FrankS
Registered User
Most of you will know this already, but it bears repeating: a camera gear buyer using Pay Pal marked as "gift", gives up all Pay Pal protection if anything goes bad with that purchase. There is no recourse if item does not arrive, or is significantly different than described, etc.
mto'brien
Well-known
This absolutely bears repeating often. Paypal gift is the same as western union or sending cash: very unwise.
and sellers: add the fee into your asking price, mmmmk? math not hard.
and sellers: add the fee into your asking price, mmmmk? math not hard.
Frontman
Well-known
Yes, if you ask for an additonal 3% and your buyer complains to Paypal, you risk having your account suspended (and the extra fee being immediately refunded to the buyer). But this also depends on where you are located. Here in Japan there is no such prohibition.
back alley
IMAGES
if you fine folks could just send me 3% of anything...starting as soon as possible...i'd not only appreciate it but i also promise not to tell paypal!
FrankS
Registered User
if you fine folks could just send me 3% of anything...starting as soon as possible...i'd not only appreciate it but i also promise not to tell paypal!
You really want to take over 3% of my car loan?
Bobbo
Well-known
I think what the original quote is talking about is saying "Hey, I figure $110 is good for my camera, so I'll just post an asking price of $125, instead to cover shipping and paypal fees..." That's what I always do. This way, I don't tick off customers who think adding 3% is another way of milking the buyer (and a violation of the Paypal rules), and I, the seller, get what I want. It's not difficult.
Actually, that's exactly what happens when a store starts taking debit and credit cards. They just raise the price of everything to compensate.
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mto'brien
Well-known
exactly.
when I first started selling on eBlame, I charged flat shipping. About ten years ago a buyer threatened me with neg feedback for charging $5 shipping on a package that cost $4.35 to ship. They didn't care that the padded envelope cost me a buck, the gas to/from the PO cost me a buck, etc. so I refunded the whole $5 and I have never charged for shipping again.
Just add the fees into your price and then you don't need all of the 'net to me' and 'gift' talk. If paypal gift is mentioned in an ad it looks like a scam to me. every time.
....
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Luna
Well-known
Yep. Gotten many this way in my previous employment.
mto'brien
Well-known
were you a Nigerian prince? I've gotten some emails from you. I hope that thing with the check you needed cashed in a hurry worked out ok...
Luna
Well-known
A prince? No. I'm the financial lawyer to the son of a disposed king of Sudan.
Emails? It should have been a phone call.
Also, we don't have a check, but we need you to sign a form to authorize the wire transfer to your bank account via EFT.
haha. I love those guys.
Emails? It should have been a phone call.
Also, we don't have a check, but we need you to sign a form to authorize the wire transfer to your bank account via EFT.
haha. I love those guys.
Chris101
summicronia
My school account gets half a dozen every week. They have become more and more minimal over the last couple of years. Now a days it's always some one like "Barrister Norman Evans" and does not mention a bank account, but wants an email or phone call. The phone call results in a good imitation of the "This number has been changed or disconnected" recording, and the email always bounces.
The 'barrister' is probably monitoring the hits on those error messages, and then googling the results, looking for naïfs?
Sometimes I send back an effusive 'thank you' email and give them a post office box they can send the check to, then ask that they never contact me, cause "you know, I'm not going to report this to the IRS!" kind of response. But they see through this - there must be a black list somewhere. Cause I never get a bite. Seems the "virtual Nigerians" are getting smarter at picking their marks.
If I know the seller, dealt with them before, I have no problem marking the payment as a gift. I usually have a good Balance in Paypal. That way neither the seller nor I pay the 3% fees to paypal. But I would only do that with someone on the forum that I can judge by their posts and past history.
For my classified ads, I state a price and offer a discount for check and MO. That way I do not make a profit when fees are not required. I usually offer more than a 3% discount.
For my classified ads, I state a price and offer a discount for check and MO. That way I do not make a profit when fees are not required. I usually offer more than a 3% discount.
blindrobert
Established
I always use a credit card with PP. That way I get 1% back (never carry a balance, so interest isn't an issue) and then if something goes wrong with the deal I have my CC company on my side in the dispute. The few times I have had to do a paypal claim, I have always contacted both PP and my CC company and it has always worked out in my favor.
dfoo
Well-known
Except when not paying PP, or not shipping within the US.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
I feel the same way - as long as I feel like I can really trust the other person. Offering the gift option to a stranger is just a good way to get burned.
mto'brien
Well-known
yes, of course, if you are well acquainted then gift isn't a problem. I was referring to transacting with strangers. btw, sending a check or MO to someone you don't know is a great way to get burned as well, but I'm sure we all know that as well.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Act like any other business, built the 3% into the price.
FrankS
Registered User
I agree with Bian, Matt, and Tim about when you know and trust the person. I should have specified in the original post that I was thinking about when one is dealing with an unknown seller.
FrankS
Registered User
With a significant ticket item from an unknown seller, I'd prefer to pay that extra 3% as an insurance policy. With no Pay Pal buyers' protection, you may as well send cash to a stranger and hope that they are honest. Having said that, I have great faith in the goodness of humanity (from a statistical, large sample, point of view), and believe that most people are honest.
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ashfaque
Learning
Thank you very much for this information. I had no idea about this 'gift' thing and about 3% fees. I've never traded on Ebay [- in fact I know very little about ebay- I only have an account], but this thread has given me some very useful information.
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