Warning to all buyers: PayPal Gift = Caution!

modessitt

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Just thought I'd mention this here, although it should be stickied at the top of the For Sale and WTB sections.

There have been quite a few problems recently with sellers (such as Davez, Mario99, etc) requesting buyers to use the PayPal Gift feature when paying. This gives the buyer no recourse should the seller send the wrong item, an item that is not in the condition that was offered, or just decides to not even ship anything and runs off with your money.

Well, I have noticed a few posts lately where the seller has requested PayPal Gift or offline purchase (money order, cashier's check, etc) for a shipped item. All buyers should think hard before deciding to do so, as they will not be able to refute the payment should the transaction go awry. PayPal will NOT refund money sent as a Gift.

Now, I have had several people pay me with the Gift option, assuming that my reputation here implies I'm not about to screw anyone - and they're right - but I NEVER ask for PayPal Gift. It doesn't bother me to pay the $1-5 surcharge if they pay normally, and I usually markup the item a few bucks to compensate if the item is low-priced enough that it will eat into the profits too much. And if I'm selling at item at $300 shipped, and I don't want to lose the $9.30 in charges, then I just charge $310 shipped and forget about it.

Whether you feel someone's reputation is worth taking the risk is up to you, but it doesn't hurt to just throw a couple extra bucks in and pay regular PayPal to make sure you get the protection you deserve....
 
It's always good advice to know exactly what your options are with any given payment method - I'm sure too many people think that PayPal is 'safe', when that's only true in limited circumstances.
 
Im guilty of that, Ive asked buyers to send it as a gift because paypal and ebay rape you. Never actually thought about the buyer not having any recourse. But then again ive never screwed or have been screwed by anyone on these forums as of yet, and ive done business with quite a few of you on here for the last i dont know how many years ive been on here. But yes you are right, I guess im a little too trusting sometimes. better safe than sorry.
 
I've seen both buyers and sellers get screwed, it's just the way it is with all the A-holes in the world.

On the alternative side of not sending a gift, the seller could get screwed after shipping the item and having the buyer claim the wrong thing or damaged item was sent. A friend of mine shipped a pinball from Florida to CA and when it arrived the buyer filed a claim that the pinball was not what was advertised... the buyer then stripped out the boards and damaged the game and my friend had to pay for the shipping both ways and ended up with a stripped pinball. He lost about $700 on that deal.

Is there really any safe way to do a transaction besides just dealing with someone here who has a good reputation?
 
i ask for it as a gift or money owed, it's a big chunk out of profit on a 300+ dollar cabinet. I always deliver when people order, so it's no big deal, and i give out my phone and adress freely.
 
I agree with Mod. I never ask for money to be sent as a gift. I have had several people sent payment as a gift and I do appreciate the sentiment and the trust that implies. There are some people who are very trusting. I have even had a couple of people send cash through the mail :eek:.

ken
 
if someone jews* me down below my asking price for a product I think it is a courtesy that should be considered when paying via paypal.
I do not "mark things up" vs current value. I try to sell shit for less than market value.
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*no offense to any jews out there. like my buddy says, "it's just a figure of speech" :O0
 
if someone jews* me down below my asking price for a product I think it is a courtesy that should be considered when paying via paypal.
I do not "mark things up" vs current value. I try to sell shit for less than market value.
.
.
.
.
.
.
*no offense to any jews out there. like my buddy says, "it's just a figure of speech" :O0

I'm offended that you didn't work my screen name in there somehow.
 
+1

+1
and i've also put in a request for a bad seller list..
I even requested it if they feel more comfy having a mod run it
so it dosen't become a personal flame war etc.
and yes sadly people don't know that paypal wont protect against all evil..
mabey they need to remember EBAY owns PAYPAL..
Just thought I'd mention this here, although it should be stickied at the top of the For Sale and WTB sections.

There have been quite a few problems recently with sellers (such as Davez, Mario99, etc) requesting buyers to use the PayPal Gift feature when paying. This gives the buyer no recourse should the seller send the wrong item, an item that is not in the condition that was offered, or just decides to not even ship anything and runs off with your money.

Well, I have noticed a few posts lately where the seller has requested PayPal Gift or offline purchase (money order, cashier's check, etc) for a shipped item. All buyers should think hard before deciding to do so, as they will not be able to refute the payment should the transaction go awry. PayPal will NOT refund money sent as a Gift.

Now, I have had several people pay me with the Gift option, assuming that my reputation here implies I'm not about to screw anyone - and they're right - but I NEVER ask for PayPal Gift. It doesn't bother me to pay the $1-5 surcharge if they pay normally, and I usually markup the item a few bucks to compensate if the item is low-priced enough that it will eat into the profits too much. And if I'm selling at item at $300 shipped, and I don't want to lose the $9.30 in charges, then I just charge $310 shipped and forget about it.

Whether you feel someone's reputation is worth taking the risk is up to you, but it doesn't hurt to just throw a couple extra bucks in and pay regular PayPal to make sure you get the protection you deserve....
 
I've said "please either mark payment as gift, or factor in the fees"

I don't sell often, so when I do, I go out of my way to make the buyer happy

I've rarely sold anything to make a profit. But, when I do, I don't like making a few bucks, only to have the margin cut down by fees and such.

Tron Guy brings up a good point on the making an offer. But, I would have to say, the seller can reject the offer, if they need the money that bad

Generally when I'm buying something, if the ammount is only a few bucks, I'll mark it as a gift.
 
I always ask for payment as a gift. I hate the fees, and sending cash in the mail is too risky. Everyone knows me here. I'm not going to Jehuie anyone. I would rather ask for payment as a gift than mark it up.
 
if someone jews* me down .......
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*no offense to any jews out there. like my buddy says, "it's just a figure of speech" :O0

Don't want to derail or get off topic (Mod's point is good) But that is just BS!

Sure N*gger Rigged is "just a figure of speech" along with any other racist or anti-semitic saying if you are in the klan, but it has no place in normal conversation.

I was meeting with a well respected, important member of the community when they used that term, then quickly asked me if I was jewish and pointed out that it was just a saying. While I am far from being jewish, I will never forget their statement and it will always cloud my opinion of them.

Maybe you should reconsider your "figures of speech". I know I, and many other people reading the above quote will base their opinion of you on statements like that.



But back on topic, I have used the gift option for many KLOV based purchases. If I didn't trust the person I was buying from, I wouldn't be sending them money....
 
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I always ask for payment as a gift. I hate the fees, and sending cash in the mail is too risky. Everyone knows me here. I'm not going to Jehuie anyone. I would rather ask for payment as a gift than mark it up.

Thank you sir. That's more like it. Although now, apparently, I must put on my indignant face because of the comment. Here ---> :004_ssleepy: (close enough)

Anyway, what was the topic again? Oh yeah....I hate Paypal and am beginning to subscribe to the Bob Roberts school of thought on accepting payment in the mail. With cross shipping available for non-anti-semites.
 
If I was dealing with someone with little to no track record here, I wouldn't hesitate to ask for a price from them including processing fees so I could have recourse with PayPal.

If they balked at that, I probably am not interested in doing business with them.
 
The system I've devised is, when I'm buying from someone for the first time, I do a regular payment and add a couple bucks to cover the fees. If all goes well, (which it always has!) any subsequent purchases are sent as gifts. Some people here have good reputations and I gift to them right from the start.

I don't sell too often, but I wouldn't ask to be gifted the money, it's up to the buyer if he wants to.
 
Don't want to derail or get off topic (Mod's point is good) But that is just BS!

Sure N*gger Rigged is "just a figure of speech" along with any other racist or anti-semitic saying if you are in the klan, but it has no place in normal conversation.

I was meeting with a well respected, important member of the community when they used that term, then quickly asked me if I was jewish and pointed out that it was just a saying. While I am far from being jewish, I will never forget their statement and it will always cloud my opinion of them.

Maybe you should reconsider your "figures of speech". I know I, and many other people reading the above quote will base their opinion of you on statements like that.



But back on topic, I have used the gift option for many KLOV based purchases. If I didn't trust the person I was buying from, I wouldn't be sending them money....

Well if you were offended (or anybody for that matter) I suppose it was out of line. Really more of my oddball sense of humor to use the asterisk and all. Anyway, truly no offense intended.
 
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Technically... you are not to use "gift" as payments for goods/services...

You are also not allowed by the PayPal Terms of Service Agreement to ask for or to request a tack on for "fees"...

But, if someone I've never done business before is asking for "gift" payment, I'll happily ask if they'll accept a couple of extra bucks for the fees and take a regular payment. If they don't, I'll pass. I don't like the risk.
 
Well if you were offended (or anybody for that matter) I suppose it was out of line. Really more of my oddball sense of humor to use the asterisk and all. Anyway, truly no offense intended.

Time for you to get on the TV apology tour. First stop: The Tonight Show.
 
Don't think its the Gift option under PayPal, its Payment Owed...

As that's what Devez asked me to use and I've used for others, paying the fee and not them.

Maybe Gift and Owed is the same, guess so since as a gift you would want to pay the fees, so I guess it applies to both tyoes of payments.
 
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