

[Tokyo Tony]

When I price an item for sale, all possible fees (PayPal, shipping, packaging, etc.) are included in the price.

Exactly. If no one wants to buy at the price I set, so be it. I'm out a few cents for listing an eBay item.

PayPal fees to the private buyer are what an increase in corporate taxes are to the consumer.