paypal sticks it to us again WARNING

joemagiera

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I am not much of a seller or buyer, so I've only got the free paypal account. I've never "upgraded" (as they call it) my account to where I have to pay fees. As such, when I do sell something and someone wants to use paypal, I make it clear it can't be a credit card type paypal payment, it must be a payment from an existing paypal balance.

So I make a deal and the guy pays me paypal no problem. But wait, paypal charged me fees. I call them and they told me they just instituted a policy change "about 2 weeks ago" that if the transaction is marked as a purchase, it's charged fees, even if payed from existing balances on a free account.

So you free paypal account users, make sure to specify the payment has to be marked as personal rather than purchase. Just another example of ebay owned paypal rolling over people and not making it worthwhile to use their service.
 
...and the problem from the buyers perspective of marking it "personal" as opposed to a purchase is that there is ZERO protections when "donating" a "gift". So unless the two parties involved completely trust each other, it's not a viable option.
 
That may be true, but the "protection" that Paypal touts is laughable at best. They will not do anything if the seller sends you anything. It doesn't have to be what they said they would send you, just a box with something in it. I bought something where I double checked with the seller that it would be working, when it arrived it didn't. When I asked the seller about it he was silent until I filed with Paypal. Here was Paypal's resolution -

You have chosen to escalate your dispute to a PayPal claim. By ending
communication with the seller, you are asking PayPal to investigate the
case and decide the outcome. As part of our investigation, PayPal reviewed
any communication you may have had in the Resolution Center.

Our investigation into your claim is complete. As stated in our User
Agreement, the claims process only applies to the shipment of goods. It
does not apply to complaints about the attributes or quality of goods
received. Therefore, we are unable to reverse this transaction or issue a
refund.
 
Why does this suck? PayPal is providing a service. They should get paid. You said you called them? Well, there you go. They need to pay that person that took your call. I'm also willing to bet that because you did call them that they lost money on your transaction as a result. You should feel lucky. If you aren't using Ebay, then mail a check or money order, just like the old days. Or, get a real merchant account with a bank and see if you like that better. I highly doubt it.

Everyone seems to forget life before PayPal. Personally, I am very happy to pay them the fees in return for my ability to accept credit cards from people. How cool is that? Me, John Q. Public accepting credit cards?? Whoa.
 
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Wow - so in other words I need to buy a bunch of PCB's, list them as tested good on eBay and the buyer will file a dispute but Paypal will find in my favor ............ that's just flat out scary. Just rmember Paypal isn't FDIC insured. They are not a bank which means they can play by a whole different set of rules.
 
Why does this suck? PayPal is providing a service. They should get paid. You said you called them? Well, there you go. They need to pay that person that took your call. If you aren't using Ebay, then mail a check, just like the old days.


Mail a check, are you kidding? The post office will charge you (one shiny new postage stamp please) to mail the check. We should all get something for nothing...
 
So I make a deal and the guy pays me paypal no problem. But wait, paypal charged me fees. I call them and they told me they just instituted a policy change "about 2 weeks ago" that if the transaction is marked as a purchase, it's charged fees, even if payed from existing balances on a free account.

So you free paypal account users, make sure to specify the payment has to be marked as personal rather than purchase. Just another example of ebay owned paypal rolling over people and not making it worthwhile to use their service.

...and if it's marked personal, they don't provide the paying party's address / shipping info, and you can't use paypal shipping to print labels...
 
Have you guys ever seen the fees for regular real world business credit card processing? In comparison Paypal's fees are an absolute deal.

As for the protection Paypal offers- yes it's not the greatest but you are protected if the seller doesn't ship. As for condition issues- direct your ire at the seller, not Paypal.

I'd much rather use Paypal than stand in line at the Post Office, buy a money order, mail it, WAIT, and then hope the seller is honest since there is ZERO protection if the seller doesn't ship with a Postal MO.

I've used Paypal since it's inception when it was X.com, would do business again AAA+++
 
Why does this suck? PayPal is providing a service. They should get paid.

Everyone seems to forget life before PayPal. Personally, I am very happy to pay them the fees in return for my ability to accept credit cards from people. How cool is that? Me, John Q. Public accepting credit cards?? Whoa.

It sucks because the fees are exorbitant. If I'm accepting a CC payment, I understand that there are CC merchant fees involve, and I don't mind getting charged a small premium over that fees for the convenience of not having to get a 'real' merchant account.

When they charge the same fees for paypal account transfers (or bank account transfers) which cost them NOTHING, and hold your money for 4-5 business days before ACH-ing it to your account as a "processing period", during which they collect interest on your money, it's exorbitant.
 
I just wish Google Checkout would allow the buyer the ability to not have to sign up just to send money. Then, we'd see Paypal stop with the rate hikes real quick.
 
I guess I don't get the big deal. Money order's usually cost money and personal checks have to wait to be cleared. As someone who uses ebay a few times a year to buy/sell things, I've just gotten used to having a little money taken out. As a seller I either build these small fees into the price of a product, or when I sell I shoot the seller a few extra bucks. I guess I don't see the big deal. Paypal has made buying things on the internet a lot easier and safer to the average person.
 
I guess the bottom line for me is that it sucks when a free service starts charging but, it happens. Although I will add that it is a bit shady that I've never been informed of this fee by pay pal. They have no problem keeping me informed of their 20% discount offers and such but seem to have made no attempt to inform us that their policies are changing. I do see that as a bit shady.
 
It sucks because the fees are exorbitant. If I'm accepting a CC payment, I understand that there are CC merchant fees involve, and I don't mind getting charged a small premium over that fees for the convenience of not having to get a 'real' merchant account.

When they charge the same fees for paypal account transfers (or bank account transfers) which cost them NOTHING, and hold your money for 4-5 business days before ACH-ing it to your account as a "processing period", during which they collect interest on your money, it's exorbitant.

Yeah, but if you tried getting a real merchant account with a bank you'd be paying and waiting just the same. And, you usually have to pay a $1,500.00 setup fee or other BS like that just to get a merchant account. BTW - I rarely have to wait for money from PayPal. I can't remember the last time that happened.
 
Three simple solutions.

1. Don't use paypal. Vote with your feet and require only money orders/checks.

2. Get a CC merchant account pay the setup fees, BS monthly 'service' fees, talking to customer service rep. fee etc.etc. Although the Costco merchant service one does not seem too bad.

3. Add into the cost of whatever you're selling the paypal fees and offer a discount for cash/money order etc.

If someone does not want to do any of those things, they can't complain about the service. At the end of the day Paypal is running a business not a charity and there are alternatives.

- James
 
Have you guys ever seen the fees for regular real world business credit card processing? In comparison Paypal's fees are an absolute deal.

As for the protection Paypal offers- yes it's not the greatest but you are protected if the seller doesn't ship. As for condition issues- direct your ire at the seller, not Paypal.

I'd much rather use Paypal than stand in line at the Post Office, buy a money order, mail it, WAIT, and then hope the seller is honest since there is ZERO protection if the seller doesn't ship with a Postal MO.

I've used Paypal since it's inception when it was X.com, would do business again AAA+++


+10000000

I was about to say the same thing. PayPal works great for me and has for years.

I can not stand ebay sellers that say the "I take paypal, but only bank direct transfer no Credit Card..."

..to me that is just lazy. Those are they types of sellers that I don't buy from. As a seller you should UP your price enough to counter balance the paypal fee and you will be fine.

Paypal is a business and of course they are going to want to make money. And as Mike said, compared to the real world. Paypal's fees are nothing.



;
 
Probably only time I will talk good about paypal. It is a convience fee. If you been using free paypal, then about time you start helping with fees :) Myself, I don't even look at what they take on the rare times I get money from someone. Do like some do (I don't approve, but that is me) and charge paypal fee with item. Jow did it to me and I paid it. WTF is the big deal. What ebay charges fees then you get fees by paypal.. Even though they are the same at the top, they are in business reality 2 seperate companies. Ebay rapes you agree, but don't use Ebay fees against paypal.

This is IMO!!! lol
Kevin
 
...and the problem from the buyers perspective of marking it "personal" as opposed to a purchase is that there is ZERO protections when "donating" a "gift". So unless the two parties involved completely trust each other, it's not a viable option.

And so if a seller doesn't accept paypal at all, it's pretty much the same thing isn't it (no buyer protection if they paid with a check)? Do you buy from Bob Roberts? He doesn't take paypal. Now I know you mentioned "know and trust each other", but still there will be a time you want something and the only person selling, someone you don't know, won't take paypal. Will you just pass? Or will you send them a check? You could send a postal money order, those might have a little more protection.

FYI, I'm not saying you're wrong on your statement, credit card protection is a good thing (I've used it before myself on a non-paypal transaction). But for non-main stream sellers, i.e., many hobbiest's where this is not how they earn their living, I think this situation will happen a lot (buyers don't trust, sellers don't want to pay fees).
 
Have you guys ever seen the fees for regular real world business credit card processing? In comparison Paypal's fees are an absolute deal.

As for the protection Paypal offers- yes it's not the greatest but you are protected if the seller doesn't ship. As for condition issues- direct your ire at the seller, not Paypal.

I'd much rather use Paypal than stand in line at the Post Office, buy a money order, mail it, WAIT, and then hope the seller is honest since there is ZERO protection if the seller doesn't ship with a Postal MO.

I've used Paypal since it's inception when it was X.com, would do business again AAA+++

I dont think that most complainers understand the cost of doing bizness when they whine about ebay and paypal.

They don't realize that real buisnesses have to put up with shit like chargebacks too.
 
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