Pay Pal

[Merkava_4]

A lot of people won't buy if they have to go out and get a money order and then mail it off.

That's why if the seller says "money orders only," it gives me an edge; rarely do I see that though.

 

[jimvannoy]

Paypal maybe better these days but many people early on got burned badly with thousands of dollars locked up in flagged or frozen accounts with no legal recourse on getting there money back! If someone got burned that way; I can see why they would refuse to use Paypal. It only takes one time getting burned like that and you certainly wouldn't want to use Paypal again. I'm under the assumption that since ebay bought Paypal things are better but people getting the shaft in the past was not a uncommon problem; once something went awry with your account they would freeze the account and your money was gone. Paypal is uber convenient but at least in the past; you could get burned! Maybe others here can vouch for the current Paypal situation but in the past there were problems that was financially detrimental to many people. Plus, with the increase in fees on all levels; they may want to avoid the extra fees using Paypal requires; the increased fees in eBay alone, caused allot of people to stop using eBay as well.

When Paypal first started it was totally free. They stated they made money off interest. Once eBay bought them things went down hill fast. They started charging fees and most recently have begun siding pretty much 100% with buyers. Yes sellers can and do get ripped off by scam buyers/Paypal almost daily. Read the eBay board about Paypal for all the stories. If you ship with tracking/insurance you will usually come out ok but a scam buyer can and will find a way to rip off any seller no matter what is or is not done if they wish. I could give exact details of how bad buyers do it all the time using Paypal but there is no need to give anyone else any ideas............

 

[paramudduck]

Really you gave to much information any way. I've read some of the horror stories. It's one of the things that has kept me from selling on ebay.

 

[kythri]

Paypal maybe better these days but many people early on got burned badly with thousands of dollars locked up in flagged or frozen accounts with no legal recourse on getting there money back! If someone got burned that way; I can see why they would refuse to use Paypal. It only takes one time getting burned like that and you certainly wouldn't want to use Paypal again. I'm under the assumption that since ebay bought Paypal things are better but people getting the shaft in the past was not a uncommon problem; once something went awry with your account they would freeze the account and your money was gone. Paypal is uber convenient but at least in the past; you could get burned! Maybe others here can vouch for the current Paypal situation but in the past there were problems that was financially detrimental to many people. Plus, with the increase in fees on all levels; they may want to avoid the extra fees using Paypal requires; the increased fees in eBay alone, caused allot of people to stop using eBay as well.

PayPal is still as horrible as is always was - it's just one of those "necessary evils" that you have to utilize if you wish to buy/sell on eBay with any regularity.

PayPal is not a bank/financial institution, therefore, it's not regulated like one. They can take your money at any time, for a variety of reasons, because you agreed to the terms of service. They can (and have!) even take money out of your linked checking account, because you've agreed to allow them to do it under some circumstances.

It's incredibly surprising to me, that in a day and age when our altogether-too-huge government is willing to step in to regulate the nonsense that they do, they don't regulate online payment services to the same standards as financial institutions.

 

[jimvannoy]

Really you gave to much information any way. I've read some of the horror stories. It's one of the things that has kept me from selling on ebay.

That's good for me. When I started on eBay stuff sold for a lot more money because there were far fewer sellers. Waaaayyyy too many sellers now.

 

[jimvannoy]

PayPal is still as horrible as is always was - it's just one of those "necessary evils" that you have to utilize if you wish to buy/sell on eBay with any regularity.

PayPal is not a bank/financial institution, therefore, it's not regulated like one. They can take your money at any time, for a variety of reasons, because you agreed to the terms of service. They can (and have!) even take money out of your linked checking account, because you've agreed to allow them to do it under some circumstances.

It's incredibly surprising to me, that in a day and age when our altogether-too-huge government is willing to step in to regulate the nonsense that they do, they don't regulate online payment services to the same standards as financial institutions.

Back when Paypal was first started it was great. Then eBay saw how well they were dong so they started their own online payment service. I think it was called Bidpay or something like that. They pushed it hard and even tried to block sellers from even mentioning Paypal in their auctions. Well after Paypal took off $$$ eBay bought them. It was just one more way for eBay to control everything and milk every last cent they can out of something by starting to charge fees on something that was started as being free and even said it would ALWAYS be free when you first signed up. The latest move allows them to hold sellers payments for up to 21 days and they also now require Paypal on so called "high risk" i.e. high dollar auctions, they also require (force) all new sellers and sellers who fall below a certain positive FB percentage to take it and in many cases they will hold all seller payments for 21 days. Why you ask???? So they can get collect interest off all that money they now hold. Also why they now allow only positive FB from sellers and encourage buyers to leave negative FB so it will force sellers into the 21 day hold trap when there FB drops to the magic percentage point. They say it's to protect the buyers. BS it's to line their pockets with even more money at yet again the expense of the seller. Anything and everything eBay/Paypal do is for their own financial gain they could care less about buyers or sellers except as a cash cow.

 

[a390st]

They are really pushing the "Best Match" search results now. Guess what...They decide who gets to the top of the best match results. If they don't like anything about you, you get shipped to the bottom. If you do all buy it now sales with free shipping, you will go straight to the top. Even if your feedback isn't great, if you sell a certain volume, you go to the top. There are so many ways you are getting screwed selling on eBay anymore. If you sold things for big money and have great feedback, magically they one day decide to say that you are an inexperienced seller and they have to hold your money now and you can only use PayPal on items over $100. Over 100 feedbacks with 100% is inexperienced? I could go on for days about how bad they are. Their fees have gotten out of control, and they even admitted it.

 

[Underdog]

I've bought 26 items on ebay so far all with money orders. I tried to sign up with paypal awhile ago but they wanted my checking acct. #'s, no way. Just yesterday a local newspaper reporter wrote how someone got his paypal acct. and bought a laptop out west, changed the shipping address. He said paypal refunded him his money but the laptop owners got screwed. So if ebay sellers don't take MO's I don't buy.

 

[paramudduck]

One thing that always amazed me was the way people would buy on ebay and resell on ebay.

I saw one Bass guitar be resold seven or more times before it finally fell out of the loop.

I've also seen this in the tool auctions.

You know I had been under the impression that ebay selling was crowding the smaller players out. I may try it yet. Hmm be more productive then sitting around.

 

[64merc]

I've bought 26 items on ebay so far all with money orders. I tried to sign up with paypal awhile ago but they wanted my checking acct. #'s, no way. Just yesterday a local newspaper reporter wrote how someone got his paypal acct. and bought a laptop out west, changed the shipping address. He said paypal refunded him his money but the laptop owners got screwed. So if ebay sellers don't take MO's I don't buy.

Providing a checking account number is a bad idea no doubt, but I didn't have to do so when I set up my paypal account not too long ago. I just used a backup credit card that I have. If something goes terribly wrong at least I can dispute it with the CC company.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I recently bought a $180 Sony camera for a friend for her birthday, had it shipped insured by USPS to Canada. Got there a couple days late but not problems at all.

If it's insured or signature req'd they won't "lose" it.

Ha-ha. I won something on Ebay, and the USPS tried to deliver it, with a HUGE slash across the envelope, that caused it to be empty. (refused due to damage)

I could also tell you stories about how the UPS guys just X signatures, and drop off items (including a handgun to a dealer in a high crime area).
No shipping service is perfect.
Now to paypal/money orders
When I finally signed up for paypal, I entered my CC info (which you could save or reenter each time). They later "requested" you get verified, by giving them your bank account information. I didn't fall for that.
I know horror stories about Paypal and if you have a business that takes CC, your better off not taking it (although Ebay tried to make Paypal Only in two countries). If I ever (have considered) decide to sell on Ebay, it will be postal money order ONLY. Both the CC and the postal inspectors, give you some measure of protection, that bank accounts and paypal don't.

 

[jimvannoy]

If I ever (have considered) decide to sell on Ebay, it will be postal money order ONLY. Both the CC and the postal inspectors, give you some measure of protection, that bank accounts and paypal don't.

Sorry but it won't be your choice. You will have to play by their rules or sell somewhere else.

If you are a new eBay seller they will force you to take Paypal.

If you sell in certain categories they will force you to take Paypal.

If your FB is below a certain percentage they will force you to take Paypal.

If you receive a certain number on negatives within a given time frame they will force you to take Paypal.

If your star rating falls below a certain point they will force you to take Paypal.


It's all about the bottom line. How much they can milk out of anyone and everyone. Force Paypal on you, collect fees, force Paypal on you, hold your money for 21 days, collect the interest.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

3.95 fee billed to me for dispute
I think pay pal will be going bye bye from my future sales
pay pal is a rather poorly managed third world bank

 

[eschoendorff]

3.95 fee billed to me for dispute
I think pay pal will be going bye bye from my future sales
pay pal is a rather poorly managed third world bank

Money orders are your friend

 

[chad s]

Providing a checking account number is a bad idea no doubt, but I didn't have to do so when I set up my paypal account not too long ago. I just used a backup credit card that I have. If something goes terribly wrong at least I can dispute it with the CC company.

I have a special bank acct for paypal. I keep $25 in that account. When I go to buy something, I transfer the exact amount to my "paypal bank account", and spend it. If they for any reason come to take anything from the account, they can get $25. The credit card on the account is one that I specialy applied for to get a $100 credit limit. Should they try to charge that, they can get me for no more than $100.

I have never actually had them try and take money from my accounts, but if they do, Im prepared.


Also, NEVER keep a balance in your paypal account, when the money arrives, immediately transfer it to your "paypal bank account", and then transfer from that account to a non paypal linked bank account via your bank.

 

[paramudduck]

Thanks Chad! I had thought about that and was wondering if it would work. It would be good for keeping hacked accounts from draining you as well.